How To Do It?

Cat_painter

Faux is one thing I don't know how to do. Could someone tell me how or pass along a website that shows step by step what you do.

Thanks

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Jill of all trades...Master at MOMMY

Exroadog

www.dpap.org

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www.decoartisans.com
http://dpap.org
http://paintedfx.com

Danahy

Which faux would you like to know about?

1. smooshing (with plastic)
2. fresco (brush or roller style)
3. ragging on / off (with rag)
4. sponging on / off (with sponge)
5. colour washing (with rag)

These are my basic 5, I started with. Colour washing and fresco are the only two that ever get asked for these last 2-3 yrs... Had a ragging with metallic glaze recently also. (That one's super easy)

Striping, marble, venetian plaster are also some others...

kbdesigns

Sorry, I have to get on my soapbox here. I cringe when people use the word "faux" so loosely. It is such an American thing. Also, how often do you hear someone say "point me to a website for step by step" with any other craft?

Faux finishing is the preparation and finishing of a surface to imitate the appearance of polished marble or stone . It is typically used in buildings where the cost or weight of genuine marble and stone would be prohibitive. Faux marbling is a special case of faux painting used to create the distinctive and varied patterns of marble - the most imitated stone by far.

faux painting was widely used in Pompeii, but it really took off in Europe during the Renaissance with two schools of faux painting developing. The Italian school was loose and artistic, the French school was formal and realistic. It typically took an apprentice ten years or more to fully master the art. The sophistication of the techniques are such that visitors are frequently unable to distinguish between false and real marble and stone in many churches, palaces and public buildings in Europe. The techniques were perfected by the 17th century and have been used in all styles of construction well into the 20th century, including Baroque, palladian, neoclassical and historical revival styles as well as Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings. Craftsmen who are able to replicate this work are still available, as evidenced, for example, by the extensive restorations of faux marble and stone surfaces in important Eastern Europe buildings since 1990.
With a lengthy apprenticeship in house painting, signwriting, graining, and marbling, Kershaw won awards at the International Exhibit of 1851 and in the Paris exhibition of 1855. So skillful and realistic was his work that it was often confused with real wood and marble. His fame brought him to the attention of Prince Albert, who hired Kershaw to decorate the Emperor's Room at Buckingham Palace. His work is still occasionally displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Other techniques for producing faux marble include Scagliola, a costly process which involves the use of specially pigmented plasters, and terrazzo, for flooring, in which marble chips are imbedded in cement, then ground and polished to expose the marble aggregate.

Modern professional faux finishers are very skilled and will use a variety of techniques to reproduce the colors, veining and luster of real marble or stones. However, many decorators will merely suggest the appearance of marble rather than accurately imitate a particular stone.
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Kathy
www.kbdesigns.biz
www.talkfaux.com

MakDeco

The definition of faux as described in the dictionary

Faux (IPA: [fəʊ]) is a French word for false or fake. It is often used in English phrases such as faux pearls and faux fur.
When manufacturing faux objects or materials, an attempt is often made to create products which will resemble the imitated items as closely as possible. However, some products are intentionally made to look "faux", for example, faux furs made for prospective buyers who want their fur to be recognizable as imitation due to controversy over the use and manufacture of real animal furs.
Faux materials are produced in a variety of ways, for example faux finishes, such as Terrazzo and scagliola, generally made with marble dust in a plaster binder, yielding a hard material that will take a polish. To imitate marbles, porphyry, and other stones, "faux finishes" are often painted using spatterdash, sponging, and feather-streaking techniques on gessoed and painted surfaces.

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MAK Deco

kbdesigns

Negleted to credit my description. It came from the encyclopedia.

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Kathy
www.kbdesigns.biz
www.talkfaux.com

DecorativeWalls

very nice find kb.

Cat, learning to do decorative paint finishes is mainly up to the individual (if you have the passion and desire to step into this arena).

If you do have the desire and commitment, there are lots of self-taught decorative artists. IRL- we learn by practicing, practicing and doing it over and over. There are lots of decorative painting books available to aid you in doing some things, HOWEVER- one of the most rewarding experiences is to find an excellent decorative painting school and attend to learn about using prof. products, and get hands on training . Do your research and expand and love what you do.

kbdesigns

A good school is a must and then it doesn't end there. You should be attending at least a couple every year to keep up to date on the new products and finishes.

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Kathy
www.kbdesigns.biz
www.talkfaux.com

Downeast

Interesting site.Thats a school of art...

Exroadog

It is schooling. We go around the country doing projects on-site so that the students get Real experience. We bring in top notch teachers from around the country and europe. We have 2 coming up this summer in Maine too.

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www.decoartisans.com
http://dpap.org
http://paintedfx.com

BAForese

Hi All ... new here to this forum.

Just wanted to follow-up on exroadog's earlier post on this thread: The Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program (dpap.org) has selected its next hands-on project: New Orleand, LA. We'll be working on 3 areas in a place called City Park in New Orleans which was severely damaged by Katrina. When we get there the surfaces will be ready for our embellishments.

If you want to learn how to decorative paint/faux paint this classes will be hands-on-the-wall classes taught by experienced professionals that are respected in the trade. We're working on the class schedule now but we know that classes wil take place in Feb/March/April of '08; class length will be most likely 4-5 days.

florescu

youtube

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kustomkate

Cat Painter,
If you are interested in getting into this business, there are many decorative painting techniques: glazing, plastering, masking patterns (such as striping), gilding etc.
"Faux" is a very small part of the business. "Faux" is re-creating something found in nature like marble, stone, or wood using paints, glazes and limestone plasters.
If you just want to learn some basic glazing techniques Check out "Modern Masters Guide to Decorative Patining" This is an excellent DVD that covers glazing, wood graining and marble. It's about $40
If you are interested in making a business out of it or would like to learn more advanced and updated techniques: there are great places to take classes. It's hands on with people that share similair interests... trust me it'll probably be one of the most fun weeks you've ever had! faux by kathy [dot com ] is a GREAT place to learn! If you are out of town, she is used to helping you coordinate accomodations etc.
The Class schedule should be on her website and the one for you would be "Great Beginnings" Which is coming up soon! Tell her Katie sent you

Plaster Ayn

My business just focuses on one niche under the umbrella of decorative finishes which is Venetian Plaster. 10 years ago, it was very hard to get in the US and the faux artist reproduced the look with paints. Now, its all over the place whether its imported from Italy or manufactored here.

If you can take a real class whether it be a faux class or a venetian plaster class, I believe you will have more success adding this aspect to your business. First, you will have put some real skin into the game. Secondly, your instructors will work with you one on one, so you really "get it" in a shorter amount of time. Thirdly, you will leave with a portfolio of samples that would cost you almost as much to do them on your own as to take a class.

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Ayn Riggs
http://www.californiaschoolofitalianplasters.com
http://www.italianplasterworks.com
info@italianplasterworks.com

evelien

Hello,

Faux finishing really is doing a 2 or 3 layer construction, with a hiding base coat and 1 or 2 semi-transparent top coats. In that, color effects are important. Painting light over dark does good for cold colors (making them radiant), painting dark over light looks nice with warm colors. Check my website if you want to read more on that.

The other important thing is, being able to repeat the same gestures over a whole wall. If you're a skilled painter, you already know how to guide your own gestures. The rest is color, and practice.

Good luck! Evelien