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Posted: Jun/24/2007 1:13 PM PST
Howdy Folks. I have been making wooden garden furniture for a long time now. The catch is I don't really make it out of wood. They are all sculpted concrete & cement. It is an old and almost lost art form called "Faux Bois" (French for "False Wood"). It is an art that can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it, but either way you end up with outdoor furniture that can last literally for centuries. And while this is part of what I do for a living, anyone can learn the basics pretty quickly. Here are a couple of pieces I recently completed. One is a nine and one-half foot long bench with arms for a local client/collector. The other was made specifically for a TV craft episode that will air on HGTV in the Spring sometime. I also have a couple of informational Blogs relating to art & crafting with concrete. Here's one that also has several Hypertufa recipes on it for any who are interested... I'll check back when I can and see how everyone is doing. I always enjoy seeing other peoples work. All my best - Tango Attachments:      |
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Posted: Jun/25/2007 1:52 PM PST
Tango! I am IMPRESSED! |
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Posted: Jun/26/2007 6:03 AM PST
Wow. Will you be on That's Clever? Great pieces! |
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Posted: Jun/28/2007 6:54 AM PST
This is some fabulous work! It looks like petrified wood. Very interesting. Tina |
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Posted: Jun/28/2007 10:40 PM PST
Fantastic! Very creative, are the colors painted on? |
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Posted: Jul/18/2007 8:04 PM PST
Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner. It's been a a very hectic summer so far...but thank you. I appreciate the kind words. And the "petrified wood" effect is precisely what I aim for. As for the colors, they are actually in the cement paste as opposed to being on the surface. They are 100% permanent, acid etched reactive colorants and natural oxides and will never fade. Paint, unfortunately (or in some cases, fortunately), does not stay on cement-based materials and will fade and flake off over time. I've put a lot of time, research and energy into producing work that should easily last for several thousand years. If you would like to learn more about Faux Bois and sculpting cement as an art medium, visit my free art & craft discussion forum at www.thegardenartforum.com. You will find more information there on the artistic use of this medium than anywhere on the net. Or, in The Library of Congress, for that matter. I know. That's one of the place I began trying to track down some of the "lost" secrets many years ago and there is barely a topical mention, let alone any usable information. What a shame that the old masons who practiced these crafts chose to take their secrets to the grave instead of sharing them. |
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Posted: Jul/21/2007 12:36 PM PST
 OMG>...... those are totally awesome... you are one talented person... beautiful pieces.....sharon sassypickles |
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Posted: May/05/2008 10:31 AM PST
Hello All --- As an update to the original message, below is a link to the non-profit, Ferrocement Educational Network (FEN). They are hosting a class on how to make sculpted cement Faux Bois this summer in Colorado. Faux Bois is French for "false wood" and used to create many durable and functional items like the one you see in the picture below. This is the first time in history that these old secret techniques have ever been shared. This is a rare opportunity to learn a very nearly lost art. The products of which often sell for many thousands of dollars. Attachments:  |
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Posted: Jun/23/2008 6:02 PM PST
You said earlier that some would be on HGTV? What show would it have been on? I have it on a lot. |
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Posted: Jun/24/2008 8:35 AM PST
Hi --- The program is "That's Clever". I just hope the episode doesn't turn out too kitchy. They kept insisting on feeding me idiotic lines to say and frankly I was put off by it. Last I heard they were running way behind on getting their schedule together so, who knows when/if it will ever air. They also filmed a friend here who does metal sculpture during the same pass through the Houston area and he hasn't been able to get an "air date" either. |
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