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nything But Plain, School of Decorative Finishes is Texas' largest, and Houston's only faux painting studio and faux finishing school established and taught by working and commissioned faux finishing artisans.
..."The tips, tricks, and techniques I have learned this past week were truly remarkable. I have invested in many things: college degrees, husbands, real estate and the stock market but the money I invested in your school is by far the best money I have ever spent. " " I am throwing out all my old archaic methods and products.I can’t thank you enough for providing me with your valuable experience and knowledge. “Susan Wishlinski
The Anything But Plain School is a complete resource of classes and workshops for faux finishers, decorative painters, muralist, stencilers, and those that like to do it themselves located in Houston Texas. Anything But Plain is truly committed to teaching professional faux painting artisans, of all levels of expertise, as well as home owners. We take great pride in offering new and exciting faux finishes and decorative painting workshops in our classroom setting. We provide students with the necessary training for a solid foundation of time honored faux finishing techniques and decorative painting principles in these hands on classes.
At our school of decorative finishing, which was specifically designed for our students, we have created an environment that is spacious, comfortable and creatively stimulating, perfect for our comprehensive classes in the art of faux and decorative painting. Our students accomplish remarkable results, through our proven training, creating the sophisticated painted finish looks that grace the walls of the most elegant of homes and magazines.
Visit our List of Classes and Workshops to view all of the current classes and those that will be coming up.
New and exciting Faux and Decorative Finishes, using the latest techniques, with the finest product, in a creative and lively atmosphere for the professional and beginners.
GO PRO The “Go Pro” class is our most popular class. It is a comprehensive 5 day workshop that emphasizes the foundation and principles in the art of faux finishing and the faux finish business. This unique hands-on approach was specifically designed for the student, with little or no experience, who wants to get a jump-start in to the faux finish business or for the home owner who would like to learn a wide array of faux finishes to replicate in their own home. We complete a variety of samples, from simple processes to intricate multi-layered finishes that will enhance any portfolio, plus time tested methods for getting your faux finish business off the ground.
FURNITURE AND CABINETRY FINISHES To compliment our beautiful faux finished walls we offer our advanced students our “Furniture and Cabinetry” workshop to enhance the trim, crown, or cabinets in any room. Whether new or used, we take a step-by- step approach in transforming wood or formica surfaces into elegant, high end furniture quality faux finishes. Be astounded by the results of these detail specific techniques that add glamour to any surface with gilding, embedded pattern, and imprinted artwork.
Portfolio Builder We are proud to teach the full Faux Effects™ Product Line. These products specifically designed for the professional decorative painter, surpass anything on the market today. Smart pros know to stay competitive you must have a portfolio that reflects cutting edge samples and product. The Portfolio Builder Class helps the professional achieve these artistic goal.
TEXTURES For our advanced students who have previously taken our “Go Pro Class”and have fallen in love with the time worn effects of textured surfaces, our “Textures, Venetian Plasters and Italian Walls” class is for you. Rich palettes, vivid hues, and sun drenched colors of multi-dimensional faux finishes incorporates Venetian Plasters, with their rich multi-sheen colors, as well as, the classical feel of rough distressed Tuscan Walls, and dazzling metallic of contemporary Italy. Using an extensive repertoire of textural products you will produce believable detailed illusions.
MURALS Mastering the Mural with Sharon Leichsenring We are honored to present a national award winning muralist, Sharon Leichsenring. Her mural painting class is lively and fun yet truly grounded in the traditional concepts of decorative painting. This class explores both landscape and trompe l’oeil elements in the mural we will be completing. “Our success is measured by the confidence and skills with which we endow each student”, states Sharon. “Our goal is to provide our students with the ability to design and execute their own mural once they have left the classroom”
TROMPE L’OEIL You ask for it and we are delivering the goods! The subjects of our “Trompe L’oeil” class were hand picked by the students from last October’s mural class, here at Anything But Plain. Our award winning instructor, Sharon Leichsenring, was asked to share her signature style in a variety of techniques that makes the painted image pop right off the wall. The students even picked out what illusions they wanted to create. Come join us to see what they chose and how to add dimension to your work!
MODELLO™ and WALL PATTERNS We are thrilled to show our students the fabulous ways to use the highly innovative Modellos ™ created by Melanie Royals of Royal Design Studio. They lend themselves to be used on an eclectic array of surfaces like glass, sheetrock, wood, paper, even concrete with all of our great Aqua™ and Faux Effects™ Products, Wait until you see the eye popping samples made with Modello™ and our own Lusterstone™. Modellos™ are a one time use pattern that allows the artist an opportunity to create the most intricate multi-layered designs that can’t be achieved with stencils. They can be intricate or simple, positive or negative!
RS SERIES™ There is always something new here at Anything But Plain! We just love trying out Faux Effect ™ Inc. latest new products. Caroline Woldenberg, from the Finishing Source, in Atlanta, Georgia, will be teaching advanced texture methods with Faux Effects ™ newest products! They are really sensational!
WOODGRAINING and MARQUETRY Gary Lord is back again with a great new class. This traditional art has never gone out of fashion and right now it is red hot. A working knowledge of woodgraining is a necessity for the professional artist! Let Gary show you these money making techniques!
SKINS AND STONES (new class) Our students asked Trisha Collins to cherry pick their favorite finishes from 2 of her classes to create this compellation of her best selling finishes in exotic stones and animal skins.
BUSINESS OF FAUX You want to be successful in your faux finish business no matter what level you are in your career. The ” Business of Faux” is a 4 hour class that helps answer that basic start up questions of marketing, sales, networking, the bidding process, and making a profit as a faux painting artisan. Make this small investment of time and money that will pay for itself many times over.
SPRAY CLASS Spray class is a necessity for those students who wish to increase their profit margin in their faux painting business. Let us show you a quicker, more economical way to achieve those fabulous faux finishes in half the time. This spray class will take the scare factor away in using an HVLP spray gun for applying base coat, top coats, glazes, and textures. We make it easy and non-intimidating.
CLOUDS You won’t look at clouds the same way ever again after our 2 day “Clouds” class. In “Go Pro” class you learn a basic cloud finish. Now, as you advance, we’ll show you other techniques, some for production work and some much more painterly, but all of them beautiful!
UPDATE Keeping abreast of the constantly evolving new trends in faux finishing products can be difficult for any faux finisher. The Special Preview Class is crucial for those wishing to remain on the cutting edge of the faux finish business. We will be demonstrating the newest faux finish products for you to incorporate into your current faux finish samples. Look for your special invitation in the Spring of 2008.
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See our work in the HDR
See our work in Houston Design Resources on pages 25, 42, 47, 201, 227 & 230
59 Anything But Plain School - 12539 Duncan, Suite DHouston Texas
