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Hi everyone,

Today I was thinking that since I am on a wood graining kick that I might as well work on my other “How To Video” and ended up on my entry door video segments that I recently finished. I have two lines of “How To’s” videos in progress and since I just recently refinished a set of mahogany entry doors I thought I may as well put a preview out there to let people know that I am very knowledgable in things other than decorative art, after all, I have had a brush in my hand since time began for me anyway.

I got this call from a builder friend of mine David Giles of Purple Sage Construction  who had a client that needed something done with their entry doors. It turned out that the person who took on this job prior to me did not have the right qualifications to take on such a feat and did the best they could with them without having to strip them. In other words they were a mess by the time I got to them. They were at first wanting to have them woodgrained in order to “cover-up” what was there and I simply told them for less cost they could bring them back to the original beauty of the natural mohagany. To me it just doesnt make sense to do a mohagany wood grain over a mohagany door unless there is some kind of good reason. So I stripped the doors back to the original surface and cleaned them up and this is where this blog begins…..

I have found a high demand for wood graining garage doors over the past several months so I thought I may as well show what I have been doing with the overhead door demand. This is all acrylics with a UV protective topcoat to keep from fading and the product line I used here has held up very well.

These doors I did about 5-6 years ago and they still look like the day I did them…….

I have seen many attempts to this technique, where oil base products were used and I would just like to warn everyone who is looking to get this done, that you should read the manufacturers label on the backside of your garage door to make sure you, or who ever is going to grain, or even repaint your door, to apply the right product. Most door companies will void your warrenty if you use the wrong product.

In Florida it is not recommended to use oilbase products on metal overhead doors or any metal door for that matter, because it will crack, peel and actually break down quite rapidly because of the extreme elements that are common down here in Florida.

My latest door was done about 6 months sgo and as you can see its holding up very well against the direct sun hitting it every day

So , now that I have seen what the quality of the product line is I will recommend this line in my” How to Faux” video segments called

“Amazing Accents”

sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch for our grand opening of our new studio and updates on new releases of my video series….

Artist Arthur Morehead of Art-Faux Designs & Painting Inc. ®

  To hold 2nd Seminar at The International Design Center at Estero,

  Due to the great response that we had at the May slide show presentation on faux finishing and decorative art, we were invited back for a 2^nd showing on Saturday June 13^th at 2:00pm

 With many samples to view and a slide show presentation showing the different techniques and styles of decorative painting, we had to have a 2^nd event for those who missed the first one, A Q & A segment will be held to help answer the questions that come to mind to many of the interior designers, builders and homeowners who will attend. Through the power of networking and as a member of The N.A.P.L.E.S. Group is what made these events possible, and with the assistance of PJ Hoover of Fauxtastic Dreamscapes is the reason of the success. 

  An artist most of his life and in the painting business for over 30 years Arthur Morehead is an expert in his field and will explain the importance of substrate preparation and the difference of hiring a professional. With a network of other top professionals in the area you will realize the value of Art-Faux Designs professional resources which just adds to the value of their services.

Don’t miss this opportunity to talk to an expert who has over 20 years of business resources since settling in Naples in 1987 and experience that true one stop shop atmosphere that most are looking for in their new or existing home decorating projects.

We are also starting to set up a few summer classes but we need your input and interest. Sign up for our class newsletter and you will get a survey on what kind of classes you would like to see. Some of these will compliment the new “How to Faux” ” Amazing Accents” DVD series and we will discount a schedule class to reflect the purchase of our “Amazing Accent” series

Ok. Ok. I know I am pushing the limits of blog posting here but I wanted you to know that in addition to the dining room work I am doing, there are also a couple of columns I am adding a fantasy marble technique to.   I thought I would post a couple of pictures to see if guys have some interest in learning this procedure.

What I’ll be showing to you can be a cost effective way to “do something” with those columns  if you are faced with is scenario.  No one likes “boring columns” in a fancy house. (Chuckle)

One of the most important aspects of marbling is be able to both identify and understand marble structure. Consider in your mind that  if you don’t understand the subject then how can you expect to capture the realism through  faux work?

There are two basic styles of painted marble.  One is the Italian style and the other is French.  Both have totally different looks but what you need to know is that one is not easier than the other to paint. I will go more into the details and nuances of each on a later blog but this gives you all a little incentive to do some research in the meantime.  For now we are going to talk about the fantasy marble technique which is really an American way of executing a marble finish that basically insults the European purist artists to put it bluntly. (Chuckles) So with that being said,  here’s a couple of photos of the ones I will be finishing up this week.

As you can see this is the start of the structure of the veining which gets more refined as the project progresses.

The first step is to bring in the drifts with a quick glazing to create a sense of movement and form which I show you in detail during the instructional DVD. This step is really is a quick and simple process if you do it abstractly, without trying to make it look like anything, which is one of the main mistakes most make because of thinking with the right side of their brain.

The other two pictures below are showing a bit further along in the process where the veining is much stronger. This is achieved by changing your color value. Please remember this is only a one color fantasy marble where you are just using some of the basics when executing this technique.

Changing color value is critical. I have always liked using this system to keep in touch with my marbling skills and it actually improves my ability to render the finer and rare marbles which are far more complex and intricate.

There are many finer points and details to understand about the nature of  marble just as there is about wood graining, murals, trompe loeil and the other various forms of decorative painting. The key is to master one and practice them all as often as you can to keep adding to your skill set.

Replicating nature is where decorative art obtained its roots and therefore certain rules must always be observed, otherwise you will end up with something that looks like a  smeared “barber’s pole”  which I have seen so much of starting in the early parts of 2000 when the housing industry was starting to lean towards the “flipping craze.”  Not only were the ones executing the finishes not educated enough in the decorative arts, but the ones who were flipping the properties for profit didn’t care. They were focused on the increase of  “return” rather than the quality and splendor of art form itself  so it didn’t matter what it looked like, as long as it could be stated that the house is “Fauxed” to increase the home value.  I often regret using the word ”Faux” in my business name because it is such a contradicting word when it is associated with the common words like “painting” and “artist.”

To the well educated I probably look like a buffoon when you look at the phrase in English and realize it means “false painter” or “fake artist.” It also doesn’t help your case when you are trying to reach out and convince these  high profile / high end clients that can actually afford to allow you to really showcase your talent, knowledge and artistic mastery…

What do you guys want to know about marbling? Do you think I should do a start to finish video? Does anyone have any marbling stories to share?