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Introduction to Faux Painting
From the earliest times, human beings have sought to decorate their surroundings. Whether it be for the purposes of ritual and spirituality, or simply to enhance the appearance of their environments, history has witnessed the development of numerous techniques used to add depth and scope to any surrounding. From prehistoric peoples, to ancient Egypt, to the ancient Greeks and Romans - a variety of techniques have been employed to enhance living spaces.
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As history progressed, the Middle Ages saw the development of painting techniques used to mirror spirituality and courtly life, developing into spectacular frescos. Binders, such as gums and resins, were used with paint and palette, offering increasingly diverse methods for decorative painting. The development of materials continued into the Renaissance, and began to include pigments derived from a variety of chemical substances. This era offers us some of the most spectacular frescos and trompe l'oeil master pieces that mark the continual evolution of decorative painting.
The 17th century witnessed the development of methods of lacquering and varnishing, after these objects began to appear from the Far East. This was a time of tremendous interest in decorative painting across Europe, as evidenced by the remarkable work in the Palace of Versailles. Oil paints continued to grow and develop during the 18th century, along with decorative painting techniques.
The 19th century saw the further expansion of decorative painting techniques throughout Europe, including wood graining, marbleizing and trompe l'oeil techniques. Decorative painting became standard in the homes of the upper classes, which led to increased demand for decorative painters. This led to the creation of institutions and schools that provided instruction to artists and decorative painters. The demand for decorative painters also fuelled the demand for arts materials, which at this time began to be mass produced. New and innovative materials were developed, along with new color pigments. Painting implements too began to be mass produced. Until the rise of the Impressionists and Neo-Impressionists like Monet and Renoir, artists such as Delacroix and Ingres, both trained in decorative painting institutes, were paramount and their work unrivalled in this era.
The art deco styles of the 1920s and 1930s demonstrates an early interest in decorative painting techniques in the 20th century. Post World War II witnessed the greatest decline of interest in decorative painting, largely due to the growing popularity of innovative styles like Picasso and Matisse's great works. In the past two decades, decorative painting has exploded in popularity. A renewed interest in traditional painting techniques and classical decor, as well as the development of outstanding alkyds, acrylics and implements, are the primary reasons for this rebirth of decorative painting.
All one needs to do today to find evidence of the popularity of decorative painting is to look around at their environments. Whether it is a home, a work environment, a restaurant or any other environment, decorative painting is evidenced everywhere. Many of these techniques are created to mimic natural fabrics and materials, such that the faux decorative painting techniques are often unobservable to the untrained eye. Stenciling, marbling and glazing are some of the most popular faux techniques used today.
Another primary reason why faux painting techniques are so popular today is due to the increased interest of people in creating their own environments. Home decorating, for example, is no longer the domain of professionals. People today are increasingly interested in 'do-it-yourself' projects, and decorative painting offers incredible ease and variety of options for anyone willing to learn.
The materials used in decorative painting, as well as the implements, are another reason why people today find decorative painting so accessible. Generally speaking, the materials required to produce astounding effects are very inexpensive, and many can even be found around the home. With the proper technique, a sponge, a rag or a feather can be all that is required to produce a fabulous effect, whether on walls, cupboards or furniture. A wealth of resources are available on the subject, including books, videos, classes and seminars.
Decorative painting is accessible to all who are interested. Today, this art form continues to rise in popularity and there is no refrain in site. The long history of decorative painting from the earliest times to today is evidence of the amazing potential and possibilities offered by this unique art form.
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