Gallery:

The Finish Line's skills cover simple wall glazing to complicated multi-step projects. The following picture gallery shows many examples of this range of work. To better understand what you are seeing please find below a glossary of sorts to explain some of the processes involved in decorative painting. To see the full gallery click on the links on the left side of the page. Be sure to use the gallery's enlargement option to see the pictures at the best size.

Glaze:  A glaze consists of pigment - either a ready mixed paint or a universal tint of some kind- and a transparent medium. This transparent mixture is then manipulated over a base coat color via brush, roller, rag, bag, paper, plastic, feathers etc...etc... combining the colors visually to create a final color and visual texture. This can result in a very subtle finish to something very dramatic depending on the manipulating implement and choice of color.

Textures: Quite popular at this time is actual texture applied to walls or furnishings. Typically a thick medium is applied by hand with a trowel- though other tools can be used - to build up a texture on the surface. Joint compound, plasters, acrylic pastes and other types of mediums are used to achieve several textures from smooth to thick or sandy. These are usually glazed to add character and to enhance the added texture.

Venetial Plaster: Many "Tuscan - look" textures are mistakenly called Venetian Plaster. While visually very textural the actual feel of the finished product is glassy smooth to the touch. This plaster has the consistancy of whipped butter and is applied with a small steel blade - called a Japan blade - in very small and tight strokes. Several layers of plaster is built up one on the other to create the visual texture which is highlighted in the burnishing stage. Burnishing is pressing a stainless steel trowell across the surface creating a high polish. This is a very labor intensive process and typically is on the higher end of the price scale. Variations include distressed and multi colored versions... see photos!

Decorative Painting/Handpainting and or Murals: Oh yes, and "Trompe L'oeil" - Basically all require an approved sketch and/or color rendering and are then transferred to the area to be painted via projector, transfer paper or pounce method.  Rarely is anything painted freehand since many times decorative elements are being repeated or need to be architecturally accurate. One of a kind fine art paintings are typically the only thing "freehanded".

Decorative Stained Concrete: This is a relatively new aspect of the concrete industry as well as the Decorative Painting industry. New products and updated processes have made adding decorative elements to the floor relatively easy for the trained decorative artists. These elements include but are not limited to Ornate Borders, Medallions, Logos and scenes of any type all created with cementitious material. Floors can become as ornate as inlaid mosaics at a fraction of the cost. All products are as durable as the substrate applied to and with appropriate preparation old formica countertops can become  new and updated concrete!