ISF Academy · Level 1
Artistic textures for the UK market.
Level 1 is your first step into Italian artistic textures – sandy Sabulador walls, sea-wave Mavericks and Arteco 7 patina – taught inside a working London studio so every finish you learn can be specified and installed on real UK projects.
Bay 1 · Sandy luminescent walls
Sabulador Lux & Matt – controlled sandy luminescence.
Sabulador Lux & Matt are the classic sandy finishes most UK clients recognise from Italian references. In the Framework we treat them as systems, not effects: primer choice, brush movement and light direction are all agreed in advance so the wall looks deliberate, not random.
You’ll work over PRIMART 600 with the PV76 artistic brush, building open, continuous films and then organising dunes and ripples so the wall reads calm even when the light is moving.
- Understand Lux vs Matt in the same colour under UK lighting.
- Move from “sparkly paint” to structured sandy system.
- Place Sabulador correctly in corridors, lounges and hospitality spaces.
In the UK we use Sabulador to replace faux finishes and outdated metallics with something more architectural – especially in corridors and hospitality spaces where light, depth and durability all matter.
Bay 2 · Sandy overlay veil
Sabulador Soft – a sandy light filter over other systems.
Sabulador Soft behaves like a thin, luminescent veil. Rather than being the main event, it is a way to soften harder textures and unify colour in one pass – over concrete bodies, smooth plasters or existing decorative systems.
In the Framework we use Soft as a bridge finish: a way to connect plain painted surfaces, microcement-style bodies and feature walls into one reading without having to re-design every surface from scratch.
- Use Soft over smooth bases and over textured systems without drowning the base.
- Control intensity so clients keep their chosen colour, but get softer light and depth.
- Position Soft in UK bedrooms, lounges and hospitality schemes that want texture without drama.
For the UK market, ISF positions Sabulador Soft between simple painted walls and full decorative schemes – ideal for homes and hospitality spaces that want a more “Italian” atmosphere without turning every wall into a feature.
Bay 3 · Two-colour wave system
Mavericks – dual-tone sea-waves with direction and scale.
Mavericks is a two-colour sea-wave system built over Nautilus with PV102 / PV103 brushes. The aim is not a wild effect – it’s a single wall with direction, rhythm and a scale that makes sense for the room.
You’ll work on larger bays so you can feel how the wave changes as you cross corners and interact with lighting, furniture and joinery – exactly the questions that come up on real projects.
- Prepare Nautilus bases so absorption and open time are controlled.
- Choreograph PV102 and PV103 so the waves travel, not just sit in patches.
- Place Mavericks in the Framework – usually one wall, supported by calmer systems.
In the UK we nearly always run Mavericks on a single elevation – entrance walls, stair cores, restaurant backdrops – with neighbouring walls in quieter families. Level 1 shows how to design that composition, not just copy a pattern from a brochure.
Bay 4 · Patina & heritage glaze
Arteco 7 – layered patina for contemporary heritage work.
Arteco 7 is a patina system: translucent glazes over prepared bases to create time-worn depth and quiet tonal movement. Depending on how you work it, the reading can sit close to limewash or move towards stronger antique surfaces.
The focus in Level 1 is on Classic and Metallic Classic logics – how they interact with UK light, skirtings, handrails and doors so the patina feels architectural rather than theatrical.
- Build glazes using brush, sponge and cloth without losing control of the tone.
- Balance Arteco 7 with concrete, timber and metal in stair cores, halls and restaurants.
- Talk about patina with designers and clients in clear, non-romantic language.
For the UK we place Arteco 7 in heritage-sensitive and boutique projects – stairwells, entrance halls, hotels – where patina has to sit comfortably next to fire doors, lighting and services. Level 1 gives you samples and language that make those conversations easier.
Teaching structure
Two studio days, mapped like a project.
The course is built like a small project: framework and language first, then systems in motion, then how to take them out of the studio and into UK work with support.
Session 1
Framework & map of artistic textures.
We start with the ISF Framework: where artistic textures sit next to concrete, metallic and waterproof bodies. You’ll map sandy, wave and patina families against typical UK rooms, substrates and lighting so every decision during training is grounded in real situations.
Day 1
Sandy walls & overlays.
Day 1 focuses on Sabulador Lux & Matt and Sabulador Soft. You’ll build primed bases, then work on larger panels to understand how sandy luminescence behaves under different light angles. The afternoon moves into Soft as an overlay over other systems.
Day 2
Waves, patina & composition.
Day 2 covers Mavericks and Arteco 7. You’ll run full-height waves and patina glazes, then finish with composition work – how to place those textures in rooms, and how they interact with concrete, metal and other finishes from the Framework.
What you can do after Level 1.
- Apply Sabulador Lux & Matt and Sabulador Soft to an agreed sample standard.
- Execute a small Mavericks elevation and Arteco 7 patina panel with clear direction and scale.
- Build a first set of labelled studio boards suitable for design meetings and client presentations.
- Explain each artistic texture family in plain language to designers and clients.
Who this Level is for.
- Decorators, plasterers and surface artists already working on site in the UK.
- Installers who want to step up from “effect paints” into a structured Italian system with support.
- People comfortable with the idea of education before distribution – training first, products second.
- Designers who are happy to work tools-in-hand to understand what they are specifying.
Pathway after Level 1.
- Use your Level 1 work to build a small portfolio of artistic textures on real projects.
- Move sideways into metallics, stone or concrete families, or towards waterproof and microcement bodies.
- Where appropriate, be listed within the ISF network as an installer with Level 1 artistic texture training.
Do I need previous experience with Valpaint or artistic textures?
No – Level 1 assumes you are new to Sabulador, Mavericks and Arteco 7. You should already be comfortable working on site as a decorator, plasterer or similar; from there we build the systems step by step.
Will I be able to buy these products after the course?
Yes, subject to normal account checks and project support. ISF operates on an education-before-distribution basis, so Level 1 helps make sure product supply is backed by methods, not just a colour card.
Is this the right level if I already use some of these finishes?
If you already run Sabulador, Mavericks or Arteco 7 to a high standard on live jobs, we may suggest starting at a different Level or tailoring the day. If you are unsure, send us photos of your work and we will advise.
Where does the training take place?
Level 1 runs in the Italian Surface Finishes studio in London, surrounded by full-scale walls and catalogue boards so you can see exactly how the systems are presented to designers and clients in the UK.
Fast-track entry (by evidence).
Level 1 is designed as the normal starting point. In some cases, we can fast-track you and treat Level 1 as an assessment rather than a full training requirement – but only where there is clear evidence that the foundations are already in place.
You can request fast-track if at least one of the following applies:
- You have completed the PaintTech Training Academy course that includes Valpaint / Italian decorative finishes (Sabulador, Mavericks, Arteco 7 or similar), and you can provide dates and the name of the trainer.
- You have carried out multiple decorative projects using comparable systems (not just one feature wall) and can share project references and photos.
- You already work at a high level with other structured systems and want Level 1 mainly as a calibration / alignment session rather than a full introduction.
Fast-track is not automatic. The Academy team will review your application, training background and project evidence. In some cases we may still recommend attending Level 1 in full, or suggest a shorter, tailored session instead of skipping it completely.
Tell us where you are now and we’ll place you correctly.
Whether you want the full Level 1 experience or feel ready for a fast-track assessment, share a few lines about your current work and training. We’ll respond with honest guidance, not a sales script.
Apply for Level 1 — Artistic Textures.
Use this form for both standard applications and fast-track requests. We’ll reply with upcoming dates, pricing and whether Level 1 should be taken in full or treated as an assessment.