How to paint plaster figures. The subtleties of painting a decorative stone made of gypsum. Turning gypsum into natural stone

Sometimes there is a strong desire to change something in the design of an apartment or house. In this case, you can use a gypsum stone, the painting of which is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Application decorative stone will allow you to transform any room, but first you need to deal with the intricacies of coloring the material.

What to paint?

If raw products are purchased for finishing, or the material is made independently, then the products need to be painted. The first step is to test the selected compositions in order to understand what color will result.

Coloring is carried out using the following mixtures and solutions:

  • acrylic paint- this water-based mortar is suitable for gypsum stone due to its resistance to external influences, good elasticity, so that cracks will not form on the facing element.

  • vitriol- copper and iron sulfate acts as an impregnation and helps to increase the strength of parts. Copper sulfate gives the stone a blue tint, and iron sulfate gives it a yellow tint.

  • wood stain- a monochromatic mixture used for coloring materials based on cement, as well as gypsum stones. Decoration is carried out with an acid stain or a composition for wood.

In addition, painting is carried out with other solutions: various varnishes and impregnations with a wet effect, paints that give the gypsum stone a natural look.

The main thing is to determine the purpose of the material and, depending on this, select the coloring matter.

Proper painting of gypsum stone involves following simple rules:

  • parts are pre-dried for 1-2 days;
  • the old material is polished, otherwise the paint will peel off from it soon;
  • impregnations are applied according to the instructions on the label - some solutions are applied before the painting procedure, some types are not combined with certain paints;
  • to make the product shine, a lacquer coating is added on top of the paint, but it is not always appropriate - due to this, the feeling of the naturalness of the stone is lost.

By following these tips, it becomes possible to protect the decorative stone from negative impact, corrosion, and the paint layer will last a long time.

Instruments

In order to create a decorative element that attracts attention with your own hands, you need to use the tools through which the painting is done.

The main fixtures include:

  • airbrush or spray gun;
  • brushes and rollers;
  • sandpaper or sander.

Most often, an airbrush is used for coloring.

Its advantage over a brush is that it sprays the composition rather than smearing it, resulting in an even color without too dark unnatural areas.

With an airbrush, you can give the stone different shades - for this, the jet of paint and the distance from the tool to the working surface are simply regulated. For painting the material, a conventional airbrush with an oil-cooled compressor and an automatic pressure regulator is suitable.

The entire facing stone is very rarely painted with a brush, because the device leaves stains and ugly spots. To select any areas, the brush is a great tool.

Preparation and painting

Preparation for staining is carried out depending on the type of material: a previously used stone or a new one. From used products, the old corrosive layer is carefully removed. The stone is then ground to eliminate strong surface drops. Facing elements are blown with a compressor and impregnated for 2-3 times - due to this, the consumption of coloring compounds during finishing will be significantly reduced.

new stone no need to grind and grind - it is enough just to wash and saturate it 2 times. In this case, painting will take much less time.

There is no need to use high-precision tools and special technologies to color the material. First, a composition is prepared from a dry powder, poured with the required amount of water indicated on the instructions from the manufacturer. If everything is done incorrectly, then you can get an overly liquid or thick solution - it will be quite inconvenient for them to paint a textured gypsum stone.

In the process of work, you need to paint over all the details, without getting too much beyond the boundaries of each element. As the paint dries, the plaster will fade slightly. The surface should be varnished for protection. Decorative gypsum stone is painted with water-soluble paints, so the varnish is selected with the same characteristics: alkyd, matte, pentaphthalic.

Painting methods

There are several methods of painting the material: in bulk and surface.

The first method is used for self-manufacturing stone. The technology consists in adding coloring pigments to a gypsum solution - as a result, the product is stained from the inside. For painting with this method, mix 1/2 part of the color with 200 ml of water and the same volume of acrylic primer. Matt varnish is applied to the desired surface of the stone after complete drying.

The surface method is very simple: ready facing material covered with dye from the spray gun. The advantage of this method is the ability to give the decorative stone the desired shade, to create a natural, natural look.

decoration

There are several ways to interestingly paint the surface of a decorative gypsum stone, with which you can achieve unusual look products:

  • Under the old marble- made stone with my own hands, dried, and bought in a store, placed in a warm, dry place and kept for two days. After that, with a flute brush, the surface is impregnated in two layers with heated drying oil. After some time, you will get a coating with an aging effect, reminiscent of marble.
  • Under terracotta- the technology is similar to the creation of an old marble coating, only rosin and varnish are not used, but rosin and varnish - they are diluted in technical alcohol.
  • With a bronze sheen- gypsum stones are thoroughly impregnated with drying oil and dried for 8-10 hours. Then two layers of bronze powder diluted in varnish are applied to the material, and the stone is dried. Take 10 g of silver nitrate, 100 g of vinegar, 300 g of pure water, a special solution is prepared from these components. The product is re-coated with bronze powder and treated with the prepared solution. At the end of the procedure, the decorative stone is rubbed with a piece of velvet fabric.
  • One of the ways to paint decorative gypsum stone is presented in the following video.

Gypsum can rightly be considered one of the most popular finishing materials in both residential and non-residential sectors. Applying such a solution to the walls has many advantages. However, the standard white or gray color of this material is often desirable to change.

One of the options for coloring gypsum is to add color to it. However, here it must be borne in mind that the solution is very thick, and it will not be so easy to make the color uniform. Well, if we are talking not about a ready-made solution, but about a powder that we will dilute over and over again, then this method does not work at all, since in this case the shades will always be different, and you will simply ruin the wall. Finally, when breeding color in such a thick medium, it is difficult to decide how much to add paint, so you can easily overdo it. If you still paint the solution, then you need to understand that when it dries it will become a little paler, so it is better to make the color richer.

How to paint plaster?

It does not matter whether it is a bas-relief or gypsum tiles - the material itself has excellent adhesion. In other words, it absorbs water very well, and hence paint and varnish coatings. We list the main ways to paint a plaster surface:

  • Acrylic, water-dispersion or water-based paint;
  • Gypsum varnish. A great way to shade the natural color of the plaster coating;
  • Pigments including gold and silver. The latter, as well as specialized paint for plaster products, can be purchased at an art store. Moreover, the choice of shades there will be incredibly wide.

Advice! In order for the painted layer to hold better, it is best to apply on top clear nail polish. Since the paint on plaster dries very quickly, you can start varnishing almost immediately.

Checking if the paint is suitable for working with plaster

Regardless of what you are going to paint the plaster surface with, you need to make sure that the material is ready for this. First of all, we check the consistency of the paint, making sure that it is not too liquid. Otherwise, smudges may form, which will affect the overall visual quality. If there are clots, then this may indicate that such paint was not stored correctly.

Gypsum wall painting process

  • Over time, gypsum loses the ability to absorb paint well, so it is better not to delay the staining process. If you nevertheless saw that the gypsum had nevertheless lost its ability to adhere, then it is best to try to influence it with drying oil. By the way, with its help you can achieve other effects, but more on that below;
  • Since the adhesive properties of gypsum are great, it can take quite a lot of paint to color it. a large number of. To reduce this figure, it is best to prime the product. In addition to giving the surface strength, it is also about the possibility of obtaining a more uniform application of color;
  • Acrylic paint is applied to the plaster in at least three layers.

How to paint a bas-relief and plaster molding

Wall decorations such as stucco and bas-relief are decorated with acrylic, water-dispersion or water-based paint. The last two types of paint, by the way, will not only provide gypsum with color, but also protect it from external influences.

In addition, various pigments are widely used to help simulate metal surfaces or natural stone. By the way, gypsum can not be painted, but covered with gold foil on top, which simulates the surface of this metal as realistically as possible. In this case, the foil is superimposed on the glue, and varnished on top.

The most various tools, ranging from a spray gun to small brushes and cotton swabs for processing protruding and smallest parts. Depending on the technique being carried out, it is possible to paint under the old surface, and achieve other effects.

Coloring plaster products

Durability, ease of work and fast setting make gypsum ideal option for the manufacture of various products, including various figurines. Giving them color, we will use the thinnest brushes. In this case, you may need the ability to draw, so without the latter it is better not to engage in amateur performances. The situation is similar with gypsum tiles - you need to know exactly how you will draw what, and exactly how you will do it.

Giving plaster surfaces different effects

In order to achieve the effect of "antique", it is enough to treat the plaster product with drying oil. Over time, the surface will take on a similar appearance.

Turning a gypsum surface into a wax one is simple - just cover it with wax dissolved in turpentine or acetone. To enhance the effect, you can add yellow oil paint on top, and after the latter has dried, polish the product soft cloth.

Turning gypsum into natural stone

  • If you want the gypsum product not to expose its snow-white structure when chipped and not ruin the whole impression of stone imitation, then it is better to paint at the stage of mixing the mortar;
  • The excellent but uneven adhesion of the gypsum surface will help you imitate stone. Due to this, veins are formed on it, characteristic of the surface of natural stone;
  • Use the glazing method - applying different layers with paint different shade. In this case, even marble can be imitated on a plaster surface.

Gypsum, as a material, has a fairly large range of colors, from completely white to soft pink shades. But do not limit yourself - gypsum paint can transform the material into bronze or ivory, so why not do it!

Gypsum painting - what paints do gypsum like?

Gypsum is present both in plaster mixtures and as self material for the same modeling with which we decorate our houses. And not always its natural whiteness can suit you in terms of combination with other interior elements or simply not suit you - it's too easy to mess up such details during cleaning. It is much easier and more interesting to paint gypsum surfaces or elements! Of course, take watercolors and give desired color plaster products will not work, there are secrets in this process. It's time to lift the veil of mystery!

In principle, gypsum, as well as almost any natural material, can easily be applied to all kinds of paints and varnishes, gilding and other simulators of silver, bronze, and at least ivory! Acrylic paints adhere well to the gypsum surface, however, adhesion with this material is high in almost all compositions. For better preservation of the paint layer, it does not hurt to apply an additional layer of colorless varnish, the paint should be completely dry by this time.

How to make plaster stronger - the secrets of reliable modeling!

Gypsum itself is a fairly strong material, but it will not be superfluous to make it even stronger, that way 10 times! This can be done both at the stage of mixing the solution, and after the product is ready. In the first case, for all the manipulations, you will only need knowledge and a little lime and PVA construction glue, but in the second case, you will have to go to a hardware store for iron sulfate or zinc sulfate. The easiest way to increase the strength is to reduce the proportion of water in the solution. If the usual solution is mixed at the rate of seven parts of water per ten gypsum, then a stronger one is made from six servings of water for all the same ten gypsum.

Overdoing it with a decrease in the amount of liquid, you risk getting a plaster crumb. The risk can be reduced by adding PVA glue to the solution.

It takes only a couple of tablespoons for an average batch, so that the finished structure acquires greater strength - the glue binds the individual particles of gypsum. A mixture of gypsum and slaked lime demonstrates a stunning effect, and all that is needed is to add one part of calcium hydroxide to the standard ratio. Of course, the product or surface will not become invulnerable, but falling to the floor from the table or being hit by a blunt object can survive. If you have a finished product on hand, you can soak it with a concentrated solution of zinc sulfate or iron sulfate. Zinc salt will not change the color of the product, but vitriol will turn it yellow-brown.

Paint for gypsum - how and how to process gypsum?

It is best not to delay painting gypsum products, because over time the material loses its ability to absorb substances, which in turn worsens adhesion. paintwork materials with surface. The product should dry properly, and even better, subject it to heat treatment - warm up for several hours at a temperature of 250-500 degrees, gradually increasing the degree to the upper mark. True, for this you need to have special equipment, in the absence of which you can do with ordinary drying in heat for 2-3 days.

If you notice that the gypsum has lost its ability to absorb moisture, cover the surface of the product with shellac varnish or hot drying oil and dry at room temperature. By the way, after these actions, the figure can not be painted - over time, it will take on the appearance of aged marble. To make a plaster product similar to wax, it can be treated with a solution with wax in the composition, often these are made on the basis of turpentine or gasoline. For greater naturalness, oily yellow paint can be added to the solution. When the product dries (it may take him only a few hours), the surface should be polished with a soft cloth to give the characteristic shine of the wax.

When creating, the most practical way is coloring at the stage of mixing the solution, when, thanks to the powder pigment, the desired color is given to the entire mass. The advantage of this method is that even inside the gypsum will be painted, and if a corner is chipped or the material is cracked, the defects will be less noticeable. Indeed, to achieve such similarity with natural materials, as is possible with brush painting, it will be difficult, although nothing prevents you from combining the coloring in the preparation of the solution with the surface painting.

What gypsum is good for is its ability to absorb moisture, and with different intensity, forming veins on the surface that approximate the resemblance to natural stone. There is nothing complicated in the process of painting itself - you will need tinting paste for water-based paints, water and a brush. All that needs to be done is to dilute the color or several shades in water and paint or rather blot the surface with a brush. From 30 to 50% acrylic primer can be added to water, which will give additional strength to gypsum products.

After applying the first layer, you can go over some places with a darker paint or with a more concentrated content of coloring pigment. In addition to the brush, you can use the most common sprayers, even from household detergents, or an airbrush. It will be even more convenient to make several different solutions at once, which will be at hand, so the coloring process will be even faster and better.

Do-it-yourself painting of gypsum products has many more advantages over buying finished products. Firstly, you can paint, for example, after installation, which allows you to make the pattern more uniform. Secondly, manufacturers on a large scale will not fiddle with each tile the way you do for yourself. After the paint dries, the surface will lose its brightness, so it is recommended to cover it with a matte or silky-matt varnish. In addition, it will give greater strength to products, protect it from moisture. It is recommended to use water-based varnishes - they do not have such a toxic smell and dry quickly.

How to paint bronze gypsum - the subtleties of the process

Painting gypsum reliefs under metal is a very popular way to ennoble products. For this you will need oil paints, matched by color, brush, fine sandpaper and acetone. Paint is applied in 3 layers, while the convex parts of the relief are covered with a more liquid paint, and the recesses with a thicker one. The first layer should always be light, when it dries, it must be artificially aged - treated with sandpaper, wiped with a cloth dipped in acetone.

The second layer should be applied thick paint with the addition of bronze powder. After it dries, a third is applied, thinned with turpentine, containing beeswax, to give a matte sheen. When the last layer dries, it is lightly removed with sandpaper on the convex parts, after which the surface is wiped with a flannel cloth powdered with talc. To shade some places, you can still add chromium oxide to the talc, or to achieve a greater effect, treat it with a mixture of bronze powder and graphite powder.

Painting artificial stone from gypsum - this is a great opportunity to get finishing material, which will meet individual decorative wishes. In addition, the layer will provide protection for facing products and increase their durability. With some diligence, all work can be done independently with available tools.

Painting the material at home is usually necessary in the case of the purchase of raw products or self-manufacturing of products. In the second option, it is better to provide for the coloring of the gypsum mass. This will allow surface staining only to emphasize the desired areas.


If, when making a stone on its own, you take care of its color in advance by adding color to the gypsum mass, then less time and effort will be spent on the entire staining process

Painting gypsum in general is not very easy, it will take accuracy and a lot of time. In addition, the result when choosing a certain color is not always the desired one. Therefore, all formulations are recommended to be tested in advance.

Can be used for face covering different kinds dyes, giving the details the desired shade.

acrylic paint

The water-based solution is quite popular, it allows you to decorate and protect the surface. Such a material has a number of properties necessary for an artificial stone from a gypsum mixture:

  • Elasticity. Cladding elements are subject to thermal expansion, which can lead to the formation of surface cracks. Due to the slight elasticity, this problem will be eliminated.
  • Vapor permeability. This parameter is very important for gypsum, especially inside the house. The fact is that this material contributes to the creation of a microclimate in the room due to the absorption and return of moisture.
  • Resistant to various kinds of influences. Of course, the paint will not protect the parts from strong mechanical influence, but it will protect them from ultraviolet radiation and excess water.

Coloring acrylic paint will add additional protective properties to artificial stone, which is especially important in rooms with temperature extremes and high humidity

If you want to get high moisture resistance, a mixture with the addition of silicone is purchased. hallmark acrylic compositions is that they easily change their color, color is used for this.

vitriol

Iron and copper sulfate are used as an impregnation. The main purpose of these mixtures is to increase the strength of parts, but there is also by-effect- coloring. The iron variety gives the stone a yellow tint, and the copper variety gives it a blue tint.

The dry composition is diluted with water in a suitable container, the elements are immersed in the solution for two hours. The main thing is to arrange the fragments so that they do not touch each other, otherwise there will be prominent areas.

wood stain

For gypsum, mainly compositions are used that are also suitable for concrete artificial stones. They are monophonic mixtures. There is a rich palette of shades, but if necessary, staining is done with wood stain.

There is also an acid stain. It should be handled with great care. Much depends on the composition, so it is recommended to test the mixture on one product.


Other types of solutions

Painting can be carried out with other varieties that paint the surface of the stone:

  • Any options designed for gypsum.
  • Lacquer of various modifications.
  • Impregnation. Many of them not only improve product quality, but also affect appearance. For example, a penetrating mixture with a wet effect gives the surface a sheen and creates the illusion of moisture.
  • Self-prepared compositions. The main thing - correct selection components.

On a note! Currently, special paints have appeared on sale that create the appearance of natural stone. The cost of such materials is high, but the result is impressive.

Staining rules

Coating products with coloring compositions is carried out according to certain rules:

  1. Parts must be well dried according to the manufacturing technology.
  2. After the acquisition, the elements must be aged at home. It takes at least 1-2 days for the stone to reach the balance of temperature and humidity.
  3. If previously processed products are painted, they are pre-sanded. This is very difficult to do, especially when the products are already on the walls.
  4. Impregnations are used according to the recommendations that each manufacturer indicates on the label. Some are applied before painting, others after. Some options are not combined with coloring compositions.

Should know! Often there is advice on the use of varnish to give a gloss finish, but this is not always appropriate. This effect can weaken the feeling of naturalness.

How to paint decorative stone?

The technology assumes that the work will be carried out in stages. The exact procedure allows you to paint without any problems.

Tool selection

The necessary tool depends on what products need a decorative coating. If you paint new parts, then the list will be smaller than when working with elements that have an old layer. Also in the second case it is very difficult to achieve a qualitative result.

The following set of devices is being prepared:

  • Airbrush. An alternative would be an airbrush.

  • Brushes and sponge. Great for highlighting and highlighting.
  • Grinding tools. It can be sandpaper or a grinder.
  • Vacuum cleaner. To remove dust and dirt.

The necessary impregnations and paint (or its components) are also purchased.

Stone preparation

Preparation of products is not difficult:


All fragments are inspected: defective or unsuitable in shape are not used.

Coating

Decorative stone painting is carried out different ways but the general advice is:

  • For uniform coloring, all fragments are processed individually.
  • If work is carried out on a finished surface, then options are immediately thought out that will avoid uniformity. The most common method is to use a relief and a two-tone coating. That is, a darker layer is first laid, then the protruding texture is slightly polished. If necessary, a lighter color is quickly applied afterwards.
  • For painting, it is preferable to use an airbrush, certain lines are highlighted with an airbrush. This will make the process go much faster. Coating stones with a strongly pronounced relief with paint (which is typical for gypsum products) with a brush is not only tiring, but also does not guarantee a quality result.
  • An excellent option is the complete immersion of parts in the composition. The duration depends solely on individual characteristics mixtures.

Important! To obtain the desired effect, a test coloring is carried out to select the shade and application technology.

Unusual staining of a plaster product

There are ways to stain gypsum with your own hands, which allow you to achieve interesting view surfaces, including aging.

Under the old marble

Process algorithm:

  1. When self-made, the stone is thoroughly dried, the temperature should not exceed 55 degrees on last step drying. The purchased product is aged for 48 hours in a warm room.
  2. Next, the drying oil is heated. Be careful and wear gloves.
  3. For application, a flute brush is used. The surface is impregnated in two layers, all areas are treated with great care to avoid gaps.
  4. Over time, the elements will take on a look reminiscent of old marble.

In addition, such impregnation reduces the hygroscopicity of gypsum.


Under terracotta

The technology is almost identical to the previous version, but shellac varnish and rosin are used as a coating composition, which are diluted in technical alcohol.

After a certain period of time after applying the composition, the surface becomes similar to terracotta.


A mixture of shellac lacquer and rosin makes the plaster brown.

Creating a bronze shimmer

The technology requires the presence of the necessary ingredients and the following steps:

  1. Gypsum figurines are well saturated with drying oil and are laid to dry for 8-10 hours.
  2. Bronze powder is prepared, diluted in varnish. This composition of the product is processed in two layers.
  3. The material dries well.
  4. A mixture of silver nitrate, acetic acid and water is prepared. Proportions: 10 g of silver, 100 g of vinegar and 300 g of pure water. If required, pigment is added.
  5. The product is covered with a thin layer of bronze powder and treated with a solution on top. Oxidation takes place.
  6. The surface is well rubbed with a piece of velvet.

On a note! If you need to enhance the effect, then the gypsum is additionally treated with a solution of wax in turpentine until the material stops absorbing the mixture. This cover can be washed.

Use of wood stain

Morilka is used quite often. It is well applied with a spray gun, but the best result is obtained with full immersion. To do this, the composition is slightly heated, the parts are dipped for a short time (from 5 to 10 seconds) and immediately sent to dry. If required, the fragments are pre-wiped.

An excellent decoration of the interior of the cottage are various decorative elements. Depending on the style of interior design, antiques (a samovar, for example), ceramics or porcelain can be used as such elements. Small gypsum products designed in the appropriate style are suitable for almost any interior.

What are the advantages of gypsum products?

Gypsum decorative elements are distinguished by a variety of shapes and sizes, which allows you to choose the best one for that. interior design which seems optimal to you. Besides:

  • Plaster figurines and figurines are fairly cheap;
  • They can be installed anywhere, without special restrictions;
  • Gypsum products can be painted to match any color that dominates the interior;
  • They do not require special care.

What to use?

Acrylic, water-dispersion and water-based paints are well suited for painting gypsum products. The color is chosen based on the features of the figure or interior. Painting is done with a sprayer, brush or cotton (gauze) swab.

Gypsum can be covered with potal (a kind of gilding) or compositions that imitate bronze. This allows you to create elegant and original interior elements that can decorate any room in the country.

Another option for processing gypsum is coating with hot drying oil or shellac varnish. After drying, the surface of the product will resemble aged marble.

In addition to purely design tasks, painting gypsum products helps protect them from various negative factors. For example, gypsum is sensitive to high humidity, but after painting with a waterproof composition, this problem disappears.

How to paint plaster?

Painting should be carried out as soon as possible after the product has dried. Over time, the surface of the gypsum loses its adhesive properties, so the coating will be less likely to lay down.

The gypsum product should be painted in a ventilated area.

One of the most preferred ways to color single-color products is to add pigment when preparing a gypsum mortar. As a result, the product will initially be colored.

The advantage of this method is that the figure will be painted over the entire volume. That is, if a chip occurs, it will not sparkle with the whiteness of gypsum, but will be the same color as the surface. The main disadvantage of this approach to painting is the monochromaticity and the inability to imitate other materials (gold, bronze, marble).

The use of water-soluble paints for painting will achieve the effect of natural stone. Due to the ability of gypsum to absorb moisture unevenly, the coating forms veins and halftones, very similar to the texture of a stone. With the help of a combination of different shades, you can get a very reliable imitation.

It is most convenient to work with such paints with a cotton swab.

Please note that it is better to paint the figure in 2-3 layers. Thus, a more saturated color will be obtained.