The reference is mainly to paintings that are super realistic, which "fool the eye." Sometimes you want to touch the art work to see if the fly on the orange is real! The French Classical painters in the late 1800's were famous for their realistic interpretations of people and landscapes. With the invention of the camera, artists were able to study how things really looked without having to stand for hours painting the scene or models. Realistic illustrator/painters such as Norman Rockwell were extremely skilled.
Now that we are reaching the end of this century, there is a revival of trompe l'oeil style, which reflects the nostalgia of the Victorians toward the end of the last century. Americans have always enjoyed artistic effects that are obviously difficult to achieve. They particularly enjoy special effects in movies.
Another special effect, FAUX, (pronounced "foe") which means "imitation", is usually applied to creating marble or stone finishes on walls or wood columns. This is really a form of trompe l'oeil, since it does fool the eye. However, we use the term "faux" because it involves imitating stone or wood, not people or landscapes.
Many new homes in Colorado feature large rooms and high ceilings, spaces readymade for artists. Since it is difficult to find large paintings for these areas, a solution is to create a mural, or accent a wall with a form of colorful (or subtle) sponge painting, hand made wall paper, or faux treatment. Calligraphy is also an option.
The popularity of all these techniques has created a new group of "do-it-yourselfers"
and self-made painters. While
some of the techniques can be learned in an hour at Home Depot,
there are others that require the experience and skill
of a professional artist. Creating high quality faux marble
requires about 7 or 8 consecutive techniques. Try it out on a
sample piece of plywood first. Do not start on any wall unless
you have rehearsed the process!
If you are hiring a "faux painter", ask to see examples of his or her work. If you want authentic Trompe l'oeil, ask for the artist's credentials, examples, and references.. The artist should produce a sample section of the work for your appproval, along with a sketch of the whole commission. You should have some idea how long it will take, and the total cost. The artist is responsible for using drop cloths and plastic to preserve the cleanliness of the work area. Once you decide to go ahead with the project, you should be willing to make a deposit to cover the cost of supplies and time spent creating your sample.