Up Close: Topography of Plaster

As it darkens and chills in Seattle, I miss being outside to mix and make my plasters. There is nothing like opening my garage doors up to the fresh summer air to whip up a creative storm.

Splatted, cracked lime paint collides with golden earth plasters....maybe some hypertufa planting medium too.....and don't forget the sunpaint!

As I mix pigments into the plaster, colors and textures swirl and my eye catches the water's reflection. Drill goes off, hands are semi-clean so I grab my camera for another up-close shot. One, maybe two.  For a moment, spiral-like patterns form as materials join one another.

The drill goes on to hurricane speed and the moment fades.

There is beauty at the bottom of a bucket.

Photography lets you fall in love with the story behind the art. Below are some of my favorite shots.

Enjoy!

 

 

Getting Lost

Yesterday while working on a project, a finish carpenter approached me and said "I will try not to talk much, you are obviously lost in your work." Immediate resonation as I shook my head and said "Yes, I do get lost in my work."

Silence again and more focus. On to the next edge.

I've received alot of feedback over the years about my work and that one really sticks. I love that my love for my work creates a glow that people can see and feel.

Getting lost is a good thing.

I picked up a trowel in 2000 and haven't stopped since. Lost in the moment, all the daily angst receeds. Paying attention advances.

Suddenly.

Eyes focus, cheeks flush, sweat and grit begin.

From edge to edge you are fully dedicated, present, "in the moment" as most pop self-help books say.

Plastering gives you a visible start, middle, and end. Voices chatter, trowels crunch then fade..quiet liminal persistence. Then the end. An "Ah!" this is worth it. Can't wait to do it again!

Your work transforms, transcends daily life. Things don't mean so much. Only moments.

Trowel On!

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. Henry David Thoreau

Mix Maestro

Process is immersive. Most of us spend our time caught in the heat of a project, entranced by the moment. What about before it begins?

When getting yourself ready to orchestrate a plastering project, what motions you to be successful when the first trowel or brush stroke happens? Setting the stage for a "PIY" plaster project means creating rituals that work for you.

Whether its one bucket or twenty, establishing good routines will help you avoid unneeded fatigue and give you the repeatable consistency to do the next wall, or the whole house. This blog will focus on how to create good "first stage" to lay the groundwork for your finishes to come.

I love mixing and tinting my own plasters. Its a dance in and of itself. Earthen plasters like American Clay bring the power to your hands...before the troweling begins. Customize your own "Mari-Loma" or "Loma-Lina" batches and tint them with natural pigments as you wish. Experiment away friends! The color, consistency, and quality are up to you. DIY's, you can "MIY" then "PIY"! :)

Along with the power and control you have over customizing your plasters comes a responsibility. When experimenting with colors and textures..keep these points in mind.

1. Use a digital scale and record your measurements. This will help ensure repeatable, consistent batches.
2. Samples!!! Always make a "batch sample" after your first "scrap sample" to monitor any changes. This is especially helpful to ensure client sign-off and project success. It's always a good idea to make a third one just in case you want to experiment even further with lime washes, tinted sealers, and other artistic effects.
3. Be safe! Arm yourself with an N-95 respirator and glasses when working with natural pigments and mixing.

The Mixing Station...Tools and Techniques

  

How can you go from mixing 5 gallons in 30 min to 20? With the right station and equipment, you'll be standing tall. You might even have enough energy to go for a post-mix skate or run! Over time, I have found some great tools to use for this process. Hint: look no further than your restaurant supply store for some of them!

1. 4' wooden spatula is perfect for breaking surface tension that occurs when mixing and is great to use for scraping and blending all those bottom aggregate remnants. It is also a great weapon! (just kidding!)
2. Large galvanized trash can is essential! If you are doing larger projects or simply want to ensure color consistency, grab one at your local hardware store before your next gig. I also like to use a smaller basin style one for holding tools while mixing to contain debris.
3. 1/2" drill and mud paddle..of course!
4. Large plastic measuring cup w/ handle will allow you to get the plaster out of the can with ease.
5. Hand trucks are great for wheeling those buckets around...in style!

Ergomonics is Queen! Developing good practices will help preserve your energy to "let'er rip" when it comes to troweling.

1. Clean buckets! Who wants chips of old red Marittimo with new buttery white Porcelina? Soak your old buckets the night before, then scrub and spray out. The cleaner the start, the crisper the job.
2. Use gravity! Those 50 lb bags can be heavy, use a table, truck bed, or the edge of your mixing can to coax the plaster in.
3. Develop a pre-job checklist and dedicate one area to collect all your tools and materials. Load up, then treat yourself to a nice carbo-load-up before your job to sustain your energy and keep your outlook sunny!

Finally.....keep falling in love with what you do! Enjoy the process of making the art and the art-making!

"In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire"  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pioneers and Grassroots

Memorial Day 2011 was once again spent creating new finishes and ushering in the "busy season" for the industry. I secretly love to work during off-hours, holidays and weekends..less traffic and engine roars. :)


 

Sherwin Williams 6147, 6149, Bioshield Colorwash #1521, Ochres & Oxides Turkish Earth Ground Pigment

 

I decided to get some fresh country air after the day and take a short drive to Snoqualmie, WA. This weathered and rustic place is a short escape from the dotted errands of everyday life. Not a stop light in town and still a local business pulse.

Trains and Patina. I had intended to shoot more than one but my first stop landed here. And there it stayed. This is a texture-lover's paradise! Oxides. Rust. Weathered wood and metal all coming together!

These trains represent to me how innovation really starts with a simple idea and belief. Then it radiates. These trains were once the needles that knitted small towns together into systems. Now they rest and gather nature's own patterns.Trains and towns represent the pioneering spirit. Hop on, take a risk, and forge ahead!

Dirty Green Jobs: Adventures in Earth Plaster Application

April 14 2009 10:09 am

4 years of Bellevue College Interior Design school complete! CAD drawings and renderings all rolled up and asleep. My Kodiak M2 and a month's worth of goods & groceries, packed and ready to blow'n'go!

Sitting was my least favorite part of school and I was about to get exactly what I'd been preparing so hard for.

Truck was stuffed and the engine roared, headed on a barge to the San Juans.

Assignment: Complete 8,000 sqft of beautifully crafted clay finishes in a glorious cabin on a sparkling lake nestled on a private island luminating in the Puget Sound. Too good to be true. I could write a book or two on all I've learned through my work, but for now, I'll share this blog. 

Method: Work-out alot to build endurance and invest in power tools!!! And eat anything you want for breakfast because you'll burn it off by 10am. A cup of coffee ignites the motors, a beer after work lifts the spirits and stores the next day's carbohydrates. Pack muscle rub!

I started my business in 2005 and have done decent sized projects..a few rooms at a time, fireplaces galore, and fancy powder rooms. This was the first time I was doing a WHOLE house..no paint anywhere..only plaster! Only by the hands of me and my "Assistant Sista" Shannon.

Enter the Kodiak M2.

I bought this portable hopper to allow efficient application of basecoats and ceilings. Victory was declared when in one day we covered close to 2,000 sqft!  The machine is connected to a 90 PSI 13 CFM wheelbarrow air compressor. What a sense of power you have when using that machine!

Until it clogs. Then.        Work.     Slowly. Comes to a.        Halt.

Even after I would routinely flush the machine out and perform all proper steps, something would clog..usually the gun tip due to all the joins and grooves. As disempowering as it gets.

I was filthy and fiercely determined.

The machine would eventually come around but alot of time was certainly spent setting up, configuring, and troubleshooting. You realize your tools are the two hands attached to you...so get to work! I've had my bouts of confidence with "Betsy the Beast". From the heights of scaffolding, poised and powerful. To maliciously striking, attaching, and attacking.

As the basecoat phase winded down, artistry revealed itself. Every day and moment it seemed was spent capturing and experiencing nature. The real magic happened when there was no rumbling of the machine, no more gasoline, only the hand and the heart. I don't regret the machine..it allowed me to scale and produce. Above all, I learned when to turn off the machine and tune in to the craft. 

Below are some of my experiences with different application tools & techniques. Enjoy!!!

Spray-On Application

Kodiak M2 Portable Hopper

The machine is easy to clog, especially the gun tip and stator tube. I had the most problems with American Clay's Marittimo since the heavier aggregates tend to sink to the bottom. I used Loma in with the Marittimo to help suspend the aggregates which helped the flow. The Porcelina blows on like a breeze since it's a finer plaster.

Prime it real well with warm soapy water, flush , then slowly coach it into flowing the plaster...crank the hopper speed up to 100! It takes at least two people to operate..one sprays, one backtrowels.

Its an expensive investment (over $4K for machines)..although if you are doing a large area and are on a construction project schedule..its the sure fire way to stay on track without having to subcontract away your costs. Great for basecoats but it can end up looking like knockdown drywall on the topcoats...too flat and not enough hand!!! More prepwork / masking needs to be done due to overspray. Add 10% additional material for overspray / waste.

Hopper with 90 PSI 13 CFM
Works well with viscous, fluid materials (no heavy plasters) Applying sanded primer is a breeze. Less overspray than Kodiak.

Roll-on Application

American Clay released a binder called "Up & Ez" which allows you to roll on the plaster! It works great for ceilings and hard to reach areas..less trips up & down the ladder! Its a good idea if you are just starting to learn. Regardless of how you apply it, you still need to use a binder in the clay, but if you are quick with a trowel you might be better off not rolling it on walls and easy to reach areas. Artistically, you can have a great time rolling on different shades for tonal effects.

Trowel-On

This is the easiest, simplest way to apply plaster. Pointed trowels work best for edges and corners, Pool trowels simplify large scale application. So many different ones! Ceilings are more difficult than walls since the material falls. This is when you might opt to do the "Roll-On" or "Spray-On" application.

Links

San Juan Islands Project Film

My favorite trowel

American Spray Kodiak M2

American Clay

Stucco Italiano

Rigor

When exploring and finding new paths, uncertainty is certain. The outcome is not guaranteed. What we can be sure of are many bumps in the road, obstacles and fears to face.

The light comes from a desire and continued will to figure things out.

Enjoy and journal the process along the way!

New finishes and fresh spins on old techniques!! Each material speaks a different language and you’ve got to listen.

And write. And photograph. And Repeat. Focusing on iteration while developing each step.

It's tempting to just “do”. Drawing and writing satisfy the immediate, but the struggle comes from when to execute. There is a point when have we recorded, tested, made enough control samples, and performed all needed tests. Then its showtime.

Starting from one end to the other, we “apply”..”apply remove”…...layer after layer. Hoping the surface will neither get too warm or too cold, too humid or dry. Each stroke flows into the next…and the next.

Camera gets dirty *again* as I force myself to pause and record!

In the world of plaster artistry, often it’s the process behind the product that shines through, giving you repeatable success along the way. Whether you are a DIYer or budding professional, learning new materials and techniques is a way to stretch beyond your comfort zone and continue to expand your creative vocabulary. What processes work best for you? What rituals help get you in the “zone”?

Enjoy these tips..Trowel On!

Stay Inspired
Do the grain patterns in wood inspire your finishes? What about works of art? Or the vivid colors in Tibetan rugs? Always be on the lookout for sources of inspiration; nature, art, interior design….anything you see. Don’t be afraid to tear out images in your latest design magazines!

Ancient Greco-Persian Relief

Sketch /Draw

If you are working on creating a new finish, perhaps using multiple colors, grab your pen or painter’s knife and start diagramming. What’s the main color you will use? Are there other secondary colors? Illustrate this in your drawings.

Stay Organized

Create a folder for your finishes, write down all steps, measurements, notes. This should give you an easy, organized way to repeat your work!

Make

Samples, swipes, and swatches all give you a record of your work. Making both swatches of the specific textures and colors you are using helps visually clarify. You wrote about it above..now show it through your samples. Make as many as you need to practice your technique!

Record

You’ve drawn it, you’ve wrote about it, you’ve tested, now it’s showtime! Photography is another way to capture your process and the end result..beautiful surfaces. Be sure to take before – during – after photos of your work.





American Clay Marittimo with a Tinted Lime Wash!



”What separates artists from ex-artists is that those who challenge their fears continue; those who don’t, quit.” Art and Fear, page 14.