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| Historic Paints and Faux Finishes Workshop Pictures |
To read a description of this workshop:
http://howardhallfarm.com/classes/25
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An excerpt about the HISTORIC PAINTS AND FAUX FINISHES WORKSHOP from one of the participants, and a dear friend:
“The historic painting workshop was fascinating. I’ve been enjoying the feeling of being in class… taking notes and looking at slides! I think I’ve been craving this kind of focus, this kind of subject matter. I’ve walked away feeling inspired to start so many projects! It’s been a few years now since I’ve had the opportunity to talk exclusively about painting for hours at a time. Athens is an interesting town. Victorian houses and storefronts in rows, with trailers and little salt box houses between. I’ve lived in towns like this, but they were too sleepy for me. [...] This one is far more alive. [...] I suppose if I lived in the city and had the means, I’d like a Victorian project home on the riverside too. I can appreciate the need for an escape. S.’s friends are great fun. Interested in the sensuality of objects, food, and drink. [...] and I spent two lovely nights sitting along the porch on rocking chairs admiring the stars. I was impressed by the level of detail they’ve incorporated into their living spaces. There was a fabulous walnut sofa upholstered in silhouettes of trees. Both her friends and her uncles had collections of old photographs and portraits of mysterious, stern-looking men and women. I understood very well the impulse to populate one’s home with faces and personalities. It seems to me unimportant that they be family or known people. I’ll be damned! I left my camera battery charger at home! I am kicking myself over this… There were some beautiful scenes I should have documented. Hopefully, S. will make a flicker site or pass the images along to me. We visited Olana, the home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church. He designed the home with inspiration from his trips to Arabia and the Orient. The mansion is perched at the apex of a mountain, looking over the Hudson River. A breathtaking view can be taken in on the rear porches. One of the presenters at the workshop had recently completed the restoration of the original stencils found throughout the house. It’s an opulent space. In some cases, Church imitated the Arabian theme with innovation… Placing a meticulously made paper cut-out, in the style of a Morrocan screen, between two panes of glass, to simulate the effect. All wall colors were original, in palettes of ochre, red, purple. I have returned home with some ideas! The presenting artists were all lovely people, with great command over their medium. I learned a great deal about paints and varnishes. When I experience something as I did this weekend, I come away with questions about my own path as a painter. The lectures were given in the context of restoration, which is something I was once very interested in pursuing as a career. But I feel fairly certain I will not end up doing this. It is more useful to me as a way of bringing contemporary subject matter into a traditional medium. For instance, I think it would be great to do narrative murals in historic style, or giving the illusion of being “old.” There are also possibilities for creating objects that simulate aged wood. I shall practice on my apartment!! Perhaps I will begin with a stencil border on my plank living room floor? [...] I feel relaxed, as if I have been away for a week. It was the best escape I’ve had all summer…”
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| Historic Lime Plaster Class Pictures: Day One |
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| Historic Lime Plaster Workshop Pictures: Day Two |
To read a description of this workshop:
http://howardhallfarm.com/classes/26
Private lessons in Terne Tin. Our House at Howard Hall Farm has a Terne Tin roof, so over the years, Reggie has done a lot of research on it. He’s been looking for an expert for quite some time now, so when he read an article in the New York Post about THE TIN MAN who is the fourth generation of a line of tinsmiths (dating back to 1892), and Lady Liberty’s personal assistant, he couldn’t resist getting in touch with him.
Incredible as it seems, Dennis Heaphy has agreed to come work on Howard Hall Farm’s tin roof! He’ll be working here for a week in mid-October. During his stay, Dennis will be conducting a presentation for children (on October 20th) about the making of the statue of Liberty.
In an interview for “The Tin Man:Metalsmith puts best face on Lady Liberty”, by C.J. Sullivan(New York Post) , Mr. Heaphy said, “This truly is my dream job. It’s an evolution of everything I’ve ever done. It’s an opportunity to use an esoteric knowledge, combined with an opportunity to display it. And there’s nothing like seeing a child fascinated with something they didn’t know they’d be fascinated with. They love to hear me tell how hard it was for me, at 11, to hold the tools. They grab them and try and keep them steady.
When I leave for the day, it’s a real gift to go home by boat. I always look back at the Statue of Liberty and feel good that I enriched some people’s day there. It makes me giggle when I look back. I feel that good.”
We are open to the idea of offering a workshop for anyone interested in learning at the hands of a true artisan, but we will only do this if enough people are interested. If you would like to take a workshop to learn to work with Terne Tin, contact us at info@howardhallfarm.com
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Terne Tin, Reggie found a posting about it on the Slate Roof Central Message Board:
“Terne is an alloy coating of lead and tin used to cover steel - the terne coated steel is also known as terne metal and often referred to as “tin” (get the Slate Roof Bible). You can still buy terne-coated steel at any roofing supply place. We do not use it because it’s better to use terne coated STAINLESS steel (TCS), or copper, when replacing terne metal roofs. Both TCS and copper will outlast terne metal and don’t need painted until they reach about 50 years (if ever).
Terne metal needs painted immediately or it will rust and it has to be painted regularly. If it is kept painted, it will last a long time (90 years).
The latest version of terne is called terne II. It is an alloy of zinc and tin (the lead has been removed for environmental reasons). The terne coated stainless is now called TCSII. It’s available from Follansbee in Follansbee, WV.
I should add that when ordering terne coated stainless from a roofing supply company make sure you make it very clear that it’s STAINLESS steel you’re ordering. Numerous times we have been shipped terne coated steel instead of the terne coated stainless steel that we ordered due to salesmen who weren’t too bright and didn’t know the difference.”TO GO TO THE OFFICIAL HOWARD HALL FARM WEBSITE, CLICK HERE.
photo from Dennis Heaphy’s presentation
