Michael Schaefer

Michael Schaefer is an innovative practitioner in the art of Faux Finishing. After working as a stage manager and technical director off & on Broadway for 18 years a disability forced him to give up working in the theater in 1991. He then turned a gift for illustration and graphic design into a new career. Armed with a Professional Certificate in Surface Decoration from Parsons School of Design and his familiarity with stage sets and scenic painting, he began by utilizing traditional techniques to create finishes that could “fool the eye” from close-up. He then expanded his repertoire with new materials and applications, always with an eye toward tradition and maintaining the highest quality. Michael’s work ranges from creating wall glazes, marbles, wood grains and trompe l’oeil effects to restoration and hand-crafted mirrors. Michael is often called upon to recreate existing materials on new surfaces or to repair damaged finishes. He also derives great satisfaction from creating one-of-a-kind pieces and reviving furniture destined for the dumpster.While most of his commercial and residential work has been done on Manhattan’s Upper East & West Sides, Michael’s commissions have taken him as far afield as the Dominican Republic, where he transformed a nondescript white house into a coral stone wonder. In addition to his work, Michael is Adjunct Lecturer at New York University’s School for Continuing and Professional Studies. For the past 3 years he has held a popular weekly series of workshops for Janovic Plaza in Manhattan. He offers private classes, as well. He is currently working on an e-Book, titled Faux 101: An Introduction to the Art of Faux Finishing, which is due for release in the fall.

http://www.schaeferarts.com