Mexican Colors

By Michèle Coppin

When temperatures drop and frost moves in, when nature pales and the days shorten, I turn to Mexico.



I long for sun and color, for chilies, for songs with "Corazon" in every sentence, straw hats, Sangria and little towns where the cobblestone streets are lined with abstract paintings—palettes of vivid colors—that echo like poems.

 

Colors in Mexico are so site-specific; they reflect orange sunlight, acid blue skies, red hot peppers, the sound of bullfights, turquoise stones, green taxis, silver mines, purple shawls, black hair, golden mangoes, pink watermelons and brown earth. These vibrant colors have inspired many artists who have paintings tucked away in museums and private collections. My favorites, however, are the true Mexican muralists—the home owners simply embellishing their walls and doors for all to admire!



If you are like me and crave spice in your life, these wild, and sometimes unusual, color schemes are right at your finger tips - just go to Valspar's Globe Trotting Color Trends where you can create your own ethnically saturated and spicy color combinations.



By using the simple technique of color washing, you can create that beautiful, worn, old look on your walls. The visible, overlapping brush strokes resemble weathered stucco. This is ideal for imperfect walls, as the subtle textured finish helps hide imperfections. It works particularly well with brighter colors like yellows, oranges and reds.

After painting your base coat, simply apply a bright golden glaze in random crossing patterns like overlapping X's. For a wall that glows, work lightly allowing the base coat to show through.

Comments

[Charlie DeChiara]

what is the name of the light blue color on the stucco surrondfing the wood doors. Please, gotta have that color on my patio walls. Thank you.

[Michele]

Hi Charlie,

I am so glad you like that gorgeous color - It stopped me in my tracks when I came upon too! As you can probably tell from the photo, it is not one color but the result of many layers of paint, added over generations. In order to recreate that look, you will need at least 2 coats of paint; First use Lilac Machiato 4002-5B as a base coat then overlap it with a wash of Lyndhurst Celestial Blue 5003-9C using Valspar Faux Tintable glaze.
If you follow the wash technique described in the blog - you should get your Mexican color.
Should you want the adorable little peach line as an accent, try Peach Taffy 2006-4A.

Let us know how it goes.
Michele

[Anita Cordell]

I want to make my kitchen mexican with traditional. The problem I have is my kitchen is a 1968 paneled kitchen with cabinets over the bar. Everything I paint it with still makes it look like paneling. I found someone that can paint a mural on the walls but I am afraid it will make it look cheep. Can you help me.