Blog - Page 7 of 11 - Leichsenring Studios

Keeping Grounded

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

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 […]
Read More

Into the Woods… Yet Again

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 06, 2015· in Artwork, Columns, Commercial Space, Murals, Trees·

Few projects have touched a special place in my heart as the ongoing “Woods” painting at Fairfield Woods Middle School. Here is what things looked like when I saw the newly renovated lobby. My drawing was approved by the PTSA and in spring of 2013 I painted the center column and was invited back last year to paint the adjacent wall. It left the opposite wall looking quite needy and this spring, I came back to complete the matching wall. This is what the proposal looked like. This is what the lobby looks like today. What makes this project so remarkable is that in the two years since I started, there is not a mark on any of the work. No chips, no scratches and indeed, no graffiti. I deliberately do the work during school hours as I love the energy the feedback from the kids gives to me. Principal Dr. Rosato is always at the helm when at dismissal, some 925 students flood through that hallway, past me painting on my ladder. It is an awesome rush! On a serious note, though the graphic elements of trees is obvious in a school called for generations “The Woods”, I know […]
Read More

The Fifth Wall… Forget Me Not

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 03, 2015· in Ceiling, Clouds, Dome, Mica, Trees, Trompe L'oeil·

Thank you so much to each and every one of you that send me your choice of your favorite powder room. I loved the feedback. It was so much fun compiling that last newsletter, I thought, let’s do it again. So here we go. Ceilings are often referred to as the “fifth wall”. And way too often, they are simply ignored. There are so many solutions that there is no excuse not to consider that ceiling the next time you are looking up at the expanse of flat ceiling white paint. If you’ve got crown molding already (or are considering it), make it pop with anything but white. Here’s my answer to adding color and a few simple stripes for a simple solution. Below is an area of mica infused plaster that reflects the chandelier’s light. A border and shadow give dimension. A ceiling treatment does not have to utilize the entire ceiling. Here are two trompe l’oeil medallions that add focus but are modest in dimension. I see many master bedrooms that have very deep trays, with the sides being three to four feet. This design incorporated the entire space. And then there are situations where I am so […]
Read More

Powder Room Jewel Boxes

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 06, 2015· in Artisan Finish, Mica, Murals, Ocean, Powder Room, Trees, Trompe L'oeil·

Every decorative artist has a favorite place to play with paint and plaster. For me, it’s powder rooms. There’s absolutely no limit to the possibilities. They are self-contained little worlds that can relate to the rest of the home or they can shine with their own personality. Here’s one of my recent favorites. Love the boldness of the red walls. Here it is blocked out in a solid color. Now, take a look with a metal gold on the center ornament plus dynamic shadows and highlights. Here is another acanthus inspired panel. Plaster with infused mica is another route. Don’t you love the way the light dances on this single color application? Another choice is to use the plaster as an allover embossed damask stencil. A lighter shade of the plaster dazzles as the background. Here is the same finish with the bonus of a painted window with a view from the neighborhood beach. This is a true Jewel Box. The ceiling was painted with metallic gold, as were the doors and woodwork with an added coat of subtle dark brown glaze. The stencil on the band that acts as a chair rail is embossed with the […]
Read More

50 Shades of Blue

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 06, 2015· in Ceiling, Headboards·

I recently finished two small projects that had only two things in common; they are both in the same home and both utilize the color blue as the main theme. The first was a painted background for a massive bed in a guest bedroom. The bed is very dark. And my client wanted to utilize the bedding that you see pictured. The walls were a beige with absolutely no personality, and not nearly strong enough to balance the visual weight of the bed. We were both reluctant to paint the room very dark, but needed something to balance the furniture. I chose a color from Benjamin Moore’s new collection called “Color Stories”. “Sheer bliss” was indeed the perfect blue. I then designed a backdrop for the headboard to tie it all together. Painting was slow going given the texture on the existing walls. Here’s the backdrop completed. Here’s another shot with the bed back in place. Pretty sweet! I had fun using the graphic elements found in the carved headboard to incorporate into my design. And here is a close up of the corner post area. The lovely monochromatic blue palette was perfect for the room. The second […]
Read More

A Tree Grows in Texas

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 02, 2015· in Bas Relief, Murals, Trees·

Challenges come in all shapes and sizes. This one was huge! I’d already done several projects in this East Texas home of a dear client. We had discussed doing “something” in an oddly shaped space in the TV room. The available working space starts 10 feet off the floor and continues to a height of 24′ on one side, creating an awkward triangle some 16′ wide. What to do? What to do? It couldn’t be a simple solution like a mural. There were already several that I’d painted. It had to something special. My client Jan suggested a bas relief mural. I’d done smaller ones, but nothing of this size, and at this height. Did I mention height? The little voice in the back of my head was screaming NO! at me for just considering this. Height is usually a deal breaker, but… But. The challenge to create this piece was just too tempting. Game on. Usually I show you the finished picture first, but you need to watch this process. Here’s my scaffolding. Ready for climbing, the ladder is strapped securely to the scaffolding. Thanks to Jan’s husband Bruce for making feel so safe! Once I had drawn out […]
Read More

Not your grandmother’s cabinets…anymore!

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 06, 2015· in Artisan Finish, Birds, Furniture, Kitchen·

I’m not asked often to redo kitchen cabinets. This recent project was a manageable size, and a great way to show you how effective paint can be in updating a kitchen. Keeping it short and sweet, here’s the finished kitchen. Here’s what it looked like before. These oak cabinets are fairly standard. There was no reason to justify ripping them out, but boy, did they look dated and boring. The granite was going to stay, as well as the floor. My client liked the route that I think is more than just trendy of having a different finish for the island. It’s been around for a few years and I believe it’s going to become a standard. Here’s the sample boards I did, as well as a new color with a lot of punch in its depth for the walls. My portion of the work was soooo easy. Super painter Dino Tetu and company (203-258-9818) dismantled the kitchen, removing all the panels, drawers and doors. These were primed, and then painted. Can’t say it enough: great prep insures a great finished job. There is an artisan feel to the work as the glazing shows some of the irregularities of the […]
Read More

Be Not Afraid

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 13, 2014· in Ceiling, Mica, Powder Room, Scrollwork·

I think you know by now that I am bored silly by beige. I know it has its place, but it just freezes the creativity out of me when color is called for but the client is just afraid to indulge. Indulge? Yes, because that is exactly what it can become. An indulgence. Big, bold use of color is probably not good if you’re only thinking of resale value. Color makes a statement. It says you have a personality maybe bigger than life, and that’s what YOU want to surround yourself with. My latest client came with just such a request. Her condominium had been doused with mind-numbing neutrals. And the lady loves Red! I’ve got to work backwards because I just have to show you how a pop of red inspired the bathroom redo. Here’s the before picture and now, with a huge splash of red. So, now in order of what I did here. First, the ceiling of the long narrow hallway and foyer was filled with soft billowy clouds. I created a sample of peakaboo plaster, multi-layered mica-infused with the tantalizing peaks of red and merlot peaking through. You also see the red I chose for the […]
Read More

Walk Away From The Wall!

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 05, 2014· in Childrens, Clouds, Dining Room, Floral, Mica, Murals·

A few years back, I used to teach week long workshops at schools for those wanting to learn decorative painting. Subjects included painting murals, clouds, trompe l’oeil and perspective. I taught occasionally in Denver and Atlanta, but was most at home in Houston at Janie Ellis’s School of Decorative Painting at Anything But Plain. As I was scheduled there several times a year, I had the unique opportunity for me to get to know my students well. I followed their progress and got to know them well enough to appreciate some very distinct personalities. The most common problem most faced was expecting way too much of themselves during a short period of time. The mind says “Yes, I know I need to factor in years of practice” but the truth is the heart looks for perfection. Quickly, with frustration only a heartbeat away. I shared my own mantra of what to do when that happened. I tell myself to walk away from the wall. A few feet’s distance quickly puts things into perspective. An artist needs to learn when something is done. Two projects this month had me muttering to walk away from the wall, indeed. A dining room designed by […]
Read More

A Rose by Any Other Name

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 02, 2014· in Ceiling, Dining Room, Floral, Furniture·

A rose by any name other than DeCandolle’s Rose would just not express how happy I am right now with the universe. Love when the universe gets it right! The project for redoing this dining room began as a discussion over a cup of coffee with my client in her home, where I had done some smaller projects. Her dining room, though very pretty, was just not hitting the mark to reflect her personality. We talked about something floral, and I asked her if she might consider something where the scale was a little less than traditional. She said sure, and I was off and running. The room seemed perfect for huge, oversized blossoms, with exquisite swirled stems and leaves. My inspiration came from a favorite engraving of mine, Pierre-Joseph Redoubte’s De Candolle’s Rose. It’s beauty to me lies in its simplicity, a sweet briar rose. The sample was painted on a creamy background that I glazed with a pale gold metallic paint. The painting seems so alive, with the gentle shimmer of gold. Here’s my sample. It’s time for the big question. Will my client, Jeannie, love it as much as I do? I’d been vague about what type […]
Read More