Buy the little sponge rollers that will fit inside the area. First use a *good* brush to paint the edges and corners, then use the roller. Hope this works for you. ;o)

The paint forum might have some good suggestions for you. I know they have lots of posts about the best primer and paint to use for trim and molding, so you could search there. For my projects, I've found I don't often get an even, full coverage with primer alone. It just gives good adhesion and a clean surface. Then my next few coats of paint go on evenly and look fine. This seems to be especially true when I'm painting wood. Could you test your top coat in an inconspicuous place and see how it goes?

Sarah

Thanks, you two. I cross posted over at the Paint forum as well. At the very least, i think i'm going to have to buy a different brush. :)

Yeah there was a post I had on the paint forum awhile back asking questions and Faron recommended some special stuff you put in the paint to help min. brush strokes. I forget what it's called off hand.

I would have used an oil based primer and used a brush made for oil base paint. You can paint latex paint over an oil based primer. I am going to assume the original wood had stain or polyurethane on it that was oil. Was the primer a latex primer??? That might be the problem. However, primer does go on unevern like that, it is preping the surface so the final coat of paint can adhere.

Found it for you!

Here is a link that might be useful: ximbonder

Thank you, Sheesharee!

Gk5040, i'm using Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water Based Primer. Klutz that i am, oil makes me a little uneasy. :)

What are you using for your top coat? Gloss, semigloss, what?

What kind of brush are you using?

Are you painting white?

Looked again at your photos. Don't be alarmed. The primer will show brushstrokes and also show underneath. Just sand it when it's dry, you'll be fine.

Here is a good brush for smooth coat. It's called a Wooster Shortcuts, and Benjamin Moore sells them. Not expensive:

Estreya-- I think you are very brave for doing this project (as Yoda says, "do or no do, there is no try"). The one thing I noticed in your pictures is that you could use some caulking in the corners of your rectangles. That would make the finished project look seamless.
BYW- your have a beautiful house.

Red is right, a bit of filler will help make those corners look great. But I wouldn't use caulk, which takes forever to dry, smells bad and is difficult to sand.

Instead, mix up a little plaster of paris. It's cheap, non-toxic, easy to use, and sands like a dream. Just apply it with your fingertip.

My mind is eased. Thanks so much, Mclarke and Redlodger!

My next step, then, is a light sanding, and i'll definitely fill those corners, and i'll definitely buy that brush.

I'm glad i didn't create a more nightmarish problem for myself (i.e., having to sand down to bare wood again).

Thanks again, all!

Zinsser makes a great primer. The others are right though, it won't go on evenly like your final coat. You're doing fine. :) I painted a wood desk last summer and when I finished with the primer, I thought the same thing, "oh, what a mess I've made." But then I put on the first finish coat (a black high gloss paint), all of my doubts went away.

You may need to put on two coats of your regular paint though since you're covering the wood and primer. I would put one coat on and then see if you even need to fill those corners. A little spackle will work - no mixing needed. When you first apply it it will be pink and then it dries to white. Then you can lightly sand it and paint on your final coat.

Also, as others mentioned..use a really good regular paint brush. It will have finer bristles and give you a nice, smooth application. The inexpensive brushes have courser bristles. Believe me, the brush does make a difference.

Bottom line is... you're doing great! :)

Ah, primer is primer. It often doesn't look like a nice coat of paint. I'm doing some priming on my staircase walls right now and I'm seeing the same sort of results. I just wouldn't worry about it at this point.

My favorite paint brushes by far are Purdy. I LOVE my Purdys. Take good care of them and they'll last you for years.

I agree with Sippimom's bottom line. Don't worry, you're doing fine! BTW, your home looks just lovely.

My primer coat always looks like that.

One more piece of wisdom....

When you're doing a project like this, you are spending hours at about 12 inches from it. Even when you get to the finish coats, it will not look as good as you think you want it to. But, after it's over, you'll be seeing it from further away and all the while on the move. Small imperfections will not be so apparent.

Good luck and hang in there! It's a beautiful space. :-)

Thank you so much for your continued consolation, Sippimom, Oceanna, Graywings, and Amysrq. It's such a relief to know i haven't botched things up too terribly.

It seemed counter intuitive to me that a top coat could smoothly adhere to such a blotchy, icky canvass. But i now have total faith it will work out in the end (as things often do, don't they?).

Monday, i'll get a better brush and some really fine sandpaper to finish it off. Then, who know? I may one day screw up the courage to paint that banister black! :)

Thanks again everyone!

You can't compare primer to paint. At least that has been my experience. I second OIL base paint.

You are getting good advice here. The final coat (and I suggest you may need 3 instead of 2 coats of paint over primer and wood) will be fine -- especially from any distance. No one will ever put their nose down there and scoff at any brush strokes.

I will offer, however, that I actually LOVE caulk and would choose that over spackle or plaster in your case. The key to caulk is to keep a damp rag handy to wipe off any excess. Smoosh the caulk in to the cracks and then completely wipe off the area. Done.

Good luck!

Estreya, did you get your better brush and get back to this job? How's it going?

Thank you for asking! I actually didn't make it out today for sandpaper and brush, but it's on my list for tomorrow. And there's a Good Will right near Miller Paint! I plan to make a morning of it ... :)