Blog - Leichsenring Studios

It seems like forever since my last newsletter

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 30, 2025· in Artwork, Bathrooms/Powder Room, Fine Art, Mica, Staircase· 0 comments

Last May, I finished the largest project of my career, transforming a Masonic Lodge in Park Ridge, New Jersey into a painted Temple of Solomon. The year long project just took my concept of time and turned it on its head. One of the things that suffered was staying in touch with you, my most loyal newsletter readers. That massive undertaking, followed by a knee replacement simply took some time to get back to a regular schedule. I had been relying on Facebook and Instagram to share work, and honestly, I realized that trying to figure out an algorithm with Instagram was just too frustrating and limiting. So I’m back writing a newsletter, the best way I know to stay connected. So here are two recent projects that I hope you will enjoy. The first is a jewel of a powder room. I’ve just got to share what it looked like the first time I worked on it. It’s ok, you can giggle if you must. At the time, it was a perfect solution of mica-infused plaster and embossed stenciling. The colors were so perfectly old world and even the ceiling and molding received metallic paint with glazing. But times […]
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I have a big favor to ask of you!

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 10, 2024· in Artwork, Birds, Fine Art, Floral, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf· 0 comments

I know it’s been a while since my last newsletter. I’ve got a full eight weeks of recuperation from a total knee replacement, and it’s time to get back to the real world. Besides therapy, I spent the time well, getting all my upcoming projects in order. Very grateful to have time on my easel, painting with oils, which brings me to the favor I’m asking from each and every one of you. One of my paintings, entitled “Esther” (gratefully named after my cousin JoAnn’s granddaughter, Esther, who took the great inspirational photo of this seagull) was selected to be in a juried art show at the JAG Gallery in Key West. This represents a true milestone in this last branch of career addition of becoming an oil painter. I promised myself that if and when this ever happened, I would be there in person to see the piece hanging on the wall. Last weekend, Hans and I travelled for a weekend visit to the gallery in Key West and its opening reception of the show, Small Works. Pieces entered could be no bigger than 10” x 10”. It is both exhilarating and humbling to start realizing a dream, and […]
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Image showing the depth that trompe l'oeil does best

Winter 2024 Masonic Lodge Update

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 13, 2024· in Artwork, Columns, Murals, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

So I admit, there was a point in time when I was completely satisfied with my work at the Masonic Lodge in Park Ridge, NJ. The bones of the painted illusion turning the lodge hall into the Temple of Solomon were completed. The eight columns were done. They supported a perimeter of painted ornament around the space which framed the huge open sky tray. Yes, a point in time. But a really brief moment. As soon as I started what we would call phase 2, I simply don’t have words to describe how radically the new work would push what I thought was complete into an entirely new level. I often explain that once I’ve got the design put to paper, I can see it done in my mind’s eye. Boy, was I wrong. Once I started painting the massive blocks ( 20” by 48”) that would fill in the wall space and create the window opening that would feature the first of the project’s murals, I really felt like I was creating magic. Yeah, I know, hardly humble here, but this is one of the few moments in my mural painting career when I have surprised and actually amazed […]
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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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Paint My Guitar

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 31, 2023· in Artwork, Historic· 0 comments

Music, I tell you! Music to my ears. “I have a little project for you, and you don’t need to come to Texas to do it. I think you can have fun with this one,” says one of my favorite people in the world. We will call her Miss Jan, who started as a student when I was teaching mural workshops in Houston, became a client, and most rewardingly, has become a dear friend. And for the record, I have no problem going to Texas-or anywhere in the country for that matter -to paint, but Texas is an easy call. I’m happy to paint there anytime. But I digress. The small project is a small guitar that Miss Jan would like painted. It will serve as the inspiration piece for the Gruene (pronounced Green) Room in her family’s Airbnb in New Braunfels, Texas. I’ve had the pleasure of staying there, and spending time in the area, including the little town of Gruene, now a part of New Braunfels. Here’s a look of the River Road Retreat Jan was specific in wanting the Gruene Hall included. I visited there last fall and fell in love with its history. Built in 1878, […]
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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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The Best Medicine for the Worst Patient

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 28, 2023· in Artwork, Murals, Scrollwork· 0 comments

It was the night before surgery And all through the house, Not a creature was stirring… Nor anyone wanting to ask Sharon What ARE YOU DOING!!!! So let me give you the back story first. I had three hernia repairs on February 1st. Surgery was a great success. Uneventful. Just like you hope for. THAT was not the problem. What was the problem was what was I going to do for the next three weeks to keep me, and everyone living in this house with me, from going crazy? So, I kept looking at this wall that my bed is against. It’s a huge headboard, and bigger than the windows, and it’s always bugged me. Need I say more? I finished up my last project early afternoon the day before surgery. The idea had been floating around in my head. After dinner, I moved the bed (while I still had the ability to move something more than 10 lbs. The next day, that restriction would be in place.). Started sketching, then blocking in with paint directly on the wall. I’m running out of time because sooner or later, the closed door behind me is going to open… And it does. It’s my […]
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