Blog - Page 9 of 10 - Leichsenring Studios

Playing with color

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 10, 2013· in Artwork, Ceiling, Childrens, Floral·

Some months when I have to choose what projects to talk about, it’s these little ones that get left undiscovered; small in scope but adding so much to the outcome of the room. This first example started in my head as a simple silhouette of the child with some nice areas of color, taken from the fabrics in the room. However, it seemed as though it demanded a little dimension and the silhouette became a duotone, with the fun twist of the vibrant palette. Got to love that vibrant cobalt blue on a lemon yellow field! The young man is just about life size on this 30″x40″ canvas and to my pleasure, recognized himself immediately. Here is the canvas hung on the wall in his new room. This second example is much more subtle in its approach. Originally this master bedroom had been treated to a soft ochre/yellow sponge treatment by its owner. The tray ceiling which has so much area in the room had been simply painted ceiling white. My part in this project was first to establish a palette, which was derived from the bedding. The tray was then painted in several shades of the chosen blue; the […]
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Just a spoonful of sugar

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 05, 2013· in Ceiling, Dining Room, Headboards, Scrollwork·

If just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, wouldn’t it be nice to see how easily a few spoonfuls of paint improve a situation? My client could not find the perfect size headboard for this bed. See below the bare space available to work with. Here’s the resulting headboard, with the exact design, size and colors. Beautiful custom window treatments are enhanced with painted borders. The beautiful inspirations are taken directly from the fabrics with a bonus of highlighting the Palladian window. Window treatments design by Dyane Prezioso Interiors. White ceilings are becoming a thing of the past. Think of that ceiling as the fifth wall. Designers do. Doesn’t it deserve a little more than a coat of ceiling flat white? In this example, a lightened tone of the wall color was used to create a large rectangle with ensign corners. An additional border, a little lighter yet, defines the detail and the ¼” hand-painted pinstripe seals the composition. A little plate of “eye candy” served up to start out an inspirational New Year. Ready for a taste, give me a call. …and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you!
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Canvas painting of buggy driving up the lane

Down Christmas Tree Lane

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 05, 2012· in Artwork, Historic, Horses, Trees·

It’s beginning to look a lot like… Christmas Tree Lane! Though my work at the property known as Christmas Tree Lane in New Haven County in Connecticut is not quite completed, it seems the time of year made it inevitable that I would share this with you now. I thought you might enjoy the journey that takes place before any paint touches the canvas. I’ll share first. This is the completed canvas, which measure 36″ x 48″. You are looking at a vintage buggy driving up the entrance to the farm. Here is a picture of the actual buggy. Just a tease, but check out the painting on the ceiling. More about that will be coming when the room is ready. I spent some time with the pair of percheron horses, Barnum and Bailey. I wasn’t familiar with their bridles. Here’s a picture where Bailey is being coaxed into the correct position of his ears! “Forward, Bailey. Forward!” Now, the initial concept: a buggy, a pair of horses and a few Christmas trees. Here’s what that looked like on paper. After it was reviewed, the very graphic black and white approach was discarded. It had a rather dark, gothic […]
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70 Cubic Feet of Magic

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 08, 2012· in Birds, Murals·

So, just how big, or small, is 70 cubic feet? In the four thousand square foot home where I was recently working , that amounts to a very small space that is 3 feet by 3 ½’ in floor space and not quite 7 feet tall. Admittedly, a very small part of this home, but what huge results! Let me tell you the story. The contemporary home, owned and designed by Dyane of Dyane Prezioso Interiors of Shelton, CT is a sophisticated study in beige, taupe and black, with subtle metallic accents. The small portion of her foyer had been occupied for some twenty-eight years by her beloved family companions, a pair of blue gold macaws. Their cage nestled in that space and they were the official greeters to visitors. They may be gone, but their memory holds a special place for the family. Once the cage had been removed, its emptiness served as a constant reminder. And then inspiration struck! Originally, Dyane requested the pair of macaws to be painted on one wall. The riotous colors found in the blue gold macaws dictated an equally vibrant palette. A decision was made to include painting a Scarlett macaw which had […]
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Ahoy, Mr. Mole

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 02, 2012· in Clouds, Lettering, Murals, Ocean·

Little over a year ago, The Milford Fine Arts Council (in Milford, Connecticut) initiated the Murals of Milford Program. The commission for a mural on site #2 was a competition open to the public, and my mural proposal was chosen. Thanks right now, for a community so supportative of artists, their endeavors and the value of public art! The site is located at the Ship’s Store of Milford Boatworks at 2 High Street in Milford. Here’s a picture of my “canvas”. You can see the original surface was painted cinderblock, but concern with a little peeling and bubbling of the surface substrate led to a new surface of a material called di-bond ( a sandwich product of aluminum front and back with styrene in the middle). This was attached to the building, with a special little “bump-out” which hid wires and pipes. Let’s take a look at that same corner now. Here’s some pictures of the finished mural, which measured about 19’x5′ on the front, and 11’x5′ on the side, with the corner section rising to 7′ to accommodate the differences in height. Some interesting challenges maintaining the horizon line. I took a little artistic license adding a […]
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My Best Friend’s Kitchen

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 13, 2012· in Kitchen, Murals·

Sometimes, it takes someone who knows you maybe a little better than you know yourself to find the magic. At least, that’s the way this kitchen backsplash makeover happened. It started when my friend Maggie fell in love with some plates. It’s as simple as that. And they are great plates, wonderfully colorful utilizing primitively drawn farm animals. They were the inspiration point. Maggie’s husband handled the prep for the formica backsplash, getting the slick surface ready for me to work on. Before I tell you any more, let’s start with a look of one section, a before and after shot. So a little more of the “before” story. I admit I was more than a little nervous when I started painting. Why? I wasn’t going to be able to sketch out the design, or transfer a pattern. I was going to be using acrylic paint much like watercolor to mimic the method used in painting the plates. Pencil lines, even done with watercolor pencils would hinder the loose, paint with abandon look Maggie had embraced. The polka dot borders that edged the plates were simple swirls of color. No measuring, just eyeballing along the way. Shudders swept through me […]
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A House Touched by History

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 03, 2012· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell·

A Victorian house sits on a quiet street in Middletown, NY. The historic marker on the sidewalk in the only sign that hints to passersby of the rich history that is part of Middletown’s history. When I first met with the owners, it was clear to me right from the start how challenging a project this would be. The owners have a clear respect for the value of their home’s history. Care has been taken to protect the original stained glass work. The intricate workmanship hails from another era. How then to combine all the subject matter that Middletown had to offer? The Thrall Library was a treasure trove of information and old photographs. I also photographed some of the existing buildings and statues. I designed the mural in two sections. The work was done on wood panels and when completed, attached and framed to the wall. Here they are! If I’ve captured your curiosity, let’s take a look up close. The first two scenes reflect the owner’s interest in the Civil War. The tattered flag of the 124th Regiment honors the famous Orange Blossom Regiment formed in Middletown in 1862. The statue of a lone soldier salutes the honor […]
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Bare Naked Stairway

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 05, 2011· in Murals, Staircase, Stairwell·

It’s hard to imagine that anyone was content with the “before” once you’ve seen the “after” photo. It was always an area with something missing. A picture was hung, but just wasn’t the right answer. That was my cue. Here’s my solution. Take a look at the “before” space. Now consider what I could do with it Here’s the “after” shot. Thought you might enjoy some close-up shots. Let me paint an entrance to your private little world. I’d love to talk to you about it.
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Mermaid Medicine

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 06, 2011· in Childrens, Commercial Space, Murals, Ocean·

It’s always an enjoyable project when the words “fun, children and mermaid” are part of its description. I came to do this work through an unexpected path. A client of mine had a situation which required her to bring her child to this Connecticut hospital. First, the best part: her child is fine and received excellent care. What was in need of a little “artistic medical attention” was the play area in pediatrics. My client made a donation to show her appreciation and suggested that I might be the right person for this makeover. Here are pictures of the play area with the artwork in place. The work was done on canvas, and installed much like wallpaper would be handled. By doing this, in the event that the area had to be relocated, the artwork could easily follow. Check out the little details as well. I made a pattern for the “wave” molding that borders the bottom of the mural, which was then cut out of wood. A subsequent donation enabled the addition of another mural area in the adjacent nurses station. Again, the work was done on canvas. I thought you might be interested in seeing my concept […]
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Art Deco Delicious

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

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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