A master of 15Questions Italian plasters for Nicola Vigini offers a plain e n e t i a n p l a s t e r s English guide are gor- geous, eco- f r i e n d l y , to the materials. durable and more popular than ever. But with the boom netian plaster and Italian plaster are has come an ex- terms created for the English-speaking plosion of plastering market. But they really don’t indicate products, many with anything, except for the general ex- competing claims and pectation of a smooth plaster that can confusing terminol- be polished. We don’t have a single ogy. Sometimes, it definition. Suppliers can call their Vfeels like you need an products whatever they want. Italian dictionary just PWC: Does that mean that all plas- to read the label. ter products are more or less the same? Nicola Vigini under- NV: Definitely not! That’s why I stands. The renowned spend so much time in my classes ex- founder of Vigini Stu- plaining the materials. Professionals dios, Inc and 2002 who work with plasters need a very host of the Interna- clear understanding of these products, tional Conference of and many still don’t have it. Different Painters (SALON) in products with similar (or even the San Antonio, Texas, same) names can yield very different trains artisans world- results! wide in plastering PWC: Do brand names or prices tell techniques. And no anything about plaster products? matter how experi- NV: Brand names don’t mean any- Photos: Vigini Studios enced the artist, Vig- thing when it comes to the product Nicola Vigini completes Hall of Ruins at Vigini Studios, Inc. during a seven-day mural class. ini says, confusion reigns over product you are buying. But in general, more names and meanings. expensive products tend to be of better So who better than this son of Rome quality, because they presumably have to clear up the confusion and help higher-quality ingredients. with the hype? PWC: OK, so help us translate. PWC: So many products these days Many products call themselves mar- are labeled Italian plaster or Venetian morino. What exactly is marmorino, plaster. Is there a single, universal def- and how does an artist find the most inition of these terms? authentic material? Nicola Vigini: Surprisingly, no. Ve- See PLASTERS on page 42

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the wayNatureintended! Create yourmasterpiece 15 Questions PLASTERS from page 40 as traditional plaster. lato. A good-quality Venetian plaster NV: Marmorino (from the Italian for Fortunately, advances in technology and the right technique can deliver the “little marble”) is a specific name given over the last century have introduced look of this finish. to a mixture of lime putty (processed resins and polymers that are now fun- PWC: What is the difference be- lime) and marble dust that produces a damental components of every plaster tween marmorino plasters and the finished appearance similar to marble. on the market. This innovation has al- spatolato/pastellone types? Marmorino’s origins can be traced back lowed modern marmorino to be ap- NV: The main difference is that 2,000 years, to the time of the Roman plied over coats of paint and our marmorino, by definition, has marble Empire, and in some cases back to the modern walls. dust and lime and is considered a fin- ancient Greeks. Sometimes, these products also ish coat for regular plaster. Pastellone For the Romans, marmorino was the and spatolato do not contain lime and, standard material and process for fin- because of the presence of glue in the ishing a wall. Much of this work has product, can be applied to wood and been preserved; even today, in Nero’s other surfaces. Domus Aurea (Golden House) in Rome PWC: Are there differences in ap- and in , we can still see won- plication as well? derful examples of it. NV: Yes. Traditional marmorino is In fact, much of what we know today applied in long strokes with a trowel, about marmorino comes from the resulting in a uniform and slightly Roman architect . His 10 mottled surface. The others are gener- books on architecture include detailed ally applied in short strokes with a and memorable accounts of making and spatula or putty knife, producing a applying marmorino. His work was contrasting finish with angular then rediscovered, along with much of shapes. the classical world, during the Italian PWC: Where do Pozzolana and Renaissance. Cocciopesto come in? PWC: What was the Romans’ NV: Pozzolanic ash (Pozzolana) and process? crushed brick (Cocciopesto) were once NV: For centuries, the application added to traditional plasters to help process consisted of at least six layers make them waterproof. Pozzolana of plaster over walls of stone or brick. Marmorino was extensively used in , also strengthened the material. Coc- and many examples of the six-layer process survive. The first three layers were composed ciopesto became especially popular in primarily of lime and sand, leveled for the red tone it added and with a wood plank to build up volume have a special companion primer, for its help against the city’s humidity. and level the surface. The top three lay- made with more resin, to improve ad- It is still used in some modern prod- ers were the true marmorino, made of hesion to a painted wall. ucts for its special coloration. lime and marble dust. The plaster was PWC: All right. Next translation: PWC: We also see stucco lustro and then polished with a trowel or other spatolato and pastellone. What are stucco veneziano on the market. Are tools, then sealed with a natural soap these? these brand names or specific product mixture and finished with a layer of NV: These are somewhat newer types? wax. plasters that grew from the 19th-cen- NV: Actually, neither. In English, PWC: Has that process changed tury demand for less expensive, faster, these are general names for any Vene- much? easier products. These finishes— tian plaster. In Italian, they refer more NV: Somewhat, but perhaps not as made with whiting, pigment and or- specifically to the spatolato and much as you might think. Today, au- ganic glue—can also be polished and pastellone type of plasters than to thentic marmorino can be made as in finished with wax. The smooth, but- marmorino. If you see a product la- the past by using lime putty and mar- tery consistency of the mix led to the beled this way, it is best to contact the ble dust, but this product can only be use of spatulas instead of trowels in manufacturer to learn more about the applied over an absorbent surface, such application; hence, the name spato- See PLASTERS on page 44

42 PWC SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 Faux Effects in Quark:Layout 1 8/27/09 9:18 AM Page 1

42 PWC SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 Circle No. 14 on Reader Service Card 15 Questions PLASTERS from page 42 are limited to lime-proof pigments. product’s composition and recom- Generally speaking, the color of a mended application process. lime-based plaster will dry about 30 to PWC: Some plasters are labeled 50 percent lighter, making it a better “natural,” some are “synthetic,” and choice for pastel-type colors. The type others are “lime of lime will help de- based.” What is the termine what kind difference, and is “‘Natural’ plaster of pigment can be one type better doesn’t really exist used. than another? PWC: Is there any- NV: The differ- anymore (no matter thing else decorative ence between syn- what the label says).” finishers should thetic and lime- know about these based plasters today is relatively sim- plasters? ple. Synthetic refers to any plaster NV: Yes, and it is important. Every- made exclusively, or mostly, of syn- one who works with plasters should thetic resin or polymer and pigment. receive proper instruction and make Synthetic plasters are more flexible sure to practice, practice, practice with and less likely to crack, making them them. Even the best materials are only easier for a single person to apply. as good as the artist who applies them. Like a paint medium, synthetic plas- Beautiful results take time, care and ters accept any type of pigment and, if experience. good quality, they are water resistant. PWC: Grazie, Signore Vigini! On the down side, synthetics appear NV: Prego! more plastic in their sheen and gen- Vigini Studios Inc. Atelier and eral appearance, and less expensive School of Faux and Decorative Fin- brands can appear chalky and flat. ishes offers training to individuals, PWC: What about “natural” plaster? schools and museums nationally and NV: True “natural” plaster doesn’t internationally. Professional services really exist anymore (no matter what are available through Vigini Painting the label says!) unless it is homemade and Decorating: 877-977-3289 or from scratch. Even if you could make [email protected]. it, natural plaster would be unusable in modern interiors because it must be applied over a flat, absorbent surface such as another plaster and could not Learn More be applied over paint. Nicola Vigini will lead a work- PWC: Which brings us to lime plas- shop on “Plasters Across Time” ters. How best to use them? at his studio in San Antonio NV: Lime-based plasters have a high from Nov. 11-13. The workshop, percentage of lime (up to 95 percent), for all levels of applicators, will but they retain a small amount of cover the history and evolution resin. The finished surface will be of American plasters through water resistant but porous, allowing hands-on training. Participants moisture to go in and out. Lime-based will create lime and synthetic plasters have a softer, more natural based plaster samples. Details sheen than synthetics and, if properly are available at www.viginistu- applied, will have a more durable fin- dios.com. ish. On the other hand, these plasters Circle No. 22 on Reader Service Card

44 PWC SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009