Portrait of an Artist: Barbara “Beaucastle” Clark

Barbara "Beaucastle" Clark

There are a number of extraordinary artists in our field — and Barbara “Beaucastle” Clark certainly falls under that category.  We met online after she launched her wonderful Faux Calendar, a site where visitors can easily see all the faux classes available at a glance.  I’ve visited her company site, Clark & Hall Studios, as well as her eponymous fine art site.  It’s also been enjoyable seeing her work and advice on the Faux Forum and on Facebook.  Her artistry is incredible and innovative — it seems she pushes the boundaries of what we can do in our field and creates veritable works of art for her clients.  I’m so glad I had a chance to chat with her.

(Left) One of Barbara’s well-known techniques. You can read more about the details here.  (Right) A collage of Highwaymen paintings, aged and varnished.

“Architecture was my major in college at Washington University in St. Louis. I didn’t finish but fell in love with the 1,000’s of late 1800’s St. Louis buildings that needed saving.  Historic restoration and saving neighborhoods were my life for the next 30 years.  Over that time, I restored 3 historic homes and (here’s the punch line) became enamored with the beautiful period graining and marbling I saw all over St. Louis.  At the same time I was the founder/editor of a local home and historic restoration magazine that we ultimately sold to Pulitzer Publishing Company.  In the 70’s, I had a fourth generation painter grain all the trim and cabinetry walnut in our restored 1862 Federal townhouse in St. Louis.  He and his two sons were in my house for about six weeks. It was the old fashioned beer and pigment techniques. I was mad for it.  Who knew I would someday be graining myself?,” she muses.  Settling in Vero Beach, FL, she started Clark & Hall Studios in 1996.  These days, she expands her skill set. “I have begun some fine art painting and am now doing a series on orchids.”

Her fine art has received great response and she was also chosen by the publishers of the Artful Home to be featured in one of their annual artist directory guides.  The painting above inspired the following accolade in the guide: “At home we want to walk through inspiring rooms that have emotional resonance and stories to share. In my mind’s eye, I enter this Florida home — only to wind up on a beautiful coast in Italy, as if by magic.”  Below is one of the paintings in her Orchid series.  Isn’t it incredible?

Q: Where do you see the decorative painting industry heading in the future?
A: I am especially happy decorative painters are embracing art and trompe l’oeil.   I see it becoming more “artists doing finishes” instead of “finishers trying to do art”.  Overall our industry is becoming much more skilled, and in touch with current design trends.  The dissemination of information by blogs and social media are making it possible for all of us to be educated about the past, and be totally up-to-date.  The Internet really is the 5th dimension.

However, I do have a love/hate relationship with our industry.  I see work that is so amazing that I don’t understand why every house isn’t full of decorative painting.  Then, I see jobs that are so poorly designed and/or executed I am surprised any of us have work.   That frustrates me.

I would like more young people see this as a career in the US.   Most of us came to this as a second or third career and are not getting any younger. A good source of apprentices would be great and it would make sense to have these skills taught as a career.  Andre Martinez has his 2 year program in Colorado but I believe that is the only one in the US.

Q: What are some of your personal favorite design and/or finish styles?
A: I like any finish that is pretty, which sounds trite but you can’t go wrong with pretty.  I personally like clean, clear colors. My favorites are beautifully executed classic venetian plaster, perfectly stippled glazed walls (one of the most difficult technically), overall patterned walls, molding and doors anything but white.  The intricate ceilings and floors made possible by Modellos are spectacular.  Regardless of the finish, good is good, and the magic always shows.

Macassar Ebony Faux Bois Screens

Q: Professionally, who are some of your inspirations?
A: Pascal Amblard is amazing. His new book shows his design ability as well as his painting skills.  Christian Martincourt, the French Faux Bois master, blows me away. The drama of Caravaggio pushes my buttons.

A silver (aluminum) leaf finish with a sienna patina.

Q: What artist would you like to commission to create a painting for your home?
A: Mary Sprague.

Q: What inventions make your job easier?
A: My Mac, my Nikon D70 and my scanner.

Ribbon Walls with real nail heads, a painted and rubbed vanity and woodgrained crown and base. Barbara shows how a decorative artist can make an impact on so many surfaces.

Q: Are there any art or design books that you would recommend for us to read?
A: I think everyone in this industry would be well served to spend more time looking at good interior design books.  Axel Vervoordt is an antique dealer/designer whose rooms are beautifully understated yet sophisticated.  Robert A. M. Stern is an architect who has a simple, original elegance.  Juan Pablo Molyneux is just plain good and uses finishes well.  Kelly Wearstler has edgy work.  And, Tony Duquette, of course, was the most creative guy in the whole world.

Artists that inspire me are all French Orientalists, Sargent, Chihuly (who really defines greatness in that his glass looks nothing like anybody elses), Fortuny fabrics, and Christopher Beane who’s new book Flower is insanely beautiful…to name just a few.

The book I have actually used the most is Decorative Symbols & Motifs for Artists and Crafts People from Dover Publications.  It is line drawings of designs from the ancient world that I use all the time.

Looking at good design (whether there is any decorative painting or not) elevates our eye.  Inspiration is everywhere.  Our job is to learn to see it.

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Barbara did launch the Faux Calendar earlier this year.  She explains there’s more in the works.  “The Faux Calendar shows all the classes and events in the decorative painting world.  In development is ArtisanPages.com, a site designed specifically for homeowners and designers to find skilled artisans to work on their homes.  The fine art and the web design are keeping both sides of my brain really busy.”  I bet!

I hope you enjoyed seeing her wonderful work!  You can catch more of Barbara on her blog, Beaucastle, as well as on Facebook.  Please be sure to check out the Faux Calendar as well as it’s Facebook page.  Barbara has two websites, one for her company, Vero Beach, FL based Clark & Hall Studios, and one for her beautiful fine art. A huge Thank you! goes to Barbara as well as to you, dear Readers. Enjoy the weekend!