Painting Brick Columns: The Grapevine Part 2

Part 2 of the paint treatment in The Grapevine at Trinity Worship Center involved painting two support columns with a brick pattern. See The Grapevine: Part 1 for details on painting the stone wall.

Before

l-r Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray 7504, Macadamia 6142, Artisan Tan 7540, Kaffee 6104, Wild Currant 7583 and Sommelier 7595. I don't know the name of the existing wall color but it is close to SW Hopsack 6109.
The bricks were created by combining variations of two red paint colors plus the three darker colors used to create the stone. The reds for this project were chosen with the color of the chairs used in The Grapevine in mind. They are a deep burgundy/wine color.

When deciding the size of the bricks,  I took a bit of creative license. I'm not sure if ALL bricks are the same size but the one's used on the exterior of the church are 2.5" x 7.5". The columns were 9.5" square. I decided to make my bricks 3" x 6.25". Again, no formula just what I thought would visually look right for that size column.

I began by cutting a basic kitchen sponge to the size I wanted.

I dampened the sponge and started applying different colors of paint, making sure paint was along each edge of the sponge. Again, like with the stone, a controlled randomness was the pattern. Each brick received a different combination of colors.

Now, depending on your personality, you can begin by drawing out a level pencil line. I have done this before when "bricking" a large wall. For these columns I decided to eyeball it making sure my bricks lined up with each other as I proceed around the column. My grout line is approximately 1/2"...give or take a bit.
To make the brick, press the painted sponge firmly onto the wall.  

This is NOT what you want it to look like!

Make sure you press the sponge firmly against the wall, rocking the sponge back and forth to ensure the paint is evenly transferred.

It's even okay to go back over your brick with the sponge to ensure coverage but don't worry about being too perfect. Bricklayers are not perfect...brick painter's don't have to be either...just level.

i.e...wonky grout line!

I choose to use the dark brown as the predominant color with the bricks. But there is plenty of the burgundy red color to allow the bricks to blend with the burgundy chairs and tablecloths used in this space. These two columns took approximately 4 hours to paint.

An additional step you could do when painting brick or stone is to lightly paint a "shadow" along each brick. Imagine where your "light source" is coming from and paint a gray shadow along the bottom and one side of your bricks or stone.

Stay tuned for Part 3 which will show a striped awning for the serving window as well as simple window treatments for two opposing windows.

I love the warmth brick brings to a space. As is clearly evident by the brick walls in our dining room!

But here's an example of how this bricking technique can be used in your own home! What do you think? Would you ever try it? Have you ever tried it?

 To see more of this space, take a look Here and Here.

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