We learned dozens of sophisticated and highly marketable techniques from a genuine master artisan. Gianni was a great host and remarkable teacher. We had a great time exploring the cities of Vicenza and Venice, as well as the Palladian villas of the Veneto. The villas are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are renowned across the Western world for inspiring architecture.
A student on the trip, Candie Trujillo, says:
“Thank you so much for an awesome experience!! Of course the main reason for going to Italy was to take the Stucco Italiano class and I achieved more than I thought possible. Gianni was awesome, and his knowledge was incredible. I feel very honored to have learned some of his skills, now mastering them will be quite a challenge. But just knowing I’ve learned from one of the best in his field, I feel I already have a jump start. Kay Lynn did a great job in organizing the class and keeping us informed, and her fun attitude made the trip plans go that much easier. I also was able to meet some fun and interesting people in the class and become friends with many of them and their families. We shared business ideas and trade secrets that has already helped me improve in my own business. Thank you so much Aaron for the opportunity to be taught and enlightened in the great and true art of plastering, I will gladly recommend it to anyone who is up for the challenge.”
Take a look at more photos from the Italy trip here. Hopefully we’ll make it there again next year.
You are invited to preview this new luxury home on Gig Harbor!
When: Friday, Dec. 5; 12-5 PM
Where: 1314 115th Street Court NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Join us for a look at a beautiful new home, filled with the finest Stucco Italiano finishes created by Vlad & Sons. Click here to see more photos of the house.
About the space:
Square footage: 6500
Water view
5 baths
4 bedrooms
2 2000 sq foot decks
3 fireplaces
Multiple finishes….
Old world finishes - classic architecture and finishing.
Featuring Stucco Italiano Italiano plasters.
Join us for wine and snacks, and be inspired by one of the finest homes in the area.
Let us know if you think you can make it (info@stuccoitaliano.us or 206.838.5888).
Last week we had a round of our Venetian Plastering classes with new students from all over the country. One of the great benefits of our Stucco Italiano Certification (VP2) and Advanced (VP3) courses is the opportunity to not only perfect your techniques by working on the sample boards, but to also get the feel of working on larger surfaces, and even real walls. Scroll down to see photos of Gary helping remodel our new conference room, building his real-world Venetian plastering expertise.
If you’re a former student of ours and are looking to update your skills, consider taking advantage of our Portfolio Builder and Product Update Workshop next month: November 14-15. You pay for supplies only, have the chance to work on large surfaces, and learn the hottest new finishes. And of course, network with your fellow artisans as we go out to dinner Friday night!
Tadelakt is quickly becoming the favorite finish for many of our customers and their clients. The finish is known for its beautiful exotic aesthetic and its durability, especially water-resistance. In fact, Tadelakt is traditionally used in the Hammans, Moroccan steam baths.
Our friend Steve Manby up in Vancouver just did an impressive job applying Tadelakt on some columns.
I’m going to show you examples of three simple tools that some of our most successful plasterers are using to spread the word about the exciting work they do. Whether you are a beginner embarking on your Venetian plaster career or an experienced artisan, you don’t have to spend money on expensive ads to benefit from today’s most effective promotional tools.
The three methods I’m going to share with you require only internet access, a digital video and/or still camera, and a willingness to showcase your wall finishing skills. In between jobs? Devote your day off to any one of these tools and you’ll be on your way to building your customer base while still having fun. And for those of you who are computer-phobic, they are less complex than you may think. The simple techniques I’ll discuss are:
1. Taking photos.
2. Making videos.
3. Starting a blog.
1. Taking Photos.
Have you ever tried to describe the beauty and benefits of Venetian plaster to someone who is completely unfamiliar with it? The easiest way to explain a finish is to show it. For Venetian Plaster artisans, the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” rings especially true. What better way sell your clients high-end finishes than to let them see the incredible results for themselves?
Tom Williams sent us these photos of an Intonachino Medium and X-Fine project-in-progress in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, sure to inspire envy in anyone using an inferior finish.
We use flickr to share our photos. Click here to create your own photosharing page, or email us your Venetian plastering photos and we’ll post them here on our blog.
2. Making videos.
This is a very concrete way to showcase your undeniable talent. Use any digital video camera to document your process. If you don’t have a video camera, remember that many still digital cameras have the ability to make short videos– the perfect length for uploading to youtube to share with the world! Lars Hansen of Hansen Handcrafted Finishes taped his process while working with Tadelakt for an outdoor shower on a modern home. Here’s the first installment:
Check out his new youtube channel to watch more, or sign up to make a youtube channel of your own. To reach an audience interested in Venetian plastering, send your video link to us and we’ll embed it on our blog.
The other great thing about youtube is that it ranks high in Google searches, which makes it easy for people searching for Venetian plaster artisans in your area to find you!
3. Starting a blog.
Use your own stories to introduce yourself to your clients. Often a personal touch makes the difference in getting hired by a client. Sharing your successes online is a great way to generate buzz and network with others in your field.
Randy Orr just posted these kind words about us on his blog:
“I have to give a quick yet special thanks to Aaron and Kay Lynn at SAFS (Seattle Architectual Finishing School) for supplying me with the Marmornino in such short notice. I know we all may have had experiences with manufacturers or distributors from time to time, where the customer service can make us cringe. But you guys at SAFS came through! And so did FedEx. Thank you so much!”
Randy was kind enough to link to us, which prompts us to link back to him. This means exposure for both businesses and everybody wins!
We use wordpress for our blog, but blogger and typepad are other options that are a bit more beginner-friendly, with clear step-by-step instructions that will have you blogging within minutes.
If any of these techniques inspire you, send us a link to your photos, videos, or blog and we’ll post it here for even more exposure! Have fun and good luck.
Thinking of joining us in Italy this October? We are extending the payment deadline from August 31 to Monday, September 15. ***EDIT: The deadline is now extended to Tuesday, September 30. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in the birthplace of Venetian plaster.
Call us at 206.838.5888 or e-mail us to reserve your spot before this small class is full.
Though it’s a bit early to predict the interior design trends for 2009, some are alreadysaying that Asian culture will be a major influence.
Tamara and Alison were working on using Japanese character stencils in the last Textures & Metallics class, but unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures (though you can see plenty of shots of other great work from that class here).
Here’s one of Aaron’s samples that uses Marmorino Classic and an Asian influence:
Have you used an Eastern aesthetic in your Venetian plaster work? Send me your photos if you’d like to see them posted here.
On this cool website commemorating Andrea Palladio’s 500th birthday, you can find itineraries for walking tours of Palladio’s villas in Vicenza, photos of his astounding architecture, a collection of quotes about Palladio, and more.
According to the site,
“Andrea Palladio is acknowledged today as the most important architect the western world has ever had. Over the last years, the decline of the modernist movement in architecture has aroused a renewed interest for the classical style and for Palladio’s works.
Spread all over the Vicenza and the Veneto area are dozens of magnificent villas and sumptuous buildings as the everlasting heritage of his architectural genius.”
With the current state of the housing economy, you might expect people making interior design choices to choose thrift over quality.
However, many of today’s forward-thinking consumers are more interested than ever in building green and using non-toxic materials to ensure long-lasting, healthy homes.
A must-read article in The Daily Green, written in January, is holding true and proving building green is more than a passing trend.
Excellent taste is also an excellent investment, and natural, lime-based, Venetian plaster is beautiful, non-toxic, and hotter than ever.
We learned dozens of sophisticated and highly marketable techniques from a genuine master artisan. Gianni was a great host and remarkable teacher. We had a great time exploring the cities of Vicenza and Venice, as well as the Palladian villas of the Veneto. The villas are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are renowned across the Western world for inspiring architecture.
