Blog - Page 9 of 10 - Leichsenring Studios

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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Choosing Your Challenges

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 01, 2011· in Artisan Finish, Artwork, Columns, Dining Room, Textured Finishes·

From time to time, projects come across my desk that I consider remarkable. What makes them so? In the two cases in this month’s newsletter, the common thread is that both would challenge me to use a skill set out of my comfort zone. The first was an opportunity to paint a large-sized canvas measuring 64″ by 103″. See it below. It is the “Fog Warning”, after Winslow Homer. Usually, the first, and I think more difficult step of a mural project is composing the design. Not a problem here. Here was an exquisite composition; the challenge was to decipher the artist’s palette and brush strokes. I obtained a large print, and then enlarged it section by section to analyze the movement of the original painting. I enjoyed the process once I allowed myself to relax and embrace it. A frame is in the works, but I couldn’t wait to share. The second challenge was so very, very different. I had an opportunity to work on this with the talented Ashlie Bickford of A Fabulous Finish in the Woodlands, Texas. We had an assist from Ashlie’s partner, Kindra Benge, as we got close to deadline. Indeed, even our wonderful […]
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Tasty Dining Rooms

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 04, 2011· in Artisan Finish, Ceiling, Clouds, Dining Room, Mica, Murals, Textured Finishes·

For my friends in the northeast, have we had enough snow yet? For those of you in warmer climates, you just don’t know what you’re missing (or maybe you do, and that’s why you moved away). In any event, this month’s newsletter deals with that particular room of the home where, regardless of the weather, we join for family, good friends and delicious food. You’ve guessed it: the dining room. Here is a sampling of murals and faux finishes from a handful of my favorite dining rooms. First, here is a classical Zuber design panel. My favorite part of this mural is the trompe l’oeil frame I painted around the mural so it has a detailed start and finish. The rest of the walls were glazed for added depth. Next, is a sunny Tuscan selection. The warmth of these colors carries through every on the greyest day of winter. Loving these warm colors, our next room has a sophisticated hand painted medallion. The walls sport a mica-infused plaster finish in a warm custard yellow. Here is an art deco favorite. Looks like everyone is at the party already! The soft pastoral colors of this landscape promise just the right dinner […]
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Horses of a Different Color

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 01, 2010· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell·

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 – The sepia mural that adorns the wall alongside a staircase and reaches up to the second floor of a seven-room 1925 house takes the viewer into another era. The time of the Gibson Girl and the bowler hat. It seems incongruous that this local historic scene in this old house is near Planet Fitness and busy Boston Post Road. Spanning 13½ feet in length and sweeping up 14 feet, the mural typically evokes this reaction from […]
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So now you know the rest of the story…

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 03, 2010· in Commercial Space, Lettering, Murals, Trompe L'oeil·

I finished a project a few weeks ago that just brought me back to the early days of my career. First, the project itself: paint an American flag on this wall, waving in the wind with billowing clouds. Size of wall 49′ by 14′, Wow! It brought back all the tools and tricks of the trade so to speak, that I had used many, many years ago when I was a commercial sign painter. Make a grid, get the layout up on the wall and start painting. I have since finessed my clouds when I consider how particular I am when it comes to that part of a mural, but all the practice of years of cutting straight edges combined with the principles of trompe l’oeil helped this wall just about paint itself. Hats off to my client for his salute to the USA. So, here’s my flag. I’ve also got a picture of this commercial space so you can appreciate how strong the graphic is. For those of you who haven’t known me before I made the choice to concentrate only on decorative painting, here’s my story as Sharon the signpainter. Check out this logo (don’t laugh, this was […]
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