Tuesday, April 20, 2010

FAUX - FALSE



I knew a Gentleman, a decorative painter. He scoffed at the term "Faux Painter". Do you want to be known as a "False Painter?" He said.


The Italians paint wooden stairs to look like marble. Not because the material is too expensive but because marble is too heavy. It adds too much weight to an already very heavy structure.



They left us with a problem. How to conceal the underside of the stairs? We bent wet dry wall sheets around a five gallon drum, we bent them around a tree. Nothing worked. So Gene tacked up a special kind of wire and started filling in with joint compound. Sanding in between each layer. Over and over again. See the glass of champagne? He was celebrating. Finally, the last layer of compound and the last coat to be sanded.



And then I painted the stair treads to mimic marble. I had already painted the iron railing to give it a verdigris finish.

So happy to be a "False Painter".

Gina

6 comments:

  1. Stunning!!! This is just jaw-droppingly beautiful, Gina!

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  2. Incredible work! Most great projects are a true labor of love!

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  3. Dear Georgianna,
    Your wonderful comments are one of the reasons I keep blogging. Thank you so much.

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  4. Dear Theresa, I have looked at your work. And, I am so impressed. You do amazingly beautiful faux finishes.
    It would be fun to get together and toss a few paint brushes around.

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  5. Amazing. And the railing is so pretty. I think you should celebrate everyday, you've made so much beauty in your house!

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  6. Hi Francesca,
    After designing 10 different railings, finally a shop in Salt Lake City, decided to forge my first and favorite design. A not so young, Chinese Lady, did all of the welding and hand crafting.

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