We are proud to profile one of their recent projects, the lobby ceiling of a building along Fifth Avenue in New York City.  The project had undergone multiple renovations and the original entrance had an unusually narrow, low-ceilinged lobby. After adding lobby height and width, the new entrance and portal was then roofed with a shallow arch, evoking the building’s crown.  The commercial project had a decidedly contemporary vibe and the technique was designed by Robin Roi, the head of their decorative finishes department.

First, the team primed the surface and then created a textured pattern in a dark green color, which was the color that the client wanted to come through the final gilding.

The artists made a textured finish with heavy acrylic paint and massive brushes in a swirled pattern and then gilded it with aluminum leaf.

Close-up

It was all then sanded and abraded it lightly to reveal the texture even more. Finally, it was glazed to match the rest of the lobby.

Close-up

The gorgeous finish blends beautifully with the Travertine walls, patterned terrazzo floors and marble accents.

The final images are by Jock Pottle. All are courtesy of EverGreene Architectural Arts.

EverGreene advises that there’s a long historic precedent for this style, specifically, combed plaster from the aesthetic movement in the 1880s. It was actually more a style than a movement and was in response to the Victorian clutter of Gothic Revival.  To a certain extent, they used influences of the Far East as stylistic cues. Edward William Godwin is the architect that more or less typifies this style.  Taking the contemporary interior in mind, Robin Roi created a more abstract version of the textural aesthetic movement wall coverings for this project.  I think the technique is gorgeous and so well done — and am enchanted with the final colorations.

Since 1978, EverGreene has been creating award-winning designs and projects for special clients.  Their studio has several facets, including restoration and conservation along with sacred, civic and theatrical works.   In fact, they have a fascinating short video explaining how architectural conservators explore, sample and test historic interiors to determine past layers of history and suggest an appropriate plan of action.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The company also keeps a wonderful blog where they share some of their projects. You can also keep up with them via their Facebook fan page.  A warm Thank You! goes out to EverGreene Architectural Arts (and especially their Communications Director, James Tarmy) for sharing their project and incredible artistry with us.  What a beautiful way to end the week — enjoy the weekend, dear Readers!

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Gina Garner

Gina Garner: I was born in a small fishing village by the Baltic Sea, in East Prussia (Germany).  During the war, my mother, sister and I were forced to flee our home and relocate to East Germany.  When my father was released from prison camp in Siberia, Russia, we planned our escape to West Germany.

I have painted since I was a small child, influenced by my father, a master woodcarver and watercolorist.  I would accompany him on painting expeditions to small farm villages in East Germany.  While living in East Germany I was trained as a topographic draftsman.  My first job, after escaping to West Germany, was hand painting greeting cards for a German card company.

After immigrating to the United States, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah, focusing on Anthropology, The Applied Arts, Art History, and in particular, the Italian Renaissance.   Each year, my husband and I, travel to various regions of the world, bringing back new ideas and many Old World techniques.  With the renewed interest in decorative painting finishes, I now devote much of my time teaching workshops at our local college and teaching classes to designers, professional painters and private individuals.

In 2004, I designed a kitchen for a local attorney.  When we searched for hand painted tiles they were not available.  Those from Europe were too expensive mostly because shipping had become prohibitive.  So I decided that I would learn and teach myself how to paint ceramic tiles.  It was not that difficult and with a ceramic shop willing to fire my tiles, owning a kiln was not so important.

I have since traveled to Italy, Holland, France and Belgium and I have made it a point to learn and paint ceramics with several fine maiolica (or majolica) painters of Europe.  For the past 4 years, I have painted with Professor Nicola Boccini and Maestro Romano Ranieri of Deruta, Italy, one of the major centers of Maiolica production.

My husband Gene and I live in a small artist/farming community of central Utah. After many years of travel to Italy and studying the work of Andrea Palladio and his country villas in the Veneto, Italy, we decided to build an Italian inspired small villa in the middle of an alfalfa field.  Here is where we tend our fields and gardens and take care of the many animals that have adopted us. We designed every phase and did a lot of the physical work, such as laying all of the marble and I did all of the wall finishes, including gilding and marbling.  Several years ago, a Hollywood film company filmed our house.  We were awarded first place in International Design an in addition, an award winning Magazine featured our house in a 13-page spread.

Central Hall

Front Facade

The incredible views along their pond.

Where do you see ceramic design heading in the future?

We traveled to Deruta, Italy, only a few months ago. Things have changed. No one was visiting Deruta, one of the major centers for hand painted ceramics.  Ceramics are expensive and because of their weight, shipping is very expensive. U.S. companies are not importing  for those same reasons. The more than 600-year-old ceramic industry of Italy is suffering. Artists are looking for solutions and they are also looking for employment in other industries. I’m afraid, that at least for now, a very old tradition is losing its fine artists.

What are some of your favorite color and/or product combinations you’ve seen?

I’m no Minimalist. I like living with  objects and art which we have acquired from our travels. I love color. Not garish colors. The kind of colors designer John Saladino chooses for his interiors…the lavender that is almost gray and the green that reminds one of the foaming ocean. The charming and warm interiors designed by Charles Faudree hold just about the right amount of  exuberance. I like classic designs and I love to mix the humble with the splendid. Too much is not enough has always been my motto.

What are some of the most wonderful materials you’ve come across?

Italian powder pigments, which I bring back from Italy, provide color and an intensity that is quite remarkable. While taking lessons in Belgium, I was introduced to a product, Peptapon. It is made in Germany and acts as a binder with ceramic powder pigments. It is a product that prevents the smearing of pigment.

What artist would you like to commission to create a work of art for your home?

That’s easy. An Italian artist and mural painter who lives in Calistoga, California by the name of Carlo Marchiori.

What one existing book or movie title describes your life?

Actually it is a piece of Music from an opera by Verdi, Nabucco, the Slave Chorus.  Not because I see myself as a slave but because the music has just the right amount of  highs and lows, which describes my life perfectly.

~ ~ ~

Such an incredible life. Her artistry is sublime, no? Speaking of sublime, I’d also love to commission Carlo Marchiori! Interestingly enough, I found out via Art’s the Answer that the architects who designed Carlo Marchiori’s Ca’Toga also designed Gina’s home. Very nice! Gina does have a wonderful, refined and warm way about her — it truly reflects in her colorful work and in the blog posts she writes. She also sells her work via eBay and her Etsy shop, Maiolica, and explains that, “I have found a niche for a product that has not been imported in the last few years.  There are only a handful of  tile companies who will import special orders”. Every year, her town of Spring City, Utah is “open” to the public and they have several fine artists living in the small community with visitors coming from far and wide to purchase art. Sounds like an amazing way to live life!  Thank you, Gina, for sharing your life and artistry with us. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

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Today I have for you a design board I did that was inspired by a beautiful finish created by Sheri Zeman of Chicago’s Faux Design Studio. The finish, with a linen background and raised flower foreground, is called Marcello. I love the way that name just rolls of the tongue. We should all know someone with that name just so we have a reason to say it on a regular basis.

Anyhow, back in November Regina wrote about Sheri and a class she was teaching at The Paint Factory here in Orlando. In her post, Regina showcased three different finishes she learned at the class. Though I thought they were all amazing, Marcello was easily my favorite. When I first saw this design, I immediately envisioned it as the statement wall in a stylish contemporary dining room.

I present to you the Marcello Dining Room:

This dining room had to be elegant, contemporary, sophisticated and inviting. With that in mind, I set out to find items that would deliver on each of those points.

• The farmhouse table was the first piece I selected. I saw it several weeks ago at ZGallerie and fell in love with it.  I knew it would be perfect here because the rustic look adds warmth to a room that has a lot of reflective surfaces and helps to ground things.
• The Marcello decorative finish has a lovely sheen to it. I wanted something to balance off of that, so I selected the antiqued mirror buffet, also from ZGallerie, to sit on the opposite side of the room. It’s substantial enough to be an anchor, but because of the mirrors it doesn’t feel too heavy.
• The green Fresca Accent chairs by Sandy Wilson for Luxury Bedding Solutions bring a pop of color from the wall treatment to the table. I used them only on each end of the table; otherwise it would have been overwhelming. The tufting on the back of the chairs and the overall shape also evoke a sophistication that plays well with the relaxed look of the linen slip-covered side chairs found at ZGallerie.
• The curved pattern in the pale purple area rug (Rug Stop) echoes the curved lines of the wall treatment as do the glass links in the West Elm chandelier. The chandelier was also chosen because of the shape and its contemporary vibe.
• In choosing the artwork, I was looking for something that would bring additional color to the room. The varying palette of purples and blues in this piece I discovered at ZGallerie accomplishes that beautifully. Too, I like the way the flowers in the painting repeat the flower shapes in the wall treatment.
• The choice of using mostly glass in the accessories* – lamp, vases, bowl, and even the napkin rings – was deliberate. I wanted them to be airy and light. The items I selected not only follow the colors in the artwork, but like jewelry, they finish off the room and help bring the look together. Did you notice that the shape of the glass bowl is similar to that of a flower?
• As for the gazelle head from Graham & Green, it just looks cool and makes for an interesting conversation piece!

*Accessories Shopping Guide: Placemats, Napkin Rings, Candlesticks and Vases from ZGallerie; Lamp and Glass Bowl from Lamps Plus; Plate from Crate & Barrel

After completing this board, I was ready to redo a wall, any wall, in my house with the Marcello finish. Okay, maybe not any wall. Not so sure it would work in the Husband’s den…

I think what makes this treatment so special for me is the synergy that is created between the decorative painting techniques that are used in the Marcello design. The silver-pewter background with the look of linen, created with a twine roller, is the perfect backdrop for the raised green flowers created with stencils. The intricate detailing of the flowers is another beautiful feature. (Both the Loft 101 stencils and the twine roller are available via the Faux Design Studio.)  Finally, there is the color choice that keeps it all so fresh.

In this post, I used the finish on an accent wall. How do you think it would look on a ceiling? Do you have any other ideas on where this could be used? I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time! Be creative and have fun!

Cheers to all,
Peggy
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Sheri Hoeger:  The airbrush is an incredibly versatile tool that is capable of the softest shading, the finest line and beautiful displays of color. This is achieved by delivering a fine spray of paint to the intended surface.  I have always been fascinated with the combination of soft airbrushed shading and the wide variety of edges that are defined by using stencils and masks. A stencil is simply a sheet of holes that one paints through to make an image. A mask can be an edge or found object that is cut, torn or used in its entirety to create a shape.

The array of effects you can achieve with relative ease is one of the big advantages of using the airbrush. I enjoyed being able to keep a consistent look to this cow mural even though the vent was in the way.

To get started with airbrush you need a good tool and clamp holder, an air source and high quality paint, such as Golden Fluid Acrylics, which I use along with Golden Airbrush Medium for thinning to skim milk consistency. Also, try to set up a work area where you can leave your equipment set up and close at hand. Be cautious about using the cheapest airbrush you can find. A quality tool will set you up for success. There are many airbrushes on the market that are excellent and I find the Iwata Eclipse to be a workhorse of a tool and suited to almost everything I do. It is available in either siphon-feed style or gravity feed styles.

For most of my airbrushed stencil work, I layer several colors within each window starting with the lightest and working to the darkest. I generally alternate between warm and cool colors with each color covering less area than the color before it. This allows you to see the full range of hues that are created by that particular combination and there is also a muting effect that tones the colors, which makes them look natural. I load an airbrush for each color, which are attached to a manifold, which is attached to my compressor. I usually use no more than 4 colors for any given design such as the floral shown. As an example, a floral like the one shown here is airbrushed with four colors: yellow, green, red, blue. (The one exception being the robin’s egg blue, which could not be achieved with the 4 color palette used in the rest of the composition.) The different tones and values are achieved by the order and ratio of the colors being layered.

Objects can be painted to look cartoon-like or stylized, like the image below.

Realism can also be achieved depending on the colors used and level of development.

I also enjoy combining airbrushing with other techniques and materials. Here, I extended the faux stone fireplace to create an arch with a gritty plaster and stenciled stones made from torn tape. Once that was dry, I added color and shadows with airbrush. In the same project, the airbrushed stair rail led to an archway adorned with a striped drapery.

For the cherubs (above left), I used airbrush to delicately shade the skin tones, but brush painted the hair with Golden Proceed Slow Drying Acrylics to give it more texture. (Cherub Stencil by Jeff Raum) I also appreciate the ability to allow a natural surface to show through the paint, becoming part of the artwork when airbrushing on wood or stone (above right). Click on images to enlarge.

Another of my favorite techniques is to use natural foliage as masks when airbrushing trees and landscapes. This dining room mural was created using a variety of leaves, some large, some small. Even though it is a “negative print” your eye makes it into a positive when they are clustered together.

Even though they look monochromatic and sepia toned, I have used at least three colors to give the foliage more depth and interest.  I love sepia tones, and have several ways of rendering them. In the airbrushed Renaissance border shown here, all the shading is done with one color which provides the values and undertone. Then I lightly spray with soft color, giving the appearance not unlike a hand-tinted photograph.

Finally, sometimes airbrush is the answer to a technical problem. For this painted ode to a William Morris tapestry, I cut a stencil of just the darkest brown background areas, including a pencil-line thickness cartoon of the design, because airbrushing was the best way to transfer the pattern onto my textured base. From there. the tapestry could be hand painted.

I hope this article gives you an inkling of the striking appearance and versatility that is at your command when mastering the airbrush. Of course, this is only pertaining to using stencils, and many more uses are possible when using the airbrush freehand for clouds, finishes and fine art. The sky is the limit!

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Thank you, Sheri Hoeger for sharing your time and talent!  Please note that if you’d like more information, keep checking her workshops page because as Sheri says, “It can be very helpful to take a class in airbrushing basics or intermediate airbrushing, as there are some tips that will help you along and save a great deal of time.”  She also has videos and books she has created and/or participated in on her website page.  You can also find the company on Facebook via the fan page, Big Oak Arts.  I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post — love how it’s chock full of information.  Hope you are having an inspired week!

Please note that all stencils are from The Mad Stencilist line unless otherwise indicated.

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Susan Siefer: You could say I am returning to my roots. I started out as a fiber artist, fabric designer and painter. I was then hired as a store designer by a large retail furniture company in the Boston area. I painted walls at a time when decorative painting (well…faux painting) was just becoming popular.  We had a team going from store to store creating beautiful walls and vignettes. After about 15 years, and many, many large walls later, it was time to go out on my own and I started MadPatter Production. That was in 2002, the year my first granddaughter was born. I have been lucky to have some great clients that have  inspired and encouraged me to create fabulous walls, ceilings and floors.

Image from Modello by Design, Volume 2

Working with designers and clients, it seemed there was a disconnect between artful walls and art on the walls. I am fascinated by the relationship between Architecture, Interior Design and Art. With a little understanding of all three, I  have created canvas panels using Modello Designs, leafs, foils, plasters and glazes to compliment some of the wall finishes. They were applied with hot wax on the back…much easier than wallpaper paste…and they were framed out with frames and moldings from Beaux-Artes.

Frames and moldings from Beaux-Artes showcase panel artwork.

Running has been a constant for all of my adult life and I often get my best ideas and clearness of thought when hitting the roads. One day last spring was no exception: I thought “Why not implement this same concept on a small scale that could be interchangeable art?”. I’ve always liked the idea of multiples and the idea of changing a throw pillow, a lamp or any decorative accessory. Thus, Change of View© canvas were created.

Change of View© Studio

I use the products I love…Venetian plaster, leaf, foils, metallic plasters, stencils from Royal Design Studio and Cutting Edge, among others, and apply onto the flat canvas.  I have them in my Etsy store and they are carried at the boutique Soirée in my town of Andover, MA…

Painted furniture and artwork featured in the Soirée boutique.

…and, of course, in some of my client’s homes.

I chronicle the story of the process on my blog, Change of View (at the Studio). When people start playing with the pieces, they really have a good time mixing and matching. I am working with a marketing person that has been a great help. It is a really interesting process.

My wonderful clients and designers do keep me in the game with some interesting and fun projects and it pays the bills. I have found an amazing company to help with implementing my finish designs in a couple of larger commercial commissions that recently have come through. I am also excited about a collaboration with my good friend and incredible designer and color consultant Linda Holt of New Light Redesign. (Check out her amazing blog).  We are absolutely in love with Annie Sloan Chalk Paints and have become paint groupies.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Dressers

We have spent the summer and fall painting repurposed pieces of furniture that we find, pick, buy and beg. The name of our business is Chalk It Up!  and we will soon have a Facebook page and site. We are rather yin and yang, and bring our own different and unique talents to the table (literally!). I am excited to be taking an ASCP workshop with Barb Skivington next month. 

Showhouse mudroom we did together to highlight paintings and furniture.

I am also moving into a new workroom space with other artists and designers in the beautiful new Mill District just north of Boston. There is a common space I will be using for workshops and seminars on paint and design. I was fortunate to see the Alexander McQueen show at the Metropolitan Museum in New York last summer and the beauty of his fabrics and materials got me thinking about fabric design again, so who knows? Maybe that’s also part of the future big picture. Thanks to Regina, I have been inspired to enter the social media foray and am muddling through as fast as I can! Finding a community of like-minded creatives, I know we will get through these challenging times together and figure out our own vision for the future.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thank you, Susan! It’s great seeing many artists have found ways to supplement their lives with their artistic talents and collaborations. I know our company did something similar when we branched into alternate surfaces. It has made all the difference; I’m sure it will for Susan! I hope today’s post has inspired you to take a hold of those ideas that pop up in your mind begging to be fulfilled. Have a wonderful day!

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To say that I was devastated that I did not take the workshop would be an understatement.

They were some of the best samples I’ve seen in a long, long time.  They were fresh, they were contemporary, they were hot.  I literally wanted to gather them all up and run away with the pretties, all the way home, and never give them back.  I controlled myself but my friend Mary Childs had to console me.  Feel free to ask her.  It took me quite a bit to get over losing out on the one-time class.

I found out Sheri Zeman was teaching another class at The Paint Factory, an excellent studio here in Orlando.  This time she is solo but, of course, I’m taking the class and I couldn’t be more excited.  Here are three of the eight finishes…

I’ve only heard great things about Sheri Zeman and her studio has been on my Must-Visit list.  It seems they consistently teach finishes that help elevate what we offer to the savvy clients and designers of today.  The class was organized by the three Florida IDAL chapters: Florida’s Golden Palette, Southwest Florida Decorative Artisans and the Professional Decorative Artisans.  Many thanks to them for putting the workshop together! The class is November 18th & 19th.  I’ll be doing a round-up but also hope to provide pics for you as the class progresses.  Be sure to check our Facebook fan page and Twitter stream for that.  Talk soon!

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A fantastic event shaping up for next week here in lovely Orlando, FL is the Faux Expo.  It runs from September 26th through the 30th and is being held at the Doubletree Resort at SeaWorld.  I think Orlando is one of the best places to have a show since there is so much to do outside of the events — you can literally make a vacation of it.  Not only the Disney Parks but the creative hubs of cities like Winter Park, the state-of-the-art arena we now have plus the nightlife in downtown Orlando.  Something for everyone!  Plus, I’m here to guide you so what could be better, right?

The Instructors list is impressive and there’s so many great classes to choose from.  Incredibly, the registration is $75 which gives you access to all the show events, including the trade show, lectures and several live full-mural demonstrations.  The classes are very reasonable (ranging from $195 to $455) and run from Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the show schedule for you to check out.  (I see there’s a miniature golf tournament going on.  Might have to spruce up ye olde swing…)  Here’s a peek at some of the class samples…

 I seriously get so excited when I see samples like this. I mean, it’s just incredible to be able to replicate! This is the Aurastone class.

I met Bonnie LeCat at the recent IDAL convention and she is just a lovely person. This is just a small sampling of what you can expect in her Foliage & Flora class.

Faux finishes that keep up with current interior design trends — here are 2 of the samples from the Double Down class by Sheri Zeman and Donna Phelps.

My woodgraining acumen grew by leaps and bounds after taking Dean Sickler’s class at his NJ studio.  He teaches it here — this skill is a must in any bag of tricks.

Patrick Kirwin has a 2-day Realistic Water class. He teaches a photorealistic yet quick technique – the link has more incredible images.

Pierre Finkelstein is also on tap as well as Nicola Vigini, Sean Crosby, Henri Menendez, Gert-Jan Nijsse and a few other great artisans and manufacturers.  I’m also very excited about Tuesday’s William Cochran lecture on the importance of trompe l’oeil as I missed hearing his lecture at IDAL.  True to form, part of the event will help benefit both the Ronald McDonald House and Give Kids the World – love that!

I am excited to have the opportunity to meet those who are coming to Orlando.  I will be there on some days (finalizing the schedule to see if I can take some classes) and I know my friend, Mary Childs, will be there as well.  We’ll be posting some info and images for you as we can but I’m sure there will be great coverage on the Faux Expo Facebook fan page, too.  See you there!

If you are a fan of my Fauxology Facebook page, you’ve probably already seen the two notes I wrote on my IDAL experience.  I decided to write this one as well for those who do not have access to the fan page. I was truly excited to meet with many of the artists I correspond online with as well as see what the expo was all about.  The following are some of the images I took during the two days I was there.  BTW, brace yourself — this post is a bit on the longer side.

This is how most of the classes were set up. Nice, large rooms that were organized and well-protected.  This is the Faux Impressions class given by Ed Mattingly of Sherwin-Williams.  BTW, do you know about our contest to win $200 worth of product from Sherwin-Williams?  All it takes is a picture of a space you created that makes a great “Impression”.  Enter the contest here.  Deadline July 29th.

Live demonstrations were conducted throughout the conference.  Here, keynote speaker Pierre Finkelstein demonstrates his considerable skills with woodgraining.  He is very charming and gracious.

There were several faux studios who had fantastic booths at the show.  I didn’t get a shot of one of my faves, Dundean Studios, and a few others but here are some I came upon…

Gorgeous samples at Houston’s Wonderfaux Studios. That feather had crystals and was SO pretty – I’d love to do that one in a powder bath.

Had a great chat here — am considering taking a class by William Cochran.

THE Studio Destin. Fantastic samples all around and they had some of the best counter finishes I’ve ever seen.  (Ye Olde Jaw dropped. Not kidding you.)

Gary Lord’s Prismatic Painting Studio. Even though a “rock star” in our industry, he is totally approachable and friendly to everyone who comes up to him.  Wish I had better pics for you of those great samples in the back.  Totally dying to go to his Greece tour.

Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing is one of the studios I frequent the most.  Donna Phelps’ samples never fail to impress and I’ve sold quite a few.

Saying there were amazing samples at the Royal Design Studio booth is almost a given, no?  I took this pic before the expo opened — it was paaacked afterwards.

Patterned foils by V-Mask. We’ll be doing some cool stuff with them on the blog soon!

This is the philanthropic mural in progress during the convention.  It’s final home will be the Virginia Living Museum.

After the convention days, artists would gather for drinks and also to firm up dinner plans.  Here is a nice mix of newbies, up-and-comers and well-known Masters at the convention hotel, the Embassy Suites.

BTW, do you remember the gnome whose pic was taken all over the world?  Well, take a look at Faux Buddy…

Faux Buddy hanging out at the Chalk Paint booth...

We wanted everyone back home to get little glimpses of the IDAL convention so we gave him out so that he could travel with everyone and showcase little snippets of all the different classes and locations.  Imagine where Faux Buddy could go and what we all would be able to see with him!  The pics were to be shared on the Fauxology Facebook Fan Page but also on the IDAL page and personal pages, too, of course.  The bonus for our students is that each time they posted a pic, they would get an entry into our contest…someone is going to win their class fee back!   For those who were not in the class, there is a prize, too!  Robyn Story Designs out of Tampa, FL is a fantastic distributor of Chalk Paints and she is giving away a quart of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to the person who can come up with the funniest caption for a Faux Buddy pic.  Plus, the pic taker wins a quart as well.  Yeah!

Here’s the cool Faux Calendar sponsored bag that was given out.  It’s fantastic to reuse as an extra carry-all for a jobsite or as a green bag for going grocery shopping.

What I love about conventions is that not only do your fellow peers provide inspiration but also just being around so many artists excited about the industry make it easy to tap right into the love and enthusiasm you possess for it.  Unfortunately, I had to head back early since I did travel via car and needed to head back over the weekend.  I did miss meeting so many but I hope to see them soon.  The attendance improved upon last year’s and many of us felt next year would be even better.  BTW, next year’s conference will be held July 25 – 29 at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada.  It looks fantastic!  Until tomorrow!

A few years ago, I spotted this image in an issue of Elle Decor….

The columns installed by designer Stephen Sills were so beautiful that they inspired this 2009 blog post wherein I stated that a decorative finisher could reproduce the columns — but they had to be done extremely well.  Cue to a few years later and there I am receiving the submissions for Column Week.  When I saw these beauties submitted by Krista Vind, they immediately reminded me of my post from so long ago and I knew they would make the final list.  Once I started receiving all her project information, the inspiration pic was sent as well — and it was the SAME pic.  I was floored at the coincidence and it was only then that it dawned on me that they had beautifully executed the finish I had written about years ago.  Love how it all comes around, you know?  Krista shares their story.

“These are the columns in The Country Club of Mobile.  The designer, Tricia Willis, wanted the columns to have a beautiful banding design,” she explains. “We created six of these 12′  tall columns for the entry hall. The color and type of marble were changed to go with the interior design club.  In fact, here is the original “recipe” just so you can see the colors used and how messy I can be!”

“We ended up changing it a bit when we did the columns.  The finish itself has a lot of steps but each is so quick and easy, its amazing to me how realistic they look!”

Hallway with beautiful Banded Columns at end.

Guess what, dear Readers?  The recipe has been shared!

Tumbled Marble Banded Columns

1)  Basecoat with white paint.

2)  Mix 2 paint/glaze mixtures: one in a deep tomato red, the other a dark gray. Cut a few pieces of plastic sheeting into different sizes. Apply a bit of the paint/glaze mix to the plastic with a brush – each color separately. Lay the plastic on the surface to apply the paint.  Using both colors, you are looking for about 30-40% surface coverage. It should look like a positive frottage. Let dry. (This is the really scary stage. Be SURE to warn your clients!)

3)  Using a very light gray color, again “bag” on to soften the look of the red and dark gray. This time, wad up some plastic and just lightly dip it into the paint before bagging on the surface.

4)  Using glaze and dark brown colorant, overglaze the entire surface to tone.

5)  Now, using a thin mix of the same gray as in Step 2 and water, rub onto the surface randomly with a t-shirt cloth.  Do as much coverage as you think necessary.

6)  Now comes the fun part – making the “stones”!  My first go-round with this I used three different glaze color mixes.  I found it really wasn’t necessary, so I ended up using a) a mix of Aquacreme with Brown and Dark Brown colors and b) RS Glaze with a Chestnut color. (If you aren’t certified to use RS glaze, just use Aquacreme.)

7)  Tear brown paper into stoney shapes. Dip in water, dab off on towel and then apply to column surface.  Apply brown glaze all around and add in only the chestnut color here and there, varying the size of the areas where you add it. If you use RS Glaze, use a color shaper to “pull” the glaze and create its unique movement. Pull off the paper. Soften the edges with a paper towel or tool of choice.  Before this glaze is dry, I also like to use the color shaper to create movement in the larger areas of solid glaze. It leaves faint lines that look like fissures.

8)  Topcoat using a shiny water-based material. I used Rock Kote gloss.

Unless otherwise noted, all products used are from Faux Effects.

Krista shares, “This process sounds difficult to me as I write it out, but in fact it is SO simple and creates such a really convincing marble!”  I would have to agree — the columns look wonderful!  Please be sure to visit their websites, Ufauxrea and THE Studio Destin, to see more of their work and available classes.  The studio also has a great Facebook page.  Tomorrow we conclude Column Week with another Florida artist — her first feature here on Fauxology.  The inspiration? The 70′s mystique mixed with Moroccan influences.  Intrigued?  See you tomorrow!

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DAY 1 – Column Week: Ashlie Bickford, Kindra Benge and Sharon Leichsenring
DAY 2 – Column Week: Arthur Morehead
DAY 3 – Column Week: Mindy Hunt Harrell
DAY 4 – Current Post
DAY 5 – Column Week: Lisa Cameron

I am so EXCITED to announce our second contest, Making a Great Impression, sponsored by the Faux Impressions line of Sherwin-Williams.  It’s a great line of versatile faux finishing products that can be used to create unique specialty finishes.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $200 credit at any Sherwin-Williams store towards the Faux Impressions line of decorative painting and faux finishing products!

Interested?

Here’s the deets: Look over all your projects and pick one (or more) that best encompasses the term Making a Great Impression.  (Yup, we’re honoring our Sponsor!)  It could be a project where you were at your best or one that showcases spectacular decorative painting, plaster work, concrete finishes, color combinations, works of art or a beautiful interior design scheme.  The work must have been completed by you, your studio or your design firm.  Please make sure you enter the best photograph you have of the project.

Contest Instructions

As we did on the first contest, we will be basing this one on Facebook.  You can submit your entry and image via our user-friendly Contest Entry form on Facebook OR or via an alternate link.  You can also find the entry in the “Contest” area in the menu of my Fauxology Facebook Page.  Please do enter as many projects as you’d like but just one photograph of each space.  The Deadline?  Friday, July 29th.

Next…

On Saturday, July 30th, all the photographs will be placed on the Fauxology Facebook Fan Page for everyone and anyone to look through and “Vote Now” on their favorites. You can spread the word through all your network of family and friends to vote for your entry.  Everyone can vote for each pic once per day.  The voting will end Friday, August 5th.

…Finally

The Top 3 photos will be put before Ed Mattingly, Sherwin-Williams Executive Faux Guru, and he will determine who the Grand Prize Winner is.  The Winner will be announced on Monday, August 8th.

TO RECAP

• Submit your contest entry and one photograph of a project that you feel best represents the term “Making a Great Impression”.*  Multiple projects may be entered but only one image per space.  The deadline is Friday, July 29th, 2011.
• On Saturday, July 30th, 2011, all submissions will be presented in the Fauxology Facebook Fan Page and open for voting.
• You have until Friday, August 5th, 2011, to encourage as much voting as possible for your entry. *
• The Top 3 most popular images will then be placed in the hands of Ed Mattingly, the Sherwin-Williams faux guru, to determine the Grand Prize Winner.
• The final decision will be announced on Monday, August 8th.

Please note entries will not be available for viewing until the public voting begins and voting tallies will remain anonymous until the end of the contest.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments or send them along to Regina@Fauxology.com.  Good Luck!

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

Faux Impressions by Sherwin-Williams

Faux Impressions is the beautiful new line by Sherwin-Williams.  They have four unique product lines: Old World Impressions, Metallic Impressions,  Quartz Stone Impressions and Artisan Impressions.  Ed Mattingly, the executive who created the line, has traveled the United States to visit artisans and studios.  He has kept (and continues to keep) a journal of his travels and the incredible artistry he has encountered via his blog, Ed’s Sherwin Corner.  You can also find Ed on Twitter and on Facebook.  It was recently announced that the incredible Dundean Studios will be teaching finishes with the line in an effort to provide innovative techniques to help artisans continually improve their portfolio.

* Please note that the Facebook application may ask to obtain information — this is only for the purposes of the contest alone.  In order to submit your entry, this step must be approved.  Please note that the Fauxology Facebook Page must be “Liked” in order to participate.

Pittura Magazine Cover

Photos by photographer Brad Meese

The cover story is on Chicago-based artist Jason Brammer.  I wrote the profile on Jason and it was a pleasure to speak with him in person — he was very cool, laid-back and had a fascinating background.  He currently has a showing of his latest series, Futura Obscura, at the Jackson Junge Gallery.  The Pittura article has a link to a very cool video showcasing the exhibition.  It truly shows you how amazing the textures on the pieces are as well as the finesse displayed in his artistry.

Jason Brammer painting live at the Futura Obscura exhibition. This piece, also entitled "Futura Obscura", was site-specific and painted live.

A packed house at the Jackson Junge Gallery

Jason has considerable mural skills — you can see more of his beautiful work on his studio website.  Here is a close-up detail of an underwater mural, Into the Deep, at a private residence.  That link will take you to a full post on this commission on his blog, Brammer Arts.

The cover story has more images of his incredible works as well enlightening information on his process and inspirations.  He also has very useful guidance to impart to aspiring canvas and mixed media artists.

Directors Mindy Harrell and Tamra Cook put together a fantastic second outing — I hope you enjoy the article and the Summer issue!  There’s so much yummy information and inspiration in there.  Be sure to look out for an article by Fauxology contributor Dana Tucker wherein she writes about maximizing Google Places for your business.  Also, there is a Hidden Picture game from Meoded Paint that you can participate in — looks like a very cool prize.  First one in wins it!  Have a great day, dear Readers!

What are some of your personal favorite designs and styles?

Well the whole “modern movement” has been a bit rough for me because I’m a classics girl, all the way! There is SUCH a rich history of centuries of pattern that has been beautifully cataloged in design books, and I have tried to buy all of them!

A small portion of her bookshelf...

The classic forms and shapes of ornament that developed independently all over the world all come from nature and I believe that they speak to us at a deeper, more personal level and are a part of our collective creative souls. Other design trends come and go like fashion fads, but we keep coming back to the classics. You can see evidence of this in all the design magazines and blogs. Can I get an AMEN that the whole stripped-down, chilly modern look is fading away!  (Fauxology Note: AMEN!)

(above) Celestial Turkish Emblems, Tooled Leather, Fortuny Silk and Foiled Again (below)

The great thing about what we do is that we can recreate classic styles for artistic contemporary applications. I love using pattern as just one ingredient of surface decoration, and combining it with texture, patina, light reflection, color, etc. This is where we can really use our individual creativity and artistic exploration.

I am not so much into historical recreation…

…as historical reinterpretation.

When I am looking through classic pattern books or reference material, my eye sees an image of a pattern, but my mind is racing ahead to place it into a context that contains all the possible surface and combination of materials I might use to create a unique effect with it. I have always thought of stencils as just an ingenious means to and end; a simple tool to create a unique, artistic surface.

With my love of classic, European design, I am feeling super fortunate that I was approached this year by the licensing director for The Hearst Castle Collection to develop a series of Royal Design Studio stencils and Modello masking patterns from the extensive library of pattern and design that can be found at Hearst Castle. For me, this is like a beautiful gift! Hearst Castle is filled with exquisite antique ceilings rescued from palaces, villas, churches and monasteries from Spain and France, and I have access to the architectural drawings of the prolific Julia Morgan.

We will be offering both single layer and multi-layer (theorem-style) versions of the designs, as they lend themselves to some more intricate and ornate pattern work. I will be introducing these designs at the upcoming IDAL convention and also on my painting trip to Barcelona in June, where the students there will be the first to use them as we complete several complex panel samples during our stay in a former monastery just outside of the city.

I have also always loved Arabic and Moorish decoration and been heavily influenced by the 3 painting trips I have led to Marrakech, Morocco. To me, these are also classic patterns and I love the spiritual geometry behind the pattern development. The complex, interlacing designs have a special way of drawing you in, and they seem to have a universal appeal as well. I’ll be leading a fourth (and probably last) trip back to Marrakech this coming October.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It is a very special, inspiring place, especially for those who appreciate art and beauty the way that decorative artisans do. Being able to experience other countries and cultures with and through the eyes of fellow artists has been such a gift and blessing in my life that I am very grateful for.

Do you believe in destiny or choice?

Both. I believe that we are all here to serve and work towards a higher path and purpose, but WE make choices every hour of the day that affect how we travel quickly or with what degree of difficulty we travel on that path. Sometimes our choices lead us to detour and dead ends, but what we learn on those side trips helps guide us later on down the road. Or at least that’s the hope! I think the trick is to try to learn from our mistakes (which are really valuable lessons), but not to dwell on them. I try to live in the now but my focus is definitely always on what’s coming over the horizon!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Good words to live by! I do hope you have enjoyed our two-part chat with Melanie Royals.  Please be sure to also check out her Facebook Fan page for Modello Designs and Royal Design Studio as well as her Twitter profile.  Her blog, Design Amour, is a fantastic read and she does posts videos frequently on her YouTube page.  A big Thank You! to Melanie for e-chatting with us and sharing her story, insights and more about her businesses.  I hope you’ve been inspired as you go into the weekend!

The above is the shortened bio of one of the most prolific artists in our industry.  Chances are high that you know the name Melanie Royals, or at the very least, her incredible businesses.  A few years ago, I met her when I took a class in her lovely studio.  We’ve kept in touch since then, from e-mailing to showcasing at trade shows to attending a blog conference together.  She has been blessed with an almost otherworldly creative sense as well as keen business and marketing insights — a rare combination.  In person?  Witty, insightful and a girl’s girl — plus, one of the most fun people you could possibly spend time with.  Seriously — I’ve had tears streaming down my eyes in laughter from her stories!  We had an e-chat recently for Fauxology and I hope you enjoy both her story and insights over the next two days. We start today with her beginnings and inspirations and conclude tomorrow with all that’s coming up for her (and for us!).  Let’s dig in…

It’s been said that all incredible journeys start with one step.  How did yours begin?

I actually started on this journey with a trip to New England in 1983. We went to some historic places, like Sturbridge Village where I saw examples of historic New England stenciling. It wasn’t until we hit the Boston Museum of Art, though, where I picked up the book The Art of Decorative Stenciling by Adele Bishop and Cile Lord that the whole thing clicked for me. That book was filled with stenciled images that made me HAVE to learn how to stencil!

There were some more simplistic designs for sure, but it was the photos of intricately detailed and shaded furniture and floor screens that I kept going back to. They just looked so magical to me! I discovered that they were achieved with “theorem-style” stencils, where different parts of the design are cut on different layers. When all of the layers are completed, you end up with an image that looks as if it could have been hand painted, because there are no bridges or broken areas in the design.

I poured over the book, and spent many hours at my dining room table drawing and redrawing designs and then cutting them by hand with a Stanley knife! Unfortunately, these amazing artistic and pioneering women worked long before the digital age, and all that I can now find about them online is a photo of a very “now” stenciled graphic floor by Cile Lord in a House Beautiful magazine spread from 1970 and Adele’s obituary from 1996. It’s sad to think that two women who truly had a great affect on the resurgence of stenciling in this country and a lot of what we do today are not being properly honored, remembered or respected as they deserve to be.

In the late 80’s I was contacted by a very eccentric retired interior designer who had just move from Connecticut, named Evelyn Tasch. Evelyn had actually worked quite a bit with Adele Bishop and Cile Lord (Bishop & Lord) on residential and commercial projects in and around New York City. She even had some of their original pieces in her home, which amazed and intimidated me to no end! She had a vision and style like no other, and working with her over two of her houses fortunately pushed me to think outside the box along with her. I think that the challenges she presented me with (and she WAS challenging) had a huge effect on shaping my approach to pattern to this day.

What are some misconceptions about stencils and stenciling that you encounter?

Ha! I could write a whole book on that subject alone. Sadly, it seems that classic, oft-repeated misconception about stencils (that it’s all about crafty ducks and bunnies) has existed for almost 30 years now. Seriously! Those types of designs were popular for about 1 year back in the 80’s and people either overlook, or don’t have the knowledge, that stencils have been used elegantly and artistically for 1,000’s of years by both primitive and advanced cultures all over the world! I wrote a blog post on Design Amour just recently about a wonderful new book, Walls: The Best of Decorative Treatments, by Florence de Dampierre. Amazingly, it has a WHOLE chapter devoted to the extensive history of decorative painting. I was thrilled to see the poor, lowly stencil get its just due, finally! I highly recommend it as required reading. Of course, the stenciling photos are divine as well.

Another misconception I’ve heard over the years is that using stencils is “cheating” somehow. As if it’s an art “test”?! Of course, there are all kinds of mechanical means for transferring pattern, such as pounce patterns (used by the Renaissance artists), tracing, and projecting. Stencils are just a different, friendly tool for pattern transferring-with benefits, as you can create the transfer with paint in one fell swoop, or swirl, of the brush.

I don’t think that misconception is as common now as it was back in the day before stencils and decorative finishes became as integrated as they are now. There WAS a time when people drew lines in the sand as to whether they were stencilers, faux finishers or muralists. I am really proud to have been involved in that line blurring. I took one of The Finishing School’s first classes here in San Diego using the “new” finishing line from Faux Effects back in the 90’s. I took my activated glaze samples home and applied my new Damask and Free Form Fruits stencils to them. When I took them back to class the next day everyone went crazy over them. Bob Marx then asked me to develop a class to teach at TFS in New York and Extraordinary Stenciled Effects was born! Some notable students from that first class were Sean Crosby and Randy Ingram. After that I traveled extensively, teaching stenciled finishes at Faux Effects schools until I finally developed The Extraordinary Stenciled Effects home study program of videos, technique manual, and recipe cards.

One special thing that I have seen over the years is that stencils can be a gateway for beginning budding artists to grow and blossom in their skills. Stenciling can help ignite a passion for color, form, pattern and design.  I have seen many decorative painters start with stencils, and then go on to become highly skilled trompe l’oeil or mural artists once they discover their own innate skills and enthusiasm for decorative art.

Where do you see pattern and design headed in the future?

Well, the good news is that pattern is currently BACK in a big way and a whole new generation of young, trend-setting decoristas are discovering stencils as the hottest, “newest” thing! Can decorative finishes be far behind? I see the whole “glaze craze”, crackled finishes, distressing, etc. cycling through again-but with twists!  I think that this is a really important time for our industry to seize the moment and the conversation in this amazing digital Web 2.0 environment.

Unfortunately, many decorative painters, companies and organizations are on their heels with their backs to the wall from the housing bust and the ongoing recession, but I think that there is going to be a lot of opportunity in the future for artisans and companies who are willing and able to hang on and to rethink, re-strategize, and reposition themselves.

Beyond stenciling and decorative painting, I am most pleased with what we have been able to accomplish and offer with the introduction of our Modello decorative masking patterns 8 years ago. Trying to convince people to consider a one-time-use, custom pattern over a reusable, mylar stencil was a super tough sell for several years, but they have now become an industry standard. It’s been really gratifying to see the amazing work, artistic work our customers have done with our patterns. It was such a thrill to be able to honor THEM with our two Modello by Design books.

From flooring to walls to ceilings…Modellos make an impact.  Artists (clockwise from top left): Utah’s Metamorphosis, Nancy Jones, Jason Lucas and Lynn Smith

(cont.)  I think where Modello patterns continue to shine is for taking complex patterns and making them “doable” in a way that is time efficient, yet allows for over the top artistry and execution. I think a great, classic painted ceiling or wood floor can be an “heirloom” that gets passed down through generations of homeowners. Heirloom decorative painting. Now, there’s a nice thought!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Heirloom decorative painting — I’ll always like the sound of that!  I hope you’ve enjoyed Part 1 of our 2-part interview.  Tomorrow, we talk a bit more about her design leanings, her affinity for “historical reinterpretation” and see what is coming up (Hearst Castle, anyone?).  Please come back to read more — and of course, see more gorgeous images.  Have a wonderful day!

Artist Evangelia Kondilis

I love coming upon great artists and their work while wandering on Facebook.  This is exactly what happened with Evangelia Kondilis.  Born in Greece, raised in Canada, trained in Italy and currently living in British Columbia, Evangelia is an incredible decorative artist who’s had quite the adventurous life.  “I started out at a young age in the Fashion industry, then went into Interior Design where I discovered the Decorative Arts.  I was hooked!  I had to try everything I could get my hands on and create.  I now love to create innovative, eco-friendly environments.  I’ve been in business for over 18 years and during that time we have done everything from residential, commercial, worked in the film industry, done guest appearances on Interior Design shows and gone on traveling working tours of Europe.”

Evangelia also has a teaching studio where she teaches both finishes and canvas artworks.  “We also mentor our students and give them the opportunity to have on site experience.  The Helm restaurant, which we did last Winter, was a great example of that.  We showed students how to create and install their own stencils, vinyl masking patterns, various textures, metallics and resurface the existing bartops with Aurastone. I used mostly recycled materials for the hanging art including torn up old canvas murals for the large silver piece with the blue branches, foils and glass beads.”

This was all done while they were filming at The Helm for the Food Network TV show The Opener with chef David Adjey.

The epoxy art behind the The Helm’s bar and DJ booth is something I teach in one of my workshops.  It was done on plexiglass and I used lots and lots of crushed recycled glass in various colors, Aurastone’s epoxy and real earth ground pigments from Turkey.  It’s quite beautiful when backlit.

In addition to the custom and epoxy artworks, large graphic designs and unique finishes can also be found at The Helm Restaurant (Vancouver)

Images: 604 Foodtography

Q: Where do you see the decorative painting industry heading in the future?
A: Now with an abundance of amazing products out there, I see more emphasis on exquisite eco-friendly finishes.  I also see a new appreciation for the old and incorporating the new.

Q: How do you creatively approach every new commission? What jumpstarts your inspiration?
A: It starts with the client’s personality and tapping in to what inspires them. For example, we had a client that loved to dive.  Using some of the photos he took underwater, we turned his elevator into a submersible.  Starting on the bottom floor you see the bottom of the ocean including seals and eels and as you go up you can see an octopus through the window, a school of fish and when you reach the top you’re on the beach shore. He can no longer dive anymore due to health reasons but this mural gives him great joy every time he uses the elevator.

This mural was painted with artists Kristin Johnson and Lindsay Joy Hamilton. The are both very talented artists - we had so much fun on this project!

Close-up detail of the underwater mural

(inspiration…continued)

Sometimes it can be an object, fashion, anything from nature.  Sometimes it could just be a specific color or feeling. Food also inspires me a lot as I like to think of myself as a chef creating just the right recipe of exotic ingredients. I always opt to choosing the most eco-friendly options for each project so I don’t compromise anyone’s health.

Faux Bois on a Doorway

An homage to Gustav Klimt in a powder bath.

Q: In your travels, what have been some of the most inspiring spaces you’ve seen that had decorative painting?
A: I absolutely loved how seeing the old frescoed backrounds in Italy paired with very modern contemporary furniture, sculptures and art.

Done on canvas, the hand-dyed tissue paper was applied on top which softened the image. It was used in a designer showhome.

Evangelia also teaches incredible workshops to share her techniques.  “People usually call for upcoming workshops. They can choose a workshop listed on the menu or we can create something custom for them.”  The menu of workshops also reflects her creativity — it literally is a menu, ranging from appetizers to desserts.

Some of the workshop samples...incredible, no?

Q: What’s the best piece of professional advice you have received?
A: I trained under my mentor, Valerie Skemp, years ago and she would tell me that as creative as I am in my artwork, I should be just as creative in my marketing and business skills.  Align yourself with people that are the best at what they do and keep positive.

* * * * * * *

I just love her work — it’s so creative and innovative! Please do visit her Evangelia studio site and do find your way to liking her studio’s Facebook Fan Page.  I really think she should teach more in the U.S. as well.  Her epoxy finishes alone are superb.  I hope you enjoyed today’s profile and that it was a nice introduction to the gorgeous weekend. Many thanks to Evangelia for sharing her talent and time! See you next week!

First up, our Fauxology Fan Page on Facebook.  Are you a Fan yet?  WHAT?!?  No, no seriously.  It’s cool…no worries.

OK, enough shenanigans, we need to get through this post.   Our Fan Page features a lot of links to stories and profiles that I find around the Internet that don’t necessarily translate to an entire post — but they’re still very cool to look at and read.  I also post (what I think are) amazing images, too.  I try not to cross-pollinate much because I like fresh content on both the blog and the fan page.  But I did do this…

The updated menu on the side has an All About Fauxology tab which links to our Mission Statement and other cool things, including a Contact Us form. We’ve added our Twitter feed and the brand-new YouTube channel.  Best of all, there is a Contests & Giveaways tab which can keep you updated on all the current opportunities you have to win a great prize. It’s divided into three categories: The Deets (which is currently showcasing info on the gorgeous Royal Stencil Crèmes and a Giveaway), Week-long Series opportunities (only a few days left to submit your Column projects!) and the Photo Contests. The next Photo Contest is in June and it is a great prize.  I hope these enhance your Fauxology experience on Facebook!

Our YouTube Channel is new but we will be updating it with videos on both decorative painting in design and online marketing bites.  There’s a very cool announcement coming up about Twitter as well.  That’s all I can say for now since there’s so much more to come to compliment our Building Your Online Brand class at IDAL.

A personal triumph for me is that we sent out our first Fauxology newsletter this morning — it rounds up the current goings-on here at the blog as well as a sneak peek into what’s coming up in June.  If you’ like to sign up to receive future issues, the form to join our mailing list is on our Fauxology home page.

As a final, I wanted to let you know that yours truly is being featured in the Faux by Kathy website as both a blogger (home page profile) and as a Preferred Decorative Artisan with images of our work.  On the blogger article, you find out exactly what jumpstarted Fauxology.  (It involves the word “Intervention”.)  Faux by Kathy is a fantastic site for faux finishers as they post info on products, workshops and offer a slew of resources, including a free Finish of the Month series.  It is run by the lovely Kathy Carroll and is definitely worth checking out.

Any thoughts on the improvements and coming attractions?  Have a great day!

Earthen Tree by artist Deanne Bednar

This image, a beautiful tree created by artist Deanne Bednar, was in a Mother Earth News article written by artist and teacher Kiko Denzer.  He gave many great tips on creating these eco-friendly techniques with mud, including initial surface prep and maintenance. He writes “mud is a perfect material for art and architecture; it’s durable, beautiful and easy to work with.”  He recommends making a graph paper drawing first and to use the grid system when working on a larger “mural”.  In the article, he includes an Earth Plaster Recipe and that same page contains further materials to check out.

Then late last year, I spied this image in the printed version of Artisphere magazine…

"Carved Stone" Fireplace Inset

It’s a faux “carved stone” fireplace inset created by artist Kathy Bennett of Bradenton, FL-based KB Concepts.  Designer Micheline Laberge was having a tough time finding companies to create the design she had envisioned for the fireplace.  She had received a $28,000 estimate for the work and Kathy was able to save her about $25,000 by using a product called CelluClay.  I couldn’t find an online link to the step-by-step information she provided, so with permission, I created a Carved Stone How-To PDF from the article for easy access.

* * *

Do you like this type of raised relief artwork?  I definitely do.  If you’d like to see a family who has done incredible works in this medium, please see our feature on the Moberg Gallery.  If you are further interested in using natural materials to create beautiful techniques, check out a book we talked about back in 2009, Using Natural Finishes.  In today’s increasing interest in sustainable design, it’s an incredible resource (with great images!) to have at your fingertips.  See you tomorrow!

Click here to view the embedded video.

This video shows a peek at his beautiful studio, samples and techniques.

He started his educational studio, Prismatic Painting Studio, in 1995, and has since taught hundreds of workshops nationally and in his Cincinnati, OH location. He also frequently leads educational groups on international artistic tours. I’m very happy and honored to have had an e-chat with him about his studio and workshops.

Q: How do you go about creating new finishes?
A: By nature I am a curious person as I think most artists are.  I am always looking at everything as a reference source for my chosen career and how I might make that a painted finish. I will use the usual sources for inspiration such as design magazines, art, decorating books, design resource centers, museums, etc. My family hates to go to museums with me because I linger too long staring at an obscure section of a painting, the wall or floor trying to figure out how I might paint it.

I am also greatly inspired by nature itself and see the interplay of textures and colors we have around us everyday if we only pay attention to it. I also get a lot of my ideas from the fashion design industry from jewelry, to clothing, to shoes, to accessories. Because of my busy schedule I will force myself to have design days where my staff and myself will gather old and new materials and products together to be creative with them. Before the design dates start we will either go to a convention, trade show or design center to gather inspiration for our creativity. We will then often times spend 2 to 3 days developing new ideas and concepts to show our clients based on the trends we are seeing in the industry. I then invite my designers over to an open house to see our new collection of finishes.

Q: What are some of the newest or innovative products you have in your products line and/or products you sell?
A: I have been using metallic foils for almost 15 years now and recently I have been using more of the multi-colored foils. They offer a faster way to show a variety of color and design patterns, therefore reducing the cost to the consumer and a higher margin of profit for the artist.

Metallics used in a raised design (left) and with hand-painted papers (right)

Q: If you were paid to write a new book on any subject you wished, what would it be about?
A: I have taught decorative painting to 1,000’s of people over the last 25 years, most of these people are women. I have learned so much from them in an emotional way that I think most men never have the chance to learn, especially from such a large vast international pool of information. I would like to write a book that deals with the intimate personal connection between men and women and their relationships to each other. By using real human-interest stories as examples for what some find successful and other ways that have not been successful. We face many common problems in relationships but very few of us are forewarned about them. I would hope this book could help so others could navigate through them more successfully.

Q: What has been the most positive and/or fulfilling class you’ve taught?
A: I have enjoyed each of [my] endeavors but none of these compare with the experience of being involved with international workshops for the decorative artist. On these trips, I have been able to share my love and passion for the decorative arts by teaching it as well as viewing some of the most important artwork ever produced in human history. Combine that with the aspect that they are also tailored for plenty of relaxation, world class wines, great cuisine and specially guided tours chosen to appeal to an artist and you can see why this fits almost any artist “dream of a lifetime.”

At the Vatican (left) and before the House of Livia frescoes with Alison Wooley and Melanie Royals (right). Please click to enlarge.

What I learned from these tours was that the European lifestyle is different from our own, at least mine. In France and Italy they spend a huge amount of time around food and family, hours each day. From going to the market each day to get fresh ingredients, to preparing it and cooking it, to finally enjoying it in a leisurely pace, with each step involving conversations with those around you. In my home, we were lucky to have everyone even be at the table at the same time and at best it would last ten minutes. The art of conversation is embraced and shared with everyone on these trips and the connections that are made have resulted in wonderful relationships with old and new friends. Combine this with the sensory overload on art and food and it makes peoples dreams come true.

The next artist workshop is being currently planned to go to the island of Santorini off the southern coast of Greece and hold classes looking out to the Mediterranean.  You can click here for the itinerary information on the 11-day tour in the fall of 2011.

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Doesn’t that trip to Greece sound dreamy?  Love!  His idea for a new book sounds interesting and I bet he has a lot of insights into personalities after teaching so many.  As to his current books, his most recent release was last year and entitled Simply Creative Faux Finishes, which we recommended.  I also put a group together a few years ago to review one of this other books, It’s Faux Easy.  That was a fun day!  Please do take a look at his Prismatic Painting Studio website — it has great links and information on current workshops.  His company, Wall Options, also is a treat to see, especially the Gallery area.  Please note that Prismatic has a Twitter account as well as a Facebook Page you can become a fan of.  I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s Spotlight! Have a wonderful weekend!

IDAL is the International Decorative Artisans League and they hold their annual convention and conference each summer. It is an opportunity to network with colleagues and peers, brush up on techniques by taking classes from the pros and check out the latest in products and tools at the Expo. This year’s conference is being held July 20-24th in Hampton, Va. I am excited to announce that Regina Garay and I will be teaching a class at the convention called, “Building Your Online Brand”.

Regina and I actually met “online”. I found her blog (this blog) and started leaving comments here and following her on Twitter and friending her on Facebook. (Does that make me a stalker?) Anyway, we became fast virtual friends and started talking about techie stuff like social media, search engine optimization, website building and blogging. I have a marketing background and have spent my entire adult life helping businesses “get the word out” about what they do. So, it was a natural progression for Regina and I to start talking about how we can help people in the decorative painting industry use technology  and social media to grow their reach, expand their customer base and have their brand show up in a BIG way online.

We have invested a good amount of time studying the best online practices and putting into action what we are preaching in the class. We have networked, taken online courses and both attended the Design Blogger’s Conference in Los Angeles in February. Regina has poured her heart, soul and brain into this blog, Fauxology for the last 4 years.  She dove right into the pool of social media in its infancy and now is a high profile Twitter-lebrity in the Design Community. I personally have spent the last five years of my day job helping clients brand their businesses, writing marketing plans and developing strategies and tactics for successful campaigns; All online. Regina and I are so stuffed full of tech stuff that we can’t wait to unload some of it on all of you guys.

We decided to offer a class at IDAL so we could help the artists in our industry navigate the web independently and show them some of the important places where they need to be found online. Some of the topics we will cover in the class are:

1. How to set up and grow a blog
2. How to use social media to promote your business
3. How to set up Google Places
4. How Google’s changing algorithms are affecting  Search Engine Rankings
5. How to monitor the web for mentions about your business
6. How to use Linked In, Twitter and Facebook effectively
7. How to use analytics to track results
8. How to create buzz without spending any money
9. How to use long tail keywords to show up in organic search
10. How to get the referral engine cranking

So, for a small investment in time (2 hrs) and money ($85) you’ll be ready to conquer the on line world. Well, maybe you won’t be able to conquer it, but we will at least give you a road map to get you started on your way. Check out the other classes, too.  There are lots of great teachers assembling in one location for the week offering classes on everything from stenciling to counter tops. Why not take some time off, come and network with your peers and learn a few new tricks? I hope to meet you all IRL (In Real Life) at the conference.

What It Is: Chalk Paint was developed by artist and author extraordinaire, Annie Sloan. (She has written over 20 books and sold over 2 million books worldwide.)  It is a versatile paint that was created to give a limewashed feel, give walls a polished plaster look and also be applied to furniture and cabinetry.  It can also be applied to wood floors, metal, plastic or terracotta as well as used to create a chalkboard effect.

Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint

Pic via the Perfectly Imperfect blog

What It Does: It is specified that the paint does not need a primer as it will stick to almost anything, even varnished furniture.  It is suitable for both interior and exterior usage and is also environmentally friendly.  It was originally created to be used on furniture to give that wonderfully elegant distressed look easily.  There are 24 historical decorative colors that were inspired by 18th century European furniture.  The colors can be intermixed, used as a wash and each has a matte chalk finish.  There is also a clear wax and dark/rustic wax available to add more durability and patina to your surface.  Chalk Paint can also be topcoated.

Chalk Paint Color Chart

Where To Get It: There are many studios in the United States that carry both the paint and waxes.  The cost averages approximately $38.95/quart — they do say it goes a long way and there is no additional primer cost.

Image on Left from Annie Sloan and Image on Right from Maison Decor

I did find three wonderful blogs who gave an overview and shared images of their experience with Chalk Paint:  Miss Mustard Seed, Maison Decor and Perfectly Imperfect.  I gathered information from them as well as the Annie Sloan website.  Annie Sloan Paint also has a Facebook Page as well as a Twitter account.  Huge thanks to Michelle Delgado of Wonderfaux Studio in Texas who mailed colorations and information to me as well.  (It takes a village, dear Readers.)  She’s running some great specials on both the materials as well as a great Starter Kit.  Hope you enjoyed this information — and let me know if you’ve tried and/or plan to try Chalk Paint!

Do you see the “Will You Marry Me, Kelly?” along the top? Apparently, it was all a mystery (i.e., who proposed, who was Kelly, just how long did the mural take) to onlooker after onlooker at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach.

The details came out:  The couple is named Jason and Kelly.  Apparently, on one of their first dates, they came upon artist Andres Amador outling a mural on the beach sand.  It became a great memory for them and Jason decided to put together an elaborate proposal using Mr. Amador’s artistry as the centerpiece.  It took the artist and team an hour and a half to map out the mural, which could only be seen from above.

Raking out the design on the sand

After the team of artists hid, Kelly was coaxed to hike a high craggy rock area next to the beach and then…The Big Reveal.   She said “YES!” and good thing, too, because quite a few women offered to marry him if she didn’t.

Andres Amador calls his work Earthscape Art. It is large-scaling raking of patterns and graphic designs along the sand.  Some are geometric and others more organic.

Earthscape Art by Andres Amador

His work is quite beautiful and I’m glad he received great publicity out of a beautiful romantic gesture. (You know I’m always thinking of the artist!)  He also has a 4-minute video on how he guides groups to create works of art.  I found more pics via Google Images and here is a quick video of one being made.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have a romantic (cough, cough) engagement story as well.  Do you?  Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this bit of fun today.  Sometimes it’s good to just relax, take a look around at all the fun avenues art can take and share that as well.  See you tomorrow!