I connected with Anthony Rastelli, an incredibly talented Artist and Textural Designer based in Boulder, over social media a few months ago. I’m excited to share his work and thoughts on the wonderful dimension and visual intrigue texture brings to a space…

All images courtesy of Anthony Rastelli

LG: Please tell me a little bit about what you do and how you got into your profession?

AR: I am an Artist, Textural Designer and Visual Storyteller, who reverse engineers textures found in nature and the industrial landscape with construction materials (etc.) and applies them to surfaces as murals or panel art. I have also been trained to replicate an array of styles of Fine Art on canvas, including Impressionism, Realism and Abstract representation.

Long story short: after a full day of refinishing a marble kitchen countertop, as I was washing up in the bathroom, I discovered a textural finish on the wall that I marveled at, called “Venetian Plaster.” VP is literally a mirror-like veneer of marble applied to the wall in the form of putty-plaster and compressed to a high shine. Just, WOW.

In that moment ideas came flooding in and from then on I started learning everything I could about these new materials and surfaces.

Textural design involves the application of REAL materials such as concrete, limestone, marble plasters, powdered metal plaster and oxidizing metal paints - NOT just acrylic or oil paints used to achieve a resemblance of rock, wood pressed concrete or an antiquated Moroccan wall, which was a popular “faux finish” technique that emerged in the 1980’s. The difference is, nowadays you can achieve an actual veneer of marble or thick build up of tangible materials covering an entire wall or surface. The look and feel is incredible.

I work with clients throughout the Interior Design industry to imagine, develop and implement custom works of wall and surface art. I specialize in Venetian Plaster applications, marble replication, antiquation, concrete effects, oxidation designs, stencils, metallic plasters and have been commissioned for custom/original art as well as reproductions or ‘in the style of’ other artists, and I love it.

LG: How would you describe the role texture (wall or otherwise) plays in Interior Design?

AR: In the context of Interior Design, texture is an expression of layered materials that create depth and dimension - a movement of line, shapes, colors, forms, values, and space. Texture connects people to their surroundings and objects through touch and by leading the eye into idealistic confrontations.

In one room, a hard rough surface on the wall may express an energy reminding us of peace and serenity - whereas down the hall, a soft blurred texture (like plaster) may introduce you to how you feel rather than what you see and think.

Texture reinforces a stylistic mood, tells a visual story and evokes a feeling in a space that reflects the 'textures' and complexities of our individual personalities.

LG: Can you walk me through your process from initial visit through creation and installation?

AR: When meeting with a designer/client for the first time, select samples are brought on location to begin outlining the design direction. Some of my recent design directions have included everything from replicating textures from Pinterest accounts, Phillip Jefferies wallpapers, carpet designs and fantasy marble slabs to even custom designing my own trowels and brushes to achieve the desired size, shape and design of snow-blown textures and snow-cat patterns (Burton, Denver). After the initial consultation and approval of the conceptual direction, I design a custom board for final review. As a wall "finisher," I'm generally the last one on the job site - my work is installed conforming to the permanent fixtures in a home.

LG: How would you characterize some of the major differences in the materials you use to achieve these surface textures?

AR: I create finishes that transform rooms into exotic and visually dramatic environments and there are a variety of materials I use to achieve this… listed below are a few:

Venetian Plaster - a mirror-like veneer of marble applied to the wall in the form of putty-plaster, compressed to a high shine.
Archi-Concrete - a mineral plaster coat in powder for interiors. It is made of well-seasoned hydrated lime putties, white cement, specific aggregates and rheological modifiers, to achieve post-industrial concrete-look textures, with elegant soft colour washing shades.
Metallo Fuso - or “Liquid Metal,” is a decorative coating for vertical interior surfaces, made from selected metal alloy powders, bi-component epoxy resin compounds transforming walls into real metal: Tin, Copper, Brass, Bronze and Zinc.
Oxidation Effects - a decorative coating with a green-copper oxidation effect, for interiors and exteriors. Verderame Wall Painting is a system consisting of a base coat, Verderame and an oxidative finish composed of salt solutions. The oxidation produced is similar to the effect of a green copper surface naturally exposed to atmospheric agents.
Animamundi - innovative re-interpretation of the idea of “washed-out concrete”, presenting a product with both a soft pearl-opaque look and a strong textured-feel effect. Decoration of luxury interiors, in line with the most modern and ground-breaking trends of “concrete-ness” in architecture. Animamundi can fulfill the widest demands for interior finishes, ensuring both textured-like feels and prestigious effects with its soft metallic shades.
R-Stone - a decorative finish with a stone and ancient patina effect, available as Rosso, Verde, Blu, Perla, Metal Silver and Metal Gold. It is formulated with selected metallic pigments creating a pleasant chromatic effect.

This is only a few, there are many more!

LG: What are a few things that would surprise us about your wall textures?

AR:

All textures are able to be coated over, if a room's design concept is changed in the future.

All of the materials I use are custom color-matched to be a perfect fit to the clients space. This adds tremendous value and out performs what wallpaper can offer.
The textures are seamless, water-proof AND 100% customizable to any space. My art is malleable.
If the client desires a mural/statement piece, we can make a custom "transportable mural" so they can take the piece of art with them if they decide to relocate.

LG: What fuels your inspiration? What is your favorite part about the design process?

AR: The "Unknown" fuels my inspiration. I have dreams where I am walking down infinitely long corridors filled with art I have never seen before, and I’m inspired to bring them back from the dream into my own work.

A favorite part of the design process is when I surprise myself - from the early phase of generating a 2X2 sample board (for the client to understand what to expect) and then stretching it over a 200 square foot wall, I am always astounded when I experience the wider perspectives of these textures.