FAQs (and rants)
Will you get this color exact?
It can be done but you should understand that I probably won’t try too hard. In my mind, very few situations call for it and is unnecessary for the majority. Earlier in my career I worked in a sector of the industry where exactness was a necessary ideal. My current mindset is that chasing perfection is a ‘false concept’ and a never ending journey. If you dwell on color exactness (and perfection) then I’m probably not the right person for you. Art is nuanced and I leave precision to the mathematicians.
Can you copy this finish?
I don’t have much interest to mimic other people’s work. My clients hire me for my specific style. In my opinion, the best way to choose a decorative painter, above all, is for their aesthetic value. I have a particular viewpoint and that’s what my designers expect from me. When asked, I usually say that I can do a pretty good version of it. If you want verbatim then you should always seek out the original artisan.
What kind of glazing do you do?
I often have to think hard how to handle this question. I equate it to asking ‘What kind of eating do you do?’ In my industry, the term ‘glazing’ is synonymous with faux finishing. It’s a word that’s thrown around a lot but for many people it can mean very different things. In brief, glazing is an artistic technique where you apply paint in thin transparent layers. This technique(s) can be used in the process of (and not limited to) ragging, patinating, woodgraining, marbleizing, strie, color correction, waxing, etc. I utilize glazing techniques in so many different ways that it would take a book to explain everything.
Are you a plaster master?
No and far from it. There are a majority of plaster people out there that have better training. I do have a great appreciation for traditional plastering techniques but that’s not me. I’m someone who experiments and uses plaster as a painting medium. I have a very different interpretation on how to use plaster and how to make it do what I need.
When can you schedule me in?
I advise scheduling months ahead and if it’s a big project then maybe even a year. For me, scheduling is a linear process because as an active participant, I actually do the work. Even with the aid of my assistants I can really only run one job at a time. But remodeling and/or renovation schedules are a running target so things move often. Therefore, sometimes my clients get lucky and I can take in an impromptu project now and then.