Birds Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Leichsenring Studios

The Glow of Gold

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 31, 2017· in Artisan Finish, Bathrooms/Powder Room, Birds, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf· 0 comments

I’ve got to admit, this powder room is going to be a tough act to top! Simply put, I loved every part of it, from the planning to the last bird. Oh, the birds! But I’m rushing ahead of myself. My client, to whom I’m truly grateful for this painting experience, made the initial choice for the room. She had an inspiration picture that she had filed away several years ago, knowing this was her vision for this powder room. It showed a gold leafed wall with traditional chinoiserie painted on top of it. First, I made two gold leaf samples for her. One was very formal, and as close to perfect as the human hand can make it. The second, done on a brick red bole, the rich color that is behind the gold leaf and adds to his great depth of color, had some irregularities, leaving some of the seams about a sixteenth of an inch exposed here and there. Actually harder to do creating the irregularities, but well worth the effort. It gave a gentle sense of aging to the gold. Gold leaf is actually incredibly thin pieces of gold that are attached to a tacky sized […]
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This Magic Moment

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 02, 2016· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Birds, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf, Murals, Property Brothers, Tropical· 0 comments

So, I finished painting what I’m sure will remain one of my favorite dining room murals EVER! My client was a superb collaborator when it came to the design of this three walled mural (the fourth wall is a fireplace with a surround of classic wood panels and molding.) Studying her Pinterest inspiration board, a theme became clear: a landscape taking its cue from 19th century Zuber panoramic wallpapers, based on a tropical, Eden-like world. I’m going to get right to it. Here are the pictures. Once the palette was worked out, it was just wonderful to come to work each day, making this come alive. Somewhere along the way, the magic happened. The room has a mood as soon as you step into it. There is a peacefulness that borders on being ethereal. Below are my favorite trees. The solemn herons appear on each wall. I gave you a little background about this project in my January newsletter. I first painted a mural in this residence fifteen years ago. The owner’s four children (ages eight to three at the time) were incorporated into the painting. The figures were about one inch in height. Look at them now, […]
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The Second Time Around

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 05, 2016· in Birds, Dining Room, Murals, Tropical· 0 comments

First of all, let me wish you a happy new year. I started a project the Friday after Thanksgiving, thinking surely it would be ready to show you in January’s newsletter. Alas, even though I worked on it all through December, it’s not ready for viewing. I am going to share a few pictures and set the background for it. I first painted a mural at this home in 2002. Recently, the dining room was renovated, increasing its size and adding a sensational fireplace. The remodel work was done by Tom Mason of SandDollar Development. (superb work and attention to detail. Check out his work at www.sanddollarinc.com). The original moldings in this gracious Fairfield, CT home built in 1928 were preserved and additional molding was created as needed with seamless matching. Here’s a small part of the original mural. I’d like to think my style has developed in the past fifteen years. This current mural has been a wonderful opportunity to push the limits to create a reflection of just that. At the risk of sounding a little less than humble, I think the new mural rocks! You be the judge. The palette is much more sophisticated, and […]
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Not your grandmother’s cabinets…anymore!

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 06, 2015· in Artisan Finish, Birds, Furniture, Kitchen· 0 comments

I’m not asked often to redo kitchen cabinets. This recent project was a manageable size, and a great way to show you how effective paint can be in updating a kitchen. Keeping it short and sweet, here’s the finished kitchen. Here’s what it looked like before. These oak cabinets are fairly standard. There was no reason to justify ripping them out, but boy, did they look dated and boring. The granite was going to stay, as well as the floor. My client liked the route that I think is more than just trendy of having a different finish for the island. It’s been around for a few years and I believe it’s going to become a standard. Here’s the sample boards I did, as well as a new color with a lot of punch in its depth for the walls. My portion of the work was soooo easy. Super painter Dino Tetu and company (203-258-9818) dismantled the kitchen, removing all the panels, drawers and doors. These were primed, and then painted. Can’t say it enough: great prep insures a great finished job. There is an artisan feel to the work as the glazing shows some of the irregularities of the […]
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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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70 Cubic Feet of Magic

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 08, 2012· in Birds, Murals· 0 comments

So, just how big, or small, is 70 cubic feet? In the four thousand square foot home where I was recently working , that amounts to a very small space that is 3 feet by 3 ½’ in floor space and not quite 7 feet tall. Admittedly, a very small part of this home, but what huge results! Let me tell you the story. The contemporary home, owned and designed by Dyane of Dyane Prezioso Interiors of Shelton, CT is a sophisticated study in beige, taupe and black, with subtle metallic accents. The small portion of her foyer had been occupied for some twenty-eight years by her beloved family companions, a pair of blue gold macaws. Their cage nestled in that space and they were the official greeters to visitors. They may be gone, but their memory holds a special place for the family. Once the cage had been removed, its emptiness served as a constant reminder. And then inspiration struck! Originally, Dyane requested the pair of macaws to be painted on one wall. The riotous colors found in the blue gold macaws dictated an equally vibrant palette. A decision was made to include painting a Scarlett macaw which had […]
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Painting Away The Winter Blues!

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 05, 2009· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Birds, Ocean· 0 comments

I imagine that you are with me in feeling that we have had more than enough winter. Here is the solution that one of my clients had for keeping the wonderful ambience of a favorite vacation place and enjoying it all year (especially during the relentless months of winter). This bathroom is used by the owner’s children, the oldest who is a young teenager. The mix includes 2 boys and one young lady, so it was important to keep from looking too juvenile. The subject chosen is Fort Myers in Florida, a place that has sentimental value for the entire family. The room is literally wrapped with scenes of Fort Myers—the pier, the sandpipers in a single line parading at the water’s edge, the small cottages buried in the palms and finishing with the pelican standing guard at the edge of the beach.. The crisp white of the trim and cabinetry is paired with a charcoal granite filled with glints of silver and blue. The soft cloud filled skies meet the ceiling painted blue. All mural work was executed in fine artists’ acrylics. This project was pleasure from start to finish. Think of a […]
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