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OAK BROTHERS HISTORIC RESTORATION | Chicago Area | oakbrothers.net

Position Overview

We are seeking to hire a Decorative Arts Artisan whose expertise will enable them to

develop and render decorative finishes in historical period context — researching the

surface treatments appropriate to a given period and architectural setting, then

executing them with skill and fidelity. This is a developmental role — we are not looking

for a finished journeyman, but for someone who brings foundational knowledge,

established skill with capable hands, genuine seriousness of purpose, and who is ready

to grow into the full scope of this practice through the real, ongoing work of period-

informed restoration.

Decorative finishing in the American market is often labeled “faux finishing” — a

legitimate and widely practiced craft that encompasses a range of decorative surface

techniques. Our orientation, however, is toward the broader European tradition from

which those techniques descend: a tradition that is more attentive to historical context,

more refined in its material sensibilities, and more deeply integrated with the

architectural character of the spaces it inhabits. Candidates familiar with faux finishing

techniques in its contemporary forms are welcome to apply, provided they bring genuine

interest in developing the historical and contextual dimensions of the work within the

tradition of decorative arts finishing.

This position is guided by Oak Brothers’ commitment to the Arts and Crafts conviction

that structural soundness, functional ease, and aesthetic richness are not competing

values but a unified whole. The Decorative Arts Artisan will be a principal contributor to

that vision.

In addition to their decorative arts specialization, this person will carry the full

competencies of an entry-level Historic Restoration Worker and assist with the broader

range of restoration work that constitutes Oak Brothers’ core practice.

Specialized Qualifications: Decorative Arts

We are looking for someone with foundational skills and creative enthusiasm in the

following areas — even if that knowledge is still developing:

• Some grounding in the European decorative arts finishing tradition, including

awareness of how period styles (e.g., Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, Arts

and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco) shape surface treatments and decorative

programs.

• Developing skill in various decorative finishing techniques — such as marbling,

wood graining, trompe l’oeil, gilding, glazing, scumbling, combing, strie, stippling,

organic period finishes (such as limewash and mineral paint), and period

stenciling — with an interest in situating those techniques in their historical and

architectural context.

• Ability to work with pigments, glazes, and media to achieve period-appropriate

color palettes, with a willingness to develop deeper knowledge of historical

materials (distemper, casein, japan colors, oil-based glazes) and their

contemporary equivalents.

• An instinct — even if not yet fully developed — for reading an existing space and

understanding how a decorative treatment might belong to it rather than simply

be applied to it.

• Understanding of surface preparation as foundational to the decorative arts

process: the ability to assess, prepare, and prime diverse substrates (plaster,

wood, masonry, metal).

• A portfolio demonstrative of a modest to accomplished level of development that

demonstrates work executed with some awareness of historical or period

context. Portfolios with evidence of more general, non-period specific

development are welcome, but should indicate the capacity for existing work to

be adapted within period context.

General Qualifications: Historic Restoration Worker

In addition to the above, the Decorative Arts Artisan must possess the following

competencies required of all Oak Brothers restoration workers:

• Established transferable job-related hand skills through 1 to 2 years of

experience in a related trade or artisanal position. Examples of relevant

backgrounds include: artist, trim carpenter, theatrical set designer, luthier, picture

framer, art conservator, furniture restorer, seamstress/tailor, or chef (not line

cook).

• Artistic sensibilities combined with craftsmanship-level skills that enable the

integration of finishing and structural/functional aspects of the architectural

restoration process.

• Some experience working with both hand tools and basic power woodworking

tools (table saw, router, planer, chop saw, hand planes and chisels, tape

measure).

• Neatness, precision, and delicacy in attending to details.

• Capacity to and interest in participating in all aspects of the restoration process.

• (A full description of required skills and responsibilities for the Historic

Restoration Worker position can be sent upon request

Compensation Benefits

$24–$30/hr. Depending on experience and portfolio.

Benefits beginning day one:

• Meaningful, mission-driven work in the company of craftspersons who care

deeply about what they make.

• Active participation in the expansion of Oak Brothers’ decorative arts practice —

a growing and significant dimension of the company’s work.

• The satisfaction of contributing to projects from beginning to end, experiencing

the transformation that skilled hands and an attentive eye make possible.

• The opportunity to practice a centuries-old tradition in living architectural spaces

where it belongs — not in a studio, but in homes where people dwell.

• Per the Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance, one hour of sick leave is accrued for

every 35 hours worked.

Benefits beginning after six months:

• Six paid major holidays.

• Wage increases commensurate with skill development contributing to increased

productivity and quality.

• Partial tuition assistance for approved continuing education.

About Us

For more than a quarter of a century, Oak Brothers has been breathing new life into

Chicagoland’s historic homes, skillfully restoring and enhancing transitional and interior

architectural elements — from original windows and doors to fireplace surrounds, built-

in cabinets, and decorative wall treatments.

We are a small but growing shop guided by the Arts and Crafts conviction that structural

soundness, functional ease, and aesthetic richness are inseparable. We work primarily

in the residential sector because homeowners care deeply about their dwelling places,

and our 5-star Google reviews reflect a strong reputation for high-quality work

conducted with integrity and care. The addition of a Decorative Arts Artisan marks an

exciting expansion of our scope — one we have long envisioned.

To Apply

Please submit all three of the following. Applications must send all three

components to receive consideration.

• A resume with chronological history of both work (not just work related to the job

description) and education.

• A cover letter or a 5-minute voice recording: Tell us why this position interests

you, how your background aligns with the requirements, and how you understand

the European decorative arts tradition in relation to more generic decorative

finishing.

• A portfolio. It need not be formally produced, but images should be accompanied

by descriptions explaining what you accomplished, the historical period or

tradition you were working within, the techniques employed, and your specific

role.

Subject Heading: Decorative Arts Artisan Apply