Friday, December 19th, 2008
Manuel Saenz is a pretty good photographer as well as a plaster artisan. He just sent us a link to his photo gallery from the Stucco Italiano trip to Italy, including beautiful shots of the scenery…

interesting Italian finishes…

and of course, photos of Gianni teaching the students at the Stucco Italiano studio in Vicenza…

Take a look at more of Manuel’s photos, or our Stucco Italiano class group photo pool, and let us know what you think.
Posted in Italy | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
We just got back from our Venetian plastering course in Vicenza, Italy, where we studied with Stucco Italiano manufacturer Giovanni Polistena.
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.
Posted in Business Tips, Classes, Event, Italy, Tips and Tricks, Venetian Plaster, photos | No Comments »
Thursday, August 28th, 2008

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.
Posted in Business Tips, Classes, Green, Intonachino, Italy, Marmorino, Projects, Stucco, Tadelakt, Techniques, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

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.”
E-mail us if you’d like to celebrate Andrea Palladio’s 500th birthday during our upcoming trip to Italy…
Posted in Business Tips, Classes, Italy, Venetian Plaster | No Comments »