making a difference...the house that faux built

In 2005 over 50 of the industries best decorative painters joined forces and transformed a 1940’s home in Maryland into a gallery of faux finishing, stenciling and decorative painting. The project was not merely a showcase of talent and technique, it was designed to make a difference.

The house and the resulting book, The House that Faux Built, was the brainchild of Adrienne Van Dooren. The whole idea behind the project was to fund a Habitat for Humanity home in New Orleans, post-Katrina.

Fast forward four years to today....the funds to build the home have been raised and the home is under construction as I write. In November a mother and two young children will have a home of their own as a result of the efforts of decorative painters with a heart. Lyna Farkas will share the full story in her column 'Heart of Faux' a regular feature of artistically speaking magazine.

If you own a copy of the book, you helped make this happen. The original decorative artisans helped make this happen. The project founder, Adrienne Van Dooren helped make this happen! An you, too, can help make this happen...

The first week in November, decorative artisans will again gather in New Orleans to paint and decorate the Habitat home in the second phase of the “House That Faux Built” project. This phase includes in a re-printing of the original book which will benefit both Habitat for Humanity and the SPCA, a mini-documentary of the process, and an auction of dog houses.

For more information visit the Faux House website. There is still time to get involved in the second phase. You can:

Artisan Volunteers – the first week of November artisans will be creating faux finishes and murals in the Habitat home. Other artisans will be working on a mural for the SPCA headquarters. Great rates have been arranged with the Degas House (pictured above). If you have any questions contact Jane Drew, Project Coordinator in New Orleans: by e-mail Jane1478@aol.com or phone 504-666-2609.

Paint a Birdhouse for the SPCA Birdhouse Auction – the SPCA's annual fundraising event is scheduled for Saturday, November 14th, with a Hooray for Howlywood theme. During the event, there will be a charity auction of birdhouses hand painted by decorative artisans...so hurry, the deadline to send one in is Thursday, October 29^th. Send your birdhouse to:

Howling for Success Auction

Attention: Dean Howard

1700 Mardi Gras Boulevard

New Orleans, LA 70114

Paint a Doghouse for the SPCA Doghouse Challenge – During the first week of November, doghouses built by Connie & Randy Cotita of Monroe, LA, will be painted and decorated by the artisan volunteers. These will also be auctioned at the SPCA fundraiser by a special celebrity host.

Be a Sponsor – Sponsors include Golden Artist Colors, Modern Masters, Jeff Raum Stencils and Royal Design Studio. If you would like to help sponsor by donating products or cash, please contact the Laine Discepoli, Sponsorship Chair: e-mail Laine@misselaineous.net or via 513-533-FAUX.

Donate $$$ – If you are unable to participate but would love to help with this worthy cause, please consider cash donation. All donations are much appreciated.

See Artists4Others Facebook Fan Page.

coming soon to artistically speaking magazine & radio...

We have a stellar group of world-class decorative artisans for our first year. Editor-in-Chief Rebecca E. Parsons is pleased to announce the following lineup of featured decorative artisans, faux finishers, muralists, and decorators who will grace the pages of Artistically Speaking Magazine and will appear on Artistically Speaking Radio talk show:

Premiere Issue - available on November 12, 2009: click name to visit their website

Sean Crosby

Sass Lassley

Gary Lord

Michel Nadai

Issue 2

Connie Cotita

Yaeko Kurimata

Jeff Monsein

Annie Sloan

Issue 3

Decorative Artists of the Carolinas by Gary Lord

Elena Makievsky

Mark Nordgren

Yuri Villa

We are also pleased to welcome the following contributing editors and regular columnists:

Randy Cotita - In the Craftsmanship Workshop...new technique how-to

Lyna Farkas - Heart of Faux...decorative artists making a difference

Dan Gangler- Going Green...eco-friendly explorations

John Kochanski - Inspirations...New Directions in Decorative Painting

Tamara Taylor - Art Beat...the pulse of the industry (school/event news)

Martin Riding - Safety First...creating a safe working environment

Rebecca E. Parsons - A Business You Love...Professional Practice Demystified

Dean Sickler - Palette Talk...exploring color

TBA - Designer's Eye...musings of an Interior Decorator

TBA - Opinion8...book and product reviews

Stay Tuned...

Next week we will have a sneak preview of what's inside the pages of Artistically Speaking Magazine.

The first episode of Artistically Speaking Radio:

artstically speaking with Rebecca E. Parsons...

Date / Time: 10/17/2009 10:30 AM
Call-in Number: (347) 996-569

Join Rebecca as she walks you through the new magazine, talk show, and community for decorative artisans, faux finishers, muralists...called artistically speaking-giving voice to a new generation of decorative artisans... This show is interactive, so you can call in with questions. Join in the fun, lively conversation.

Upcoming Episode...
artstically speaking with Sean Crosby...

Date / Time: 10/24/2009 6:30 PM
Call-in Number: (347) 996-569

Master decorative painter Sean Crosby joins Rebecca for a lively discussion of decorative painting, life as an artist, teaching and so much more.

faux inlaid wood floor

from Southern Accents magazine

Painted by Billet-Collins Studio and featured in Southern Accents magazine, this faux inlaid wood floor was influenced by historical inlaid floors. Designers Robert Brown and Todd Davis created a sophisticated pattern to complement the octagonal foyer.

For details and more tips see: Painting Your Floor: A Primer from the Pros by Julia E. Lewis

"A properly prepared floor will yield the best results," says Kellie Hodges of the decorative-painting firm Billet-Collins Studio. She advises clients to have their floors professionally sanded or screened prior to painting.

This is especially important if the floor is old and has a wax finish, adds decorative painter Bob Christian: "The wax has to be removed; otherwise, the paint won't adhere to the floor."

Glazes were used to create the look of inlaid wood and allow the grain of the wood to show through. Several coats of polyurethane are used to seal and protect the finish one is is cured.


RESOURCES: Kellie Hodges, Billet-Collins Studio, 301/670-5550, www.billetcollins.com; Bob Christian, 912/234-1960, www.bobchristiandecorativeart.com; Richard Keith Langham, 212/759-1212; Todd Davis and Robert Brown, Brown Davis Interiors, Inc., 305/401-7565, www.browndavis.com; Stiles Colwill, Stiles T. Colwill Interiors, 410/828-7805.

python-skin finish...

Library by Eva Quateman

Walls are painted in a python-skin pattern (black-and ivory paint) by decorative artist Paul Minnihan.

"It provides an unexpectedly glamorous background for the library of Chicago Merchandise Mart DreamHome 2006. Chicago designer Eva Quateman decided to reject the classical notion of a library as a traditional interior with lots of wood and brass lamps. Instead she came up with a black, gray, gold, and ivory room whose sensual personality combines masculine and feminine elements."

from Traditional Home magazine

faux Venetian plaster finish...

aged plaster faux Venetian plaster finish from BHG Paint Decor

This beautiful faux finish done with paint, not plaster, creates the timeworn look of aged Venetian plaster in minutes instead of centuries. You simply trowel on thin layers of semi-gloss paint (3-5 colors). For full directions and more photos visit Better Home & Gardens Paint Decor.

Note: All colors are Sherwin-Williams semigloss latex paint.

Deep Terra-Cotta

• Raynard SW6348
• Tassel SW6369
• Anjou Pear SW6381

Blue-Green

• Composed SW6472
• Shagreen SW6422
• Jersey Cream SW6379

Pale Cream

• Tassel SW6369
• Anjou Pear SW6381
• Jersey Cream SW6379

Tips

• Use at least three colors for this technique, but, after that, you can use as many as you like.
• Choose at least one pale hue, one medium hue, and one dark hue for this technique for richer results.
• You don't have to prime over a previously painted wall. Instead, just work over it. When you're finished, you'll see hints of the original color, which will create more interest. If you are unhappy with the amount of color that shows through, just apply more paint.
• Don't wipe excess paint off the trowel; the randomness of the application is what creates the illusion of depth.
• Apply a final, lightly tinted antiquing glaze over the entire wall to add depth and unite the colors.

all photos from Better Home & Gardens magazine Paint Decor

painted furniture...

Swedish furniture pieces are delightful in color and design...if you would like your own Swedish clock, they can be purchased at Swedish Clocks.com...

from Veranda photo by Peter Vitale

Inspired by the soft hues and understated elegance of painted Swedish furniture, as well as the light shades of flooring in many European homes, Bowers found a linen with a "petit blue" undertone that dictated the colors of the interiors. "Often I'll pick one fabric, and it will determine the palette for an entire house. The wall color is also a derivative of that fabric."

Complementing the Swedish pieces are numerous French antiques that exude a similar aesthetic. "Most of the French furniture is from the Directoire period, so the lines are very clean, and those pieces work well with our Swedish furnishings."

Venetian plastered paper towel holder...

Motorcycle-racing must be very lucrative...John Kocinski, a 34-year-old motorcycle-racing champion from Little Rock, Arkansas has a Venetian plastered paper towel holder in his Beverly Hills French villa...

from Archictectural Digest Photography by Mary E. Nichols

“You see what we mean by quality?” Kocinski asks rhetorically. “My garage is finished the same way as my living room. The door hinges on the electrical room outside are the same as the door hinges throughout the house. If you go into the laundry room, it’s all mosaic back-splashes, limestone countertops and Venetian plaster. If you open up the smallest cabinet to get a roll of paper towels, it’s Venetian-plastered.”

looking for artists and artisans to be featured in the new magazine...if you think you would like to join us, please contact me by e-mail... Send an email to Rebecca now!