The last thing a parent wants to do is squelch their emerging artist’s talent. Also, two more last things a parent wants to do are scrub paint, crayon, chalk, paste, and whatever else the young artist chooses for self-expression, or spend a weekend repainting the walls. George Borlodan, Atascadero painter with Borlodan Painting Company, has some suggestions.
- Paint your child’s room with a water-based latex or acrylic formulated gloss paint that is easy to clean.
- Use blackboard or whiteboard paint for a portion of the wall.
- Buy easy-to-clean art supplies, such as washable markers, tempera paint sticks, and beeswax crayons.
- Cover sections of the wall with butcher paper, and save your child’s masterpieces.
- Provide easels, art pads, coloring books, and set aside time for artistic expression.
Water-based gloss paint
Water-based gloss paint comes in your choice of latex or acrylic. Select a low-VOC paint with fewer chemicals that emit strong fumes and poor air quality. The Atascadero painter uses only low-VOC paint for all of the company’s commercial and residential projects.
Prep the walls just as you would for any paint job by cleaning the wall, filling in holes and scrapes, and using a primer. Apply a couple of coats of the gloss paint, letting each coat dry thoroughly.
For a glass-like finish, lightly sand the surface before the first coat, then lightly sand each coat.
Blackboard and whiteboard paint
Blackboard paint limits your young artist to using chalk, but it might be a nice addition for the youngster’s studio.
Whiteboard paint requires art markers that can be cleaned with a whiteboard eraser or microfibre cloth. The markers come in a variety of colors. Using the wrong type of marker might not clean off as easily as normal whiteboard markers. Read the label on the can before buying whiteboard paint to make sure it’s the right choice for you.
Choosing the right art supplies
Whether you choose to paint the wall or cover it with butcher paper, the right art supplies are still important. Artists get involved in their work and can go a little wild. Paint splatters, or the wall on the other side of the room looks like it needs a tree, so easy-to-clean art supplies are going to prevent some “What did you do?” moments and extra cleaning.
Trusted, local experts
If you feel overwhelmed with the prospect of “artist proofing” the walls in your home, reach out to Borlodan Painting Company.
Borlodan Painting has the experience and personal touch that is needed to meet the unique needs of growing families and communities. From preserving the traditional interior and exterior appearances of historic homes and commercial buildings to new and modern construction, the team takes pride in its workmanship.
No job is too small or too big for the Atascadero painter team. One of the jobs that Borlodan is still proud of was painting a basket for a customer to match her furniture. The team has also worked on projects for Hearst Castle.
Borlodan Painting Company is the trusted Central Coast company, committed to providing a respectful, smoke-free work site, and treating both the inhabitants and the spaces they paint with the utmost respect.
