Shown is one of our plaster craftsmen forming a cornice moulding by running a shaped template of the desired piece through wet plaster, building up the plaster through each pass, until it reaches its final shape. Each curve and profile is shaped with intention, honoring traditional techniques. With a steady hand and practiced precision, our craftsman carefully forms a section of a cornice moulding, transforming raw material into a refined architectural feature.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#PlasterMoulding #Plaster #Cornice #CorniceMoulding #Craftsmanship #TraditionalTechniques #TraditionalMethods #RunningPlasterMolds #PlasterRestoration
Last week we featured a close up section of the plaster medallions we restored on the ceiling in the Weinberg Theatre at the Scranton Cultural Center. Here is an overall shot of the Auditorium after restoration. Canning’s work included executing historic treatment of plaster, decorative painting for the acoustical tile ceiling, and overall treatment of interior historic decorative painted surfaces. We repaired water-damaged flat plaster throughout the Auditorium and its balcony, the stairs, and the Banquet Hall mezzanine.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
📸Robert Benson Photography
Architect: Highland Associates
#PlasterRestoration #DecorativePainting #TheatreRestoration #HistoricPreservation #HistoricTreatment
We wanted to also give a shout out to Voith & Mactavish Architects for winning the Architecture Arthur Ross Award. We sponsored and attended the recent awards. The Arthur Ross Awards were established in 1982 by Arthur Ross and Henry Hope Reed and celebrate Excellence in the Classical Tradition. Known for their meticulous attention to historical precedent and enduring craftsmanship, Voith & Mactavish has consistently demonstrated excellence in design that bridges tradition and contemporary practice. This award affirms Voith & Mactavish’s role as leaders in preserving and evolving the language of classical architecture for future generations. Congratulations on the great success!
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#ICAA #2026ArthurRoss #ClassicalTradition #Architects #Craftsmanship
Our work at the Minnesota State Capitol included restoration of plaster and decorative paint throughout the building. Take a look at the transformation of part of the Ground floor ceiling. The first picture is after our restoration, and the second is before. The focus of the treatment was to clean, stabilize, infill, and inpaint the historic decoration. Now the ceiling decoration can adorn the interior as intended.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
After Photo: 📸Paul Crosby Architectural Photography
Architect: Miller Dunwiddie Associates
#StateCapitol #MinnesotaStateCapitol #CivicRestoration #PlasterRestoration #DecorativePaintRestoration
Canning was a proud sponsor for the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) 2026 Arthur Ross Awards ceremony on May 11th. We had a great time attending and they did a wonderful job putting it all together! The awards recognize the achievements and contributions of those dedicated to preserving and advancing the classical tradition. In 2004, John Canning received the prestigious Arthur Ross Award for having contributed to the classical tradition of our time with his outstanding contributions to the classical tradition in artisanship, specifically his expertise in decorative painting, restoration, replication, and conservation. Shown is a picture of Canning's President, David Riccio, and Director of Studio Design, Jacqueline Canning Riccio at the ceremony.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#ICAA #Awards #AwardCeremony #2026ArthurRossAwards #Architecture #Craftsmanship
Canning Liturgical Arts is sponsoring Catholic Art Institute's Retreat for Artists, which takes place from June 5th through the 7th. Come spend three days with Christ and fellow artists in prayer, reflection, and community at the beautiful St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, Baltimore. This historic seminary will provide our accommodations, prayer spaces, and conference facilities, offering a peaceful setting ideal for spiritual renewal and creative reflection. This retreat is open to creators of all disciplines—including fine artists, designers, photographers, architects, writers, musicians, singers, professional or amateur, and those studying or working in creative fields. It is also open to members of the faithful who love beauty and wish to spend time immersed in prayer, reflection, and the fellowship of artists.
For more info visit their page, https://bit.ly/26ArtRetreat
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#ArtistRetreat #Catholic #CatholicArtInstitute #Retreat #LiturgicalArt #Artist
The art of decorative gilding is a meticulous process requiring precision at every stage. Here we are applying delicate gold leaf by hand to the previously primed decorative design. Once the gold leaf is applied, they can carefully burnish the excess material, creating a refined, luminous finish that completes the design.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#Gilding #GildingProcess #DecorativeGilding #TuesdayToolsandTechniques #GoldLeaf #DecorativeFinishes #DetailsInTheDesign
Executing conservation cleaning and restoration work on a historic mural demands precision, patience, and a deep understanding of the original materials. Each phase of treatment is informed by thorough condition assessments and conservation knowledge. Through careful conservation efforts, we aim to preserve both the visual integrity and historical authenticity of the artwork. Here, you can see a small portion of the conservation work being done on a historic mural.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#HistoricPreservation #ArtConservation #MuralConservation #FineArtWork #MuralRestoration #HistoricMural
Here you can see the transformation of the ceiling medallions in the Weinberg Theatre Auditorium at the Scranton Cultural Center in PA. Part of our work included plaster restoration, and replacing, repairing, cleaning, and touching up the polychrome where necessary. The first picture is a detailed view of the ceiling and medallions after restoration, and the second is the before. You can see how the historic treatments to the plaster and decorative paint have revived the historic theatre Auditorium ceiling.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
After📸Robert Benson Photography
#PlasterRestoration #TheatreRestoration #DecorativePainting #Medallions #HistoricPreservation
Here you can see one of our fine art conservators applying a specialized gel that aids in properly cleaning historic fine art. First, the gel is applied to a small section of the artwork, it sits for about a minute, then using delicate conservation tools, the top layer is carefully scraped off, removing the majority of the built-up dirt, and finally, a cotton swab and wipes are used to clean the area off. This is a delicate and timely process; each section of the entire piece is meticulously completed, ensuring the original artwork is preserved and revealed.
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#ConservationCleaning #HistoricMurals #HistoricFineArt #HistoricPreservation #FineArtConservation
Decorative painting in progress in a historic interior. Through the careful execution of traditional decorative painting techniques, spaces can be beautified as well as restored. This level of craftsmanship ensures that every finish not only enhances the space visually but also remains true to its original character and significance.
American's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#DecorativePainting #ToolsandTechniques #DecorativeArts #TraditionalCraftsmanship #HistoricRestoration
Watch this relaxing time-laspe of our artisan completing stitching work on a custom celebration banner. Extra elements, such as the stitched tassel/fringe, can elevate artwork and decorative pieces. Stay tuned till the end of the video to see the final result!
America's Most Renowned Decorative Arts Studio.
#DecorativePainting #ToolsandTechniques #Stitching #CustomArtwork #CelebrationBanner #SacredArtwork
