More in the world of trompe l'oeil

Just finished another installment of the trompe l'oeil masters class...well, really, the final installment of the three classes is the master class. It takes place in France next summer. This was only part deux!!

I'm very fortunate to continue to meet with such excellent people in the world of decorative arts. I really feel my mural skills are growing daily and yet I'm so humbled to be in such amazing company as I have been these past few months.

We painted 2 murals in this class, plus the "peeling paint on wood grain". So, here are the samples resulting from the class.

This first is a French Renaissance inspired piece. Perhaps a client would have their initials or a family crest painted in the center.

Next, we fooled around with painting a wood grain with the effect of chipping paint on top. This wasn't actually part of the course, as woodgraining as a topic covers nine weeks!! Here we were just playing around.

And finally, a beautiful piece of Italian Renaissance inspired components; acanthus leaves on a carved palate surrounded by breaking stone or stucco...who knows.

This was another 8 hour per day, two week course with Michel Nadai of Atelier Nadai in France. We students were lucky to have Michel once again join the Finishing Source in Atlanta, who hosted the class.

Thank you Michel and Kyoko Nadai, who continue to strive for excellence in passing on this ancient art to the generations so it wont be lost!! And thanks to Bob and Caroline of The Finishing Source for hosting them!

Have a great week.
Never give up!

More in the world of trompe l'oeil

Murals

Here's a sample mural, a fun miniature I did of a larger scale piece which I found in a book by Jacqueline Leleve.

Her book is a good resource for ornamental scroll work templates and this type of decorative piece incorporating plants, birds and insects.

This is a great scene for painted furniture, but I can imagine it on a wall, too.

Murals

Another wonderful client and homeowner, another kewl project completed....Another sigh of satisfaction!

I LOVE MY JOB!!

Here is an example of a glazed finish called 'Old Leather'.
Very pretty..very romantic...and, as the husband pointed out, "Just what you want in a room with a toilet!" ROFL! ..Ok, well, women like it anyway.

Also, shown below, I had the pleasure of doing their master bathroom in Venetian plaster. Probably one of the prettiest color finishes I've done. The warm yellow sienna flavor really makes you feel good.

The ceiling is painted in Sherwin Williams 'Croissant'. I hand mixed the color for the walls, but if you want to try, I mixed the Venetian plaster topcoat sealer with Modern Masters tints; Ivory, Tuscan Sun, and Pebble Beach until I got the right shade, then I troweled the sealer on.
Don't mix more than 4 oz per gallon with any tinting per the guidelines. It's a really good idea to follow them, because any alterations may affect the manipulation of the finish and the curing!

Please don't attempt this if you haven't had the training...It's easy to ruin!! Let a professional help you. :) We like it when we get phone calls!

The result: Gorgeous!

Thanks C & D for letting me into your home and your life for a wee bit!

Title:
"How fairy tales begin in the future"

It would be nice if we could just unbox our dreams and get started with the perfect model, wouldn't it? You know, you have plans for the perfect thing, whatever it is, so you just draw it up and boom, you're up and running..happily ever after.

"You can't always get what you want", Mick Jagger said, "but, if you try sometimes, you get what you need!" The message I take from this is that I can have what I want, a version of it anyway, just as long as I try.


I'm trying, I'm really trying. I know that following your dreams is one thing, but when you're an artist in need of patron, you're really shooting for the moon! Nevertheless, I keep creating, every day.

What the heck, I've got 40 years to work on it, or more. Grandma moses didn't start painting until she was in her 70's or something crazy like that. The perfect example of a late bloomer...the perfect example of why YOU should never, ever give up!!!

I believe in myself. Do you?

Have a nice day! Go do something that makes you happy.

Oh look at the time...

Well, there's nothing like a Sunday for a day of reflection...
Chillin',
layin' low, watchin' a Eureka marathon on the Sci-Fi channel, eating pizza for lunch and breakfast for dinner...

A great day to draw, I say. Sunday's should be reserved for eating, fun, creativity, and a nap!

What have you done this week?

Me? Well, I got cooking on some jewelry I've been wanting to make. I worked a bit on the bag line, my brother's painting (which is in rev. 2), and this little Art Trading Card, a pencil drawing from my own photograph, "Time Watcher". It gets mailed off tomorrow to my swap partner.

Try giving away your art to a stranger; it's both liberating, and difficult. You can never be sure if it'll be enjoyed. But, I do enjoy creating them, and I enjoy the process of these swaps. You get the theme and you have to come up with something original. It forces me to draw and paint on a regular basis, which I need!! Also, I have an opportunity to create something that is completely me and unique that will be exposed to many people, and this inspires me!

This month's swap theme was "reflections". You know, It took me a month to consider fully the subject and come up with this piece, but that's why I do this: To force myself to be a part of a new process, a subject matter I didn't choose, but one that I take to my own place, and definitely make my own.

Your turn!!
:)
Oh and Happy Mother's Day!!

Oh look at the time...