From The School of Applied Arts
Mimicry of organic and inorganic materials such as painted wood and marble is used in architecture to either provide an opportunity of expression or to save on costs or the environment. Architects and Interior designers have been using the services of decorative painters that have the ability to pant many surfaces to assist them in the creation of harmonious spaces. Mimicking various plasters is quite popular in the 21st century and provides a strong source of revenue for the professional.
In the US painting market paint stores have misapplied the term "faux painting" to define any type of wall decoration that is not a single paint color or is a "specialty application". This definition though incorrect in a traditional sence has been embraced my the US housing market and there are many people who make their living executing simple decorative painting techniques and classify themselves as "Faux painters".
In some interpretations the term faux painter is defined as a decorative painter that uses decorative paint and plastering techniques to falsify historical environments in new dwellings. This definition is not embraced by the traditional European faux painters. these European painters classify any specialty painting technique that is not accurate in its direct interpretation of a wood, marle, stone etc. as a "fantasy finish".
Regardless of the chosen definition faux painting in both the traditional and contemporary capacity is a viable career choice for a decorative painter.
This is an example of decorative painting in the form of a visual texture
This is an example of faux painting in a traditional sense. Pictured here is a hand painted marble in the Colorado state capitol done because the existing marble is extinct and therefore must be painted any time there is an addition in the facility
