Blog - Page 5 of 12 - Leichsenring Studios

When you hit a brick wall

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 02, 2017· in Brick White Wash, Commercial Space, Lettering, Murals·

When I hit a brick wall, it’s with a smile on my face and paint brushes in hand. Painting on brick brings a whole set of challenges to the table. The surface is uncompromising and changing at every turn. I deal with it by remembering the mission: to end up with result I would have on a smooth surface. Some recent projects have been interior ones. Truthfully, each of these has been fun and an opportunity to paint something a little out of the box. A huge shout out to Bruno DiFabio , along with Steve Cioffi and Germano Minin, at whose restuarants these brick beauties reside. The most difficult part of painting these walls, ironically, is not the painting. It’s the step following, distressing armed with a sander and a squirt bottle of dirty glaze to make the work appear as if it’s been there for decades. You will find the Bertolli girl at Bronx House in Stamford. The lady on a boar just makes me want to grin. She presides on the focal brick wall at Ridgefield’s Village Tavern. I can still hear Sandra DiFabio as I got ready to hit the just completed painting with a sander. […]
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If “Happiness is a Warm Puppy”

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 07, 2017· in Artisan Finish, Dogs, Headboards, Trees·

If Charles M.Schulz is correct that “happiness is a warm puppy”, then these two pet projects are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. First, let me bring you to Wag Central in Stratford, CT, where owner Angela Pantalone has a created a dog care facility like no other that I have ever seen. My part here was small, but I enjoyed being a part of its creation. I was brought to the project by the inimitable Patrick Briel of Tripka Design, (www.tripkadesign.com )whose direction was creating a look somewhere between a cross of the Flintstones and the Jetsons, with equal measures of simplicity and Zen. Patrick designed the two existing structural support columns to become white birch trees. Here’s a look at how they started after being wrapped in sonic tubes and painted white. I then painted the stylized birch design. The smaller branches made of PVC pipe were prepped and painted into my shop. Here’s how the trees stand now, complete with a few winsome cardinal mobiles. You will be amazed at how fantastic this place is. Check it out at www.wagcentralct.com. Plan a visit. You will not be disappointed. The second project was creating a one-of-a-kind […]
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I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 01, 2017· in Ceiling, Clouds, Dome·

Clouds have always fascinated me. I have literally thousands of pictures I’ve taken, or friends have sent me, of simply beautiful clouds. And I’ve painted them. Each cloudscape calls for different palettes and approaches. I am grateful to have been brought to this project by JoAnn Clapp of the Stone House Studio in Woodbury (www.JClappDesigns.com). JoAnn and I both paint custom headboards for the I.M. Smitten gallery in Trumbull. I have painted larger sized ceilings and domes than this one, but these had other design components: architectural details such as trellises, vines and birds. This was the largest that I had approached that was pure and simply JUST Clouds. No distractions. So, I had to plan a cloudscape that met the client’s wishes for calm and peaceful clouds, with no hint of storminess, and yet, I knew it had to have oomph! The dome measures 30 feet in diameter with a rise of 8 ½’. The bottom of the dome is about 18′ above the platform that covers the pool which it is over. Here’s a picture of the dome structure just after installation. It would still need to be smoothed, primed and basecoated before work could begin. I prepared […]
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Patience and Precision

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 03, 2017· in Commercial Space, Lettering, Video·

I recently had the pleasure of painting a project for Jeff Cavaliere, president of AthleanX Training. The three million people that follow Jeff on Youtube (a truly remarkable and impressive feat) will recognize the gym that Jeff calls the Xbox as the background for his videos. Learn more about Jeff at https://www.athleanx.com. Jeff was looking to brand the gym with his slogan “Train like an Athlete”, his logo and yards of crisp red and white border. Painting by hand was the best solution. Tape was leaving flash or shiny marks on the solid black walls so this was a situation that called for hand detailing. My three decades of sign painting experience provided the old school precision needed for this project. Here are a few shots of the work, followed by a video with Jeff walking you through it. I’d like to give you another link to learn a little more about Jeff. It’s a two and a half minute video entitled “Dare to Dream” that he created as a thank you to his followers, marking the occasion his reaching the three million viewers mark. The guy is in the truest sense of the word, awesome. His […]
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You gotta know where you came from before you know where to go.

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 06, 2017· in Commercial Space, Floor, Murals, Places, Video·

So… these two projects are all about views and direction. Once I got this title in my head, I just couldn’t resist the play on words. The first project is a Humidor/Wine room that needed a little artwork to put it over the top. The room offered four areas that would make perfect window “painted views”. Perfect to complement the beautifully crafted Spanish cedar cabinets. A decision was made to pay homage to the owner’s family roots. His family is from San Fratello in timeless Sicily while his wife’s family is from the glorious area of Cosenza in Calabria. I took a photo of the area and sketched in what the possibilities could look like. Within the confines of this small space, the views came to life quickly. Here’s the finished walls. Here’s a little video to show the space. I am looking forward to a visit back when it’s all put together. So, you know where this client came from making it time to explain the twist. A call from Peter Sinnott (Homeworksny.com) is always a treat. I’m a big fan of Peter’s exquisite design, and bonus, he always sends me to the most delightful places to add my […]
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Dreaming About Dragonflies

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 03, 2017· in Dining Room, Murals, Scrollwork, Trompe L'oeil·

This month’s project was literally a dream commission. My client, the fabulous Ms.M, was a person I’d done work for many years ago. A move to a new home precipitated a call to come fix these blah walls and make it look as beautiful as my old home. So I ask, so what do you see happening here, pointing to this huge blank wall measuring 14 feet in width, and ten feet high. “Oh,” says she , “I’m leaving that up to you. You know what I like.” And yes I did know. A long perusal of fabrics in window treatments, throws and furniture kept turning up a recurring element of scrolls. Throughout the home, I also spied dragonflies. Could it be? Truly two of my favorites themes combined? I drew my proposal on top of a photo of the wall, the dining room table marking the visual bottom of the design. She loved it! I love it! We are calling this work? I am in love. The idea to use scrollwork as a frame surrounding a field of blue had been floating in my wish list for a long time and here I was, with the entire room dictating […]
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Painting in Paradise

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 01, 2017· in Brick White Wash, Fireplace, Kitchen, Property Brothers, Video·

This year started out with true change of venue for me. When Patrick Briel of Tripka Design, Milford, CT (www.TripkaDesign.com), asked me if I’d be interested in finishing some kitchen cabinets, I had to admit it’s not on the top of my list of favorite things to do. Dramatic pause. He finishes the question. On Saint John in the Virgin Islands. Like he had to ask twice. So a few days ahead of the last snowstorm we had here in Connecticut, I arrived in St. John. My husband Hans jumped to the front of the volunteer line, the extra set of hands to flip doors and drawers (and take care of driving on the wrong side of the road!) The agreed finish was simple and subtle: a softened stria in gray to provide a neutral background to the clean lines of the kitchen design. I’ve got pictures of the work in progress. Take a look at the video so you can appreciate how beautiful my work place was. Turn my head in the next direction and I’d see this. One of the difficult parts of a job in that isolated a location is judging the time needed. We finished up with […]
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Wrapping up 2016

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

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·

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·

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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