Textured Finishes Archives - Page 2 of 2

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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The Dragon’s Tail

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 06, 2016· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Mica, Textured Finishes, Video· 0 comments

Since this project was conceived months ago, it’s been living in the crazy part of my psyche. Many are the times I would play back the proposal and wonder: what was I thinking? Surely, this was insane. Up until the actual moment of installation, I questioned the process and for a moment of terror thought this might not work. Wrong, oh so wrong. So to the beginning of the story. A tiny powder room, square footage wise, 6 feet by barely 4. But competing with a powerful piece of inspiration. This is the mirror with the dragon frame. I needed to design something that could hold its own against such drama. And I came up with the idea of a magnificent dragon’s tail, unfurling itself across the walls. And that’s when crazy entered the picture. I’m currently having a love affair with mica, adding it as a layer to plaster finishes, and I thought, this was the perfect solution. The raw mica comes in blocks, and one splits the sheets apart. I could cut the scales out of mica. They would come alive as light hit and reflected around the room. I started by drawing out the tail, numbering […]
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Art Deco Delicious

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 03, 2011· in Artisan Finish, Ceiling, Murals, Textured Finishes, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

There’s no other way to describe this home media room project: it’s one of my most favorite jobs, ever! Kudos to my client for having such a clear vision of what he wanted, and allowing me to bring it from concept to completion. Here’s the entry. I relied on my old sign painting skills to make templates for the dimensional marquee. They were then cut and assembled with column support. The columns were cut and inserted to add depth to the opening. Made of PVC pipe, a faux marble was painted on the surface of the pair of columns. They were top coated with a high gloss sheen to enhance the finish. The doors are stippled with an antique bronze metallic finish . I painted an art deco motif on the doors. The painting has a dimensional style of its own. It is painted in trompe l’oeil style. This French term, meaning “to fool the eye” uses a complex system of painting values ranging from bright highlights, to deep cast shadows. Come on in! A visual feast awaits within. A giant starburst was constructed on the ceiling. The bronze palette continued with gold and dark chocolate accents. All the wood […]
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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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Tasty Dining Rooms

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 04, 2011· in Artisan Finish, Ceiling, Clouds, Dining Room, Mica, Murals, Textured Finishes· 0 comments

For my friends in the northeast, have we had enough snow yet? For those of you in warmer climates, you just don’t know what you’re missing (or maybe you do, and that’s why you moved away). In any event, this month’s newsletter deals with that particular room of the home where, regardless of the weather, we join for family, good friends and delicious food. You’ve guessed it: the dining room. Here is a sampling of murals and faux finishes from a handful of my favorite dining rooms. First, here is a classical Zuber design panel. My favorite part of this mural is the trompe l’oeil frame I painted around the mural so it has a detailed start and finish. The rest of the walls were glazed for added depth. Next, is a sunny Tuscan selection. The warmth of these colors carries through every on the greyest day of winter. Loving these warm colors, our next room has a sophisticated hand painted medallion. The walls sport a mica-infused plaster finish in a warm custard yellow. Here is an art deco favorite. Looks like everyone is at the party already! The soft pastoral colors of this landscape promise just the right dinner […]
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A Gallery Opens in Trumbull

The Dragon’s Tail

Art Deco Delicious

Choosing Your Challenges

Tasty Dining Rooms

Project Categories

Houzz Recommended & Best of Awards