PAINTING CLOUDS & STRIPES IN A KID'S BEDROOM & TUTORIAL

PAINTING CLOUDS & STRIPES IN A KIDS BEDROOM & TUTORIAL

 Kevy's mom wanted me to paint a sky and stars in her bedroom.

I faux painted the walls with a very dark blue and sponge painted the ceiling with the same blue.   For the stars, I used a stencil and placed them randomly around the ceiling and walls  using metallic gold paint.

  They purchased some light reflective stars and placed them on the ceiling.

When Kevy turned off her light at night the stars were visible.

It looked so pretty.

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THE STRIPES & CLOUDS IN THE ROOM BELOW I PAINTED FOR TWIN BOYS

I painted the walls the lighter blue.  Drew the stripes with a pencil and level.

Painted the darker blue over the lighter blue.

I used the darker blue to paint the midnight sky.

 Stenciled metallic gold stars on the ceiling and walls.

Remember metallics "reflect"

 so, place the metallic paint where it will be reflecting light.

Drew solid white clouds and placed the metallic gold stars randomly on the ceiling.

If you look closely you can see I swiped blue inside the clouds with a brush.

I love the two shades of blue together.
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Original post 8/21/2017

PAINTING HUGE, BEAUTIFUL ART & MIRROR FRAMES FOR SAUNDRA'S NEW HOME

PAINTING HUGE, BEAUTIFUL ART & MIRROR FRAMES FOR SAUNDRA'S NEW HOME

Saundra is building a new home.  

These picture frames and mirror frame were truly beautiful.  The problem was, they were all bright metallic gold.  They looked wonderful in her home that she just sold, but she felt the bright gold would not go as well in her new home.
 She asked me to age them and make them darker.

The mirror is over 6' tall.

This painting is almost that tall and a few inches taller and I am.

This one is very wide and tall.

I used my dining room table as a work surface.

See where I had already started aging on the left side.  The right side is the original bright gold.

Darkening the frame made this painting even more beautiful.

She asked me to paint the off white 1" fabric mats on both paintings.  That really made the colors in the paintings look better, too.  This one, I painted dark brown and dry brushed metallic gold on it.

See the bright gold and the darker where I aged it?

And, see that little flat strip in the middle of the frame?  As I painted it, I dabbed my brush on it to make it look more textured.  You can see it better, two pictures above this one.

This one was bright gold, too. 

 Saundra chose a gray distressed finish.

I rubbed the paint to make only a few gold highlights come through the gray.

Then, she and her husband decided they wanted more warmth and depth, so I worked on it to bring more brown and gold through the gray.  

They are putting this painting on the stones over their fireplace and it will have a spotlight on 

it.  They want to make sure it shows up well on the color of stones they chose.

This is the original metallic gold I started with.  

To get this finish, I started with a dark brown under coat.

After I worked on it a while, this is how it looks now.

After I painted this little 1" mat a soft gray white, Saundra asked me to dry brush some metallic silver on it.  Oh my!!  it is really beautiful!

We are all amazed at how different and beautiful the paintings and mirror look, now.

Painting your frames and mats really can make a difference in your decor.

I might be painting some powder room cabinets in her new home and 

I can hardly wait to see what she has created this time.

Thank you, Saundra.

Original Post:  December 5, 2015

PAINTING CABINETS WITH GEL STAIN & A REMODEL OF RUEBEN'S MASTER BATH

PAINTNG CABINETS WITH GEL STAIN & A REMODEL OF RUEBEN'S MASTER BATH

A few years ago, Carrie and Rueben asked me to paint their pickled oak wood guest bath and powder room cabinets to a darker stained finish.  Rueben liked the finish so much that he asked me to do the same technique on his cabinets in his master bath.  Recently, he was remodeling his master bath with new tile, flooring, glass shower enclosure and new granite counter tops.  He thought the stained cabinets would be the finishing touch to his new decor.

All of the colors blend so well and look so nice.  Everything looks "finer", now.

The large mirror did not have a frame, so he had someone make one.  All of that mitering is not easy.  At least, not easy for me!

New frame pieces.  Look at that mitering job.
I can't get over how well the miters match.

Picture of pickled oak cabinets "before".  And, new mirror frame.
I used a gel stain for the cabinet finish.
Gel stains can be used on an already painted or sealed surface.
Thank you, Rueben.

Original Post 9/10/2019

DRAWING & PAINTING FAUX BRICKS FOR A TEENAGE BOY'S ROOM

DRAWING & PAINTING FAUX BRICKS FOR A TEENAGE BOY'S ROOM

Kimberly was redecorating her teenage son's room and asked me to draw and paint bricks on the wall behind his bed.

She wanted the bricks and mortar to be in the gray and black tones.

I used a grayish white for the bricks.

And, she wanted them uneven and smudgy, so that's what I did.

This is Paisley.  Beautiful little doggie.

She is one spoiled baby.  She likes to be in her mommy's arms.

Is she snubbing me!

First, I painted the mortar color on the wall as a base coat.  Then, I started painting the individual bricks.  I swiped and smudged with my brush and let some of the base coat show through.  I was going to come back with a little brush and make the grout lines a little darker and more uneven.  Then, Kimberly decided she wanted the grout to be even darker.  So, I used a dark blackie gray and with a little brush I painted the grout lines.  Also, I lightly painted a second coat of  grayish white on the bricks. 

On the internet, she found the cutest large wire bear head.  

I think she's is going to get it to hang over her son's bed.

When I paint bricks a harlequin pattern, stones or stripes I always draw a grid on the wall.  It's just easier for me to follow.  It takes a couple of extra hours, but I have a guide to paint by.  Every other row of bricks has to be moved over and if I didn't have the grid I know I would have it all messed up and uneven.  I know that because the very first time I ever drew a harlequin pattern I started getting them uneven.  That's when I knew I would always have to draw a grid first.

Kimberly told me the size she wanted the bricks to be. 

 I measured at the top of the wall and drew the lines vertically.  Then she decided how wide she wanted the bricks and  I measured and drew horizontally.  I always use my level when I'm drawing lines.

She had a painter paint my gray base coat color on all of the other walls.  They were a beige.

Monday, I'm going back to Kimberly's to paint her kitchen cabinets.  I'm eager to see if she got that wire bear head for over the bed.  If she did I'll show it to you.

Thank you Kimberly!!

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Here is a link to another brick wall that I painted and tutorial:

PAINTING FAUX BRICKS (TROMPE L'OEIL) & TUTORIAL

(Original post on August 2, 2015)

HAND PAINTED RED KITCHEN CABINETS WITH A DISTRESSED, AGED TECHNIQUE/FINISH

      HAND PAINTED RED KITCHEN CABINETS WITH A DISTRESSED, AGED TECHNIQUE/FINISH

When my client moved to a new home she asked me to paint her cabinets in her HUGE new kitchen.  Her husband loved red!  Their sofa was red and they had quite a few red accents.  So, I suggested she let me paint the kitchen cabinets red.  I knew it would look soooo good in this new house with all the wall colors, her furniture and decor.  She just could not see the red and brought in a decorator and a builder and got their opinions.  I don't remember exactly, but I'm sure they weren't in favor of the idea of a huge red kitchen, because I had to keep begging!!!  Her husband liked the idea of the red kitchen, so my client finally, reluctantly, said ok.

When I paint a distressed technique on cabinets or furniture it is always with several layers of paint.  I painted these cabinets red.  Then I distressed and sanded the paint so the brown wood would show through.  Applied and wiped off a dark stain.  Last, I sealed with two coats of clear sealer.

My client had seen my faux "antique copper" finish, so she asked me to paint her vent hood.  I did a lot of embossing with a stencil around the border and in the middle of the top.  Then, applied the "antique copper" finish.  I painted metallic copper and glazed with a dark glaze.  Last, I painted the embossed design with a tiny brush and metallic gold paint.

Her wet bar was attached to the kitchen, so she wanted the same red, distressed finish on these cabinets, too.   This was a very large kitchen and wet bar with lots of cabinets.

Well, I think I was right to keep insisting on the red kitchen.

She and her husband absolutely LOVE it!!

They entertain a lot and she told me that everybody who sees her red kitchen loves it, too.  She feels good that it is unique.  And, she knows that no one has a kitchen like her's!

This is a ceiling medallion she asked me to paint for her new living room.  They were hanging a new chandelier on the very high ceiling and wanted the medallion painted red. 

Of course, it looked great, too!! 

She has great taste and I loved working with her and her husband.

Are you brave enough to do this??  Paint your kitchen red?

You just might love it, too!

Original post 10/4/2012

PAINTING A BASEBALL WALL FOR A NURSERY & TUTORIAL

Jill and Kevin are expecting their second child in a few weeks and it's a boy.  They had his room painted a beautiful blue with white trim and the furniture is very dark stained wood.

They LOVE baseball and wanted a baseball theme in their baby boy's room.  So, Kevin Googled baseball themes and several hand painted baseball walls came up.  

They asked me to paint one wall to look like an old baseball.

When I arrived to work on the wall, they already had it painted with a basecoat and Kevin had drawn the two big curves for the stitching.  He drew them with a pencil and did a great job.

I Googled baseballs and found a picture of a dirty old baseball.  That was my "inspiration".

It looked sooo cute and they were so happy with the way it turned out.  Now, they can finish decorating and get ready for that sweet baby boy to arrive.

TUTORIAL 

As I said, they had already painted a satin finish off white base coat.  And, Kevin had already drawn the two big curved seam lines on the wall with a pencil.

First, I painted over and gently shadowed with a dark brown paint, the seams/big curved lines that Kevin had drawn. Then, with a small brush I painted the stitches a dark red.  At the end of each stitch, I painted a dark brown dot to look like the needle holes.  I used the tip of my brush handle, dipped it in the paint and touched the spot where I wanted the needle holes to be.  Then, I used a very light brown glaze that I had mixed and I faux painted the whole wall to look like an old baseball.

When I found the picture on Google, I noticed that some of the stitch arrows were pointing up and the stitches on the other side were pointing down.  I showed it to my neighbor and he told me it was a mobius strip/circle.  It's interesting, if you want to look it up.

So, when you are painting your baseball wall, remember the two-way arrows.

Have fun!  It was fun for me!

Original post was 12/17/12

PAINTING ANITA & GERALD'S RED BREAKFAST ROOM CHAIRS TO BLACK & METALLIC GOLD

PAINTING ANITA & GERALD'S RED BREAKFAST ROOM  CHAIRS TO BLACK & METALLIC GOLD

This is the breakfast room table I painted for Anita.

She asked me to paint it a metallic silver finish.

Her chairs were red and she liked the red, but thought she would be happy with them painted  black since she was making a lot of changes in her decor colors.

So, I painted them black with metallic gold artwork.  I used a stencil for the design.

Painted black they look sooooo beautiful with her metallic silver table.

As I painted the table I left those dark streaks.  That really ties in with the black chairs, too.

I love, love this picture!!  It's been hard for me to catch the silver "metallic" finish with my camera.  After Anita picked up the chairs and took them home she sent these pictures to me.  You can see the "metallic" silver table and "metallic" gold on the chairs "reflecting" light.

On the chairs I painted a hard finish black satin paint and sealed with a satin sealer.

They should hold up very well to the natural wear and tear of family use.

These colors are just wonderful with Anita's new breakfast decor.

The stencil I used looks like rooster feathers to match the chair cushions.

Painting chairs in my studio.

Anita's paint projects are almost completed.

I'm really proud of the way everything has turned out.

"Before"
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Here is a link to Anita's kitchen and paint projects during November & December:
PAINTING ANITA'S KITCHEN CABINETS
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Original post on 12/11/17

MY LATEST COMMISSIONED ARTWORK ~ A BEAUTIFUL SCENE OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO

Jodi and David love Telluride, Colorado.

Recently, on their way home from their vacation in Telluride they sent one of their pictures to me and asked if I would paint this scene for them.  Yes, I could do that.  And, I did paint the scene for them.  Jodi knew just where she wanted to hang this painting, so she purchased a canvas to fit that wall.  

2' x 3'. 

Jodi and David are very happy with my painting.

I am very happy, too.

BUILDING A JEWELRY DISPLAY SCREEN & SEWING A CANVAS CARRYING BAG FOR ELIZABETH'S CRAFT SHOWS & TUTORIAL

BUILDING A JEWELRY DISPLAY SCREEN & SEWING A CANVAS CARRYING BAG FOR ELIZABETH'S CRAFT SHOWS & TUTORIAL

Elizabeth loves to make jewelry.  She goes to Southtown and different craft shows

where artists display their art and crafts for sale.

She mentioned she was working on her jewelry displays and needed a bigger table, etc.  So, for Christmas I surprised her with a larger display and canvas bag just the right size to carry it.

For strength and to be able to add more nail hangers on the frame I made it out of 1"x 2" trim pieces.  I made two frames and nailed the chicken wire between the two frames. 

 Lightly sanded all of the edges and corners for a softer, more rounded look.

I added a handle on top for easier carrying.  Then, I spray painted it black.  I suggested she use Christmas ornament hooks to hang her jewelry.  She'll figure that out.

After the frame was finished I could figure out the measurements for her canvas carrying bag. 

 I always have lots of canvas cloth on hand.  Before I measured and cut the fabric, I washed and dried to "size" it. That way, she can wash it in the future without it shrinking.  

Then I sewed the bag.  I sewed french seams to prevent fraying. 

I wanted her name to be in my handwriting.  So, I wrote her name on a piece of paper.  Used graphite paper to trace it onto her canvas bag.  Then, I used black craft paint to paint it.  Used textile medium to thin the paint a little and to make sure it soaked into the fabric.

Put the bag in the dryer, wrong side out, for about 10 minutes to "set" the paint.

I want to be a carpenter!

I have tools and saws and everything I really need.  But, when I build something it never turns out perfectly like a real carpenter's work.  Once I paint it covers up a lot of my imperfections.  Even when things are not perfect, I think of  Ralph Waldo Emerson's

"The only gift is a portion of thyself"

So, that makes me feel better.

Elizabeth was surprised, happy and thrilled with my gift.

Me, too!

After Christmas sales, she's a little low on merchandise, but here is link to her ETSY SHOP:

HEAVENLY AURAS

Original post:  12/28/15