IF I CHOOSE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL

    What if I have successfully faux finished a couple of rooms in my house and a bathroom for my great aunt and i realize that I really like this kind of painting?

    In fact I think that I would like to do this for a living!  

    Congratulations, you are now one of us.  Really, all kidding aside that is how most of us got started.  We found that we like the art and the challenge and thrill of creating various faux finish techniques.

    But as with anything else, there is more to it that just proclaiming that you are now a faux finisher.  Here are a few tips and suggestions that may help you decide whether you will travel this path.

    First of all, do you need work?  Many people in today's economy have found themselves without employment.  And many more have found that having more than one income in the household is beneficial.  So if you are looking for something to do out of need, please understand that while good money can be made in this profession, it isn't likely to come quickly.  You will have to develop your skills and the knowledge required to have a variety of techniques.  And, while I am certain that our web site has been of benefit in this regard, you will still need practice to develop into the kind of professional worthy of making a living in this business.

    You will also need to develop a clientele.  Everyone needs customers to have a business.  These are the ones that will be paying you to work.  

    You will also need to have a source for all of your tool and material needs.


    None of this is stated to discourage you.  All of the above can achieved without a great deal of effort.  It just takes a little time.  

    What we would recommend is that you get a much practice as you can.  Do more rooms in your house utilizing different methods.  Then offer to do work for your friends and family.  Maybe you can talk them into buying the materials if you buy the tools and you will do the work for free.  This will allow you to experiment and try different things that you can add to your portfolio.  [And since you have done this for free maybe they won't be too critical!]

This gives you two things you will need to start.  One, experience, and two, pictures!  That's right. Take pictures of eveything you do in the beginning.  Then make an album that you can use when selling your work to a prospective client.  That gives you confidence and also makes the new client aware that you can do the job.  Some people like to make up sample boards and keep them to show a client.  That's good but not enough.  A picture proves that you can do this in a big room.  A sample board only proves that you can do the technique on a two foot square.  For this reason I have always used my pictures to sell myself and then the sample boards to sell the specific job after the client has hired you to do it.

    Always remember that a satisfied customer is the best advertising you can ever get.  Work hard to satisfy your customer. It will really pay off.  Over the years the only advertising I have ever paid for is business cards.  Now in today's world a simple web site showcasing your work may be valuable, but that will come in time when you recognize that you need it.

    Something else is already happening as well.  While you are picking up materials and tools at the local paint store you are developing a raport with sales people in the store.  Please understand that these people are asked every day to recommend someone to do faux finish work.  By putting yourself in front of the paint store people as a faux finisher, you are already lining yourself up for potential work.  So, give them cards, show them pictures, show them samples.  They will be impressed.  They always are.  Remember, they don't do this they only recommend.

    Also, if your friends and family for whom you have done free work are happy and impressed, they will recommend you to others.

    Having said all of this, it will take a little time to develop into a working artist.  But maybe not too long.  

    Our web site has been designed to help the do-it-yourselfer.  But please recognize that these are the techniques that we have used professionally for years!  So you are welcome to use them too.  The six ebooks that we have released will be very valuable as reference works for your techniques.  Now, we are not so vain as to think that this is all you will ever need.  If you ever need to contact us with a question or problem, we are available through the site and will respond quickly with an answer by email.  We also see no harm in attending classes sponsored by faux finish studios.  Be careful not to spend too much.  Sometimes the shorter classes on very specific topics will open up a whole new area of finishes that you can expand upon yourself as you see how the principles can be applied in a variety of situations.  So maybe an expensive three day class may be too much when a less expensive half day class will do.

    We will be adding to this page with other topics such as:

    How to sell yourself and your work.  

    How to price the techniques.  They are all different.

    What specifically are the best materials to buy.  

    What tools does the professional need.

    Stay tuned and let us hear from you.  We love success, especially yours!