Feature Article on Award Winning Venetian Plaster Works

Venetian Plaster as Ceramic Tile

1. Why are you training your competition?  

• Of all the questions that we are asked often, this one begs an answer of different parts; but we will attempt to be brief and say by way of response first of all:  'No one is ever remembered for what they received, but for what they gave. 
• By that token, it has been our privilege for over 12 years, to train artists to accumulate 'income generating skills' that benefited not only the artists and their families - but the recipients of their craft.  We are utterly thankful to God for being in a position to do this. 
• Finally, an interest in Faux Arts among consumers is self generating; as people see and learn of Faux, the interest is fueled.

• Inquiry.  Without the desire to learn, any craft is hobbled.
• Willingness to work hard.  Self explanatory.
• Talent.  Self explanatory.
• Training.  An untrained artist, like an untrained voice, will largely paint or sing for their supper only.
• Ethics.  Give more than what you promise, but promise only that which you can give.

• The Academy's Venetian Plaster Intensive I course teaches a method so difficult to learn that it  takes 2 days to instruct the method, and  then can take an artist years to prefect the craft.              
• The advanced techniques in the VPII & VPIII & VPIV classes all require a basis in the technique which is then built upon.  Without this basis the class would be relegated to bringing the 'untaught' students up to speed resulting in a stoppage of instruction for the trained students.  In 12 years no one has ever come to the VPI class able to apply the plaster as we teach it.  Many have been actually apologetic for thinking they already 'knew' how to plaster.  Most of the schools we have seen in the United States do not teach technique but specific product 'application'.  There is a big difference.  And BTW our technique is useful with any plaster product.

• No.

• The same way that George Washington Carver developed 450 uses for 2 different vegetables, and Thomas Alva Edison the filament light bulb after 1000 tries - Godly inspiration and a lot of hard work.
• Also  the principal that, while we are often copied, 'we won't even copy ourselves'.  We make it our business to develop something new and interesting for each and every project we work on.  From this philosophy springs much of our original design.

• The Academy will travel to another state or location with a minimum of 7 students [6 + the organizer who gets a tuition freebee] assembled and a viable site for training available. Certain other provisions apply, please phone the studio for more specifics.  1 [888] 637-3726

• No.   We maintain a few trade secrets that we'll sell with the company when that day comes.

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