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 the class that will expand your horizons. It is the foundation of our curriculum, combining 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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Advanced Cabinetry
Builds on the fine finishes covered in Creative Cabinetry while teaching more in-depth techniques. Reaching deeper into the Faux Effects product line along with more traditional media, students learn surface building, dimensional techniques, applied motifs, leafing and hands-on spraying while producing spectacular additions to any portfolio.
Instructor: Caroline Woldenberg
Course Fee -$1,095 ($300 deposit)
3 day class
Advanced Textures
Advanced
Textures builds upon techniques learned in Designer Wall Finishes
I. It allows students to explore an advanced level of finishes
utilizing inter-layered textures and multi-layered techniques.
These sophisticated finishes will enhance any portfolio by
using materials such as Fresco, Quartzstone, Plaster Tex and
Faux Color.
Course Fee - $995 ($300 deposit)
3days
Clouds
This much sought after two day class will focus on techniques necessary to produce beautiful, realistic cloudscapes. Samples will be done on large panels and include both ceiling perspective (one soft, one dramatic) and a landscape cloud scene suited for murals.
Instructor: Benjamin Craig
Course Fee: $695 ($200 deposit)
2 days
Color and Design
An essential class for decorative painters who want to make good design decisions - but need the language and confidence to back them up. Topics covered include balancing space with scale, pattern and proportion, using elevation drawings, identifying style, color schemes, the effect of light, and professional practice when working with designers.
Instructor: Caroline
Woldenberg
Course Fee: $595 ($300 Deposit)
2 day class
Creative Cabinetry
Learn new approaches to kitchens, cabinets and built-ins.
Students will produce 12 cabinet doors ranging from fast,
simple finishes to intricately designed works of art. Topics
covered include choosing the perfect design for the space,
spraying vs. hand-brushed finishes, topcoating and accurate
pricing. This class is designed to add artistry and proficiency
in this lucrative area.
Course fee - $1,095 ($300 deposit)
3 day class
Decorative Gilded Finishes
Teaches comprehensive traditional and contemporary methods
of applying metal leaf, patinating metals and producing decorative
finishes. These methods can be applied to small residential
projects and large commercial surfaces such as walls, ceilings
and domes. Over 40 sample boards as well as carved decorative
moldings will showcase your skills in tools and materials;
brilliant, precious and metal finishes; chemical and decorative
patination; verigated leaf; textured and distressed metals
and "broken leaf" finish known as schaibin. This
class will make your portfolio sparkle!
Course Fee - $1095
($300 deposit)
3 day class
Distressed and Aged Finishes
In this two-day foundation class, students learn a wide range of finishing options for moldings, cabinetry and furniture that compliment their wall finishes. Sophisticated yet easy-to-do ‘antiqued’ finishes that are done on both simple and exquisitely carved moldings include basic and advanced distressing, aged metallics, lime wash, highlighting, crackle, rust, and faux aniline.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2
day class
Finish Analysis
A
thrilling new concept for us. Over the years many students have approached us for help in reproducing great wall, trim and cabinet finishes from pictures in magazines and books. This class teaches the process. Students will do approximately ten finishes based on some of our favorite pictures, plus two samples chosen by the class.
Instructor: Caroline Woldenberg
Course Fee - $1,095 ($300 deposit)
3 day class
Global Inspirations
Create a set of beautifully designed samples incorporating compositional elements from around the world. These unique finishes will add interest and elegance to your portfolio while giving new approaches to use in all of your work. Instructor: Donna Phelps Course Fee - $1,095 ($300 deposit)
3 day class
Graining
Almost every job has the potential to include Graining – for those who offer it. This class will cover examining existing wood for color matching, layering for depth and wood structure. Students create samples of painted woods such as Mahogany, Burl, Walnut and Pine.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
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
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
Create subtle through dramatic finishes by taking advantage of these remarkable properties of the materials of the RsSeries: RsGlaze, RsPlaster, RsStone (3 grades), RsGranite, RsSandstone, RsStone Special Fine and RsCrete.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Stenciling
The focus will be on great finishes that can be done with single overlay stencils and how to translate a sample into a real job. Some multiple overlays will be included as well. Samples include ‘allover’ production patterns, stenciling with texture and metallic stenciling.
Instructors: Robert Marx with Jill McAlpine
Course Fee - $695 ($200 deposit)
StucoLux®- New Metallic and Polished Plasters.
This remarkable new group of mineral based plasters combines the classic look and feel of traditional plasters with the ease of application found with modern materials A full range of striking finishes will be taught in class using StucoLux® Marmarino, Fine Polishing, Metallics and Hi-lites alone and layered with other materials.
Instructor: Robert Marx
Course Fee - $ 695 ($200 deposit)
2 day class
Trompe L'oeil
Students will learn about giving dimension to architectural elements, how light plays on various surfaces (glass, liquid, brass, fabric, etc.), and how to place objects in perspective while completing a trompe l'oeil niche panel. Understanding these concepts not only allows students to leave with a finished painting for personal use and portfolio development, but becomes the foundation for creating trompe l'oeil panels on their own.
Course Fee - $1,195 ($300 deposit)
4 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