2nd Annual Caring With Colors Retreat

The second annual Caring With Colors Fundraiser will be held this year from October 16 – 21 at our original retreat location in Spooner, Wisconsin.  This is special retreat only open to past retreat attendees and in lieu of a class fee, students are asked to make a donation to Caring With Colors.  In order to ensure the success of this very important fundraiser, we are seeking contributions to help defray the costs associated with the event, so that all funds raised can go directly toward the Caring With Colors Foundation.

Generous donors like you are the key to our success and make it possible for Caring With Colors to provide artists and their families in “the fight” with cancer and other illnesses. We hope that we can count on your support to help us.

Your donation will be listed in our event program and t-shirts, as well as on the event and foundation website and various social media sites, including Groups and Pages on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter. We also plan on articles in industry related media and video.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Kathy Boyd
Founder Faux Retreat | ArtNest

Please fill out the form if you can help Caring With Colors with any of the following.

*Instructor’s supplies and/or products
*Prize to be given at retreat
*Promotional giveaways
*Donation of money to go directly to foundation for CWC retreat expenses.

*Would you like to attend the retreat and set up an area to demo or show your products? (I have a building just for anyone who would like to do this. The area will be open and available Saturday, October 18.  If you would just like to come and “hang out” for a few days, you are welcome to do that as well. There are some very inexpensive ($25 - $30 night) lodging available within 1 mile.

*Sponsor past student to be able to attend. Either with direct donation or through an online contest.
*Donate Scholarship to CWC for someone to attend future Faux Retreat.
*Other donation

Regardless of the size of the donation, if you have contributed to any of the retreats in the past you will be given lots of mentions in marketing and our sincere and heartfelt thanks.

Form:  http://www.fauxretreat.com/index.php/classes/caring-with-colors

For more information you can contact Deb Drager  brt2007@gmail.com or Lynn Bandky lynn@bellabdecor.com

Faux Retreat© www.FauxRetreat.com 218-940-3095 kbmedia.biz

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Faux Tiles

Easy backsplash finish.

1. Prime area with off white Faux Effects SetCoat.  
2. After SetCoat is dry trowel Faux Effects AquaStone  through Victoria Larsen's tile stencil. Let dry overnight. 
3. Randomly pounce on tile sections (leave stencil on) Faux Effects Tundra Gold MetalGlow and Rustoleum Metallic Copper Penny. Let dry. 
4. Apply Wunda Size to tile sections and after it tacks up (roughly 30 minutes) apply foil. I used Copper Rainbow. If you have not used decorative foil before, be sure that you lay the foil color side facing up.  Use a stiff brush or a scrubby pad to rub the foil on the tiles.  
5.  To protect the finish I recommend using Sherwin Williams ArmourSeal 1K or Modern Masters MasterClear Topcoat.

I bought all my Faux Effects and Wunda Size products from Faux Design Studio.  www.paintanddesignstore.com
Victoria Larsen has several stone and backsplash stencils.  www.victorialarsen.com
The decorative foil was purchased from www.infinityfoils.com

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Staci Mize

I want to congratulate Staci Mize of Faux Finishing and Designs of Texas.  Staci is now the newest and only U.S. distributor of the Cebos Color products.  Staci is a fireball of energy and has a passion for the decorative arts profession that will leave a lasting impact on the industry.

Staci will be assisting and teaching with David Williams at the September 2014 Faux Retreat.  They will be officially debuting the Cebos Color products in the United States at this retreat.  Staci will also be teaching at the October Faux Retreat.

Watch for the announcement of her new online store and other classes coming late fall.

For more information or to be added to Staci's mailing list, click here.

Founded in 1997, Cebos Color is now one of the most important protagonist in the Italian paint decorative market and is continually improving its market share in the world.

According to the way of thinking and to the strategic view of its founder and actual chief executive, Mr Silverio Meroni, Cebos Color has based its business first of all on products, service and final consumer knowledge.

The competitive advantage of Cebos Color is its catalogue: it’s the only one company able to offer such a large range of products and every day the R&D laboratory works on new projects and ideas.

The new production site in Bergamo, close to Milano and on the most important Italian highway (A4), has been created to obtain: quality and efficiency through the automation of the production line but preserving an incredibly high flexibility and respecting in best way the environment.

These are a few finishes created with the Cebos line.

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Nathan Wainscott

"With a natural inclination toward the creative spirit, a unique approach has always been my preference to every experience and vocation. As an artist, horticulturist and lover of all natural beauty, I find my greatest strength realized in the decorative art of faux finishing.

By recognizing the natural beauty found in elements of stone, marble, wood and leather, we see a true artisan's handy work. I'm astonished, humbled and deeply moved by the opportunity to apply my talent in a way that imitates the divine in such a way.

We all seek beauty; in life, in love, in nature... I dare say it's the secret cry of a longing heart for it's maker. I pursue this beauty in my work and my life, and now offer this passion to you as an expression of the joy and meaning I've found in its pursuit."

How many people can say they are absolutely passionate about their work? Greensboro artisan Nathan Wainscott considers himself truly fortunate to be counted among that number. An expert in faux finishing, Nathan details his artistry each day in beautiful, multi-layered textures and finishes for designers, architects, homeowners and builders. Ceilings, cabinetry, walls and furniture become the canvasses upon which he expresses his colorful and creative talent.

As he collaborates with each client, Nathan is able to bring their vision to life. He believes that his decorative finishes not only enhance the interiors of his clients, they also inspire and influence the mood and atmosphere. Nathan is equally at ease creating the look and feel of distressed leather and Venetian plaster as well as other contemporary and old world finishes. He explains that faux finishing "is as much visual as it is textural.”

Each brushstroke, layer and color reflects Nathan’s love for his craft and his commitment to establishing the warmth and richness that his clients desire.

www.inspirebycolor.com  www.facebook.com/inspirebycolor

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Get the most out of your next classroom experience

One of my favorite ways to increase my skill level is to take classes from excellent instructors. For me it’s part of my self-directed curriculum, and it gives me the camaraderie of studying the art of decorative finishing with like-minded people.

There is nothing worse for an excited eager to learn student than walking into a poor learning environment run by a mediocre instructor.  Too much standing around, art projects that fail…

I have wasted lots of time and money in the past by not having a good system for choosing a class.  The following is what has worked for me and given me the most bang for the buck.

1. Do you like the instructors work?

It’s important to like what your teacher does.

On the other hand, don’t judge an instructor only by his work. Teaching is not the same as doing, and some teachers are very good painters but terrible instructors.

2. Set goals for your classes

Choose classes that fit into your artistic goals, focusing on learning what you need to know rather than spending time and money on learning another technique that won’t get you anywhere.

You may need to spend some time to figure out on your own what you want to learn. If you’re not sure whether the workshop will help, study the instructor’s work. Try his/her methods as best you can before the class.

Talk to people who have taken the class.  Don’t just go by remarks or reviews you have seen posted.  Actually talk to people who have taken a class and get lots of opinions.  Even if you hear some bad reviews, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should not take a class with this instructor.   Do your research!

3. Research the products used

 Be sure the instructor is knowledgeable about the products he/she will be teaching with.  If you work with the product(s) after the class you may need some technical help and you want to feel confident you can get ready help when you need it.

Also, research the product.  Just because you saw a great finish with a “new” product don’t run and sign up without checking it out.  Remember that it is not the product that necessarily makes the finish, but the way the artist uses it that makes the finish.

4. Take notes and photos

 Go prepared. Take your notebook so you can take good notes. This is a good rule of thumb even if the instructor provides a handout. Take a camera in order to capture process shots, but ask permission first.  You should also blot colors in your notebook so you have the actual colors to reference when you need to.

Re-read your notes every evening, and note any questions.

Educators know that repetition is an important part of learning, and re-reading class notes frequently and immediately after the class will ensure that it’s embedded in your memory.

5. Practice the techniques after the class

 Set aside some time after you get home from the class to practice. This follow-through time is important for integrating what you’ve just learned into your own practice. Take each new skill and see what you can do to make it uniquely yours.

What do you look for?

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Home Show Time!

Booth by Wendie Croston

Home Shows! I love them and I hate them!  There is the build up: "Can I really sell my business?" "How will I arrange my booth?" "Will I spend a small fortune?" "Will I create something outstanding?" There are the people: some new and some that I see only at these events. And then there is post show: "Did I perform to the best of my ability?" "Were connections made?" 

I have already written about my experiences of doing a home show (see this)  but this time every year I start to wonder if I should give it another go.  I love the challenge, coming up with ideas for the booth and creating some great finishes.  What I hate are the many hours of low event attendance and the repeated questions about what kind of wallpaper I am selling or the comments from some announcing how they also "do" "fox" finishing.  More about that later!
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The first event I worked was in Minneapolis in 2002.  The booth wasn't mine, it belonged to a friend who was at the time working as an Interior Designer and she let me display a portfolio of some of my work for a small fee.  As a novice, I kept thinking "Would anyone hire me?" "Am I worthy?" As it turned out, this booth needed major improvements, to say the least! After part of the first day, I also realized that the booth was out of the main line of traffic.

From my experiences and those I have heard from others, I would like to share the following tips:

• Home shows can be a great way to generate a presence in the community for your services because people can ask direct questions and see samples of your finishes.
• Sharing a booth is an excellent way to cut down on costs or to increase the size of your booth.
• Other exhibitors can be an excellent source of support, contacts and knowledge.
• Home Shows can be an excellent source of leads and referrals for future business.

Things to avoid:

• Not being prepared.
• Too many different types of finishes can be confusing.
• Not following up on leads.
• Not having a professional-looking booth, too cluttered or
• enough staff to work the show.

Most important?

Be Kind and talk to everyone. Don’t sit down. Don’t leave drinks and food around the booth.  Never be a jerk or act like someone can't afford to buy your services.  Looks can be deceiving and even if they can't afford to hire you or aren't interested, maybe they have a friend who can and is.  In todays age of social media one person’s disgruntled voice can carry far and wide.

My first home show I had a few people who made "I can do this myself" remarks.  Admittedly it did take a lot of tongue biting, but I just smiled, handed them my card and told them to give me a call if they needed help.  Several months later one of them did call and her call led to a several thousand dollar job.

Invite your clients!  Send out invitations to your past clients and invite them to come take a look at your latest finishes.  

Don't demo finishes!  I am retracting my advice for doing demos.  Several years ago I thought it was ingenious to have an easel at the home show and do demos all day.  What a great way to get people to visit my booth and help pass the time during the dead times.  WRONG  The only thing I really got was a LOT of people wanting to know how I was doing the finish so they could do it themselves at their own home.  Another thing I noticed, and maybe it is just for my area, but the ones who actually hire me to do finishes for them, really don't care how it is done, they just want it done.

Have you done a home show?  What has worked or not worked for you?

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