OUR LATEST PROJECTS THIS PAST YEAR :

Welcome back to our BLOG.  It was an interesting year that challenged our creativity.  Here are some examples of some of the work we did this past year…enjoy!

RAISED PLASTER DESIGN

The scroll-work on this ceiling was created using a design plaster-quick dried to produce a weathered cracking, then aged using glazes to give an authentic old world look. 

CHINESE MURAL

Here is a mural we did for a client in Beverly Hills. It started in the front foyer, making it’s way into the stairwell, and sweeping up the stairs to follow the wall around the upper level landing. It was quite an extensive mural and we worked on this for almost three months. The design was based on actual  authentic hand painted silk wall paper which the designer presented to us for inspiration.  Virginia  interpreted the design in such a way that was conducive to the unique shape and size of the walls. The mural flowed from panel to panel separated by pilasters. Jay became the expert on the wonderful birds which are scattered through out!

 FRONT FOYER    

 

 

 

And here you enter into the second room where the stair way sweeps up

 

JACKSON HOLE,  WYOMING MURAL

This is a mural we created for a client in Wyoming.  We painted the mural in our studio using a color pallet of sepia tone on tone colors, the canvas was then delivered to the clients residence in Wyoming. It was installed as wallpaper would be, then we made the trip there ourselves, and did the final touch up and color washes needed according to the lighting and interior of the house :

Left side tree…

Trunk, grass, flowers…

Right side tree..

Plaster relief of buffalo

We appreciate your visit!

I would like to introduce some of the work we have done.

This is a plaster relief done with venetian plaster. It has been hand carved and layered with glazes to achieve an authentic aged look. We designed it to tie in with the life size carved Indain you see in the photo. We wanted to convey a relationship between the buffalo and Indian:

Plaster relief of buffalo

Here we designed an embossed plaster frame for a mirror, it was then hand detailed with glazes, paints, and metallic washes to give it a unique look :

plaster mirror frame

Detail of frame :

plaster mirror frame

We will be happy to show you our portfolio and samples. Please call or e-mail for more information.

Sincerely,

Virginia Fair & Associates

www.virginiafairstudios.com

(818) 242-3255

E-mail : virginiafair@sbcglobal.

Faux – is it fake?

Faux painting is a term used to describe a type of decorative painting that can be used to enhance a wall rather than just straight painting it.

Faux means “false”-to fool the eye.

There are two main types of faux painting.

One type is with design plaster, as I spoke about in another article

The 2nd type uses glaze(s) applied over a painted surface, or glaze mixed with paint, to produce a textured look-it mimics a texture. A wall can seem to be cement, plaster, aged, silk wallpaper, wood, etc. Many layers and colors can be used to create more texture and depth. The Glaze is either tinted, and/or paint added.

here are some examples of faux painting :

Antiqued look on large book case

A mixture of metallic glaze and paint was used to create tiles giving this bathroom wall an elegant look.

An exterior sealer was used in place of glaze-tinted and brushed on to create a wood grain that fooled all but the most trained eye!

So, as you see – faux painting can be used in just about any environment to create many different looks and effects.

Design Plaster

We at Virginia Fair studios can create just about any finish on any wall to tie in with the clients needs and ideas… Over 20 years experience in the field-faux painting, design plaster, aging, antiquing, sponging, including furniture, molding, cabinets, etc.

DESIGN PLASTER-What is it?

A recent art installation we completed, for a private residence, was a life size plaster relief of a buffalo designed to complement a life size wood carved Indian!

This is just one example of what can be done with design plaster. When we say design plaster , we are talking about specialty plasters that are used as decorative finishes, as opposed to wall plaster that is used over dry wall that is then painted or wall papered, etc. One example of design plaster is called Venetian plaster. This is a mixture composed of marble and other aggregates such as limestone, etc. The main being marble dust. What this does is give the plaster a wonderful glow and richness, and authenticity-and once smoothed onto a wall and buffed, creates a rich surface that brings forth the character of the marble. It feels and looks like marble, and is actually cool to the touch. The plaster can easily be tinted any color as well. There are several grades of this design plaster, ranging from very fine, to the more course mixture that can be used to create an old world raised texture. These lime based marble plasters are combined with natural oxides and pigments to give a wide range of colors. Over this can be applied glazes and/or washes to enhance the effect, adding to the look and feel of the wall(s). Although some Venetian Plasters are polished or “burnished” with a sheen-techniques have been developed to give a variety of effects ranging from a suede, marble, or stone “feel” and look. It is through the artisan’s imagination and the refinement of technique that can give a room the look and feel of Old World, Contemporary, Tuscan, Traditional , etc. www.virginiafairstudios.com