Artist Sheri Hoeger
Many years ago I heard of The Mad Stencilist and thought that was such a joyful name for a business. I had to look into the company and discovered that it was headed by the wonderfully talented Sheri Hoeger — and to this day, I admire her amazing creativity, professionalism and warm personality. Sheri has been working in the decorative painting industry for over 22 years. Her main focus has been residential interiors and she’s worked on nearly every imaginable surface from walls to floors, fabric, furniture and accessories.
In 1993, she began teaching and launched her pre-cut stencil line as The Mad Stencilist at IDAL. Her husband, Hugh, joined her full-time to run the management and marketing segments of the business in 1998. Shortly thereafter, Say What? Lettering, the first custom self-adhesive stencil masking system available to the decorative painting community, was launched and it now encompasses the Beyond Words Decorative Designs. Sheri has also been an advisor for The Faux Forum since its inception, made numerous television appearances and has also created instructional DVDs for our industry. I’m so happy that we were able to e-chat about her art, hobbies and a bit more about her studio and businesses.
The drapery was painted with an airbrush. The stencil was cut from acetate and used a paint and pull process on the wall.
SH: As my artistic skills evolved, I learned to use many different materials and techniques and have branched out into fine art, painting in acrylic and pastel. I especially love trompe l’oeil murals and capturing the essence of personalities in my animal portraits.
RG: You’re also very well known for your airbrushing…
SH: It’s not something I could have planned. I was introduced to the airbrush when I worked as a manicurist in the early 80’s. A friend showed me the traditional dry brush method of stenciling at about the time that multiple overlay stencils first became available. I loved the soft look of the airbrushing combined with the crisp edge of the stencil and it fascinates me to this day. In 1988, I began making my own stencils to match my clients’ décor and this, combined with airbrushing, became my ‘signature style’. Of course, I still use stencils and airbrush frequently, and enjoy developing new ways of using them.T'loose is Sheri's standard poodle and the dog love of her life. (Pastel)
RG: Do you have other go-to materials you use?
SH: Whenever possible I like to work from my own photographs. I take hundreds of photographs of whatever I happen to come across and file them by subject in my computer. I also love Dover Publications because they publish archives of historic ornament, illustration, old catalogs and other art resources that are copyright free and reasonably priced.
Handpainted using a wet T-shirt. I think this would be the best kind of entry in a Wet T-Shirt contest.
RG: Professionally, who are some of your inspirations?
SH: So many artists have influenced my development! Jan Dressler and Dee Keller were very inspiring, and both were very helpful when I was starting out. Pascal Amblard, Sean Crosby and Jennifer Carrasco are fantastic. William Cochran is incredibly inspiring, both as an artist and a human being. I’ve studied with William and had the chance to work with him on his project The Dreaming in Frederick, MD. It was a double pleasure to work on it along side my son, Ryan.
The landscape was painted with an airbrush using natural foliage as a mask. When grouped together, your eye makes it into a positive. The column was marbled and gilded.
RG: Are there any art books or artist biographies that you recommend for us to read?
SH: Like many artists, I have an addiction to art books. One of the first artists I was really inspired by is Lyn le Grice. Her books The Stenciled House and The Art of Stencilling were instrumental in my falling in love with stenciling, and that was where I first heard about SALI (now IDAL). I love all of books by Graham Rust and they have inspired quite a few of my murals. The Stencilled Home by Helen Morris is really great, and The Art of Faux by Pierre Finklestein. One of the most useful ones I have come across is Perspective Without Pain by Phil Metzger. Carolina D’Ayala Valva’s book on Grottesca is fantastic, and I can’t wait for the release of Pascal Amblard’s upcoming book.
RG: What are some misconceptions about art that you encounter?
SH: The idea that many people have that they “can’t” draw or paint. I think most of those people have been unfortunately convinced of that by insensitive comments, resulting in a fear of trying. I don’t discount that there is a degree of “talent” that gives a person some pre-disposition for success in art, but the most talented artists I know work incredibly hard, devoting countless hours with a persistence that is mind-boggling. I believe that art is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Skills can be learned and perfected with practice and I’ve seen many determined beginners produce incredible work that surprised themselves and their teachers. I believe that being creative is a basic human need, whether it’s in art or math or science or cooking. That’s one of the reasons our business is so satisfying. We help give people the tools and opportunity to be creative beyond their expectations.
Airbrushed using the Renaissance Border from The Mad Stencilist Collection.
RG: Speaking of being “creative beyond expectations”, I’ve heard that you are a musician as well! What are your preferences? Do you play in an actual band?
SH: I love an eclectic array of acoustic music. Hugh and I have had the joy of playing music together for fun and semi-professionally for many years. We play a lot of Bluegrass, Americana and Soft Rock/Folksy stuff. We enjoy harmony singing and Hugh plays guitar, mandolin, bass and a little banjo. I play bass. Favorites are Alison Krauss and Union Station, Chris Thile (now in the Punch Brothers), Chris Stuart and Backcountry, Dan Crary, Laurie Lewis, Nanci Griffith and Tim O’Brien.
RG: That sounds amazing — I love the fact that both you and your husband enjoy performing together. Can’t get any better than that!
In 2002, Sheri and Hugh moved to a two-acre property near Placerville, CA in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, just East of Sacramento. They wanted to keep their business home-based and also have a studio that combined both in a beautiful, spacious setting. Their studio, Big Oak Arts, offers workshops in fine and decorative arts. In addition to Sheri’s classes, they will have Pascal Amblard teaching 3 workshops in September (his first visit to the West Coast) and William Cochran will return to teach his Trompe l’oeil Mastery Series in March 2011. Check out their schedule here. Sheri is also presenting a recent project at the upcoming PDPA Education Summit in Golden, CO. So many great things going on and coming up, no? Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this interview — and I’d like to thank Sheri for taking the time to e-chat. I do look forward to seeing her studio AND hearing her play. Please be sure to click into all the sites — there’s so much good stuff to see and read about. Have a great weekend!
A bit ago, I stumbled onto the Babylon Baroque blog, who’s tagline — “snotty opinions and a fondness for excess” — had me at the word go. The blog is written by Los Angeles-based artist Leonard Greco and I found myself fully enjoying his irreverent mix of design history, decorative arts and personal conversations with his readers.
Artist Leonard Greco
Mr. Greco is a one-man studio and has been designing ornamental compositions and murals for the last 20 years. “I am self-taught and now at 50 years of age, attending school and earning a BFA. It is a humbling and wondrous experience,” Leonard says. “I hope to ultimately switch to large scale studio work outside the design community, in galleries.” His love and knowledge of decorative ornamentation and period aesthetics have garnered him many discriminating and unique clients, including singer Christina Aguilera, whose home was profiled in the October 2009 InStyle issue. I’m very happy that we were able to e-chat recently about his artistry, interests and personal musings.
RG: What is the first work of art you remember creating?
LG: The first painting I ever attempted was on a discarded chunk of sheetrock. My parents had allowed me to claim a corner of our basement for my own personal sanctuary. With that sheetrock I attempted to recreate a Buddhist wall mural, all in shades of jade and gilt. I nailed it to the ceiling. My first, and certainly easiest mural. I was 10.
RG: What are some of your personal favorite design and/or finish styles?
LG: I love all things 19th century, enlightened design to the vulgar, Regency to vaudeville.
RG: What is the best thing that has happened to the art industry in the last five years?
LG: The Green Movement has been a tremendous boon, not only for the obvious reasons. I no longer need to make a case for not using hazardous material. When I started out that was not the case and all “good” designers demanded oil treatments.
RG: Len, I love this! Tell me a bit about it…
LG: The Salome panel is oil on canvas, artist unknown to me. It is early 20th century and it inspired the room and my decoration. I was hoping to capture the bohemian decadent type of interiors favored by Stephen Tennant and his crowd of Bright Young Things in the 20′s.
RG: What magazines do you subscribe to?
LG: There is only one design magazine worth reading, World of Interiors.
RG: What artist would you like to commission to create a painting for your home?
LG: Whistler, he can doodle peacocks on anything he wishes.
RG: What is your greatest talent?
LG: My greatest gift is designing ornament, something I love deeply. With that said, I wish to become a better studio painter.
I admire how artists always strive for that chrysalis, the evolution into something better, different, deeper. I hope you’ve enjoyed the peek into Leonard Greco’s enchanted world. You can see further artistry in his online portfolio. I urge you to also check out his blog, Babylon Baroque — there is always something new to discover about the decorative arts and he delivers it in a witty, amusing way. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
There is a unique kind of artisan that not only produces sublime work but also possesses extraordinary knowledge about design, color, architecture and art history. If you are lucky enough as a client to have one in your area, they will elevate your project simply through their talent and innate understanding of what your space needs. One such artisan is Lynne Rutter. She runs a thriving studio based in San Francisco with commissions throughout the U.S. and has over 25 years of professional experience as a decorative painter.
Artisan: Lynne Rutter
Lynne is well-known for her ornamental ceilings, surreal-scale figurative murals and a fearless use of color. She has a BFA from UC Berkeley, where she studied architecture and design as well as fine art. “I started out as a scenic artist in the 1980’s when trompe l’oeil and faux finishes were enjoying a level of popularity I have not seen since. I sought out the best decorative painters and apprenticed with them, working for very low wages to gain experience. I then managed a large international commercial mural studio for 4 years and learned the technical aspects of running a mural business,” she explains. She founded her own studio in 1990.
We recently had a chance to e-chat as she was winding down from her beautiful wedding to composer Erling Wold.
RG: Congratulations! I think you had my favorite type of wedding: fun, wildly artistic and deeply personal. It must be amazing to marry another talented artisan. Considering your union, what are your personal preferences in music?
LR: Music is very important to me and it’s probably no coincidence that my husband is a composer whose work I adore. I have kind of a punk rock past but I am very eclectic in my tastes now, so I also love classical music, swing music, opera, gyspy jazz and non-western folk music. I have no idea what genres Radiohead, Philip Glass or Fila Brazillia fall into, but they are in heavy rotation at my studio.
RG: I imagine with your love of period design that you travel quite a bit. What have been some of the most inspiring spaces you’ve seen that had decorative painting?
LR: There is so much amazing painting to see out there, and I do love to travel. I have found inspiring moments in grand rooms and little hallways alike. Some more notable places: the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Palace, and the lesser known Salette Borgia and Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris. Here in San Francisco, if you go to Coit Tower there are some spectacular WPA murals inside. All over Italy there are wonderful churches and villas with breathtaking décor inside. Some of my favorite painted rooms are in the Lower Belvedere Palace, Vienna. Last time I went there it took me four hours to pry my eyes off the ceilings and we kind of got locked in when they closed for the day. I had to ask the guard to let us out. I started my blog in large part to have a place to post these pictures.
Lynne sneaking a pic in the Lower Belvedere Palace (Vienna)
RG: What are some of your favorite go-to materials you use in your work?
LR: I use paint- usually acrylics, oils, casein. I paint all my maquettes in gouache. Whenever possible I like to add gold leaf. And I swear by good quality brushes. My favorite tools are my scenic fitches, a #6 synthetic round and a good sable liner.
Lynne has participated in the restoration of painted ornament in churches and civic buildings, as well as in Victorian and period-revival homes. While she does contemporary work in modern homes, adorning a previously barren space with historic-inspired murals and ornament has become one of her signature looks. Her work has been featured in numerous national design magazines and books on interior design. Recent commissions include two public libraries, the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the Malibu home of Barbra Streisand (to be featured in Ms. Streisand’s upcoming book, Passion for Design) and in illustrations for Williams-Sonoma.
RG: Any art books or artist biographies that you recommend for us to read?
LR: I love books and have a huge library. I adore doing research for my work and all the things I learn in the process. When I re-launched my website last year, I posted my library there in my own little bookshop.
RG: What has been the most fulfilling project you’ve been involved with?
LR: The project that shaped my career the most was a 10 x 13 foot mural I painted based on Girl With A Pearl Earring by Vermeer. I was painting it over 600% of the original size, so I had to come up with a different technique and a lot more information, or I risked having it look like a billboard. I had the most supportive patroness, who paid me well and gave me plenty of time to go through whatever process I needed to be happy with the work. While I could have cranked the mural out in a week, I took this painting much further, and at some point decided to invest myself in it as an artist, not just as a painter. When it was done we had an opening party for her, and I invited people to the studio to drink champagne and get a close look before I took her down for installation on site. From then on, I no longer viewed my chosen career as just my job, but also as my art. Ever since that epiphany I have pushed my work further on every job I do, no matter what the budget or deadline. I completely dismissed all the negative messages I had ever heard telling me what I cannot do and I take bigger chances with my designs.
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Lynne and seeing a bit of her incredible artistry. Please take a moment to look at her website and blog. Lynne also has a renowned studio where she teaches workshops between commissions. She is traveling to the IDAL convention in Portland to teach Painterly Cloud Ceilings.
When asked about a personal artisan philosophy and last words of advice, Lynne says, “One of my favorite painting teachers told me something that I find really helps me, especially when I am teaching: Every artist is essentially self-taught. You can get the techniques and knowledge handed to you in a class or on a silver platter, but the artistry comes from the time you spend alone, in practice. So much of what is satisfying about my work is how much I keep learning and how doing something well is worth the extra effort. Beautiful work improves the lives of those who see it and raises the esteem of the entire trade, not just my own reputation. It last longer than whatever you can possibly buy with the money you earned doing it. The Sistine Chapel ceiling would not be the masterpiece that it is if Michelangelo was just trying to make a profit. The best piece of advice I can give is this: Do your best, always, and believe in yourself. The day you realize you deserve what you really want, you will get it.“
Artisan: Yves Lanthier
Yves Lanthier is an incredible artisan whose work has graced mansions, yachts and notably, the large Jupiter, FL estate of Celine Dion. You might know him from the successful and critically lauded book The Art of Trompe L’oeil Murals.
Mr. Lanthier, a self-taught artist, was born in Canada and has resided in Boca Raton, Florida since 1989. His travels throughout India, Asia and Europe have helped him learn various arts (such as how to play a bamboo flute) and also speak several different languages. He credits a lucky encounter with an architect at his local Florida library for helping to continue the artisan career he has carved out. He teaches trompe l’oeil seminars throughout the country and his latest offerings are beautiful Trompe L’oeil Workshop DVD sets in which he teaches how to sketch, transfer and paint. Mr. Lanthier recently took the time for an e-chat with us.
RG: What is the first work of art you remember creating?
YL: My gift was realized at the age of six during a first grade drawing class. An assignment was given to sketch a person. Without any thought, I moved to the front of the class and started drawing my teacher, portrait style. (I must admit I had a little boy crush on her, so this seemed natural!) I was so involved, when I woke out of my trance, to my surprise almost the entire class was surrounding me, admiring my Rembrandt style sketch!
RG: In your travels, what have been some of the most inspiring spaces you’ve seen that had decorative painting?
YL: My journey began in St. Jerome, Quebec and continued on to India and the Himalayas in the early 1970′s, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris and Italy before returning to North America in the 1980′s. This vagabond existence helped shape me into the artist I am today. Everywhere I went, I saw the world as a painter would see it. As I traveled and each new scene unfolded, I would meditate on how I would transfer that vision onto canvas. Experimenting how paint, light and shadows could be mixed and blended emphasizing the lines of perspective bring those visions alive again.I am influenced by the light and colors that South Florida delivers on an almost daily basis! As the scale of my commissioned homes grew into mansions and estates, the scale of my artwork grew along with it to fill the massive walls.
RG: Professionally, who are some of your inspirations?
YL: I was enlightened while studying the works and individual styles of the great Renaissance Masters. Late into the night drawing and experiment with painting techniques, poring over illustrated books. I felt as if the masters themselves were there teaching and guiding me! I foresaw myself, through the stages of my life, traveling to different parts of the world — living free and fulfilling my deepest desires and passions.
RG: How do you creatively approach every new commission?
YL: I envision the finished creation at first glance as soon as I see the space. My best ideas are usually the first ones that come to mind.
RG: What inspires your work?
YL: An artist path can be very difficult at times, especially at the beginning of their career. Hard work and perseverance help to shape one on their journey. Creativity rises from every aspect of your being and that experience transcends from your paint brush onto the canvas. I hope this message will inspire all the art-felt children of the world to never give up their dreams.
I do hope he puts together a travelogue filled with his musings, experiences and art. That would be lovely to read and see. His company, Yves Art, has a wonderful Facebook Fan Page and his trompe l’oeil murals and ceilings on canvas are now sold throughout the world. He put the 4-DVD workshop together so that artisans would have a great way to learn all there is to know about creating murals at their own pace and in the privacy of their own home. In case you’d like to take his next class in person, it will be held in July in the beautiful city of Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. Find information for both the DVDs and his workshops at his Yves Art website. I hope you’ve enjoyed this interview and his incredible artistry — until next time!
Artisan: Jennifer Carrasco
Via my online travels, I have met many wonderful artisans who have enriched my life. Without a doubt, my life is better for having been graced by Jennifer Carrasco. We’ve never officially met (one day!), but a generous, fun-loving and kind spirit translates warmly through the computer lines — and I’ve become extremely fond of her. She is highly regarded in our industry so it is my pleasure to have her as a guest on the Fauxology blog.
Jennifer was born and raised in a small wheat farming town in the Palouse, the very SE tip of Washington State. Her family is large, Irish Catholic and generally gets along well. “As a group, we like to tell stories, drink too much, get sentimental at family reunions and honor the arts and education. I am the oldest of four girls. The three sisters are household goddesses and I am not. A terrible burden. I clean for days before one of them visits”, she says fondly.
RG: Do you clean the studio as well?
JC: It is my messy heaven. The floor is paint spattered, the walls are covered with drawings, quotes, paintings and my paint-encrusted CD player. I love literature and writing as much as I love painting, so I listen to books on tape instead of music. It gets me in the groove. I am not particular and would listen to deodorant ads if I have to. I’ve listened to War and Peace three times and even Ulysses by Joyce (and a lot of detective stories and science fiction in between).
RG: What are you working on currently?
JC: Right now, since the economic downturn and other rumbles, I am doing more illustrations than murals. I realized long ago that the awesome accomplishments of the finish artists were not something I could come up against, so I focused on figurative painting…murals, panels and decorated furniture. I taught art full-time for years, so basically I taught myself to draw (not a big issue during the 60’s of Pollock, de Kooning and do-your-own-thing) and had shown in galleries for about 15 years before I came back to Seattle. Right now, my first illustrated book, Lotus and the Golden Pearl, is out. The writer, Libby Pink, lives in Bath, England, and between the book designer, the publisher, the author and me, we did it all online in a Work Zone. It was so much fun. I want to do it again!
RG: You’ve also worked on amazing murals…
JC: My biggest mural job was a 30′ x 40′ x 17’ ballroom where my client asked me to paint “The Great Pacific Northwest, Rococo”. I was appalled and told my client it was too much (in every aspect). He growled, “Yes! I want it over the top!” If you look at the picture, I thinks he got what he wanted. I did all the figurative painting, Frank Irlanda gold-leafed the cartouches and I had Jennifer Mason, Bette Mandel and Bobbie Irlanda helped me with the stippling finishes.
Another big job was a 30’ x 6′ foot mural I did for one of Tom Douglas’ restaurants in Seattle, The Palace Kitchen. My client wanted lots of food, people having fun in the 17th-18th century and warm lighting coming from a stoked up kitchen. I had fun putting in painting quotes from Velazquez, La Tour, Le Nain and Chardin, and putting in characters from books…Cyrano is there talking trash to Moll Flanders, who is down on her luck and traveling in France. Dowland, the lutenist, is playing for the crowd and there are peasants and nursing mothers partaking at the table. There are the Cluny tapestries on the wall and the young lord kissing the servant wench in the doorway who came down to join the fun. I researched the food and when Tom had the opening party for the painting, he cooked all the dishes in the painting for the party. If I have a special love in mural painting, it’s researching historical styles and artifacts and making them my own.
In the past five years, I have done all the murals for Tommy Bahama and been asked to renovate some of the murals done by previous artists. I paint them on Roc-lon canvas, roll them up like a rug and ship them off to sites ranging from Vegas to Maui to Dubai.
Grahame Menage is a British-born specialty decorative artist and muralist. He describes his work as “interpreting client’s desires and imagination”. With over 20 years of experience behind him, his work runs the gamut from large-scale murals to furniture restoration to classic marble & stone and even recreations of frescoes from the Italian Renaissance. He muses, “The work of an artist, more than any other professional, must be creative not repetitive. Decorative artists are expected to continually produce new and refreshing interpretations while still holding on to your confidence, which I believe I always try to do”. While based in the United States, he does do quite a bit of work around the world, especially in the South of France. His client list includes various restaurants in Amsterdam and Luxembourg and such notables as the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and director Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”). I’m happy we’ve had a chance to chat with him.
Q: So, you have quite an interesting resume. How did you begin this career path?
A: I attended Portsmouth College of Art & Design followed by a year at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After working as a Scenic Artist at the Welsh National Opera and the National Theatre of Great Britain, I started decorating private residences at the same time as working on major feature films, exhibitions and TV commercials.
Q: I myself was inspired by a Scenic Artist to enter this industry. Grahame, in all your years in the business, what has been the best piece of professional advice you have received?
A: To know that Art is a series of corrections!
Q: For me, sometimes it’s about letting go of the corrections! Tell me about some of the most fulfilling projects you’ve been involved with?
A: A project this year which was a private house in Buckhead which requires the whole gamut of my decorative knowledge in trompe l’oeil painting, skies, faux finishes and recreating antique patinas both on furniture and surfaces. I am also proud of the work I have done in New Orleans post Katrina for Gautreau’s Restaurant and also Soniat House Antiques.
I don’t mean to get hyperbolic on you, but I believe Nichole Blackburn is one of the most special artisans in the world. In addition to the beautiful work she does with her company, Celadon Studios & Fine Art, what makes her even more outstanding is that she travels the world donating large-scale murals to children’s organizations through her not-for-profit organization, Big Sky Countries. Since 2006, she has painted in Thailand, Ireland, the Phillipines, Bolivia and here in the US: Los Angeles and New Orleans. In all of her murals, there is one thing in common: skies. She promotes art as therapy and the belief that no matter where we come from, we all live under the same sky.
Nichole received her B.A. in Fine Art and Design from San Diego State University. In August 2006, she spent a month studying under William Cochran, one of the world’s leading trompe l’oeil artisans. She joined a select team of six (6) artists who worked on a five-story mural project called “The Dreaming”. Incredibly, Nichole has traveled to over 30 countries worldwide to fully broaden her art experience and knowledge. She was able to take some time to chat with us. Are we lucky or what?!?
Q: How did you begin this career path?
A: I don’t think there was any other option! I did consider being a tattoo artist after high school. Tattoo magazines was where I got a lot of my inspiration for designs and artwork when I was younger. I loved the vivid colors and some of the artwork is amazing!
Q: What are some great color combos and products you’ve come across?
A: I just love that darn gold foil! Cost-effective, easy and you don’t need to seal it. I also adore Nova Color Paint. It’s made for scenic artists and the paint is fantastic for large murals. I also can’t live without ultramarine blue and umber if I am doing a mural. Both mixed together make such a rich and beautiful black. Oh, and the Faux Masters dome brushes are invaluable for skies.
Q: What artist of today do you think will be remembered 100 years from now?
A: William Cochran – he is extraordinary! He uses this crazy mineral paint from Europe that never erodes, so his stuff will be up no matter what! William is truly a magnificent artist and instructor. Besides my high school art teacher, he has been one of the most influential artists I have had the pleasure of working with. I actually came up with the idea for my non-profit, Big Sky Countries, while working with him on The Dreaming.
Q: What photo or picture really moves you?
A: Hands down, Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. I painted a huge mural of it in my living room, and I attached a frame border around it so it looks like a hung painting. Van Gogh is one artist whose paintings I saw at an exhibit and it brought tears to my eyes. I was so moved. I can’t take my eyes off his work.
Q: Are you right or left-handed?
A: I am left-handed. My twin sister is right.
Q: What job would you like to have for a month?
A: I have this dream of being commissioned to do a boutique hotel some where amazing — Morrocco, Spain or Italy — and have the pleasure of painting the entry ceiling, a dome or two and the suites. I have always dreamt that I’d be up on scaffolding and painting my heart out, listening to my iPod and almost dancing while I paint this sky ceiling.
Isn’t she inspiring? You can tell she’s got a happy spirit about her — someone with whom you’d feel good to be with at any time. Plus, I completely agree with her on the lasting genius of William Cochran — he would be my pick as well. Please consider donating to her organization, Big Sky Countries. If you’d like further information, you can get on the mailing list. You can also see her company’s work at Celadon Studio. Here’s hoping we all strive to make a difference in our world!
Artisans: Julie and Ladd McClain
Today, we leave Portland, OR and head to beautiful Colorado Springs, CO to speak with Julie and Ladd McClain — my first interview with a husband and wife team. You know what else is cool? They have both earned art degrees and like to share their expertise. For instance, Ladd has an article on Faux Bois (woodgraining) scheduled for the next Decorative Arts magazine and Julie runs the McClain Summer and Winter Art Camps in local Cheyenne Mountain. Their firm, McClain Interiors, serves the front range of Colorado which extends from Denver to Colorado Springs and their specialty is large commercial and residential projects. They both feel this industry is part science and part art. They remember this formula while walking the fine line of interpreting a client’s creative needs while completing the commission on time and on budget. “We have been drawn to larger and larger projects in the last couple years. Originally, it was pretty intimidating but after several big jobs the learning curve kicks in,” Ladd explains. Let’s see what good advice and recommendations we can learn from these experienced pros.
I know you’ve traveled to Italy to continue your education. What were some inspiring spaces that showcased decorative painting? Florence has some real gems for a decorative painter. The Pitti Palace is a monument to trompe l’oeil, quadraturismo (architectural illusions), faux stone and faux bois. However, it’s amazing how much great work we have here in the US that sometimes goes largely unnoticed. Here in our backyard in Colorado Springs, we have the Pioneers Museum which was built in 1903. Inside are beautiful massive columns of scagliola that resemble French marble. It was done so well it fools almost anyone who sees it. I guess that’s the mark of a genius, when your work is so convincing that nobody questions its authenticity.
Tell me about a cool product you’ve both come across lately. We enjoy working with American Clay, which is a new adaptation of an ancient material. It’s so versatile, it can be earthy and rough like adobe or burnished to a highly polished sheen like Venetian plaster. Best of all it has zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) so it has been very popular with green builders or designers who are seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. It’s also pleasant to work with as a contractor because it’s safe, non-toxic and even smells pleasant.
What interior design or faux finishing books would you recommend for us to read? The classic for us has been Professional Painted Finishes by Ina Brousseau Marx, Allen Marx and Robert Marx. They are living legends who are still very active on the circuit and generous with their knowledge.
Before we go, would you have any sage words of wisdom for aspiring decorative artisans? Steal! Good ideas that is. Every master artisan in history has benefited from appropriating the ideas of past generations. Once you have some fundamentals established, then the creativity has a conduit in which to express itself. The Internet has allowed us to stay inspired on a daily basis since there are so many great artists out there.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about McClain Interiors – please be sure to visit their great website, which has a beautiful gallery, a video area and an upcoming blog. I think it showcases their firm’s work and process nicely. Thank you to both of them for allowing me a bit of their time — I’m also excited to have been clued into Pioneer Museum! For the next profile, we will travel to the Midwest to visit another husband and wife team that live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Have a great weekend!
Artisan: Lucinda Henry
For today’s profile, we leave Trumbull, CT and fly west across the country to snowy Portland, Oregon. Here, we encounter Lucinda Henry of Shakti Space Designs who quickly leads us inside her warm studio.
Lucinda established Shakti Space Designs in 2003 and serves the Oregon and SW Washington areas. Her motto suggests “We set the scenes where MEMORIES are made” and her company offers unique paint and plaster finishes for residential and commercial clientele – from simple wall glazes to detailed fine art trompe l’oeil murals. So, where did the name Shakti come from? Lucinda laughs, I am asked a lot what Shakti (pronounced SHOCK-TI) means. (I get a lot of people that say shitake). Shakti represents the source for energy, power and creativity to ultimately restore balance. After 15 years of working in the stressful, high-tech industry, balance was necessary for me. Shakti resonated and aligned appropriately with my name Lucinda which means “bringer of light”. Here are some pics of her artistry…
Lucinda, you and I met online and we have hit it off because we have so much in common. You follow designers like I do. Tell me about your faves.
I’m a big fan of David Hicks, Dorothy Draper, Parish-Hadley, Tony Duquette, Barbara Barry, Charles & Ray Eames, Carlo Mollino. I could go on and on.
Oh, I love Mr. Hadley and his red doors and Barbara Barry with the circle designs. They jumpstarted a new way of thinking. How do you go about starting a new commission with fresh ideas?
That is a great question and I have to say that it changes with each client. The most important aspect of each new commission starts with the initial client call. Listening 70% of the time and asking questions 30% of the time. I take queues from the client. I listen to descriptive words they use when they are talking about their project goals. Also, they may see one of my sample boards and react so positively I know that’s the direction I will take. Or, we will peruse my idea file. I’ve known what to bring because I asked several questions during our first call and they will respond positively to pictures of a designed room. With successful commissions you may hear the client say, It’s better than I could ever have imagined. That’s when I say, my work here is done.
How exactly did you start this career path? You mentioned that you were in the high-tech industry¦
As a young girl I aspired to be an artist like my older brother. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I really started to think about a career in the arts. My parents had such great fear that by studying art and trying to make a living as an artist I might starve, so they pushed for a career in architecture or hoped I would become an illustrator for Hallmark. After school I went right into the computer industry and stayed for 15 years offering my blood, sweat and tears as a marketing manager. I thought I was doing what I wanted to do. I was successful and independent, but I was so unhappy. Then I hit the wall and started entertaining the idea of owning my own business. I wrote down the goal and voiced it to another person who happened to be a financial advisor, and five years later I took the big risk and started my decorative painting business. It’s been almost six years and I don’t regret a moment of it. It’been challenging, stressful, sometimes scary, but so rewarding. I love what I do.
I also left another industry so I know how tough it must have been. Did you look around our industry and gain inspiration from some of the artisans?
I should say all of the most-respected and talented inspired me, each one in a different way. However, I don’t think it’s any secret: I think Pierre Finkelstein is a Rock Star! If you’re going to make me name a few, then I have to add Pascal Amblard, William Cochran, Andre Martinez, Jennifer Carrasco, Melanie Royals, Sean Crosby, and I hope she reads this: Andrea Tober. I took a brief class from Andrea three years ago and I must say she was just a gem to me. I was a total mess in her class and her compassion and patience really did shine.
What are some of the misconceptions about faux that you encounter to this day?
If I say I’m a decorative painter, the average consumer may not know what that means. However, if I say the term faux finisher, I usually get the response “Oh, you do sponging and rag rolling. This tells me that so many consumers don’t know how our industry has evolved. I’ve also met many interior designers, architects and custom home builders who also don’t realize how we can transform an environment. We have a huge opportunity to become educators to the markets we serve.
OK, so setting aside the business and coming into the artistry – What are some of your favorite color combinations you’ve used?
I did an allover stenciled board recently that was plum with a deep mocha/bronze. Our region tends to be a little behind with the color trends so the purples in the 2008 forecast palette are starting to show up in interior designs now. Purples with a palette of browns is scrumptious to me.
My recent project utilizing a Wallovers stencil was another favorite. The palette for the design of the room was inspired by David Hicks: bronze, sand, brown and orange. Fabulous! (see pic below)
Are there any interior design or faux industry books that you recommend for us to read?
Parish-Hadley: Sixty Years of American Design
Tony Duquette (Goodman/Wilkinson)
Defining Luxury: The Qualities of Life at Home (Bilhuber)
Michael S. Smith: Houses
Decorative Finishes Inspired by the South of France (Skivington/Royals)
Your Home – A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint (Heuser)
Professional Painted Finishes: A Guide to the Art and Business of Decorative Painting (Marx)
The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative painted Finishes (Finkelstein)
So, Lucinda, a final question. What do you think is the best thing that has happened to the faux industry in the last five years?
The growth of the industry in professionals, training, tools and products has leapt exponentially since I started my business six years ago. Part of that I attribute to trade organizations like IDAL and PDPA. I’m especially excited as a new member of PDPA how it will help evolve into a more knowledgeable professional as the organization begins to set standards and develop certification programs. PDPA’s Advisory Committee and Board of Directors include some of the most respected and talented professionals in the industry. They are committed to provide knowledge and resources to challenge all of us to elevate our level of practice and foster our growth. I can’t wait to see where we are five years from now.
Many thanks to Lucinda for our profile chats. She is an incredible artist and I feel lucky that we were able to profile her company. Please check out her website and her lovely blog (which is how we met initially). She has more wonderful pics and info on both sites. For our next profile, we are travelling to the Centennial State and a city whose main natural attraction is a place called Garden of the Gods. Until next time!
UPDATE!: Lucinda is going to be on a television spot focusing on children’s murals. It will air on February 3rd. If you’d like to read more about it, click here. Congrats, Lucinda!
ARTISAN: Sharon Leichsenring of Leichsenring Studios (CT)
Leichsenring Studios was founded by Sharon Leichsenring after a 25-year career in the commercial sign industry. Since then, her company has garnered the 2004 National First Place Grand Prize in the Decorative Painting division from the competition sponsored by American Painting Contractors and the Honorable Mention prize in 2005. In 2008, she was the top name in decorative painting by the American Painting Contractor’s list, “Who’s Who in the Decorative Painting Industry 2008″. She has been a member of Salon since 2003 and was recently featured as a guest muralist in Gary Lord’s latest book “Mural Painting Secrets for Success”.
Talking about her work she muses, “When you start a second career path at a certain age, you realize how important time is. I found myself exploring new workshops to learn how to manipulate new products. Becoming a teacher also helped because not only do I get a chance to share my methods of mural design and painting as well as understanding trompe l’oeil, I get to exchange ideas and new faux finishes with students across the country.” She adds, “I firmly believe that every job I complete represents me and each deserves the same attention to detail, research and execution. I keep in mind an answer a designer once shared with me, when a client remarked that she would love to have the mural we were proposing, but it was, after all, only for her bathroom. She commented that the work doesn’t know where it lives. Its purpose was to bring satisfaction wherever it ended up. I ended up doing the full mural and the owner agrees it was the right call.”
Leichsenring Studios works throughout Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties in Connecticut and into Westchester County in New York. Out-of-area commissions are also accepted.
The following are some visuals of her work and after that, our online interview continues.
How do you creatively approach every new commission?
I am a bookaholic. There’s no other way to describe it. When a commission for a mural is in place, the first thing I do is to take the necessary luxury of paging through dozens of books. My top 75 or so go-to books always have something that sparks a thought. Sometimes, it becomes clear I’m going down the wrong path but other times some seemingly insignificant detail starts a whole new thought wave.
What is the range of your clientele?
With the exception of a few restaurants, most of my work is residential. I have spent as much as 8 1/2 months in one (very large) home. I have also had clients where I keep returning year after year to add my touch to another area. In between, there is sometimes the small strie that will change a room for its owner.
What are some misconceptions about decorative painting that you encounter?
I am always astounded that homeowners think that faux finishing is so easy and that products available to them are no different than those designed for the industry. I also see many poorly done murals and after listening to the homeowner tell me how disappointed they are, come to find out that that the homeowner was not shown a finished composition before agreeing to the project. I think, as an industry, we need to do everything we can to keep things professional, which includes getting samples signed off.
In your travels, what have been some of the most inspiring spaces you’ve seen that had decorative painting?
To date, the most beautiful example of trompe l’oeil painting was the drawing room at Mottisfont Abbey in England, painted by Rex Whistler in the 1930s. My only regret was that no cameras were allowed. The good news was that those I was travelling with gave me all the time to examine literally, foot by foot, every piece of gorgeous work.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you have received?
In a nutshell: Remember, this is a business. It means not to get overly invested with clients during a project. It means to treat yourself as a professional when it comes to calculating the value of your work. I admit, I never like the business portion of my work but that’s what keeps us going. We do have a responsibility to remember that every good business has a sound plan and use the proper tools of contracts and good conduct.
What advice would you offer to aspiring decorative artists?
1- Keep a camera with you always.
2- Develop a way of organizing your morgue file (pages you rip from magazines, junk mail, etc.)
3- Practice always.
It was such a pleasure to kick off our Portrait of the Artist with Ms. Leichsenring — as you can see, she has stunning work. Thanks to the Leichsenring Studios website, I also learned what the term “maquette” means. (You’ll have to go there to find out!) There are more breathtaking pictures to be found and further information as well. I hope you’ve enjoyed the profile — the next one is in about three weeks and it will take us to a visit across the country. Be sure to look for it!
