Fauxology: Studying the Visual Magic of Faux Finishing and Interior Design (brought to you by Garay Artisans)

This weekend I will be pretty busy putting together a lot of things and so I don’t foresee being able to post a blog entry for you.  So, instead of running an original post, I’m putting up a Rerun!  (And no groaning!  If it’s good enough for TV shows with millions of viewers then by golly it’s good enough for my  millions, er thousands, ok heavy hundreds, mmm light hundreds of readers, LOL!).  For those of you who have read this blog since it started last June, it should be a “oh, yeah - I remember that post” and for those of you who are new to the blog and haven’t scrolled back to the Posts of Fauxology Past, this should be a new read for you.

Back in October and November, I reviewed our Top 10 recommended Faux Products.  Please note that they are in no particular order as you peruse them.  I hope you enjoy the links!

Top 10 Faux Products: 1 - 5

Top 10 Faux Products: 6 - 10

Have a great weekend!

Ahhhh, any excuse to use a movie quote from this pop-culture junkie.  (The title quote is courtesy of Hugh Grant’s character in Notting Hill.)  The reason?  Our website and blog stats.  Every day I check the numbers to see how my little online children are doing and lately, the stats have been higher than ever and even more incredible, maintaining their “momentum”.  Before I got excited, I actually called my webhost to check that these were really the right figures and to make sure that some computer glitch wasn’t messing with my stats.  No, they assured me — “you really are getting those visits”.  (Yes, I’m one of those people who sees a stranger waving at them and turn around just to check…like…”Me?”)  I’ve also been getting the nicest e-mails — many just to relay a compliment.  I think it’s so thoughtful and I try to pay it forward throughout the day.

So, to all my website visitors, blog regulars and blog newbies: I truly thank each and every one of you for taking the time to review our work/musings, come back time and again to read the blog and for passing along the sites to your family and friends. 

…now the pressure is REALLY on to keep producing good content…  

OMG, I can’t wait to show you pics of some of our latest works.  They take time to crop and get to the right pixel size so it might be over the weekend/early next week that I might have some time to put it all together.  I can’t believe I get to be creative every day and leave people happier with their homes.  I just want to pinch myself sometimes, I’m so lucky.  In the meantime, let’s talk Part II of our “Aged & Old” discussion.   (OK, so it’s really a one-way discussion…but you can always comment!)

One of our favorite antiquing agents is Faux Effect’s Earth Brown AquaColor mixed with glaze.  We call it ”Age in a Bottle”.  Other good tints to use to create an aging glaze would include Burnt Umber, Raw Umber and Black.  Using Van Dyke Brown water-based stain mixed with a little glaze followed by a flat topcoat also works quite well, too.  One of my artist friends told me years ago to go take pictures of aged buildings, rust formations, verdigris — basically, anything that could be used as inspiration — and it was invaluable advice.  I noticed that corners and deep grooves usually remain darker than other areas since these are the areas least exposed and most prone to the accumulation of grime throughout time.  Conversely, raised sections would receive the brunt of wear & tear and so they would naturally fade more than the rest of the piece.  Some aged pieces (esp. wood) also have a light spatter pattern.  Most surfaces expand and contract in reaction to temperature changes (and the weather, if outside) and so the paint may start to flake, crackle and/or craze.  Amazing what you can learn from having photographs for visual reference.  Before aging a piece, some thought as to its composition and balance is helpful — you don’t just want to make it look old…you want it to be authentically old.  Now for the really fun part…pictures!!!!

Some nice weathered wood…

An aged building.  I particularly love noting the dark watermarks under the right window.

Lichen and moss…

A beautiful distressed panel (Right) and Rust (Left)

Hope you’ve enjoyed this Aged & Old series!  Until the next post…

Pictures courtesy of Phoenix Home & Garden, Period Finishes & Effects and Outdoor Painting Techniques

In many industries, the words “Aged” and “Old” have bad connotations.  In the faux industry, however, you might as well be talking about El Dorado, Valhalla or The Emerald City — it’s something to aspire to. To get anything to have a “centuries-old” look, you have to take into account what could get it there.  Wind, driving rain, heat from the sun, pollution, mistreatment, breakdown of materials, improper use of materials, natural disasters, grime and/or just plain old neglect are a few causes.  There are also many tools you can use to get there in a short amount of time: hammers, nails, sandpaper, steel wool, milk paint, crackle materials, pickling stains and aging glazes.  I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten  to mention other products and tools you could also use.

I’ve compiled some pics to showcase in this entry and in Part II as well.  In my eyes, I can only see the beauty of the effects of the passing years.  Looking beyond each surface and breaking down the layers, an artist will have to account for a good balance of color, texture and age.  In essence, find a way to be Perfectly Imperfect.  This will sometimes require layers of work.  Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.  Or in our case, hasn’t weathered in a day.

It would be so nice to be able to sit in this garden bench in the early morning hours.  The walls look like they might have plaster over bricks (see the faint indentations?) and there is, of course, water damage and dirt around the bench.  One way to achieve this look is using varying shades of tinted aqua plaster on the walls and then layering glazes/acrylic colors in various mossy shades as well as dark, dark browns, greys, some white and black.    

Two different types of water features.  I love the background of the Left (maybe using oxidizing patinas and/or silver metallic with a rust-colored watery paint to get there).  The one on the Right is a more traditional stone - different shades of grays, browns, ochres and white. 

 The following two photographs are stained and weathered wood pics.  Some of my favorite water-based wood stains come from Faux Effects.  The second pic features stencilling on the planks in a “pattern box” style, perhaps using milk paint.

This last pic showcases the appeal of taking years to grow vines.  I love, love, love this look and so I thought I’d end this entry with a photograph of the vine growing in an unusual place.  Years ago, I got lost in Winter Park, FL and saw a house that had gorgeous ivy all over its exterior walls.  I literally had to park the car, get out and just admire its beauty.  Try as I might, I haven’t been able to retrace my steps and find that home again.  It’s probably just as well — it’s hard to come back from a “stalker” reputation, LOL!

Until Part II…

Pics courtesy of Phoenix Home & Garden and Period Finishes & Effects.

If you are so inclined, please take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day: a remembrance of those who have died in our country’s service — and I always like to add kind thoughts for their families as well.  It’s a hard road for the ones left behind.   

I’d like to take a little observational side street on this grand Faux & Design Road Trip we’re on together.  You see, whenever I am proposing a finish to a client or making a custom sample, I always try to think “Is it beautiful?”.  Even if a client is on a budget, we give our best since A) There is something gorgeous to be had at any price point, and B) I would want someone to look out for me in the same way.  What goes around comes around, trust. 

I just noticed that subconsciously, the sibs and I pick out every day items using the “Is it beautiful?” theory…and they are usually patterns.  (I really have a thing for pattern this month, don’t I?)  Here are just some of the things I noticed around the studio office:

My sister discovered these at Ikea and was immediately smitten.  They are now our work desks.

File folders — I truly can’t stand the plain vanilla ones.  These are the ones I use for my client commissions and they actually inspire me to think more creatively…I mean, just look at the top “woodgrain” file…heaven!  Who wouldn’t love a similar pattern on their wood beams? 

For myself, I searched and searched for a laptop bag that wasn’t just industrial black or even just a plain color.  When I saw this bag at abbi, I though “Voila!”.  (Unfortunately, when it came in, my brother took one look at it and said “Well, that effectively takes care of me ever helping you carry your laptop.  Don’t even ask!”  Was it the pink?) 

In our studio, if it can’t run it’s probably going to get painted.  Here are some gallon containers (quarts not pictured) we fauxed in different finishes and patterns for a trade show.  Of course, we didn’t think about what we were going to do with them afterwards, LOL!  Now, we sometimes pour touch-up materials in them and leave them for our clients with our contact information on the top lid.   They love them and take care of them - which is great because the products, should they need them, stay fresh for years.

I suppose I could find even more evidence of “pattern-mania” if I looked harder.  If you take everyday items and just make them unique or give them a beautiful color design, it lifts your spirits up.  Who wouldn’t enjoy that? 

5/26 UPDATE:  I didn’t think to add where we purchased some of these items - sorry!  I’ve added them now. :) The folder information is in the “Comments” section.  Enjoy!

Earlier this year, Melanie Royals announced that she would soon be publishing her new book: Modello by Design, Inspiring Interiors from Artist’s Portfolios. She put out a nationwide call for artisans to submit their work using the wonderful Modello materials.  (Trust me, I love them.  Check out my recommendation back in October.)  We use Modellos frequently for areas such as entertainment centers, lettering and wall accents.  However, I knew we’d have to pick and submit some of our most unique and artistic uses of the Modello material to be seriously considered along with everyone else. 

This past week we found out we are to be one of the artisan teams featured in the book.  Wow!  My brother and I did The Happy Dance together (not meant to be seen in public).  I’ve been so excited that it’s finally becoming real enough in my head to blog about it!  (According to his site’s News section, I know finisher extraordinaire, Robbie Calvo, will be featured as well.)  We’ve no idea which of our submitted projects made the cut but we’ll find out in late summer when the book comes out.  We get our own copy but Mom has already placed dibs on it.  I guess I’ll have to purchase my own, LOL!

I think this is the proposed book cover…cool, no?

Photo courtesy of Design Amour

There are some great decorative painting events and conventions coming up this year.  They are all fantastic opportunities to learn about new finishing trends, discover the latest & greatest products, share recipes, meet both new and old friends and of course the best part: being inspired to push your boundaries and set new creative standards for yourself. 

Salon — This one is coming up quick: May 21 - 25 in Chicago, IL (open to the public on the 22nd) and this year’s theme is Music.  Salon is a prestigious group of international decorative painters (in fact, last year’s Salon was held in Denmark) who convene yearly to “study each other’s work, watch and discuss old and new techniques and materials”.  As I understand it, artists can apply to Salon by submitting their work but membership is by invitation only.  The event is for Salon members and those interested in seeing true modern day masters at work.  After seeing the public exhibitions, it is impossible to not be humbled and yet strangely inspired by the Salon artistry.  (In fact, after taking Dean Sickler’s Advanced Woodgraining class, I walked away and challenged myself to reach his level of realism by the time I was 65.  Wait a minute.  I just realized I only gave myself a few decades…better get crackin’!)

Society of Decorative Painters — The 36th Annual Conference and Expo will be held May 26 - 31 in Tampa, FL.  Their theme this year is “Share the Magic of Painting” and there will be Beginner - Advanced classes held throughout the event. This event is less faux-related and has more of an emphasis on traditional decorative painting.  On Saturday, the expo is open to the public for free. 

SALI Convention — This year is an envelope-pushing event for the organization hosting this popular yearly convention.  SALI stands for Stencil Artisans League, Inc. and this year they are recognizing the growth of the decorative painting industry by changing the organization’s name to one encompassing all the artistic disciplines of our industry.  The name (which will be unveiled at the convention) also ushers in a great year of classes, with teachers such as Gary Lord, Donna Phelps, Kathy Carroll, Melanie Royals, Pierre Finkelstein, Leonard Pardon, Barth White and George Zaffle (to name just a few).  There is also a fantastic Expo to walk through, tour events scheduled and parties.  The event is in Charleston, SC and runs from July  21-26.  One of my best friends in this business, Denise Lunsford (who owns The Wall-Nut based in Naples/Fort Myers), and I will be rooming together and we always have so much fun.  (We met at a class about 8 years ago and it was a lifelong-friend moment.  In fact, when I call her I say “Hey Denise.  Denephew here.”)   You can download the brochure and see about coming along.  Should be a great event!

Artisans on the Water – This is the first event of its kind hosted by Out of this World Finishes/Seattle School of Decorative Painting, and they are planning to make it a yearly summer event.  The sunset dinner cruise will be in Seattle, WA, on August 7th (discounts available if you register by May 20th).  There will be gourmet cuisine, demonstrations of sell-able finishes by world-renowned instructors (including some previously mentioned instructors in addition to the Hoppe Brothers and Mike Macneil) with plenty of carrying on.  What a great idea!!

The Decorative Arts Show – The Faux Event has now become a part of The Decorative Arts Show, endorsed by the PDPA (Professional Decorative Painters Association).  This event is scheduled for September 7 - 13 in Atlantic City, NJ.  There are 48 classes available and include some of the teachers above as well as Ina Brousseau & Allen Marx, Andre Martinez, Nicola Vigini, Dean Sickler and a Business Roundtable that includes Nicholas Cichielo.  Looks awesome!

Hope you found some good information and please be sure to follow the links in case one (or a few) tickle your interest…we’ll meet again at the next post!

Thought I would post up some pics of our Textures Workshop.  We had a blast since everyone was funny and outgoing and ready to learn…love that vibe in a class!  When I pulled out my camera to start taking pics, Pam (one of our students), said “You know this is going to end up on the blog!” and everyone started laughing.  (Including myself.  I knew it was true!)

In the Textures class, we learn three finishes: Old World Plaster, ShimmerStone and an elegant Tissue Paper finish.  The Old World Plaster was turned into two finishes since I wanted to teach how to achieve bricks/tile/stones as well.  I also try to incorporate stencil work into the take-home samples since I think some textures could always use a bit of oomph.   

Stenciling acrylic colors onto the ShimmerStone…

ShimmerStone is a shimmery plaster that once troweled onto a wall, gives a kind of suede lustre appearance.  It’s beautiful and comes in a myriad of colors.

Here is Jorge with his Old World Texture…we gave the boards a worn and rustic appearance by having some darker areas and some faded areas.  His lower left corner had some really cool crackling going on (wish the picture did the finished sample justice!)

Our website will soon be updated with classes at Benjamin Moore beyond May.  I know the next ones are: Metallics (June 7th), Textures (June 21) and Venetian Plaster (July 13).  We also have the Cabinet Refinishing workshops taught at our studio in the schedule as well. 

I was asked where one could purchase good stencils — that’s a loaded question since there are so many great stencil companies and retailers out there.  I thought I’d share the list with you as well.  Here are some favorite retailers (in no particular order):

Artistic Painting Studio, The Stencil Library, Royal Design Studio, Wallovers, Stencilled Garden, Stencil Search (a sorta-Google site for stencils), L.A. Stencilworks and Stencil Planet.  When I started out, the owner of Heart of the Home stencils, Laura, was super-nice and patient with me so I always feel good recommending her stencils as well.  In case you’d like to take a look at additional companies, Stencil Search has a considerable list of stencil manufacturers. 

Have a great weekend!