What is Faux Painting?

Faux painting or Faux finishing are terms used to describe a wide range of decorative painting techniques. From the French word for "fake", faux painting began as a form of replicating materials such as marble and wood with paint. Its use expanded to encompass many other decorative finishes for walls and furniture. In modern day faux painting, there are two major materials/processes used.

One faux painting method is Glaze work. It is smooth to the touch and yet often mimics an attractive texture. It involves using a translucent mixture of paint and glaze applied with a brush, roller, rag, or sponge.

The second common method of faux painting involves using Plaster. We might use tinted plasters, or wash over the surface using earthen pigments. It is generally applied with a trowel or spatula. The finished result can be either flat to the touch or have a textured feel. The faux painting methods and variations of finishes are nearly unlimited. Take a look at some of these finished projects. Click...

Examples of Faux finishes