In addition to murals and fireplaces, I have done a variety of faux wall finishes and bold geometric designs. The most common faux finish is one that gives the space a feeling of age or richness, but as the word "faux" is simply French for false or fake, virtually anything under the sun can be "fauxed." Finishes may be done in acrylic or oil based paints, for a few I even used wood stain (and a respirator!).
Faux Finishes
An early job of mine, this finish took tube after tube of 5 different oil paint paints. Each day for nearly three weeks I would come in and spend the first 30 minutes creating the paint mixes I would use that day. Then square inch by square inch, sponge and cheese cloth in hand, I would apply my colors, blending and sculpting the glaze in this two story entry hall.
Many clients wanted the aging look of tea staining (a taupe colored glaze), but this client wanted more of a southwestern flavor to her glaze color.
Geometrics- Worth the Price
Among the most challenging & expensive geometric finishes in the harlequin. The layout alone can take days because it must be measured meticulously, then every diamond has to be taped off prior to painting.
Stone Works & Grown-Up Murals
Faux stone creations require every single stone be hand painted, highlighted and shadowed.
This faux stone & trompe l'oeil garden scene were crafted with joint compound. Every grout line is taped off, then mud compound is troweled over the surface. As it starts to set up, the tape is peeled off & the borders of each stone are sculpted to ensure they aren't too sharp. The process allows for me to then come in & hand paint each stone according to the texture created by the mud. The window was created the same way, giving me a slightly recessed surface up which to create this garden.
This very large mural was created in a fairly narrow entry hall.
