Creative minds never fail to captivate people. Many attendees came back several times to watch the progress as artist presenters demonstrated their abilities at the 2009 Artistry in Decorative Concrete demonstrations located in the outdoor Decorative Pavilion at World of Concrete. The range of projects demonstrated the greatest variety of any of the past seven years of the demos. In all, 7600 visitors attended the event—watching the work, sharing ideas and problems with the presenters, and hopefully going home wondering how to be more creative with their own work. The Decorative Concrete Council, a council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, also staffed an “Ask the Expert” booth so that people could discuss technical issues.

All in all, the Artistry Demos displayed the best that decorative concrete has to offer, featuring some of the most innovative representatives of this inspired work.

Garage Dekor, Eagle, Colo.

Conklin demonstrated several different decorative effects using polyaspartic polyurea resins. He built knee walls on two sides of his concrete pad and installed a special base mold to show how decorative treatments can transition from horizontal to vertical. After diamond grinding the slab with 80-grit diamond pads to remove laitance, open pores, and flatten the concrete surface, he installed a 3-mil-thick coat of primer resin, which was almost absorbed into the surface. Thirty minutes later, he applied a 2-mil-thick “install bed” and broadcast decorative media over it. Within another hour, he vacuumed up the media that didn't stick and an 8-mil fill coat application encapsulated the media. He completed the process with a 2- to 4-mil finish coat.

Jaf-Co Concrete Inc., Newberg, Ore.

Fettig was one of the “hands-on” volunteers who helped place and finish the concrete pads for the demos. Then, placing a template over the fresh concrete, he broadcast colored glass aggregates in the open areas to start the patterning. When the demos opened to the public and the concrete had attained a minimum 4000 psi compressive strength, he used an angle grinder to engrave a star shaped compass pattern into the concrete. Next he began the grinding process—first with a 30/40 combination grit, then a 60/80 grit, followed by 100-, 200-, and 400-grit polishes. Afterward he and assistant Forest Scott applied solvent dyes within the engraved pattern lines to add color to the design. He finished the work with 800- and 1500-grit polishing steps, an application of a stain shield, and a burnishing step to add more shine.

Cindee's Custom Creations Inc., Perham, Minn.

At Artistry, Lundin showed both horizontal and vertical concrete work. She started by priming a wall with liquid polymer and covering it with vertical overlay cement, handcarving radius rockwork textured with skins to add realism. She also used a deeply pitted texture mat to increase the aged effect of the rocks.

Her most challenging design was a sculpted Greek figure. She started by drawing a full-scale design on paper and marking the pattern in charcoal on the back side. When she pressed the paper against the fresh 1 ½-inch-thick vertical overlay mix, the charcoal transferred the design. She then carved the 3-D shape with a grout trowel and clay modeling tools. She layered and carved the vertical mix to add dimension and detail, using both water- and solvent-based stains to provide color.

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