What’s the Latest in Decorative Painting?
August 17, 2008 – 10:33 amOn Wednesday, August 13, I sat down with Debra Disman, principal of Artifactory Studio in San Francisco, to talk about her craft, which is decorative painting. The way Debra practices it, decorative painting includes decoration with paint, plus faux finishing and murals. We talked about how designers and architects can use decorative painters on their projects, and the process Debra follows on most of her jobs. She also clues me in to the latest trends in decorative painting.
So how can a designer use a decorative painter on his or her projects? According to Debra, a decorative painter can help a designer to visualize and realize his or her own aesthetic ideas, or she can consult with the designer to solve a problem, perhaps drawing the eye from a less-than-ideal view to something more interesting and beautiful inside, such as a mural or an abstract design. Faux finishing can also be an economical and sustainable alternative to other finishes, such as wood and stone in certain applications. Ideally, a decorative painter should be brought into the project as early as possible, so that he or she can make recommendations at the same time other key decisions are made and have input on project management.
What’s the process Debra follows? First, she typically gets an inquiry from either a home owner or a design professional, then she visits the space. This visit is important, so Debra can get the kind of feel for the space that a photograph does not provide. She brings samples of her work to the project site, and takes pictures as a record of her visit. She also writes down all of the project requirements in preparation for a bid, which includes labor and materials. Debra provides a timeline and final pricing within her contract, and begins work once the contract is signed and a deposit is paid. She typically provides up to three finish samples for a decorative painting or faux finishing job or a mockup for a mural. Depending on the project scope and the surface to be treated, Debra works either onsite or in her studio. Ceiling treatments, for example, obviously require onsite work, while furniture can often be delivered to the studio and painted there. When the project is complete, Debra receives final payment. She keeps a dossier for each project, including design details and exact treatment formulations, and provides touch-up materials to the client.
Finally, Debra, what’s new in decorative painting? Metallics and iridescent treatments continue to be very popular, and Debra does a lot of custom designs on walls. The current trend is more toward abstract and geometric designs rather than realistic scenes. Glazing and layering are also hot. These techniques use different colors and paint finishes to create interesting textures and depth effects.
Thanks, Debra. I’ll be looking forward to working with you….