Archive for the ‘Techniques’ Category
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 |

Can’t make it to our next Venetian Plastering 1 & 2 classes (this Saturday August 16 through Wednesday, August 20)? We just announced a new round of class dates!
- Oct. 4, 2008 (Sat)
- Dec. 6, 2008 (Sat)
- Oct. 6-8, 2008 (Mon-Wed)
- Dec. 8-10, 2008 (Mon-Wed)
- Oct. 9-11, 2008 (Thurs-Sat)
Pay for supplies only.
- Sept. 12-13, 2008 (Fri-Sat)
- Nov. 14-15, 2008 (Fri-Sat)
- Jan. 23-24, 2009 (Fri-Sat)
- Nov. 19-21, 2008 (Wed-Fri)
- Jan. 12-14, 2009 (Mon-Wed)
This class is filling up fast and the deadline to sign up is August 31 (less than 3 weeks away!)

See full class calendar here. All classes located at Seattle Architectural Finishing Studio (except the trip to Italy, of course!).
Posted in Classes, Golden Proceed, Intonachino, Italy, Marmorino, Stucco, Tadelakt, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008 |
Though it’s a bit early to predict the interior design trends for 2009, some are already saying 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.
Posted in Business Tips, Classes, Marmorino, Techniques, Tips and Tricks, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 |
Steve Manby, plaster installer extraordinaire up in Vancouver BC writes:
“Stucco Italiano Intonachino sells itself !
project is almost done approx ….9,000 feet
kind of glows on the wall…I’m chalking it up to the double refraction from the lime crystals…it literally glows.
as usual pictures do not do wall finishes justice …I would have to set up a studio there to get good shots.
link here to 9 shots I took the other day.”
Actually here’s a couple of photos from one of Steve’s projects below and a link to his photo galleries here


Like Steve says, hard to do the finish justice, but I was up there a couple of weeks ago, and trust me, it’s beautiful. Nice house, too.
As those who have had the opportunity to work with true lime plasters know, The reflection of light on a lime plaster surface gives translucence which is vastly different to that from cement-based materials. -PD Marlow That is the unique nature of the calcium carbonate - it’s ability to refract and absorb light in such a complex manner.
Posted in Green, Intonachino, Marmorino, Projects, Stucco, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 |
Rough walls? Orange peel or knock down or worse? Want a nice smooth polished plaster finish but no interest in skim coating and painting before proceeding? Try this Venetian Plaster Technique to minimize your labor and still create a beautifully smooth finished result:
1 - Start with a first coat of Intonachino Medium or Coarse. This should start to give you enough volume to bury the unsightly texture. Intonachino can be applied over sealed drywall indoors, over conventional scratch and brown or modified Portland cements and of course over hydraulic lime scratch coats on exteriors. Let dry overnight.
2- Follow with 2nd coat of Intonachino, same grade as the first coat. Full layer. When this goes to set(firm but not completely dry), push a 2nd layer of Intonachino into it. Use steeper angle on your trowel to push the grain into the set layer. Let that layer go to set and now you are ready to break out the Marmorino Carrara. Push your carrara material into the firm layer. Don’t go in too soon! You’ll find you are able to start polishing with your Marmorino material and that your Intonachino has created a buffer against the original texture of the wall.
Variations - For a really smooth, high polish finish use another coat of Carrara. For a distressed, smooth look leave some openings back into the Intonachino. For a really high sheen finish you can also do this technique with the Carrara instead of Intonachino on the first coats and Classic on the final coats, as long as the original surface is not too rough.

This is a great finish and technique. Fairly easy to do and great results! Check out one of our Venetian Plaster Classes in Seattle if you’d like a little more help.
Posted in Intonachino, Marmorino, Techniques, Tips and Tricks, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 |
Here’s another Golden Proceed color chart for the hue-hungry.
Kay Lynn offers a tip on this one (lifted from the fine print): Colors with an asterisk (*) are also available in Pigment Dispersions.
Download the PDF here: Golden Proceed Slow-Drying Fluid Acrylic and Pigment Dispersion Color Chart
Want to learn more? Watch a fun Golden Proceed video by clicking on the link on our home page, or check out our Textures and Metallics photos.

Posted in Golden Proceed, Techniques, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Monday, June 30th, 2008 |
We just heard from one of our recent Venetian Plastering 2 class graduates who is doing some really creative and impressive work with Stucco Italiano.
Grant Johnson, AKA Mud Man, tells us, “I thought I would send you a couple samples of something I am having fun with. I produce these small clay balls, and apply the marmorino and polish with small stones to get various effects. . . been able to get some great marbling effects.”
Click on the thumbnails to see all the beautiful details– great work, Mud Man!








Posted in Classes, Marmorino, Projects, Stucco, Techniques, Tips and Tricks, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Thursday, June 26th, 2008 |
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to Study Venetian Plaster Finishing Under an Authentic Italian Master Artisan




When: October 26-November 4, 2008
You already know that advanced technique is the key to differentiating yourself from your competitors.Your best customers crave authenticity and impeccable craftsmanship. Imagine being able to tell them you’ve studied with a true Italian master of your craft, and enhanced your education by studying masterpieces of decorative plasterwork in their original setting.Intrigued? We just added a new page about the trip to Italy. Find it in the “Pages” section located on the right-hand column of this blog, or click here to continue reading to learn about your chance to become a Master Venetian Plasterer in Italy.
Posted in Classes, Italy, Stucco, Techniques, Tips and Tricks, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 |
Randy has posted a few more photos of his work at the Burgoo restaurant on his blog. He’s installing our Stucco Italiano Tadelakt material and it looks like it’s turning out beautifully.
Posted in Projects, Tadelakt, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Saturday, May 24th, 2008 |
Here’s Randy’s blog entry with some info about the Tadelakt project in Vancouver.
And some early photos of the work. Looks like Randy’s doing a distressed version which is not the traditional application. Looking forward to seeing some finished photos.
Posted in Projects, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 |
Talented finisher and friend of the studio, Randy Orr, is working on about a 1000 square foot Tadelakt installation up in BC this week. It’s at Burgoo Bistro which is a popular Vancouver restaurant, I believe they have 3 locations now. Here’s Randy’s decorative painting and plastering website - Distinct Interiors. Randy also owns Tilano, a business he created which was originally inspired through creating presents for family and friends with leftover plaster materials. Been getting some great feedback on our Tadelakt material from a number of our finishers. Spoke to Randy this morning and he tells me it’s coming out beautifully. Anyway, Randy promises to send some photos as soon as he gets done, we’ll post them as soon as he sends them.
Posted in Projects, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »