Class Descriptions
Below is a listing of all classes currently offered at The Finishing School. Courses are broken down into two categories: Signature and Specialty (links are provided to each category in the "More Info" section, located in the right hand margin).
Check out the "Gallery" for class samples
(a link is also provided in the "More Info" section, located in the right hand margin)
Signature - Designer Wall Finishes™
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Designer Wall Finishes™
This is our foundation class that will expand your horizons and propel you in new directions. It combines our twenty-five years of teaching experience with the revolutionary water-based system developed by Faux Effects, International, Inc. Students learn the technical and aesthetic aspects of developing exceptional classic and contemporary finishes such as blended and embedded glazes, layered aged plaster, dimensional stone, and metallic glazes and textures. Topics covered include surface preparation, color mixing, customizing glaze formulas, trowel technique, layering for depth, and introduction to pricing.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course fee: $995 ($300 deposit)
3 day class - New Format
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Contemporary & Metallic Finishes
This is the class you’ve been waiting for! It features a special group of samples which showcase subtle through dramatic finishes- with and without ornament. You will work with materials such as Palette Deco™, MicaGlow™ Powders, StucoLux™ and the spectacular new materials from Faux Effects – Luna™, Sharkskin™ and Super-Hide Metallics™.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course
Fee: $695 ($200-deposit)
2-day class
Custom Countertops and Glass Tiles
Features spectacular finishes protected by Rock-Kote™, an easy-to-use, odorless epoxy system. These can be sold as a budget conscious alternative to replacing existing countertops or as high-end works of art. Finishes done in class include marble and granite, limestone, metallics with foil, and glass tiles.
Course Fee - $750 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Distressed and Aged Finishes
In this two day foundation class, students will learn a wide range of finishing options for moldings, cabinetry and furniture that work beautifully in traditional and contemporary design settings. Sophisticated yet easy-to-do antiqued finishes will be done on simple and exquisitely carved moldings, including basic and advanced distressing, aged metallics, highlighting, crackle, rust and faux aniline.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Graining
Graining has many potential uses - for those who offer it. This class will give an excellent foundation for graining based on the examination of real wood for color and pattern, layering for depth and knowledge of wood structure. Students create samples of painted woods such as Mahogany, Burl, Walnut and Zebrawood.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Introduction to Cabinet Finishes
Changing the look of cabinetry with beautiful painted finishes is especially important to today’s value conscious customers. This class will get you started in this lucrative area, covering topics such as surface preparation, adapting techniques for both raw and previously finished surfaces, and protective layers. Samples will be done on cabinet doors.
Instructor: Robert Marx
$750 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
* new class format
Luminous Luminous Lusterstone™
Lusterstone can be used to create a wide variety of soft metallic finishes ranging from simple elegant finishes through dramatic inlaid designs. In this class, Lusterstone is used by itself, and layered with materials such as Sandstone, Palette Deco, RsGlaze, Hilite Venetian Gem, Lustersuede and O’Villa.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Marbling
A working knowledge of good marbling is essential for every decorative painter. This class is designed to give a solid foundation for incorporating high quality marbling into an existing decorative painting business through analyzing the structure of real marble, using layering to build depth and complexity, and exploring a variety of tools and materials while painting marbles such as Yellow Sienna, Imperador and Calacatta.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Polished & Metallic Plasters featuring StucoLux®
From easy-to-polish pre-tinted plaster to rich metallics, this remarkable group of mineral based plasters combines the properties of traditional plasters with the ease of application found with modern materials. Nuanced portfolio building finishes will be done using StucoLux Fine Polishing Plaster, Marmarino, and Metallics alone and with other materials.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $ 695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
RsCrete™ Decorative Finishing Workshop
RsCrete is a durable, easy-to-apply, concrete-like material that can be used to create extraordinary decorative finishes on floors, patios, countertops and walls. Three grades of RsCrete, RsGlaze, RsActivator and RsStone Special Fine are among the materials that will be used to create finishes such as aged cast concrete, stained concrete, stencil and Modello inlay, slate, inlaid stone and tile.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($300 deposit)
2 day class
RsSeries a fresh approach to finishing
Open up new decorative possibilities with a wide range of subtle through dramatic finishes using the remarkable properties of the materials of the RsSeries: RsGlaze, RsActivator, RsPlaster, RsStone, RsSandstone, and RsCrete.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Venetian Gem® - and more
Polished plasters are a necessary part of every portfolio. Explore a wide range of these beautiful finishes in various colors and sheens with user-friendly materials. Finishes will be done with materials such as Venetian Gem, Finish Coat, Gloss Coat, Hilite Venetian Gem, Venetian Wax, Palette Deco and StucoLux Fine Polishing.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 days