Murals Archives - Page 5 of 8 - Leichsenring Studios

Wrapping up 2016

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 02, 2017· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Childrens, Commercial Space, Floral, Murals, Staircase, Stairwell· 0 comments

December seemed to absolutely fly by and I am hard pressed to pick just one single project to showcase. So without further ado… I finished the hallway for the mural a Tree Grows in Tarrytown, featured in December’s newsletter. (By the way, the remarkable Pat Marlin of Business Technology Solutions who created my spanking new website, has made it easy if you just want to revisit an older newsletter. They are listed in the tab “Projects” on my homepage at www.LeichsenringStudios.com). Continuing the theme of the staircase part of the mural, using elements of the home’s landscape, the hallway captures the gentle rolling hills in the property’s perimeter. There is a stone cottage that was a caretaker’s residence when the property adjoining was part of one of the former Rockefeller estates. Seems perfectly at home in the Sleepy Hollow attraction of this area. Take a look. I wrapped up a lucky little boy’s nursery. Elegant as always in design by Linda Brencher Interiors of Branford, CT, the sailing theme is educational as well as fun and colorful. So for my darling granddaughters, the perfect wardrobe for dress-up ! As much fun as they will have playing with it, the joy […]
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A Tree Grows in Tarrytown

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 01, 2016· in Murals, Staircase, Stairwell, Trees· 0 comments

I have been waiting my entire career to tackle a staircase in its entirety. It’s the truth. I’ve always seen the two walls as a single connecting canvas, but it was finding the right client to see it through my eyes. Here’s what the layout looks like. Hmmm…..How to make the subject matter work? And what exactly is the subject? My client was oh so prepared. She had created a visual feast in her exquisite landscaping and wanted to bring that vision into the foyer to warm the space. When we first met, she had dozens of photos printed out of the areas that were important to her, taken during different times of day and from a choice of angles. Center stage was a large maple that was take top billing. Drawings approved, I could not wait to start. Walk through the project with me. Here is the bottom section completed. Already my client and I could see the flow of colors she has used in her connecting rooms flow into the palette I used. Big smiles all around. Now it’s time to start the wall heading up to the second floor. I laid it out in charcoal, and as […]
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A Gallery Opens in Trumbull

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 01, 2016· in Clouds, Events, Headboards, Murals, Textured Finishes· 0 comments

A new gallery is opening its doors soon in Trumbull. I am so psyched because I will have work hanging on its walls! And what a gallery it is. A totally new concept. The works of art are custom headboards. Located at 1 Trefoil Drive in my hometown of Trumbull, I.M.Smitten will be hosting a private Friends and Family Party November 5th to show off its unique collection of custom headboards. The brainchild of owner George Holley and his partners Phairot Iamnaita and Holly Sutton Darr, the collection includes innovative features such as built in reading lights and USB ports. Design Director Holly Sutton Darr has collected an impressive array of Connecticut artists and artisans to execute their talents on the headboards. Here I am working on one of my favorites, a queen size board showing Italianate Scrollwork. My boards include some textured finishes. I’ll also show you a few of my favorite “mural” boards. The collection of artists brings wonderful visual energy to the gallery. There is hand painted glass, plaster and wonderfully distressed finishes. As an artists, I love the opportunity to paint in the company of other artists. All work is completed on premise. Truly, as […]
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Fields of Lavender

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 06, 2016· in Floral, Murals, Video· 0 comments

The idea of the mural in this exquisite home was found in a combined love of the owner for color and flowers. The air of Provence in the rounded foyer nestled beneath the second floor turret made the choice of lavender fields, punctuated by tall standing sentinels of sunflowers, an easy one. Needing to be able to look at all the walls at the same time, I photographed it to capture all my paintable areas and then drew on this template. It made it easy for my client to see the mural as a single piece, rather than all the small choppy areas you notice when windows and doors and stairs intrude. The result? A total immersion in a sea of color when you come in the front door. Best to show you the video first. Here are a few still shots to see the details. You know how much I love a little architectural detail. Look below to see the lovely shadows caught in this illustration. My only regret? The lavender planted outside the drifts of hydrangea as a border was not in bloom when I finished painting. The view through the windows promises to be […]
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I’m in love with the man in the moon

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 03, 2016· in Ceiling, Dome, Murals, Video· 0 comments

I have been trying to think of a clever, and perhaps less manic opening, to express just how wonderful this project was to paint. Right now, it’s great to be me! (Humble, n’est pas?) I’m in a truly happy place. I loved what I just finished; it came out exactly how I wanted it to and my client is delighted. Mrs. H is the perfect client. She gets me. And I get her! This may not be your cup of tea but I think you’ll agree, you are going to enjoy looking. The dome and I first met before renovations began at this beautiful home in Fairfield county. A dated , plain light fixture hung in a bare white dome. The fixture will be replaced with a more fitting one, filled with twinkling lights and I promise to post a picture in the fall when it is in place. Once the concept had been agreed upon, I prepared a scaled drawing. The drama would come from the rich dark blue background, grounded by soft dreamy clouds. The subtle ochre palette plays richly with the soft creamy yellow on the hallway walls. You know, I never mind the physical part of […]
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When My Worlds Collide

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 03, 2016· in Lettering, Murals, Signs· 0 comments

This month I’d like to share two related projects. Both have their roots in my first career as a sign painter. The skills I learned as that have served me well. The Art of Lettering has truly become a thing of the past. Computers now supply vinyl cut letters; digital production makes graphics and copy so accessible but there will never be anything as glorious (in my own humble opinion) as the moment when the lettering quill connects to the surface and a beautifully executed piece results. In the decades when I was “Sharon the Sign Painter”, my work was confined to commercial endeavors, my favorite being lettering names of boats on their transoms. Indeed, it was when the decorative painting arena started to include painted lettering (you remember little quotes on kitchen soffits) that I felt the tug to leave commercial sign writing behind and to stretch my aspirations towards what has become the most satisfying of second careers, being a decorative painter. The call from Janie Ellis of Anything But Plain Decorative Painting and Plasters in Houston began this first project. A mural involving the historical collection of Aston Martin logos in a dream garage her team would […]
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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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Rooms with a View

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 03, 2015· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Clouds, Dining Room, Kitchen, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell· 0 comments

The 21st interior design celebration, Rooms with a View, took place in Southport recently. Conceived as a brilliant church fundraiser under the auspices of the famed Albert Hadley (designer for the Kennedy White House, the Rockefellers, Astors and Gettys to name a few notable clients), each year the show embraces traditional and cutting edge design. Each of the twelve invited designers is given a space of 5′ x 8′ to create a vignette. They have a week to”build” their room, which comes quite simply with three walls and wiring for electricity. Then, the magic is on display for the weekend. This year was personally exciting to yours truly because the design team, Tracy Dwyer and Patrick Briel, from Westport’s Parc Monceau had asked me to paint a floor cloth that would be used in their vignette, The.Diving.Room. Too cool for words, I assure you. First, take a look at the room’s view. My rippling water over sand design painted on a canvas floor cloth is easily seen through the Lucite coffee table. Here is another view of the room. Here is the rug by itself. If you’ve never been to Rooms with a View, plan to next year. I’ll […]
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Keeping Grounded

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 03, 2015· in Floor, Kitchen, Murals· 0 comments

I admit, One of the best things about being a decorative artist is I surely am never bored. The variety and scope of the challenge is constantly a surprise. This recent project is one that kept me grounded, both literally and philosophically. Literally, it entailed having the floors of the kitchen and breakfast area sanded to remove the existing work. Here is what I first encountered. Not only was the work dated-it involved some sponging with grout lines I think to simulate blocks- but the alternate layers of paint were separating and peeling. Enter Dino of Deckworks (203-258-9818) in Trumbull. The floors were sanded, primed and painted to provide me with a perfect canvas. Before I show you the process, take a look at how sweet these floors look now! The adjoining breakfast area… The palette was derived from the beautiful palette the countertops and existing cabinets provided. I thought a contemporary trellis design would play counterpoint to the square areas we were trying to marry-a basically square kitchen area with a step down to a long rectangular breakfast area. The house which is almost 100 years old has elegant and traditional lines. Keeping the design simple with just […]
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