Finishing Touches

Out and Into Space

Born and raised in Bavaria, an alpine region in Southern Germany that borders Austria, Herbert Gabler entered a three year apprenticeship with the late Josef Moest, a family of generations of well known church painters from Leuterschach, Bavaria.

Surrounded by the magnificent castles, breathtaking churches, court houses and ancient monasteries, his love for painting grew. He began his first faux marbling job on a church organ in 1965. Held to exacting standards by the “Meister,” Herbert’s expertise evolved. After completing his three year training and schooling and after receiving his art painting degree from the Painters Gild (Handwekskammer in Augsburg, Germany), the artist’s work later took him to Italy, France and Austria.

A world traveler, while on vacation in the United States, Herbert decided to stay a while to see the country. He remained in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for over 25 years, building a business specializing in painting and restoration of high-end European cars. After selling his business a few years ago, he returned to his first love, illusion painting. Herbert was introduced to Faux Effects® products by European Classic Design in Keller, Texas, and attended many of their classes in Addison and San Antonio, Texas. He learned from artists like the French born Patrisia Labeye, the Italian Nicola Vigini, Mats Carlsson and Lotta Olsson from Plam Fine Arts Academy in Norrkoeping, Sweden.

“I like to step out of the traditional, the way you are supposed do to it thing! I like to come up with creations that are dreams, fantasies and make believe. Although I love doing authentic restorations, architectural trompe l’oeil murals or classic, traditional plaster finishes, the fun is in new creations and results,” explains Herbert.

This is why Herbert was hired to bring his client's love to a lasting and flawless finish. Therefore, TextureFil™ was used to float out the walls of the dome, and by laying out the corners and frames, along with broken down fall sections to incorporate the air duct vent, windows were created, looking out of a space-like pyramid. The frames were then built with RsSandStone Flake™ and then shadowed with FauxCreme Color™. “Space” was painted with Black SetCoat®. Nebulas, planets and galaxies were created by using Old World Iridescent Fresco™, FauxCreme® Clear, FauxCreme Color™ and FauxColor™ along with Activator II™ and using AquaGard™ as the final sealer.

“The result was breathtaking. At times up there on the scaffold, I felt like Captain Kirk from the Spaceship Enterprise.”

“I truly became a believer of Faux Effects®, which is 90% of the material I’m using today,” states Herbert. “I haven’t found any technique or job that couldn’t be performed with these products. They are environmentally friendly - a great demand in these times. I am glad to be able to contribute in this way, doing my part for a cleaner and healthier planet.”

DECORATIVE ART BY: HERBERT GABLER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MINDY MORIN

WRITTEN BY: HERBERT GABLER

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