Our Moderators...
Martin Alan Hirsch

In 1987, Martin Alan Hirsch opened Decorative Finishes Studio in Louisville, Kentucky. Through comprehensive study throughout the world.. as well as in his studio, Martin has created and mastered hundreds of decorative faux finishing paint techniques.

In September of 1992, Martin opened The Faux Finish School®, a division of Decorative Finishes Studio. The Faux Finish School® was the first faux painting business program in the country that taught not only faux painting, but also the "business" side of this lucrative career. In 1995, The Faux Finish School's website was created and became the first faux painting studio and faux finishing school on the Internet. Today, The Faux Finish School® and it's website have become the "model" for the faux painting industry.

As a pioneer in this industry, Martin Alan Hirsch continues to work in the field, staying "on top" of current trends, newest techniques, as well as bringing his expertise into the classroom.

Martin not only continues to develop new techniques, but also teaches the incredible faux finishes he has mastered. Utilizing his passion and commitment to faux painting as an artform, Martin personally teaches enthusiastic students wanting to begin or continue a career in the art and business of faux finishing!

His students are some of the most successful faux finishers working today!

In 1998, Martin designed and "broke ground" on Decorative Finishes Studio's "Italian Villa" studio to exemplify his work. The "villa" was completed in a little over four months. It boasts a new two-story old world style facade, fashioned after the great villas in Tuscany, Italy....... complete with faux finish Corinthian columns, Italian plaster archways, engraved stone work, open flame lighting, faux finish rusted balcony railings and a walkout veranda! Michelangelo faux renderings have been applied in an eleven layered fresco style to the front of the villa, along with imitations of old, worn wood window frames. There is no other faux finish studio like this in the world!

The faux painted villa shows Martin's passion and commitment to the faux painting artform, as well as giving students a chance to view faux painting in its ultimate form!

Martin is a member of the select Color Marketing Group known as CMG. CMG is an international association of 1700 color designers who forecast color directions one to three years in advance for all industries.