Blog - Leichsenring Studios

A Journey To Capricorn

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 28, 2026· in Artwork, Clouds, Murals, Scrollwork, Trees, Zen/Wellness· 0 comments

When I finished the murals in this yoga studio/office in a private residence, I was filled with mixed feelings. There had been a lot of research about the subject matter and personal stretches for me as an artist. The largest wall in the space is upright for 40”, then breaks forward at a 45-degree angle, following the roof line. Painting at that angle was a new experience, and to be honest, even if I were twenty years younger, it would still be physically taxing. There was the big sigh of relief that it was done and I was more than happy with the work. Time to clear out my paints, brushes and patterns and my mess of the work space and return it to the serene space it will become. But I greet completion with a little sadness. I loved every minute of designing and painting. I learned so much. I am grateful to designer Chrystal Toth for her direction and encouragement and to my client for allowing me to create a magical place. All murals are not created equally. This one asked for a piece of my soul, and I was glad to give it. Enough about me, let’s look at […]
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A Tree for Four Seasons and Many Reasons

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 29, 2026· in Artwork, Murals, Trees, Zen/Wellness· 0 comments

I recently completed the first wall of three in a beautifully created room in a private home. It serves as a studio, office and spiritual space. It was creatively challenging and gave me an opportunity to work with the discerning Chrystal Toth of ChrystalTothDesigns.com. It was a time to delve into that part of me that, as an artist, who just thrives on intricate designed work. The search for the perfect layout for this wall also included learning a bit about what yoga represented to my client. I did not arrive at the final sketch quickly, but when I did, it checked off so many requirements. The tree leaves span the four seasons with the changing of the leaves from fresh spring colors to autumn leaves covered with snow. The mandalas start with a spring-oriented pattern with pansies and move to summer fullness and blooms to a harvest motif and ending with a snowflake patterned signaling the end of the passage. I know it’s much more fun to look at the pictures. So here’s the final approved layout. Next is the sketch in color. The mandalas were finetuned after this was completed. Notice that wall on the left is cut away on a […]
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An Illustrated Map

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 11, 2026· in Artwork, Clouds, Fine Art, Gifts, Historic, Maps, Places, Trees, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

Finding the perfect opening sentence is sometimes a challenge but this commission was a joy start to finish. It depicts a Texas map, noting that my client, a longtime Houston resident, was moving to her new home in New Braunfels. She picked scenes and places that will mark how special her new home is to her and her family. What made it particularly personal for me was the fact that I know all these places having visited them with her. So lets start with the sketch. I had a list of what to include and this is like a moving jig saw puzzle giving every piece its best place to shine. Once approved, I prepped my canvas. The canvas is a 36” square with a 2” depth. I will be finishing the edges as well, so there will be no need to frame. After painting it a soft white, I added a quick glaze to give the background a parchment feel. Ready for the fun stuff. First, here’s the Gruene Tower. Anyone familiar with the area automatically knows the tower marks the location of the Gruene Dance Hall. Built in 1878, it is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous […]
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Perhaps Eden

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 09, 2025· in Artwork, Childrens, Clouds, Murals· 0 comments

I’ve simply got no excuse. Life got in the way and I haven’t kept up with my newsletter. I hope you’ll agree, this one is worth the wait. Several years ago, I was most fortunate for the opportunity to paint these two murals in a lovely Westchester, NY residence. They were respectively for the oldest child, a girl and her younger brother. A few years passed and there is now another sibling, a little girl, whose room was ready for its new mural. This mural was an opportunity to use part of the existing landscape- a fairy tale like pond with its own stone bridge, calling your name softly if you stop to listen. There is also a tree that holds many memories for the children’s father, who grew up in this house. The swing still hangs on the same branch. Shh….you can still hear laughter. A perfect setting to place all the children. Billowing clouds frame the composition, a nod to my client’s vision that this is their Castle in the Clouds. Forgive these whimsical references. Believe me, you can feel this. This world is both real outside the walls, and just as real in the painted scene that begs […]
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Horses of a Different Color: a Second Look

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 26, 2025· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase· 0 comments

This month finds me with several projects, all vying for my attention but not one is ready to share with you. I thought I’d take the opportunity to share an older project that still remains one of my favorites. (Who’s kidding who? They are all my favorites). It is done in grissaille, required a ton of historical research and posed its own challenge in that there were several vignettes that needed to be combined, on a staircase wall. Along the way, there have been more than a few projects that have tested me as an artist. However, and that’s a big however, this one surely tops the list in so many categories. It needed a great deal of research, a tightly maintained sepia palette and a design that could transition from different scenes as one ascended the staircase. I’m going to take advantage of the wonderful writing of Robert Pollack, who authored the following article which appeared in the Shoreline Times of Branford, CT. There are more pictures at the end of the article. Wall of history: Muralist paints life as it was in Gibson Girl era Published: Thursday, November 04, 2010 By Robert C. Pollack Special to the Times BRANFORD […]
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Dogs and Pickleball

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 27, 2025· in Artwork, Dogs· 0 comments

I have been working on this piece for several months and I’m just over the moon with the results and so happy to be sharing it with you. It’s a story that had a simple beginning. My client asked me if I was familiar with the painting “Dogs Playing Poker”. I was. She was looking for a personal design along the same concept, but with her dogs. I’m still thinking, Sure, no problem. She’ll send me pictures of the dogs, some are current pets and a few are beloved ones that have passed. Painting dogs, or any other animals to mimic human characteristics is an art form called anthropomorphism. Seeing the dogs would be sitting at a table, it was still the same position you would see if the dogs were sitting on the ground on their haunches. I’m still comfortable. This is the point where things took a new, and very challenging change of plans. Her daughter had a new direction to take this. Pickleball. What??? Yes, pickleball. It’s got special meaning for the family, and wouldn’t it be fun? The dogs playing pickleball. Not all of them. It’s Pickleball doubles, so that’s four and the rest… She sent […]
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When Less is Just Enough

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 18, 2025· in Artwork, Murals, Trees· 0 comments

One thing is certain, there is never a dull moment when it comes to designing a mural. Case in point, this living room wall. Where did my intended wall stand? One wall of the room opened to the foyer and a staircase. The adjacent wall already featured a well organized collection of framed artwork that had been collected during travels by my clients. The third wall featured a colorful and dynamic watercolor that hovers between a deeply saturated palette of rich color with a hint of abstraction about it. Above the well appointed fireplace, it is the center of attention. Which brings me to my wall. Hmmmmm….. Enough art had been hung in the room and there was no need for a piece of furniture to fill this rather large wall. My space is about 9’ by 11’. The solution, a background mural, if you will. A simple landscape, with plenty of detail but. Wait for it. NO COLOR, and little contrast, meaning NO POP. Color would have distracted the eye from the focal painting over the fireplace. Keeping the painting all monochromatic generally means I have a range of values to create dimension. But such a large wall would […]
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What happens when you least expect it!

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 09, 2025· in Artwork, Fine Art, Floral, Murals· 0 comments

What happens when you least expect it? I guess I’ll have to lead with that. About two years ago, I decided that I had put off something that, if I’m being totally honest, I was afraid to try. It was painting with oil paint. It’s it so totally different from what I’m used to painting murals with which is acrylic paint. I really struggled for months, just trying to do small studies which ended up in the garbage before I was even twenty minutes into them. I did a small piece of one of my grandchildren and realized I was fighting the wrong battle. I was trying to make the oils work like the familiar strokes of acrylic and it could never happen. I had that a-Ha moment, coupled with the fact that I had an entire box of aluminum leaf at my disposal, and I began the first of the collection you can find on my website called ”Reflections.” Here’s the link to see them: www.LeichsenringStudios.com/fine-art-gallery. The first piece I painted was called “Considering”. So, I’ve spent the next two years, still learning and struggling. I entered many art shows where I learned to grow a thicker skin. The […]
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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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