Hi SDDP, (can I call you SD for short?
)I am new to estimating myself. The main advantages to fresco, over acrylic, are:
A) a fresco develops a patina, "lived in look" over the years, whether outside or inside. Acrylics, in my experience, cannot make this claim. Fresco works it way in your heart, like a familiar face, and stays for generations. Acrylic, usually suffers the fate of boredom, if used for interior decoration, and is often destroyed by an over zealous decorator or homeowner. Even if fresco is painted over, it can most often be recovered, whereas acrylic cannot. Fresco is often an acquired taste, a mystery like how a 90 year old man can fall passionately in love with a 90 year old woman - you would think they would be lusting over 20 year olds - not the case. In the same example, why would anyone purchase a bottle of imported red wine when they can buy a whole box full at Wal mart for the same price?
B) another thought, to lower prices, is that you can have a skill inventory of painted elements and cartones which you can use over and over again. This technique was used by fine artists in the Renaissance. To pay for your own art, (which you are sweating blood over and will never be fairly compensated for), you offer fresco panels of popular or decorative subjects, often unsigned. The masters could knock off say a cherub (putti), or a crucifix, or a Mother Mary, in record time, and get paid very well for it. This is almost like being a fine artist who does tatooes on the side! The secret is to practise, this also very impresses potential clients for more highly paid work on how fast you can work. In my opinion, there are many fine artists who are already working in this "factory" approach, so it is a good technique to follow anyways. Today's galleries want a full house of works to make it worth their effort and expense.
c) By going through the only slightly higher expense of installing the fresco on a removable panel, you are vastly increasing its earthquake proofness, and the owner can move it or sell it when you are mega famous or mega infamous.I guess acrylic can do the same though.
I have many more! Will post as I remember them.
