Blog - Page 9 of 12 - Leichsenring Studios

Into the woods…again!

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 07, 2014· in Columns, Commercial Space, Murals, Trees·

Sometimes, I have to admit, it’s pretty good to be me. This past week working has provided another of those times. I have to revisit an earlier project to explain. Last spring, I had the distinct pleasure to be commissioned by the PTSA of Fairfield Woods Middle School (thank you again, Tausif for your continued support of this project) in Fairfield, CT. Known to most in the area as simply “The Woods”, renovations had left a stark column in the middle of the foyer. I painted a quasi impressionistic forest that wrapped the column. You can see that story by clicking here to see that project. There are other areas surrounding the column, and this year I was invited by PTSA to continue the “Woods” environment. I started out by drawing the design on a photo of the area. It’s terrific fun working while school is in session. I have had a vocal, appreciative audience of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, plus staff and teachers. Again, principal Dr. Rosato navigated traffic during the craziness of buses arriving and the massive exodus at dismissal. Nary a smudge! Here are progress pictures as I got moving along. The design grew a bit in […]
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Oops, I did it again

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 04, 2014· in Gifts, Powder Room, Scrollwork·

I promise myself over and over, not to get too attached to the things I paint. I’ll confess, I know the work is in your house, but in my head, they’re still my walls. That’s exactly what happened after I finished the walls and ceiling in this guest bathroom that doubles as a powder room for company. I simply didn’t want to leave. Humility aside, these walls rock! Here’s a before shot. The owner shared he just kept the door shut. Agreed , it was boring. So, the walls got painted a great shade of grey (Ben Moore’s Pewter). My photos don’t do the colors justice. There’s quite a bit of grey in the tile. The design would be done in monochromatic shades of the pewter. Here is how it began… And, now the finished walls—a quick 2 days of work, with one additional day for the ceiling’s matching medallion. I loved the play the mirror gave the design. Here’s another view showing the tub area. Here is a closeup of the wall connecting to the bedroom. Contemporary scrolls, not too frilly. I want them in my house, somewhere. Soon. I’d love to know what you think.
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Fancy Fretwork

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 03, 2014· in Fretwork, Kitchen, Trompe L'oeil·

There was no clue on the outside of this home about the scrupulously period perfect design I would find within. Tastefully done, the Victorian interior was just delightful. The kitchen had been completely remodeled and there was a small wall that marked the end of the kitchen, and was visible walking down the hall. I chose to use “fretwork”, a decorative detail that’s found inside and outside of Victorian homes. It is recognized by its graceful, interlocking designs. Here’s my concept drawing. It was a good solution for an awkward space, and an opportunity to introduce architectural detail in trompe l’oeil (French, for “to fool the eye”) fashion. Here’s the design base coated. You can see, the design got a little more elaborate compared to the original sketch. I have to confess, I don’t often get the opportunity to do this particular type of ornament, and when I do, it’s a personal play day for me! The kitchen is a study in grey, so I chose to paint the base in light grey so I could use a nice crisp white in the highlights. The wall is adjacent to a lovely granite countertop, making for the perfect palette. I […]
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Look Up!

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 03, 2014· in Ceiling, Clouds, Dining Room, Scrollwork·

Ceilings… Designers think of them as the fifth wall. Let’s take a look at the possibilities. I’d like to share a recent ceiling project. It’s the ceiling in a large entertainment space. The overall ceiling measures a massive 40′ by 75′. My design was dictated by the two parallel lighting tracks, leaving a width of 18′ by 48′. I took this picture before the second chandelier had been hung so you could see it clearly. When working on a ceiling, any consideration making the work time shorter is much appreciated by the already stressed neck muscles. I cut large patterns out of ¼” foam core. This is work that can be done in the shop ahead of time and getting the design up on the ceiling. Each pattern was 6′ by 8′. I’d outline one side and then flip the pattern to complete each half of the semi-circle design. Here’s the template in place. Cool stuff indeed! Here’s a close-up shot. Another ceiling took on a completely different aspect. Here a small dome that’s been treated to a sophisticated celery metallic paint treatment. A three foot wide floral border circles the dome. It’s a grand ceiling for a formal breakfast […]
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Sharon’s Medicine For Cabin Fever

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 02, 2014· in Artwork, Bas Relief, Budget Conscious, Headboards, Kitchen·

It’s still January and I’m taking advantage of the snowstorm that has cancelled work for the next few days. But being trapped inside can give you a bit of cabin fever. Are there some areas in your ‘cabin’ that are simply making you crazy. It’s a boring area, perhaps, or it just needs that little something but you can’t put your finger on it. And in the back of your head you’re thinking I probably can’t afford it. So here are a few solutions, with their costs. This project was a small add-on. I was already working in another room of the house. The bathroom was having some beautifully designed tile installed, making the plain white vanity suffer in comparison. Here, I painted a simple motif derived from the tile design onto the two cabinet doors. Cost: $225. Visual value? A home run. This second example is a headboard painted directly on the wall. Not only does it do what it needed to do-supply the missing furniture-but it’s fun to boot. Cost $600. What a great way to get a custom bedroom that exactly fits the space and personality of room. I also find myself […]
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An Affair to Remember

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 04, 2014· in Floor·

It happened in Fairfield, CT a few years ago. I didn’t mean to, but despite my best efforts to avoid doing so, I fell in love. With a carpet. And not just any carpet. It was painted directly on the floor and I was reluctant to finish because I wanted to stay and enjoy the process forever. Here it is. Here is the detail. I couldn’t put the idea out of mind. I wanted my very own carpet. I fantasized over the design, the colors. Until I knew I had to face the ugly truth. My floors were just not “carpet worthy”. They were old, chipped and a very unsuitable yellow oak with thin planks, only 2 ¼” in width. The husband and I debated sanding them, replacing them, forgetting this idea altogether… And then serendipity intervened, in the form of a posting by a Michael Pietro on LinkedIn. He was looking for any interest in the decorative painting community to try a new product, Coat of Armor. The wheels started turning after I spoke to Mike directly. As soon as I received my product, I decided to test an area that would receive a tremendous […]
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Trees 101

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 04, 2013· in Murals, Powder Room, Trees·

This month, I tag-teamed two projects using trees as the inspiration point. The only common thing they shared was the small available area; one was an office measuring a scant 11’x8, the other a powder room coming in at 54″ x 72″. Check out the impact of many, many trees versus one. The office sits on the third floor of a 200 year old home. The client’s wish was to continue the vista provided by the single window in this cozy space. I have to admit, I fell in love with this house-you simply don’t see them anymore. There is such a sense of history. I swear you can hear it calling to you. (Oh maybe that’s just me—that explains a lot about me!) The wonderful color of the wood floor paired with the earthy palette nature provided. It was a little awkward getting use to this space. Each time I stepped off my ladder I experienced a bit of vertigo. Absolutely nothing in the room is straight. The floors tilt in one direction, the walls hove and curve in another. The window sills have relaxed about 30 degrees over the years. My level could not even register with the […]
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By The Sea…

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 10, 2013· in Murals, Ocean, Places·

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea… The ocean’s call is irresistible to those lucky enough to have spent their childhoods within its sound. And so it was when I first got a phone call from the enormously talented interior designer, Linda Brencher of Linda Brencher Interiors of Branford, Connecticut. She was looking for someone to help realize the vision she had for the foyer of the guest cottage she was designing for her client, who happened to be a friend from childhood. Uh-oh! Another vision! I live for those words. But I was not prepared for what I found when I first saw the space. It was small, like 65″x 84″ small. And it had wainscotting up to the six foot point. And a window, and a coat closet, and the front door and the entrance to the kitchen. And a slanted ceiling! I can’t even be paying attention to my grammar right now, because I am remembering thinking this is crazy. I had one wall that was just 2 feet tall; the opposite wall rose seven feet from the molding. The remaining two sides were triangular in shape rising from the two foot mark on […]
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Small Budgets…Big Results

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 05, 2013· in Artwork·

I realized I was having the same conversation with three different clients this past month. Hellloooo! Yes, I was listening to the universe trying to send me a message. The comment that came up was almost verbatim each time. “I went to your website. I love your work! I thought you might not be interested in my project because it was too small.” While I’m working on making the answer clear on my website, let me state it as clearly as this. Yes, there are a lot of photos on my website that are big and bold. They were intensive projects. And they found their way to my website because they just photograph so well. I was always concerned that small and subtle might not get your attention. So, I’m using this month’s newsletter to show you four such projects that illustrate skills you may not even know I have. First up, a collage of born and bred in Texas cowboy images was painted on this guitar. Musically, its days are long gone, but it is now part of this warm and inviting guest bedroom at The Whispering Pines in Grapeland Texas. Here it is in it’s […]
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Another slice of my life… Welcome to the World Harper Leichsenring

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 06, 2013· in Budget Conscious, Childrens, Trompe L'oeil·

I just checked my email library; since I’ve started writing these newsletters, I’ve shared pictures of work in my own home only once and in November, 2011,featured a screen I painted for my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. There was no way I could not share this project with you. Most importantly, my granddaughter was born on August 27, 2013. Harper Marie Leichsenring arrived at 8:08pm, weighing 8 lbs.4 oz and measuring 20 ½”. Momma and baby are home now, doing well. Work started in Harper’s nursery months earlier. My daughter-in-law Annie had decided on a simply lovely palette to work with, pale pink and soft grey. Let me show you a pair of pictures first and then I’ll walk you through it. Once the delicate chandelier had been hung, there was no getting away from this was going to be a pink confection! My son requested some of the gray color to be added to keep the pink from swallowing up the room. You’ll see I added a wide, 12″ border with rounded ensign-cut corners to one wall. It helps interrupt the pink in a manner easy on the eyes. We first tried just making the wall a solid […]
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