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Faux Finishes have long been utilized to replicate materials found in nature (ie woodgrains, stone, marble etc) but were unavailable to craftsmen due to building constraints, lack of resources, or practicality of application.
Additionally, faux finishing techniques are an integral part of more artistic endeavors like trompe l'oeil, grisaille, tole painting, murals and fine art.
Whether through broken color-work, color mottling, gradient shadowing or dry-brush, basic techniques are stacked as key elements in all types of intricate artwork.
While simple faux effects and faux finishes are certainly acceptable as finishes on their own, it is important to realize that the methods do not stop there.
In recent years, the United States faux finishing market has seen a drastic upswing in actual plaster and stucco techniques from Europe, the Middle East and South America. These include but are not limited to marmorino, grassello, and the ever-popular Venetian Plaster. While some of these methods have been studied and held in high regard for their historic application by many decorative finishers here in the U.S., others have taken drastic turns for the worse as a means of selling inferior products for the purpose of replicating superior materials. One of the most extreme examples of this is Venetian Plaster. Known simply as polished plaster throughout other parts of the world, this technique, when exercised in the U.S., is generally neither "Venetian" or "Plaster". The overwhelming majority of the Venetian Plasters available are nothing more than thick-bodied acryilc paints made into a paste form with the addition of fillers. Thus, they lack the transluscency and depth associated with genuine polished plasters produced elsewhere. While many have a high degree of crushed marble content (nothing more than a filler itself), they are missing the primary factor of slaked lime present and necessary in actual polished plasters. Hence, the lack of clarity and polish from these "plastic" versions. As a result, many American manufacturers recommend non-traditional methods of application like skip-troweling, heavy texturing and backfilling in an attempt to simulate the movement which naturally occurs in lime versions. Some even go so far as to recommend "burning" or "scarring" the plaster during the burnishing process in hopes of acheiving a semblance of transluscent overlap in the plaster. The list of incorrect information being propogated goes on and on from there. The purpose of this forum is to provide a venue where paint contractors, DIYers, and professional faux and decorative finishers as well as all others looking to increase their knowledge can speak not only to each other, but directly to manufacturers regarding any faux finish, artistic, decorative or faux finish paint technique using any product from any company in the world. Hosted and moderated by professional finishers and technical reps from various stain, plaster, stucco and decorative paint lines, this forum strives to provide the ultimate resource for those looking to create beautiful finishes that last a lifetime. Just
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