If you enjoyed finger painting as a child, you will understand why Tim Ellis has such a good time doing the beautiful faux painting work that he does. Tim showed us samples of fabulous marble, wood, granite, leather, suede, Venetian plaster and fabric finishes that he made.
His grandfather started the faux painting business in Florence, Italy, and now a 4th generation is also involved. He explained that faux painting is an absorbing business and told us about the process.
He showed us a marble finish he did that had 9 layers… took several days. Many finishes can be done in one day in one room. He uses a water base primer that, vs. oil based, is not toxic and does not smell. Wipe the surface first with primer, sand, apply finish(es) and then glaze. He suggested using Old Masters glaze and has experimented with most glazes, if not all. Tim said that glazes seal the paint and give a nice luster, and best of all they can be scrubbed. He showed us that you can put a strong color in the back ground, striae (stripe) at random over it in white and the background will be there, but not strong. Tim described various brushes he uses, and he also uses sponging and other methods.
A leather sample he did went up on a coffered ceiling, matching the furniture in the room. Wood finishes match actual wood pieces and look exactly like them. Marbles were beautiful colors and he compared using the same colors with darker or lighter results. The black granite sample, he said, was okay for formica cabinets but not for counter tops.
I found myself thinking how closely his work resembled faux work done on pillars and in architectural niches in a listing of mine. The pillars are painted to match the floor and "fade out," and are not intrusive. When he showed the crushed tissue paper samples, I got very excited, as the listing's master bathroom had it on the walls. I raised my hand and asked, “Back in about 2002 did you do a builder’s model in Polo Trace?” He said he did. I said, “I KNEW IT and want to tell everyone here that it looks as good today as when he did it. The house looks fabulous because of those touches.”
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