"I'm going home to London and I"m going to throw
away the 12 boards I made at that [faux school] in London. I
will ONLY show to my clients the sample boards I made here at the
Academy!"
Lazarus Xavier Cordoba, London UK |
|
"The
Trilogy Course was like opening up a Jewel Box!
Francelyn E., Puerto Rico |
|
The Buon Fresco method is the Rolls Royce of Venetian Plaster
techniques. With just my first job, I'd already had several local
plaster artist (with far more experience than me) raving about my
walls, and asking me how I was able to get such great results. But
there was no way I was going to tell them! Since then, I've gotten
other offers for jobs, without even advertising. And I'm already
raising my rates. Chris Adams,
San Francisco CA |
|
Linda O�Neil
on the Color Class instruction; �The
class was a feast of knowledge. I would recommend this class to
everyone in a very loud emphatic voice and describe it to other
artists as the most useful and comprehensive color course on the
planet, as well as more fun and fascinating than any other [color
class] I�ve ever taken.� |
|
"The atmosphere was most conducive to learning and the lesson
material gave me the confidence to take a project and complete it."
John /Architects of the Capitol |
|
The Principal Instructor at The
Academy is Victoria Bingham, the award winning founder and director of
Buon Fresco, LLC. Click
photo for introduction. |
|
|
MOTTO
EXCELLENCE IS ORIGINAL |
|
who we are
The Academy of Wall Artistry is the
instructional arm of Buon Fresco - Wall Artistry, an award winning
decorative painting and mural studio. Our decorative art has earned
us appearances in numerous
Magazines, Newspapers, HGTV, Art Books and even The Movies. Buon
Fresco has an international reputation for 'innovation'
and 'excellence' in the decorative arts and its school, Buon Fresco's Academy
of Wall Artistry - has a
graduate body from all over the world. And Our Grads are WORKING! |
|
The instructor
The principal instructor, Victoria Bingham, is
an award winning artist and an inventor holding 2 US patents for inventions.
Bingham believes very strongly in inspiration following instruction, and
invention following application. Bingham's teaching style is to first give a 'truckload' of
information about the task at hand and then push the students to their
personal best - encouraging
them to explore new arena's of artistic application.
|
|
OUR MISSION
To Raise the Standard and
by that token, the
Compensation in the field of Decorative Arts
|
|
The intensive
method
Most classes are conducted over the course of two instruction-packed
days. Through a program of Theory followed by Practical segments
of non-stop-practice, The Academy
is able to turn out graduates who are prepared to start work with
confidence. For distant and overseas students The Academy
teaches class series in consecutive sessions. Classes are kept small, to ensure ample time for individual attention.
|
|
tHE TECHNIQUES -
At The Academy we teach fine art technique - not product!
Why? Because a school that spends its time teaching 20 products in 2 days is not a school
- it's a store. Technique alone distinguishes top earners.
Up to
4 techniques - or finishes - are instructed during each 2-day
session because we believe that
a mastery of less is preferable to a fleeting familiarity of more. Finally, the Buon Fresco techniques are
not easy to learn and cannot be gleaned by people watching
you work! They MUST be taught. |
|
the classes
The Academy Intensive Courses offerings
include: Exquisite Paint Glazes,
Decorative Gold Leafing, Venetian Plaster Designs, Essential Color Skills,
Marketing & Business and much more.
Whether you are just starting out
- or are an experienced contractor seeking to expand
upon your skills, the Academy's beautiful finishes and the intensive format
of instruction can enable you to set your work apart and reward you with
'Top Drawer Results and associated compensation.
|
|
classroom Overview & materials
- In the Gold
Leafing Class, you will work with Genuine 22 and/or 23 karat Gold
in both patent and loose forms. Students produce 5 Different Gilded samples to include; flat
Gilding, Ribbon Gilding, Ornate Gilding,Tip Gilding and
Flash Gilding. Students keep their gilded items
as portfolio pieces.
-
In the
Venetian Plaster Class, students work with the finest
genuine Italian Plasters to be found. Buon Fresco has
done the testing, and the students benefit from using the
same plasters which
turn out our attention getting results.
-
In
The Painted Glazing Class students work with Buon Fresco's
signature - Water Based - extended work time glaze ' WATER
MAX' as well as a selection of Oil Based Finishes.
-
In the Color Class students
Mix Color, Match Color and work with fabrics, wallpapers, paint and finishes in order to come to terms
with 'understanding and using color' to their best advantage.
-
In the Business and Marketing
Class students learn how to 'think outside the box'; how to apply sound
business models; and learn to develop contracts and paperwork that will
strengthen and protect their interests.
|
| THE SAMPLE BOARDS -
Decorative Classes result in the
production of professionally presentable boards which
have won our graduates the attention of Architects, Designers, Custom Builders and distinguished clientelle.
|
| |
|
WHY CHOOSE THE ACADEMY?
-
We hear from disillusioned
artists ALL the time who attend expensive courses only to find themselves in a product pushing environment
with little to no actual technique taught. We can assure you
that if you are looking at a school promising you the completion of
10 or more sample boards while you're there, you're paying them to force feed you a warehouse of products
that you will be forever buying to back up the boards.
-
Ask to see a portfolio. When all the schools finish talking about the size of their school rooms
and the quantity of plaster they stock, the difference is
still the curriculum. At the Academy we hear students
repeatedly bemoan the quality of the 'training' they have received
at other schools saying 'It wasn't technique ,
but a product presentation at cost'. Many tell us how they paid
for classes but walked out before they ended.
-
The Academy is first and foremost
a school of technique. Our students graduate with marketable,
profitable skills and very often come back for more.
-
Compare the Buon Fresco Studio's portfolio with any other school.
Our
work speaks for itself.
-
Academy Graduates do not compete
by price.
-
TThe Buon Fresco techniques are
not easy to learn. We guarantee no one will be able to copy you by
just watching you work.
-
OJT -
We offer our graduates, On-The-Job-Training. At no charge to
you - for up to 3 days, graduates may join us on a job site and hone
their new skills. For more information on this program please
click
OJT.
-
Finally, our graduates enjoy
discounts on Venetian Plaster & Mixol Universal Tint Sets
and may contact the Buon Fresco studio for tips and advice until the
cows come home, or the Lord returns, whichever comes first.
|
|
location of classes -
The Academy is located in Alexandria Virginia, just 20 minutes from
the nation's capitol; a short drive to monuments, museums and attractions of Washington
-as well as places of interest in Virginia and Maryland close to
Dulles, and Reagan National Airports. There is a
generous selection of hotels in the vicinity of the school.
For further information or to register for classes please call the studio toll
free free at:
1.888. n'fresco [637-3726]
|
|
Testimonials
|
|
NEW FEATURED
STUDENT & GRADUATE WORK
PAGE
Click on the Line above to see
students 'Work in progress' at the Academy of Wall Artistry.
A picture is worth 1000 words,
|
|
|
After the first
day I had mentally hired my painter and interior decorator!
I knew I CAN DO THIS! The information
was excellent and the pace of the class -
excellent! Laura
D. Bethany Beach, DE |
|
|
I enjoyed the instruction so much I was whistling all the
way home. Victoria is a talented artist
and gifted teacher.
Lilly S. Potomac,
MD |
|
|
Victoria is an excellent communicator ... but I especially appreciated the 'hints' for actual job site use!! Donna S. Raleigh NC |
|
|
The Trilogy Class
added TREMENDOUSLY to
my.portfolio. Lisa P. New Orleans, LA |
|
|
I definitely
recommend this class to other
decorative painters. Carol
O. Beltsville, MD |
|
|
The Business Class
will help me altogether to present myself more
professionally. Thank You!.. Susan G. Arnold MD |
|
WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE CLASSES OUR GRADS RESPONDED:
'Yes. In my will.' Angela
"ONLY WHEN I RETIRE!" Donna S., Raleigh
NC |
|
-
Venetian Plaster
Intensive
I
The essentials of the Buon Fresco Method for applying Italian
Plasters in a classic mirror polish that has the reflective quality
of glass and a natural undulation with no blade marks and never any
sanding. Wax Striping is also taught in the class. Tuition
$650 Materials $175**
- Venetian Plaster
Intensive II Creating
Damask and other Stencil Designs in Plaster with Wax, Tone on Tone
plaster and Multi Color Burnishable images. Tuition $500
Materials $60 [Stencils Sold Separately]
 Shown
Left - Waxed Damask Pattern over base of
polished Venetian Plaster -
This is a sophisticated
decorative treatment for
high end commercial and residential environments. This finish,
more than any other, has consistently won editorial coverage for
the Buon Fresco studios. |
- Venetian
Plaster III
Marbling
COLUMNS
Tuition $900 Materials (inc Marbling
Brushes) $245
Venetian Plaster as Marble on Flat
or Round Surfaces! (Prerequisite
VPI Intensive)
 
Painted Marble Sample Boards in
Venetian Plaster Student
Plastering Column |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Intensive Trilogy
- Venetian Plaster, Decorative Painting, Gold & Metal Leafing for the
Interior Finisher. The 3 most essential courses for the high end
finisher's portfolio. Click on the title bar to see an
overview of the 3 classes which comprise the Trilogy.
|
|
|
|
I
