Flexible Faux Finishing Product - Bella Fresco™
 If you work in faux or decorative painting this is the product for you. Bella Fresco™ is easy to use, extremely versatile, economical, and environmentally friendly. It is suitable for all surfaces and can be used in both interior and exterior spaces. It is also durable and washable making it ideal for use in public areas such as schools, hospitals, and offices.
Bella Fresco™ is different from other fast drying acrylic products. Its special properties allow you more flexibility as you work. With Bella Fresco™ you can stop in the middle of a large wall and come back the next day and finish it. Kathy Sayers of Stonehenge Artisans Group says that she “loves it for use in a big space. There is no worry about dry lines.” She also comments that she has used Bella Fresco™ IRI Gold with a shimmering suede technique and not only did it add a beautiful glisten to her work, but it also helped stretch the product she was using, helped the product spread better, and made her finish more durable. With Bella Fresco’s™ quick drying time you can now complete multiple color, multiple layer jobs in one day with no lifting. Striping and stenciling are also able to be completed in one day. Its transparent nature allows it to be worked over ‘under’ painting, such as murals, to provide a fresco look. Multiple layers of Bella Fresco™ will provide deep saturation and depth, each layer developing a richer and richer color.
 Bella Fresco™ is easy to use. It is available in IRI Gold, IRI Silver, Pearl, White, and Clear Satin. A clear flat can be obtained by adding 16 oz. of special flattening agent to one gallon of clear satin. It can be tinted with paint, micah powders, or UTC’s. It is also economical. It takes very little colorant to obtain the depth desired, and 1 gallon of Bella Fresco™ will cover 1000 square feet. It can also be added to metallic plasters at a rate of one quart of Bella Fresco™ to one gallon of metallic plaster. This allows for more open time and lends more durability to the final product. By adding Bella Fresco™ to your favorite glaze, you can obtain varying working times. It is recommended to use Bella Fresco™ on a well-sealed surface, or at least eggshell. It is not recommended to be applied over a flat surface. For ease of use it can be thinned with water, and with Bella Fresco™ there is no messy cleanup. It cleans up simply with hot water.
For more information about how Bella Fresco™ can work for you, please contact Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. |
Anna and Scott Sadler’s Private Session
at Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes
Anna and Scott Sadler of Surface Refinements in Phoenix, Arizona were in a search for more knowledge and a broader portfolio when they were told of the Private Session option at Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. After hearing about Kathy Carroll’s expertise, they were eager to learn from her and signed up for their two and a half day Private Session. When asked why they were interested in a Private Session, Anna explained that “there are many times where you will take a course and half of the finishes aren’t applicable to your market.” They were excited about the opportunity to choose the finishes and materials that they would work with. She also liked the fact that they would be able to learn at their own pace in a one on one environment.
The Sadler’s Private Session experience began with “shopping” Kathy’s samples and choosing the finishes that they wanted to learn and the products that they wanted to work with. They also explained to Kathy that they wanted to learn finishes with high end looks that didn’t take a long time to complete. Kathy was able to fulfill all of these wishes and more. In addition to the samples that they picked out of Kathy’s library they also worked with her to create some custom finishes using a color pallet that they brought with them noting that “different colors sell better than others in some areas.” In the end they brought home 25 new sample boards to add to their portfolio. Anna says that she was “so excited about their new portfolio that she was tempted to throw out their old one.” In addition to learning new finishes they were also taught some of Kathy’s tricks of the trade, and they were able to gain experience using some of the great tools that Kathy has developed.
When asked about the value of the course, Anna says that the two and a half day course has already been worth ten times what they paid to take it. When they began their course, they were in the process of finishing a 17,000 square foot home for a client. After they took the course, they presented their new boards to the interior decorator and the proposed new finishes were immediately approved to be added to the home. They enjoyed working with the Oikos line during their Private Session, and are implementing a 22 Carat Gold Oikos finish in the home that they learned in their Private Session.
Speaking of Kathy, Anna says “we just adore Kathy. She holds nothing back. She wants you to succeed.” The Sadlers take their education very seriously and find value in a course if they learn at least one new thing. However, they say in their Private Session they learned far more than that. Anna adds that “in twenty-two years there have only been four people globally that have been able to teach us something that we have really found value in, and Kathy is one of those four people.” When asked if she would recommend this experience to others Anna laughs and says emphatically that “Kathy is wonderful, I want to keep her all for myself!” The Sadlers were also very impressed with the customer service at the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. Anna says that “Kathy’s staff is an extension of her, Peggy and Jenna were great!” This was the first course that the Sadler’s have taken at the Institute, and they say that given their experience, it will not be the last.
Click here to read the article on Anna and Scott from the Phoenix Home & Garden >
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