by Pique Design

Faux finishes are techniques used by decorative painters to recreate the look and feel of many types of natural materials. The most common forms of these finishes used today replicate the effects of aged plaster, distressed and stained paint, wood, limestone, and marble. In the last decade decorative painting has been used so frequently that it is hard to find a business or home that has not been enhanced with its beauty. Design magazines are filled with fabulously painted rooms that use finishes to emphasize the designer’s intent. This popular "trend" that has taken the design world by storm is not actually a "trend" at all.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DECORATIVE PAINTING

Historically speaking, the attempt to replicate the natural world or more specifically, the materials of the natural world has been in practice since the time of the Egyptians. In the age of the Pharaohs' artists were competent with techniques like wood graining as early as the third dynasty. Similar techniques show up in Mycenaean pottery and other Greek art work as early as 2200 BC.

With a limited pallet of earth tones taken from the Greeks, the Romans advanced the world of decorative painting in many directions. Faux stone painting, trompe l’oiel and decorative architectural elements were widely used in the homes of Pompeii and Herculaneum (the two towns buried in the eruption of mount Vesuvius in 79 AD). It was during this time in history that mural painting saw its first great development. Wealthy Romans would have their portraits rendered on the walls of their homes for visitors and family to appreciate. The fall of Rome brought the disappearance of the middle class and progress and development of art and decorative painting was stifled. The church became the principal benefactor of the arts and focused its patronage on religious art.

The next big moment in decorative painting came when Italian painters in the Renaissance employed fresco techniques to decorate the churches and homes of the nobility. At this time the refinement of techniques increased dramatically. Faux marble and faux wood were used to cut construction costs on the grand cathedrals. Artists started to reproduce natural materials that could fool all but the most observant onlookers. Two schools of faux finishing developed in Europe with the Italian and the French.

The Italian School developed a style that is realistic but loose. The techniques involve fewer steps and is most successful when seen from a distance. The French school developed techniques that are intricate and complicated, designed to create finishes that must be scrutinized to find their flaws. Both techniques require a great deal of experience to properly execute. A strong sense of color and composition are fundamental to achieve the looseness of the Italian style or the rigor of the French style.

The increased demand for these finishes led to the development of trade schools and industry standards. Young artists/craftsmen would begin apprenticing at age thirteen and work for ten to fifteen years before they could venture out on their own. Only then could they begin to consider themselves craftsmen. These young craftsmen went on to help create the effects that adorn the great palaces and cathedrals of Europe and America.

The early part of the twentieth century brought about a change in values that in turn created a second dark period for decorative painting. Tradition and craftsmanship regressed in favor of the assembly line, the mass produced and the pre fabricated. The industrial revolution and the great depression focused people on survival rather than aesthetic pursuits. Society looked to industry for solutions and industry responded by giving us cubicles outfitted with marbleized contact paper and patterned linoleum. For many these solutions have fallen short of our needs and desires and only recently has the world awakened from this "dark" slumber.

REVIVING THE CRAFTSMAN'S APPROACH

Today the innovation and experimentation in the decorative arts has brought us new forms of beauty and new dilemmas in decorating. Determining the appropriate use of these finishes and their correct placement in a room is an elusive objective. The difficulty here is to effectively discriminate the When, Where and Who of decorative finishes.

Use faux finishes when your budget prevents the use of real natural materials like stone or wood. Use them when the atmosphere you wish to create is challenged by manufactured products with little or no personality. Just remember that decorative finishes should be used like spices in cooking; you need just enough for flavor but too much can spoil the dish. It is important to understand the history, the styles, the techniques and the uses of different finishes in order to use them well.

Experience and discretion are the keys to success in deceiving the onlooker. Composing a unified aesthetic means balancing the dramatic with the subdued. Wood and stone finishes need to be broken by frames of molding or other dividers on large walls to seem realistic. Many dramatic stones or shell-like finishes will only seem convincing on moldings or carved details. In contrast to this, many washes only work on large textured wall surfaces.

Faux finishing your own home can be both fun and frustrating. It is always appropriate to experiment in the fun rooms of the house. Decorating a child’s room is a great place to learn the craft and maintain the light hearted, fun atmosphere. The frustrating aspect of learning to faux finish comes when beginners tackle projects without practicing the finish they wish to create. The skill required to create many finishes only comes with repetition and practice.

The book The Modern Painter and Decorator of the nineteenth century illustrated this point when it stated: In light of this if you decide to hire a professional remember that choosing a faux finisher is an involved process. From their portfolio you should be able to determine if their creativity can draw you. But more significant is to feel confident that their competency and ability to reflect your tastes will bring out an effect you will enjoy.

The renewed interest in faux finishes is similar to the Renaissance that Europe enjoyed in fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. In that Renaissance advances in science and the arts changed the world in new and exciting ways. In this second Renaissance, our new technology can be adapted to enliven traditional techniques and make advances in the world of materials. There is the possibility of inventing new finishes that previously could not have been achieved. The revival of the craft and art of decorative painting is an opportunity for us all to once again transform the ordinary into the extraordinary!