Faux Painting for Profit

Hi Debra,

I’ve just given a bid on a job that I was pretty much lost on, as to what to charge for the work that was being asked. In the 25+ years that I have been in the painting and decorating trade, I feel that I have pretty much mastered most areas of creative decorating, except for faux finishing and the many, many different styles and techniques.

I’m not intimidated by the creative aspects of faux finishing, I just need to learn the techniques and steps in order to achieve the look that I am aiming for. I am also an oil artist whom specializes in wildlife artworks, so being creative comes quite natural to me. So, with all this being said, here’s the problem that I have ran into. A talented faux finisher began a project on Ethel’s house, he used what appears to me to be a textured faux finish ( Venetian plaster)? On the kitchen walls. I detect at least four different colors in the finish.

And a paint and stain finish on the doors and woodwork. He was suppose to continue on to one small bathroom and two larger bathrooms, walls and ceilings, with the same textured faux finish, also a long hallway with an entry. The only difference is the colors. He charged $7000 for the project, began the project, then, pulled off to another job, having two not so skilled painters fill in for him. He collected the last $1000 on the job then disappeared.

Leaving over 75% of the job completely unfinished. My problem is to figure out how he achieved the finish that he created and to price the cost for the completion of the job. With trial and error I have little doubt that I can recreate the pre existing finish, I think? ha ha.

But I have no idea how to guesstimate a project like this. So this is what I did, I asked her what she had left in her budget to have this project completed. She told me $4000 and that she maybe could go as high as $4.500 if she had to. This includes materials. I asked for $4.200 to finish the project. I honestly have little idea if I am to high or to low. This also includes finishing both sets of cabinets in two of the bathrooms. She wants a weathered wood effect on both sets and the kitchen and hallway ceilings with slight texture and faux finish. Sorry for this long story, your opinion is important to me, please let me know what you think. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely

And My answer –

Hello , you are asking a very tough question indeed.

Without seeing the job and type of finish for myself – I really cannot give you much advice. Matching a faux finish is one of the hardest things to do in the business. And if the previous painter did not leave the exact materials and color formulas then you are left to figure everything out on your own. And because you mentioned the finish being multi colored and layered, then it will be even harder for you to do a match.

First of all, I would charge your client for the time that it will take you to actually come up with a color match. This is very tedious work. And then if you are not 100% right on with what you come up with, then I would suggest to your client that you may need to do the entire space over so that everything matches.

As far as the actual pricing. This varies tremendously based on the area that you are working in, the material costs, travel expenses, business expenses, whether or not your are hiring help, and also factoring in your hourly or daily rates that you want to get paid yourself. I cannot tell you whether or not your $4000 price is too high or too low. If the job is going to take you 2 weeks (5 days per week) then that would mean your business is getting $400 per day. That would probably be too low considering all the other costs that you will need to take care of prior to paying yourself.

So, you really have to factor everything in and break it down and come up with an estimated price that would be fair and acceptable and worthwhile for you.

I do wish you all the best and hope that this job will work out for you. Please keep me posted. I would love to hear the outcome!

How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts

What if you wanted to start a new career? How about if that idea was about Faux Painting Craft Careers? If your anything like Lucy… you will have the wind taken out of your sales before you can even get started. 

If you are swimming upstream dreaming about starting a faux painting business… read on for some inspiration! 

I AM SO INSPIRED BY YOUR WEBSITE.   I AM BUSY DOING SAMPLES FOR A POTENTIAL CLIENT TO LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.  

WHEN I WAS YOUNG MY DAD SAID YOU CAN'T EARN A LIVING DOING ART.WELL HE DID A GOOD JOB AT DESTROYING MY CONFIDENCE IN FOLLOWING A CAREER IN ART.  UNFORTUNATELY, HE NEVER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE ART OUT OF ME AND THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE FOUND WAYS OF ENJOYING MY TALENT.

I HAVE NEVER MADE MONEY AT IT TILL THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, AND IT IS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.  SO BETTER LATE THEN NEVER. I AM VERY EXCITED AND SENSE THIS MIGHT BE THE BEGINNING OF MY ART CAREER, A FEW YEARS LATE. I AM SO GLAD I FOUND YOU ON THE INTERNET.  I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME AND HOPEFULLY, SOON WILL GET JOBS REQUIRING YOUR FAUX FINISHES. 

DO YOU PREPARE THE WALLS YOURSELF BY PAINTING THEM, OR DO YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PAINTER AND THEN DO THE FAUX FINISH.  HOW DO YOU ADVERTISE?  I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS………I CAN'T REMEMBER THEM ALL RIGHT AT THE MOMENT.  BUT THANKS FOR EVERYTHING AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TOMORE EMAILS, THEY ARE SUCH GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES. SINCERELY LUCY LENKEWICZ

Using your artistic abilities for career choices… My parents said the same thing! Here I was earning awards and scholarships in school and they shipped me off to business school instead.  I kept my fingers in the artistic world, until something (painting murals and faux finishes) finally became a reality!  And guess what… my mom and dad were really proud of me! Go figure.

I'm going to let Tawn finish up with all your questions… talk to you soon, Debra

Questions:

1.  DO YOU PREPARE THE WALLS YOURSELF BY PAINTING THEM, OR DO YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PAINTER AND THEN DO THE FAUX FINISH. 

Hi Lucy!  This can go either way.  If you are good at rolling paint (and cutting in) you can do the prep-paint work but make sure you add that in to your cost/charges. 

An easy way to figure out what to charge for this part is to get an estimate from a painter and use that figure.  Generally speaking this type of painting is done/charged by the square foot.  If you aren't that good at it (or you don't like doing it) then tell the client that they will need to hire a painter to come in and do that part of the job before you begin with the art work, or that you can find one for them if they'd like. 

Often, because they don't know who to use, they'd rather you take care of it.  Hopefully you have a good painter you could use that wouldn't mind the occasional small job. 

2.  HOW DO YOU ADVERTISE?  Word of Mouth!!  That's the best.  But you can make up brochures for yourself and business cards and go to businesses and drop them off or ask if you can post them in coffee shops or sandwich shops. 

3.  WHAT ARE UNIVERSAL TINTS AND WHERE DO YOU GET THEM.   Universal tints are highly pigmented paints that they use to tint your paint at the store.  You can buy them at Home Depot in the paint department.   

4.  WHAT KIND OF ACRYLIC WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS A QUALITY ACRYLIC? Good craft acrylics are available at your local art supply story. I like Americana with the gold cap and for large areas that need "thick" or heavy coverage I love Liquitex brand heavy body paint. 

5.  WHERE DO YOU STORE YOUR PAINTS IN JARS, IT GETS REAL HOT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I STORED SOME PAINTS IN THE SHED AND THEY BECAME UNUSABLE.  (LARGE QUANTITIES)  Well, it definitely gets real hot here in Arizona!  I keep some paints in a cabinet I put in the laundry room.  The good paints.  Others I keep in the garage.  And, yes, they do go bad, but it does take some time.  Another good place is in a spare bedroom if you have one.  Set up some shelves (plastic ones you can guy from Home Depot or Lowes) and use them. 

I hope this was a bit helpful… let us know if you have more questions, THAT Painter Lady Tawn.

Connie wants to try this new business idea but has no idea where to begin starting a mural business without experience: 

Hi there,
I am very interested in wall murals and some day to start a wall mural business but I have no idea how to make them. I know about paint by number murals and ones using projectors, rub on transfers, big sticker murals and those using photographs. Could you direct me in the direction of actually learning how to make them myself. I really can't find much online that really explains the making of some of those techniques. Any information on how to get started would be greatly appreciated.

Connie Messer

Debra – THAT Painter Lady said "Again, I bow to the expert: Dawn Papandrea-Khan  Although we have all been in the "biz", Dawn is the youngest of our group and therefor closer to this subject."  

Get The Book Now!

Starting a mural business, or any business, can be a challenge.  For someone without any experience at all, starting a mural business will need to take time, practice, and the willingness to learn from your mistakes. 

Consider talking to your friends and family and getting their input on how they view your painting work.  Do they think that you have what it takes?  Ask them if they would be willing to have you paint in their homes.  This would be a good way for you to build up your portfolio. 

You cannot go out and meet clients without a few real murals under your belt.  Painting a mural on a wall and doing a paint by number painting on canvas are two completely different things.  Paint by number does not take much skill.  So many people now a days want to go into business, but they lack the skill. 

There is a good book out there called How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts Read it, do more research, take a few local painting classes, and get some good experience.  It doesn't matter so much whether you have the education or art degree, but clients want to see if you are truly qualified by your experience painting other murals.  They will want to see pictures and examples of your work.

Another way to get your feet wet, is to start with simple children's murals – cartoons, trees, sky painted on a ceiling.  That may be a better direction for you to go in and a little more forgiving when it comes to making mistakes.  Using a projector will be a huge help for you.  Practice on large pieces of foam board, you can get them at any craft supply store. 

So, that is where I would begin starting a mural business without experience.  There is so much more involved in starting a business, but I would focus on these few things:
       
    1. Get input from others
    2. Practice painting in your own home or the homes of your friends and family
    3. Read books and do some research
    4. Take a few local painting classes (you will need to learn the basics, such as: shading and perspective.
    5. Tackle a few simple children's murals (cartoons, trees, sky painted on ceiling)
    6. Practice, Practice, Practice

Once you have some of this down, then we can go to the next step of marketing yourself.  Good luck!  DAWN

Dawn Papandrea-Khan
Surfaces with Paint
(845) 669-9093
Website: www.surfaceswithpaint.com

How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts