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Our expertise in training comes from many years of on the job experience.
Having worked on many exclusive projects throughout the country, our instructors are able to
share their valuable knowledge with you. From the finishes we teach, to the tips and tricks
we supply, all of our practical knowledge is shared with our students. Our number one priority
is to give you the tools to be the best.
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Seattle Architectural Finishing Studio Owner Aaron Cohen has been working with
decorative plaster and paint for over 20 years, and is widely recognized as one of the leading
artisans in this field. He has extensive on-the-job experience including spray techniques,
Venetian plaster and stucco finishes, reactive wall glazes, and wet edge techniques. As well
as completing numerous projects in luxury residences, restaurants, hotels, and other retail
and commercial establishments, his work has been featured on the set of MTV's Real World, and
the Seattle Today television program, and has also been featured in a number of publications,
including Metropolitan Home.
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Aaron has professionally trained hundreds of artists, painters and plasterers in
decorative wall finishing since 1994. His focus on real-life job situations takes the student
beyond the sample board and into the successful completion of the most challenging projects.
Aaron's teaching philosophy is to go beyond the classroom and continue to support and promote
his students so they can translate their new skills into increased business and profits,
and keep working towards their success long after the class is over.
Read More
about what some of Aaron's former students have to say about him.
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After a 23 years of teaching art and exhibiting her paintings in galleries ranging
from Manila, Philippines to Atlanta, Georgia, Jennifer Carrasco had her first experience with
decorative art when she repainted 58 wooden antique carousel animals in Spokane, Washington.
More commissions followed, and by 1992 Jennifer had become an established figure in decorative
painting and designing, executing everything from logos and illustrations for businesses to
trompe l’oeil residential murals and murals on all the walls and ceilings of a 30’ by 40’
ballroom.
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Over the past few years she has done and continues to do murals for Tommy
Bahama stores in the US and abroad. In 2005 Carrasco was chosen to do the Easter Egg
poster for the White House. Currently, she is working on several projects for clients on
the architectural finishes of Seattle Architectural Finishes Studio, where she is teaching
mural and fresco painting classes.
Jennifer Carrasco graduated with a BA in art and teaching from Washington State University and did
graduate work at the University of Washington as well as attending two years of design and illustration
at Seattle Central Community College. In the 60s, she worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the
Philippines and remained in the country for 16 years, painting and teaching art. She has managed
her own decorative painting and mural business in Seattle for 15 years.
Jennifer Carrasco has combined personal interpretation, painstaking historical research and period
details into an innovative series of murals and decorative projects in private residences and commercial
establishments from Hawaii to Dubai. Each of her projects has been an adventure, a collaboration
where she works with clients to create unique and beautiful visual environments.
Read More
about what some of Jennifer's former students have to say about her.
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Instructor Crystal Lane-Sowell has been working for Seattle Architectural Finishing for
over five years. She has extensive on site job experience, often running large decorative
paint and plaster crews on luxury residential and commercial projects.
While working in "Corporate America", shipping fish all over the world and oysters all over
the country, Crystal dreamed of finding a creative means to earn a living. She had been trying
out decorative finishes for herself and friends for some time. When a friend of a friend
inquired if she might hire Crystal to paint her new home, the proverbial light bulb went
off in her head: maybe she could make a living out of this thing she loved doing!
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In early 2000, about nine months after starting her own business, Crystal attended a 3-day class
on faux painting with Aaron Cohen in Denver. After that she was completely hooked! Aaron
could see that Crystal had the talent and the passion and asked if she'd like to help out on
a big project he had coming up. As Crystal's skills and confidence grew Aaron started
sub-contracting her on a fairly regular basis.
Aaron continued to train Crystal on the job, helping her gain mastery of Venetian and other
decorative plasters. Eventually she was asked to come on board at Seattle Architectural Finishing
Studio full time. "I love taking a blank wall or room and creating a beautiful, warm atmosphere
for someone."
Over 5 years ago Crystal began assisting Aaron with classes. Over time she has attained a level of expertise that
qualifies her to teach classes at SAFS. She is a very skilled, patient and generous
instructor, and consistently receives rave reviews for
her teaching. "One of the things I love
most about teaching the classes is how excited everyone is to be there, learning something new
and creative."
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