Ceiling Archives - Leichsenring Studios

New Year 2024 : It’s a new year with new challenges at the Masonic Lodge Project

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 02, 2024· in Artwork, Ceiling, Clouds, Columns, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

It’s been three months since my last newsletter. I have conquered my fear of driving across the Tappan Zee Bridge since it’s part of my commute since this past August. I’ve wrapped up what we call Phase 1 at the Masonic Lodge project, that being the sky tray, eight columns and connecting ornament around the entire ceiling edge. And it would be an understatement to say I’m pleased with the results. I was honored to be trusted with this commission and though I was confident it would be successful, it has exceeded my expectations. You will have to take my word that pictures don’t do it justice. I’ve had the sincere delight to watch my husband and friends JoAnn and Jack walk into the space for the first time since completion. Their jaws just dropped. JoAnn took this picture ) two days before completion so you’ll see a tiny bit missing. I think this shows you the enormity of the room (36’x 62’ x16’). So a quick recap. This is the space as I first saw it. The directive: change this space with paint to resemble a classic approach to the Temple of Solomon at this Masonic Lodge in Park Ridge, […]
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My project at the Masonic Lodge

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 28, 2023· in Artwork, Ceiling, Clouds, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

It’s been a while since my last newsletter. I wanted to have enough progress to share, and I certainly do. To recap, I started this project on site in August. I am painting a very large space in a Masonic Lodge in northern New Jersey. Using trompe l’oeil ( French term meaning “fool the eye” using light and shadow to make a two-dimensional space look three dimensional) , I am creating the Temple of Solomon. The space is 36’ by 62’ with 16’ high ceilings. I am just about done with the tray in the ceiling. Here’s what my sample looked like. I agonized for a bit, trying to figure out how I would get this tray laid out on the ceiling by myself. I had to avoid the light fixtures as well. Luckily, I discovered what might be one of the most remarkable tools in my arsenal, a Bosch 3-plane laser. It allowed me to measure easily on the floor and the laser sends out a line that travels around the space in two directions. Crazy. The line can be up to 200’ long so it shoots out straight, up the wall, across the ceiling and back to […]
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Be Careful What You Wish For

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 06, 2023· in Artwork, Birds, Ceiling, Clouds, Columns, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

I am at a loss for words. Well, almost. I am excited to share the beginning of a new project with you. It’s huge in scope for me. I was contacted recently about the possibility of painting a ceiling in a Masonic Lodge in north New Jersey, a little over an hour from home. So, distance-wise, doable. And not just the ceiling. There are four shallow projections on two sides of the space. Make those into columns. Ermmmm…..Ok. So how big is the space? Wait for it. It measures 33’4” wide by 61’6”. That’s 2200 square feet. It’s 16’ tall. We’d like you to come up with a concept to make the space look like a temple, open to the sky. The sky, by the way, will travel from dawn to night. Let’s take a look. The picture you are seeing shows about half of the room. I’m not one to say no to a challenge and this one is not going to scare me away. In fact, less than ten minutes into the discussion, I could see the design in my mind’s eye. And you might be asking, how do I share that with a client. I’m a huge […]
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In the words of Dr. Seuss “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!”

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 27, 2023· in Artisan Finish, Artwork, Bas Relief, Brick Treatments, Ceiling, Clouds, Dome, Murals· 0 comments

Was he speaking directly to me, the esteemed Dr. Seuss? Would the poem provide answers to the absolute gut-wrenching reaction I used to have when contemplating a project where I’d spend days on ladders? And the bad reaction only began with ladders. There were scaffolds to climb and scissor lifts to navigate. Seems the love of painting was and continues to be greater than the fear. If you shudder at the idea of heights, tag along with me through a few of my challenges. First check out this barrel ceiling. Here is the space during construction. It’s good you can’t see my face as you’re reading. I really had to work hard keeping the panic in place. However, and it still amazes me every time, once I have that stern talk with myself and start painting, the fear truly dissipates. Got my backer’s scaffold in place and commenced painting this ceiling, grid method, square by square. This next project was a cloud dome that was over an inside pool. Look at the support structure to hold the dance floor that would span over the approximately 28’ wide pool. Once I climbed through the trap door onto the dance floor, I was […]
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Mixing a custom color of the lusterstone

Be Still My Heart!

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 31, 2023· in Artisan Finish, Bathrooms/Powder Room, Ceiling, Mica, Textured Finishes· 0 comments

There are some days when I believe the universe is more than ready to co-operate and send a project my way where I know that I will enjoy every single minute from concept to execution. And make a client’s dream come true? Probably mixing metaphors here, but that’s the frosting on the cake. So, the starting place. A spacious master bath, with great bones, beautiful fixtures, a floor that sends my imagination spinning and a client looking to get rid of her boring blue walls and she says the words. The key to my heart in secret code: I want you to make magic. Make it wow! Well, ok then. Let’s go. Here’s what the view looks like. I’ve reduced the color to black and white. Color will distract. We discussed ornament and the design is simply just pouring off my pencil. Drawing on the room’s photo makes it easy to visualize. We both agree Lusterstone, a luscious plaster infused with mica, will make the most of the light fixtures. I played with several color mixtures, dabbing my floor sample to see what color would sing out and keeping in mind it is studded with silvery blue glass inserts. Here are […]
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Yep, I have a digital hoarding problem

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 31, 2023· in Artwork, Ceiling, Childrens, Clouds, Furniture, Trees· 0 comments

I’ve been writing my monthly newsletters for almost 14 years now. You can find most of them if you’re so inclined under the PROJECTS tab on my website. A thank you here to Pat Marlin of Business Technology Solutions. I write the copy, choose the photos, and she -with great patience and my dancing close to deadlines-makes the technical magic happen. I admit, I find the digital tasks daunting and I make things difficult because I have way too many pictures, and they are filed in a most abominably illogical pattern, most of which I try to keep organized in my head. So, it’s time to write February’s newsletter, and though I’ve been busy, there’s no one interesting project to share. There’s been a great deal of sketching, sample making, and frankly, some just plain boring work. What to write about? I decided to start cleaning through this huge file called “ mystuff” (can’t make this up) and found pictures of a really early project that predated my newsletters. Just the thing to share with you. It’s important to me for a number of reasons. Here’s the first. Check out my hands. What you might notice is that my right thumb […]
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When a Mural Makes You Smile

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 30, 2022· in Artwork, Birds, Ceiling, Murals· 0 comments

If I could wish for a perfect mural client, it would be someone who gets me. Seriously, gets me. The talent part sure, but also that slightly crazed part of my spirit that says, “Oh no worries. That’s not too crazy. I can figure it out. I CAN make it happen.” That person would also have to be good at communicating what she is looking for in a mural, clear in her style and tastes, and trusts me. When this is present, magic happens. Like this ceiling project. I’ve done several projects for Mrs. H, arguably one of my favorite people to paint for. The ceiling in her foyer and the hallway leading from it was sadly lacking, painted in ceiling white, when you could see the gorgeous collection of artwork, hung gallery style on the walls. Lively, bright and full of color, she was looking for a ceiling design to compliment the color on the walls and we would use her passion for Native American art and spirituality as the impetus for the design. Specifically, I needed to include the sun and the moon, running water, canoes, tipis, deer, and several birds that had a personal connection to her. Knowing […]
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My Home Away From Home In Texas

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 01, 2021· in Artisan Finish, Artwork, Bathrooms/Powder Room, Ceiling, Columns, Dogs, Floral, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf, Lettering, Murals, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

There are times as I think about the subject for my next newsletter, that I remember, I’ve been doing them every month for thirteen years. Blatantly directing you here, almost all of them are on my website, under the tab “Projects”. What’s not so apparent is my connection with Texas. The late nineties saw my goodbye to my career as Sharon the Sign painter. It was not quick, or painless. One doesn’t sell a sign painting business. It is a matter of walking away, or moving on. For me, it was to the world of decorative painting, mostly murals in my case, but also some really satisfying work with plaster and glaze. I spent a three year period in both worlds until the Studios’ demand for murals was in position to shut down the sign painting. In weeks that I typically worked at least 60 hours making that change, I also needed to go back and take classes to fine tune my skills. Trompe l’oeil classes for starters in New York with the legendary Pierre Finkelstein, and then on to San Antonio at the atelier of the esteemed Nicola Vigini. My quiet little plans were pretty much dashed to the gutter […]
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What’s with the trees?

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 01, 2021· in Artisan Finish, Artwork, Ceiling, Childrens, Headboards, Historic, Staircase, Trees, Tropical· 0 comments

I’m working on a mural design right now. It’s a tricky one, more of a puzzle at this stage. I’ve got to weave in my clients’ favorite Central Park NYC locations, and in a very natural way, add in the Eiffel Tower and a pair of European landmarks that have a great deal of importance. I’ll be sharing more about it when I start painting, but that won’t be happening til spring of next year. But. Right.Now. This is the most challenging part, to make the transitions from vista to vista feel effortless. Not contrived at all. My magic elixir, add trees. In this case it will be winter branches, heaped with snow. I know it will work, as I’ve used trees before for just this solution. Trees, actually, (besides clouds or maybe scrolls, but we’re not talking about that right now) might be my favorite thing to paint. Pictures say it better. So, this mural which is in a private residence in Branford, CT, portrays many historical vistas of the now bygone Branford Driving Park, first used for horse races, then automobile in the early 1900s. Check out just how elegantly the trees frame each vignette and bring your […]
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When you are not afraid of color

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 01, 2021· in Artisan Finish, Ceiling, Furniture, Murals, Textured Finishes· 0 comments

When the designer says this client is not afraid of color, I must admit, my heart beats a little faster. A lot faster. And from the very start, we were looking at color. Great, saturated choices. There would be a focal wall, very contemporary and the ceiling which benefitted from an opportunity of just thinking outside the box. Dyane ( Dyane Prezioso Interiors of Huntington, CT) had chosen the anchor color of Aegean Teal. It’s Benjamin Moore’s color of the year. Incidentally, I loved it so much, I recently repainted my own family room with it. And the simple method that makes it work? The walls and all the trim are the same color, with just a sheen difference; matte for the walls and satin for the trim. The effect is a warm, sexy cocoon of color. Perfect for this master bedroom. Here’s the sample we used as a starting point And the fun begins. I was looking at all the stirring sticks I had used to make the colors for my sample. Some were matte, some metallic for vibrancy. They were laying on my worktable drying and I had an inspiration. I cut off pieces and lined them up. Shot […]
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