Archive for the ‘faux painting wood’ Category
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”
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I have been kind of falling behind on my posts so I thought I would post a few pictures of some wood graining techniques I have done recently. This first panel is a Satinwood Trompe Loeil Panel. l’ll make a post just for woodgraining, and I will start it off with one of my favorites…….
Satinwood is a great one to render for the inerior designers who are working with more modern and contemporary feel. I know the frame is a little over the top but this is what a designer requested to draw attention to the piece
Not long ago I got a call from a business acquaintance of mine, Susan Swanson of AlDecor Custom Framing here in sunny Naples Florida, and she had a client that imported a custom made credenza from Italy. Her client wanted a matching mirror to accent this beautiful piece but since it was a unique design the framing of the mirror had to be custom made.
I thought I’d take this chance to let my blog readers go “behind the scenes” with me and I’ll post the progress of this project. I also want to let everyone know the importance of networking and how it can be such a powerful source for accomplishing something that might seem impossible at times.
I belong to many networking groups but this one in particular, The Naples Group is where Susan and I first met.
Susan came up with a general design of the frame and asked if I could do a rendering of a walnut wood inlay to match the design of the credenza. Well first off, I would like to thank Susan for commissioning me for this project but even considering my extensive background in Old World Faux this would be an especially challenging project. However everyone, including my close friends know I love a challenge, so I immediately went to work and came up with a design. When the client saw the first rendering, she instantly fell in love with it right away.
Keep in mind I’m a Faux Artist and not a carpenter so one of the things we needed for the project was a custom built frame based on our rendering. We used our networking sources again and discovered a gentleman named Jim Forester of The Forester Group. After touring his shop I quickly realized he can accomplish just about any kind of a design, from custom built cabinets to exquisite interiors. He came highly recommended and I knew that he was the right choice for the job. I no sooner handed him the drawings when he turned around and constructed this beautiful frame from special cherry wood which was the same kind of wood that this exotic credenza was made of! Lo and behold our mirror frame was born!
Now once the wooden framed is constructed I will do the Faux Walnut inlay work based on the drawing and I will post the progress here for all who are interested. A real step-by-step. One thing I really wanted to point out in this post.
Did you notice how important it is to network and be involved with networking within your local business? It takes a lot of different talents to pull off a nice project like this. Without Susan I would have never known about it. Without Jim I would not have such a nice frame to work with. Networking isn’t all about the people you know in your hometown either, take advantage of all the online social networks and you’ll quickly build a list of the “the best of the best” too. If you guys have a story about networking and how it helped out your projects share your comments and stories below I’d like to hear from you. You can also network with me if you want, and a list of most of my networks is on the right side of the page including my Facebook and Linkedin.
If you would like to follow the progress of this project you definitely want to Opt In to my newsletter below and keep informed of the updates as well as the other projects that I have going, such as upcoming weekend classes, my brand new, down loadable “How To Faux” videos and this is just the beginning…
This next shot is a close up of the graining layer which will take some time to do because you want the inlay part to be authentic looking as possible…
The composition is important so with this section the object was to give it a book match look. Hopefully the client and Susan of Aldecor are watching the progress of this project and will be participating with their comments. I will email her a link…..
Well, for this Faux Finishing Idea the inlay is completed for this step of the process and from here it goes back to the spray booth where Frank will do his magic. First it will be sealed to lock in the design because of the delicate work that is in place. After the sealer is dry then an overglaze and some embelishments will be applied to give it that European look like in the credenza. So far the process has moved along rather nicely and thats because of the communication and the networking that went on to bring this to a reality for our client.
She has already posted once to the progress picture lets see what she says next….
Peace….
The nex two shots are the close ups of the inlay work which is the graining layer the final pictures will be posted soon and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the final result will please the client.
Finally
I would love to hear from any one of you, as to the progress shown here.
We also embellish other wood or painted surfaces including furniture, tile ,
kitchen cabinets, and anything else that has to do with wood and/or marble work.
If you would like to stay informed of other jobs weare commisionrd for, you can Opt- in at the box above for announcements of claass schedules, Yes I teach too…….
Well today was the day! With the frame completed by Frank J. Lionti of Distinction in Woods Fl Inc. expertise in the finish coats, also gave this piece an authentic looking hand rubbed finish. The mirror was delivered and installed by arrangements made by Susan to miss Betsey’s residence before I was to get there.
I was so nervous as I drove up to her home having not seen the final results before it was taken over by Susan. I have completed many challenges in my day and have always had great responses from all my work, but the reception that I got at the front door was one that I will remember for a very long time. After ringing the door bell and being greeted with that smile I knew that it was a success . The glow in miss Betsey’s eyes meant everything to me which is exactly why I am in this business. Sometimes the smallest projects will bring such huge results that the monetary part of these type of projects are not important. I do these smaller jobs even though they usually take far more time than what is budgeted , but ya know, the pay for me is seeing the happiness that it brings some one. Like I said earlier in this blog of how I was raised to believe that “Cant never got nuthin’ done” by my father ………I have just one thing to add here Thanks Dad!
I would like to remind everyone who has read this thread the importance of what it means to have a great team of professionals to work with. I have to especially thank Susan Swanson of Aldecor Custom Framing and to The N.A.P.L.E.S. Group, because if it were not for the power of being active within the community and being a part of this networking group I would have never met Susan or the wonderful new client that I now have. I think some get so involved with their businesses that they really forget why they went into business in the first place which is where I once was when I was running my painting company Custom Quality Painting Inc. My business grew to a size that it was controlling me rather than me controlling it. Most times in new construction I never met the customers of the very large custom homes that I painted because the majority of my clients were builders. My creative energy was suffering so much that I started to lose touch with it and my father who worked in the steel mills for 32 years and my grandfather who it has been said worked the mill for over 40 years, had raised us to believe in ourselves and to follow our passion. I have been painting my whole life because quite simply its something I must do and always will do. I have ventured on many artforms in my life and being that I am nearly 5o now, I still have more to learn , but I also have alot to share, which is why I am hopefull of starting an open studio in November and start teaching the things I have learned over the last 30 plus years but with todays economic downfall financing is impossible, but then I refer to my fathers words “Cant never got nuthin’done”………
Walnut woodgrain/trompe loeil, originally uploaded by artmorehead.
This is a flat panel done in a walnut wood grain with trompe loeil raised molding. This was a study done for a designer client of mine. You might see a finish like this performed on a cabinet or a door way to give it a sense of depth or uncommon age. You can also go for a more distressed look to match other antique pieces in the room.
Posted in faux painting wood | 
Tags: old world faux, tromp l oeil, trompe loeil, Walnut, Woodgraining | 
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