Thursday, December 8, 2011

Columns During & After

Drama is a matter of taste. Subjective. How dramatic do you want your surroundings? Starting with white columns, I made them dramatic. Client was home during painting, and very worried after the first day. I gave her a piece of white chalk and told her she could "X" out areas that bothered her, draw a box around areas she liked.
This is the "FRIEND" column, it looked the best during the whole process. It was the first one I worked on, when I was least tired, it had the best lighting from the window...
Imagine how hard it is to make three separate things look like they belong together, not matchy-match, but coordinated, cut from the same stone.
From bold, to subtle, what the client wanted:
Washed out, or just right? Subtle. Sublime. Soft. Suggestions of colors.
THE CLIENT IS ALWAYS RIGHT. Some things I will argue for, try to persuade from an artistic point of view. But in the end, it is their home, their art, their money, and yes, they get their way. I can go home and paint my own, another day. My preferences: bolder, like this:

Next time I paint marble/stone:
1. I will do 10 sample boards and let the client choose before hand the coloring, drama of lines, width, direction before I start painting. Sometimes the vocabulary gets in the way, my definitions vs. what client understands. It is easier to choose & point and say "Make it look like that!"
2. I will use some metallic paint to add texure & shine (the reflective little bits of mica are one of my favorite parts, but client did not want any metallic).
3. Try oil paints to float the glazes and open up the drying time.
4. Not take clients during December, schedule for January.
5. Carry business cards with me, always. Referrals are the best clients.
6. Pay someone to clean up for me.
7. Pay someone to take professional photos for portfolio purposes.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Marble Columns x 3 BEFORE




Client wants three columns to match fireplace marble or kitchen marble...

Monday, November 14, 2011

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Pink Princess Castle with Pink Glitter Paint

Cherry tree, lillies, bugs, and late-addition boat at 3 year old's request (guess her current favorite movie?). Martha Stewart paints, available @ Home Depot, are translucent, but nicely glittery. I like Benjamin Moore's glitter effect better-since you can apply over top of any color.
Topiaries in front of castle.  This is like "Where's Waldo?" for Emmalyn, my elephant-collecting first born.

Shhh. I don't know this creature's name, but she did!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tulum, Mexico in the Powder Room

It was hard to get a good "Before" picture-no room to stand. Once blank wall is now a window to a vacation!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sunset Master Bedroom

Need a romantic get-away?

Create your own! I will travel to paint! No distance is too great.

This was a fun project I really enjoyed. Immediate and positive client feedback is very gratifying. Lots of happy dancing! Client spoiled me with yummy food and gave me a royal guest artist's treatment.

(Apologies for fuzzy pictures--and somehow I missed the dolphins! Too tired after 3 straight days of painting! LSF, send me photos!)

Whimsical Medallions


Entry way and dinning room, "whimsical," eye-catching, and fun were client's wishes.
Client's inspiration was an enamaled tray she bought at Marshall's, below, and her gorgeous teal damask chairs, same source:

Picking a picture, fabric, or photograph is a great way to inspire a decorating theme!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Pirate Ship Treasure Chest Palm Tree Mural

Outdoor retaining wall, rough textured concrete, with a deep crack running along bottom right hand side. I painted in the "sand" along the crack, for a natural break.







Turquoise "KILZ" primer, Behr "CONCRETE STAIN" in peacock, house paints in satin finish, reflective metallic paints in treasure chest, sealed top coat polyurethane-satin finish.

$200.00, including paint. Travel expenses extra! Leave a comment to contact artist.