Faux Madness

Today I wanted to look at and list some other applications of the faux finishes. Some of the techniques that we will be covering in my Magnolia Faux Marquetry class in June will be transferable and useful to you. Let us look at where these skills and finishes can be used and incorporated into a living space.

How can these faux finishes be used in other areas?

Give your wall variation- Accent walls are a hot item right now! The going trend is to paint the wall in the room, skirting boards and the window frames in white or neutral colour. Then choose a wall to place your accent colour. By introducing a colour or even a faux finish you can introduce warmth, textures and interest into your living space.

A faux technique on an accent wall doesn’t have to be an earth tone colour. It can be any colour or your favourite colour. In my living room there is a base coat a neutral cream with a faux of a colour that matches the carpet on top. This has introduced texture and interest in what could be considered a plain room.

Also, accent walls are great for a couple that can’t always agree on colour. Having an accent wall can allow you to introduce something bold and exciting to your wall. For example, my favourite colour is a vibrant orange. Full coverage of orange in a room may be too much for your better half. But having it in small amounts may be okay and liveable for everyone.

Box of Grapes, Acrylic on wood, ©2008 Kim Bennett & Betty Hyre, CDA

Panelling can be exotic- I love the look exotic woods they are so sheik! But how practical are they for both their use and your budget? More expensive woods can be reproduced with faux techniques.

Case in point, I toured an estate last year. When our group entered the room to the main stair case the entire area was panelled in a faux wood finish. I was told that the reason for this was to give a cheaper wood a richer look without the extra cost. They possibly also couldn’t import the wood at the time.

In more modern times, we also find that some of the exotic woods are protected but the look can be reproduced by applying faux painting techniques.

Recycled Desk, acrylic on wood, painted for KVDA Community Service Project 2007

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle- Instead of disposing of old worn furniture why not recycle and rejuvenate them by going green with faux finishing. Above is a piece I had worked on for a fundraiser. It was fast and easy project. The top is a painted white marble the remainder of the desk is a combination of several faux wood techniques.

Canvas Art- Many times I have seen printed canvas in the modern home furniture stores and have thought to myself that this can simply be made with a couple of colours and faux finish techniques. These colours can be soft tint like blue or green which is calming.

By creating you own, you are giving it a personal touch. And again, introduces texture and interest into a room.



Boy these old doors could use some sprucing up- Before embarking on painting you cabinets determine rather if it is worth it. For example, I have good quality oak doors in my kitchen. It would be nice to paint them rather than refinishing or buying new ones. Would I do it? Not a chance.

Yes, it can be a cheaper alternative but ask yourself realistically, is it really worth doing?

Mantels and columns- Make your mantel more interesting by adding rich faux techniques.

Are there other ways of using faux techniques that you would like to share?

- Kim Bennett

Related Post:
Decorative Painting Faux Finishes


Other sites of interest:

Karl-Heinz Meschbach

Yellow Tea Cup

Yellow Tea Cup, 10" x 10" inches, acrylics on panel/MDF
©2009 Kim Bennett

Here it is! Thank you to everyone for the encouragement to get it finished.

This painting was started by blocking in the colours. The first layer of paint was applied with a palette knife. The paint was then manipulated, pushed with a bristle brush. I also borrowed colour from one place and introducing it in another with the brush. This was a good technique for me as I wanted to keep the painting loose.

This was painted on fibreboard. I am not satisfied painting on this type of surface for a couple of minor reasons. One of which is, I have noticed that the edges can easily be chipped. This is occurring in exposed areas such as the corners. When moisture gets into these areas the fibres expand. I can’t tell you how frustrating it can be when those little misshapen corners are brought to my attention.

At the moment I am trying some alternatives to this surface. I will let you know how it goes.

-Kim Bennett

Started a tea cup

Work in progress 10 x 10" inch Acrylic on panel/MDF

Today, I thought would share a work in progress from my studio.

This week was a start of a routine for me. This was to pay a visit to studio each morning to paint. Even if it is just for a little while.

It is a work in progress so there is still areas of the painting that needs to be resolved. I have gone back and made corrections on the ellipse at the top left of the cup. You can see where I rubbed in some white. This still needs some attending to. I'll have to revisit the body of the cup. At the moment, it as is just the first layer and mapping. There is also a decision to make with the stylized flowers in the background. But, it's coming along nicely.

This teacup was another charity shop find from Pudsey. I was unable to purchase a single yellow cup so I acquired the full set of cups. In this case, painting a stack of cups probably would have been more appropriate. But a single cup can be an exercise for a tight schedule.

Other thoughts about a still life set up came to me this morning as I was walking home from food shopping. This time of year, the gardens are thick with red violet peonies, lupines and small cool pink flowers. I don’t know much about flowers or their names but the warm red violet colours and cool pinks would go well with the yellow.

Seeing all these flowers in passing reminded me that I have some gardening to do. Luckily it is going to be another gorgeous weekend.

-Kim Bennett

Go out and See More Art

Who knows what else you will enjoy!

View outside the York Art Gallery (York Minster in the background)

Outside the café with two latté’s and a plumb and apple slice. Children chase each other around the fountain on this warm day. What a view! I wonder why the tour buses park here. A man with a walking stick and dog on it's lead sits at a table. I take a photo.

Stack of macaroons in Betty's window

Like Oliver Twist, I peep into the window at Betty's Café.Bathing in a vanilla slice tempts me. Heart shape scones with clotted cream and strawberries amaze me. Checking the queue, I enter the shop. The lady behind the counter tries to sell me a Fat Rascal. I purchase a raspberry and lemon macaroon.

Living statue (Busker) on Stonegate

At the Minster there is a puppeteer show. A bearded man in the small alley plays guitar and there are chalk drawings in the square. A pass a uniformed woman speaking with a man on stilts. I pause for a moment in Stonegate to watch a poised man dressed in purple painting a "moustache better than Dali’s."

These photos were taken on Sunday in York.

What else I got into
Went to the St Ives exhibition at the York Art Gallery
Sunbathed and made daisy-chains in the park
Walked around the York Minster
Shopped in small independent stores

In York art is everywhere.

-Kim Bennett

St Ives Artist Exhibit with Alfred Wallis

I have been reading books about Alfred Wallis on and off for a couple of years. By chance, the opportunity came to me this weekend as I was paying a little visit for a morning coffee at the York Art Gallery.

While there for a coffee, I thought to check to see what the current running exhibition was. It was a pleasant surprise, for it to become revealed to me, the artist of St Ives between 1930 and 1970 is on show in their featured gallery. The exhibition includes sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, and abstract paintings by Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon, Patrik Heron and others. The earliest works on display is by self taught painter Alfred Wallis.

Alfred Wallis was known as a “primitive” painter. In the mid 1920’s, after the death of his wife, he started painting "for company". Living in poverty he painted with household boat paint and materials at hand. Surfaces such as cardboard and wood were part of his regular supplies. Painting from memory and his knowledge of the St Ives Harbour Wallis’s sense of scale and proportion were very much his own. Due to the perspective and the line of the horizon being lost the paintings have a map-like feel or quality to them .

The selected exhibition from the Arts Council Collection will on view until the 27th of September.

Alfred Wallis works can also be seen at Tate St Ives

Further reading on Alfred Wallis:

Alfred Wallis Cornish Artist & Mariner

June 2009 issue of Artist & Illustrators Magazine features an article written by John Charles Clark called “Paint Like Alfred Wallis” In this, Clark looks at Wallis's life and his appeal and influence on 20th Century British painting.
It may also be useful to mention that the St Ives School of Painting will be running one and three day workshops this summer called In the Footsteps of Alfred Wallis.

External Links and information on Alfred Wallis

Images from the Tate Gallery Collection

-Kim Bennett

Magnolias for 2009!

Recently, someone asked me to explain how I developed the design for the Magnolia Box. It was something they found interesting and asked if I would share it with my class in June. So if you are interested in how the idea evolved, read on.

How did the idea of the design begin?
The design developed, by making connections and rolling with them. You may say that it progressed in a natural course. The hues, or the colours, for the faux wood came to me, before I even considered the subject matter.

I wanted to approach the project by using a lighter range of earth tones. I was drawn to the Raw Sienna tone, which leans toward a warm yellow. First, the idea of choosing Raw Sienna rather than a darker earth colour, like the Umber’s, was an attempt to try something different. Secondly, there was the idea that it would be in keeping with modern wooden furniture, like birch, pine and teak. Well, at least the warm honey teak colour of the 1970’s furniture in my house.

These are approximate colours and may vary depending on your monitor.

Also, my was to incorporate the sheik look of satinwoods. With this in mind, the palette quickly materialized. You may notice that there is a green in the designs colour swatches. Originally, I wanted to feature green in my design. But, by some good fortune, I acquired an older supplement from The Marquetarian Newsletter. It listed colour references for veneers. Looking at this reference I discovered that magnolia was one of the recommended veneers for green.

By a stroke of luck or chance, it was April and magnolias were in full bloom. And, that is how the idea came to be, by making connections and rolling with them. Magnolias for 2009!

- Kim Bennett