Artwork Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Leichsenring Studios

Small Budgets…Big Results

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 05, 2013· in Artwork· 0 comments

I realized I was having the same conversation with three different clients this past month. Hellloooo! Yes, I was listening to the universe trying to send me a message. The comment that came up was almost verbatim each time. “I went to your website. I love your work! I thought you might not be interested in my project because it was too small.” While I’m working on making the answer clear on my website, let me state it as clearly as this. Yes, there are a lot of photos on my website that are big and bold. They were intensive projects. And they found their way to my website because they just photograph so well. I was always concerned that small and subtle might not get your attention. So, I’m using this month’s newsletter to show you four such projects that illustrate skills you may not even know I have. First up, a collage of born and bred in Texas cowboy images was painted on this guitar. Musically, its days are long gone, but it is now part of this warm and inviting guest bedroom at The Whispering Pines in Grapeland Texas. Here it is in it’s […]
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Birds and Blossoms… Some of my favorite things

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 10, 2013· in Artwork, Bas Relief, Birds, Floral, Gifts, Murals, Trees· 0 comments

Both of these kitchen wall solutions started the same way, with a discussion. Both clients were looking for “something” for the wall, but had absolutely no idea of what that something could be. Sitting in kitchen number one, our talk began. We talked about the interests of each member of the family. We took a walk through the home, and two things became apparent. The window treatments were minimal because everyone loved the view the yard afforded. It was full of trees, nested, as it were, in their very own forest. In almost all the artwork and accessories I saw, there were more trees, branches, leaves…you name it, more trees. So trees it would be. But a little stylized, and make sure I included a special interest in barred owls. The palette needed to be a subtle mix of blue greens, grays and warm browns. Here are two pictures to give you an idea of the results. Here is a close up of the barred owl. The second kitchen wall started with almost an identical discussion. The colors had to be soft; the design, appealing, but comfortable. It’s a small kitchen, and the owner spends a great deal of time […]
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Playing with color

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 10, 2013· in Artwork, Ceiling, Childrens, Floral, Gifts· 0 comments

Some months when I have to choose what projects to talk about, it’s these little ones that get left undiscovered; small in scope but adding so much to the outcome of the room. This first example started in my head as a simple silhouette of the child with some nice areas of color, taken from the fabrics in the room. However, it seemed as though it demanded a little dimension and the silhouette became a duotone, with the fun twist of the vibrant palette. Got to love that vibrant cobalt blue on a lemon yellow field! The young man is just about life size on this 30″x40″ canvas and to my pleasure, recognized himself immediately. Here is the canvas hung on the wall in his new room. This second example is much more subtle in its approach. Originally this master bedroom had been treated to a soft ochre/yellow sponge treatment by its owner. The tray ceiling which has so much area in the room had been simply painted ceiling white. My part in this project was first to establish a palette, which was derived from the bedding. The tray was then painted in several shades of the chosen blue; the […]
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Canvas painting of buggy driving up the lane

Down Christmas Tree Lane

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 05, 2012· in Artwork, Historic, Horses, Trees· 0 comments

It’s beginning to look a lot like… Christmas Tree Lane! Though my work at the property known as Christmas Tree Lane in New Haven County in Connecticut is not quite completed, it seems the time of year made it inevitable that I would share this with you now. I thought you might enjoy the journey that takes place before any paint touches the canvas. I’ll share first. This is the completed canvas, which measure 36″ x 48″. You are looking at a vintage buggy driving up the entrance to the farm. Here is a picture of the actual buggy. Just a tease, but check out the painting on the ceiling. More about that will be coming when the room is ready. I spent some time with the pair of percheron horses, Barnum and Bailey. I wasn’t familiar with their bridles. Here’s a picture where Bailey is being coaxed into the correct position of his ears! “Forward, Bailey. Forward!” Now, the initial concept: a buggy, a pair of horses and a few Christmas trees. Here’s what that looked like on paper. After it was reviewed, the very graphic black and white approach was discarded. It had a rather dark, gothic […]
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Choosing Your Challenges

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 01, 2011· in Artisan Finish, Artwork, Columns, Dining Room, Textured Finishes· 0 comments

From time to time, projects come across my desk that I consider remarkable. What makes them so? In the two cases in this month’s newsletter, the common thread is that both would challenge me to use a skill set out of my comfort zone. The first was an opportunity to paint a large-sized canvas measuring 64″ by 103″. See it below. It is the “Fog Warning”, after Winslow Homer. Usually, the first, and I think more difficult step of a mural project is composing the design. Not a problem here. Here was an exquisite composition; the challenge was to decipher the artist’s palette and brush strokes. I obtained a large print, and then enlarged it section by section to analyze the movement of the original painting. I enjoyed the process once I allowed myself to relax and embrace it. A frame is in the works, but I couldn’t wait to share. The second challenge was so very, very different. I had an opportunity to work on this with the talented Ashlie Bickford of A Fabulous Finish in the Woodlands, Texas. We had an assist from Ashlie’s partner, Kindra Benge, as we got close to deadline. Indeed, even our wonderful […]
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Small Budgets…Big Results

Birds and Blossoms… Some of my favorite things

Playing with color

Down Christmas Tree Lane

Choosing Your Challenges

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