beachnut, I just saw your old post, and the name looks like "G. Cox" to me. I checked askart.com, and I don't see an artist by that name. He may be European, or I may be reading it wrong.

A while ago my mom stripped the mirrored tiles off her hallway wall - really dirty yellow oil-based(?) gloss paint from the 70's. I primed the ripped paper with Kilz and then skimmed with pre-mixed joint compound. I really didn't want to sand (lead?) so planned on skimming the entire hall (it's only 10ft long or so by 7'6" or 7'9" high, the other walls have lots of doors). Now I'm thinking I really don't want to skim around doors, though I think I'll have to skim the blank wall just to feather out all the patches. So, what should I do and in what order? Skim over the old dirty wall on Sat, let her handyman paint the ceiling Monday (she doesn't want him painting the walls "since he's not a painter", though why she's hiring him to paint kitchen/FR/hallway ceilings I don't know)? Wash the other walls with TSP substitute or DW detergent powder to degloss, then prime and paitn all the walls after the ceilings are done? Or should I try to clean the bare wall before skimming (afraid of getting patches wet)? Or do I spot-prime the patches, then clean the wall - by then, will it be deglossed so I can prime over it? BTW, we still have some adhesive from some kind of tape stuck to the wall, so I was thinking skimming was the way to go - I tried scraping and this stuff is not coming off. I used Kilz to prime the bare paper from the ripped drywall before I patched. She only has a quart, I don't think it'll do the whole hallway, so what should we buy a gallon of? I was telling her about Aura but 1) I don't know if it'll stick to the gloss paint even if I try to degloss it by washing with DW powder 2) would it be less $$ to buy a separate primer to go over with Regal (hopefully I can talk her into Matte or Eggshell not semigloss or gloss) if I end up skimcoating? How many coats of primer over joint compound if I skim? I'm hoping for 1 coat of light green paint over white or green-tinted primer. I'm not looking forward to doing this, wish she'd had one of my brothers do it when they were visiting last year, or hire someone (she's hiring a painter to do trim and interior doors later this year, don't know why she's have "nonpainter" do ceilings now). But I didn't think it was a good idea to have skimmed wall when grandkids came to visit next month - I think we should at least get primer on before then (but after ceilings are painted). Would it be best to paint (only have a couple of weeks to let it cure b4 visit) or just prime (and then touchup and spot prime again b4 painting if needed) before the visit? Any/all help greatly appreciated!

Clean, sand to break the sheen,(100 grit paper), clean the dust, apply Zinsser 123, let it dry, apply 2 finish coats, done.

1. Most framers, even at Michaels, are also artists. I have had very competent framers at michaels. 2. Michaels insures art for up to $250. If it's more, take the artwork home until the frame and or components are ready and then bring it back for assembly. Takes upwards of half an hour. 3. Rub n buff is great stuff. Imo, better than sprays or other metallic paint. Very convenient and controllable. Good results if subtlety is desired. Check all the colors in the line. Rub buff is under $5.00 at michaels. 4. Framing is expensive. 5. Those champagne frames suggested by Ida Jen are excellent but also depends on the room. Yes you frame according to the artwork but it helps to coordinate with the dictates of the room, slightly. 6. Jerrys artarama, jerrysartarama.com, an artists supply retailer, has great framing supplies, including well priced ready made and custom frames. Have been buying supplies and frames there for many years. I have bought many ready made and a couple of custom sized frames. 7. A new fresh mat and some rub n buff will likely help you enjoy your watercolor floral a great deal. Or even doctoring up the old mat, ala Annie. 8. I am an oil painter who has been pleased with michaels. And also a modest collector. With a new house.