Primal Colors, Inc.
Ormond Beach, FL
Phone: 386-677-2747
Email: Primal Colors

Glossary

Short definitions and descriptions of decorative art terminology:

• Antiquing or Ageing
  
  
  A technique intended to give the appearance of age or wear.
  
  
• Art Deco
  
  
  A style of decorative art developed originally in the 1920's with a revival in the 1960's, marked chiefly by geometric motifs, curvilinear forms, sharply defined outlines, often bold colors, and the use of synthetic materials, as plastics.
  
  
• Caryatid
  
  
  A sculpted female figure used as a column.
  
  
• Crackle
  
  
  A finish in which cracking is intentionally produced, allowing the undercoat to show through the cracks. A rapid drying of topcoat over slow drying undercoat produces this interesting technique.
  
  
• Distressing
  
  
  Also a term used to describe a decorative paint finish that gives the appearance of age and wear.
  
  
• Faux Bois
  
  
  French style of using paint and glazes to imitate realistic wood grain.
  
  
• Faux Finishes
  
  
  Faux is a French word meaning "fake or false". Technically, wood-graining, marbleizing, or other painted finishes that are replicating a natural material are faux finishes. However, this term has become an umbrella name to describe all painted decorative finishes.
  
  
• Faux Wood Grain
  
  
  Creating the illusion of wood using tools and paint.
  
  
• Fresco
  
  
  Historic: Water based pigments painted into wet lime plaster. "Fresco Glaze" method in which the color glazes look to be part of the plaster itself.
  
  
• Frottage
  
  
  This comes from the French word meaning “to rub”. The decorative paint term denotes a technique of applying a wet glaze, then rubbing it with fabric, paper or other materials, to create a texture.
  
  
• Gilding
  
  
  The application of metal in any form (gold or other metallic leaf, metallic foil, metallic paint, metallic powder).
  
  
• Glaze
  
  
  Any clear medium tinted with a variety of coloring agents. Most often used to create translucent finishes in which the glaze color allows a base color to show through.
  
  
• Gold Leaf
  
  
  Gold that is beaten out into very thin sheets and used for gilding and lettering.
  
  
• Grisaille
  
  
  Architectural trompe l'oeil painting done in monochromatic colors suggesting solid form, perspective or decorative plasters motifs.
  
  
• Marmarino
  
  
  A plaster combination that includes lime, marble dust, pigment and other elements, to produce a polished stone-like finish. Also known as Venetian Plaster, or Stucco Venziano.
  
  
• Murals
  
  
  A mural is defined as a painted picture on a wall or ceiling.
  
  
• Patina
  
  
  A layer that forms on a material after periods of exposure to the elements. Also: A thin greenish layer that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze. It gives a surface appearance of something grown beautiful with age or use.
  
  
• Quatrefoil
  
  
  Architecture. a panel-like ornament composed of four lobes, divided by cusps, radiating from a common center.
  
  
• Relievo
  
  
  Italian for “relief”. The elevation of figures or shapes from a flat surface as seen in sculpture or painting.
  
  
• Strie
  
  
  A pattern characterized by vertical lines, usually made by dragging a brush or other tool, through paint or plaster.
  
  
• Trompe L'oeil
  
  
  French expression, meaning "trick the eye". A painting in which the illusion of three dimensions is created on a two dimensional surface, by emphasizing highlights and shadows, often by adding an architectural element that looks built–in, instead of painted on. In art, trompe l'oeil is defined as a 'still life deception', a painting able to make the viewer believe that an object actually exists in 3D space, in relief.
  
  
• Venetian Plaster
  
  
  See “Marmarino”. Lime plaster applied in several coats that can be polished to a high gloss, or left more textured and mat. Often imitated with an acrylic formula.
  
  

Primal Colors

Primal Colors has built a reputation for excellence, integrity and unsurpassed design. We create signature custom wall and ceiling finishes, to meet the color and design preferences of our clients. We have created dozens of of hand-painted projects, using authentic lime and marble plasters, venetian plasters and wall textures, faux marbles and exotic wood-grains, historical murals and fine art, italian frescos and decorative stencils.