Blog - Page 9 of 14 - Leichsenring Studios

When My Worlds Collide

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 03, 2016· in Lettering, Murals, Signs·

This month I’d like to share two related projects. Both have their roots in my first career as a sign painter. The skills I learned as that have served me well. The Art of Lettering has truly become a thing of the past. Computers now supply vinyl cut letters; digital production makes graphics and copy so accessible but there will never be anything as glorious (in my own humble opinion) as the moment when the lettering quill connects to the surface and a beautifully executed piece results. In the decades when I was “Sharon the Sign Painter”, my work was confined to commercial endeavors, my favorite being lettering names of boats on their transoms. Indeed, it was when the decorative painting arena started to include painted lettering (you remember little quotes on kitchen soffits) that I felt the tug to leave commercial sign writing behind and to stretch my aspirations towards what has become the most satisfying of second careers, being a decorative painter. The call from Janie Ellis of Anything But Plain Decorative Painting and Plasters in Houston began this first project. A mural involving the historical collection of Aston Martin logos in a dream garage her team would […]
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This Magic Moment

by Sharon Leichsenring· February 02, 2016· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Birds, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf, Murals, Property Brothers, Tropical·

So, I finished painting what I’m sure will remain one of my favorite dining room murals EVER! My client was a superb collaborator when it came to the design of this three walled mural (the fourth wall is a fireplace with a surround of classic wood panels and molding.) Studying her Pinterest inspiration board, a theme became clear: a landscape taking its cue from 19th century Zuber panoramic wallpapers, based on a tropical, Eden-like world. I’m going to get right to it. Here are the pictures. Once the palette was worked out, it was just wonderful to come to work each day, making this come alive. Somewhere along the way, the magic happened. The room has a mood as soon as you step into it. There is a peacefulness that borders on being ethereal. Below are my favorite trees. The solemn herons appear on each wall. I gave you a little background about this project in my January newsletter. I first painted a mural in this residence fifteen years ago. The owner’s four children (ages eight to three at the time) were incorporated into the painting. The figures were about one inch in height. Look at them now, […]
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The Second Time Around

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 05, 2016· in Birds, Dining Room, Murals, Tropical·

First of all, let me wish you a happy new year. I started a project the Friday after Thanksgiving, thinking surely it would be ready to show you in January’s newsletter. Alas, even though I worked on it all through December, it’s not ready for viewing. I am going to share a few pictures and set the background for it. I first painted a mural at this home in 2002. Recently, the dining room was renovated, increasing its size and adding a sensational fireplace. The remodel work was done by Tom Mason of SandDollar Development. (superb work and attention to detail. Check out his work at www.sanddollarinc.com). The original moldings in this gracious Fairfield, CT home built in 1928 were preserved and additional molding was created as needed with seamless matching. Here’s a small part of the original mural. I’d like to think my style has developed in the past fifteen years. This current mural has been a wonderful opportunity to push the limits to create a reflection of just that. At the risk of sounding a little less than humble, I think the new mural rocks! You be the judge. The palette is much more sophisticated, and […]
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Rooms with a View

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 03, 2015· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Clouds, Dining Room, Kitchen, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell·

The 21st interior design celebration, Rooms with a View, took place in Southport recently. Conceived as a brilliant church fundraiser under the auspices of the famed Albert Hadley (designer for the Kennedy White House, the Rockefellers, Astors and Gettys to name a few notable clients), each year the show embraces traditional and cutting edge design. Each of the twelve invited designers is given a space of 5′ x 8′ to create a vignette. They have a week to”build” their room, which comes quite simply with three walls and wiring for electricity. Then, the magic is on display for the weekend. This year was personally exciting to yours truly because the design team, Tracy Dwyer and Patrick Briel, from Westport’s Parc Monceau had asked me to paint a floor cloth that would be used in their vignette, The.Diving.Room. Too cool for words, I assure you. First, take a look at the room’s view. My rippling water over sand design painted on a canvas floor cloth is easily seen through the Lucite coffee table. Here is another view of the room. Here is the rug by itself. If you’ve never been to Rooms with a View, plan to next year. I’ll […]
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Coffered Ceilings on Property Brothers job

Thankful for the Side Dishes

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 17, 2015· in Artwork, Brick Treatments, Ceiling, Fireplace, Kitchen, Lettering, Signs·

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and once I got this title in my head, I couldn’t let the metaphor go. Certainly it is the turkey that is the centerpiece of the traditional celebration, but it is those side dishes that add the flavors and creativity. And so it is with my own portfolio. Yes, mural painting is the foundation of my work, but this month was a perfect example of those “side dishes” that don’t come around all that often, but when they do, what a treat! The first project was a brick wall in a red palette that was just completely unacceptable for the marvelous kitchen renovation. My client thought a simple whitewashing would tone the color down. I have her permission to show you her thought to see how it might look. It was ingenious. She used chalk, and literally colored the bricks to check out the effect. Not good. The result was dirty pink and coral tones. Below is the sample I created once the background had been painted. And here’s how lovely it looked when completed. Very believable and custom matched to her granite, flooring and cabinetry. I’ve also been doing quite a few canvas commissions. […]
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They had me at Krakens!

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 04, 2015· in Dining Room, Furniture, Ocean, Property Brothers, Trees·

I love a good challenge. It keeps me on my toes and thinking out of the box. I recently completed two projects that did exactly that. The first was a mural for a dining room. My client made it clear that she and her husband wanted something that truly captured their tastes and personalities. She mentioned mermaids, schooners and kraken. She had me at kraken. This was going to be fun. Kraken indeed! Norwegian mythological sea creatures. Here are a few of my initial sketches. Take a look at the finished painting. Each porthole is 5 ½’ in diameter. Keeping the budget in mind, simple trompe l’oeil planks completed the composition. Below is a closeup of the mermaid porthole. They might not be your cup of tea, but it was exactly what my client had envisioned. They are intriguing, these krakens, are they not? This month also brought the opportunity to be the decorative painter for a one-of-a-kind desk. The Twin Root Desk was designed by the brilliant Patrick Briel of Tripka Design. Imposing and utterly massive, it commands its office. And here you can see the two-tiered desk from another vantage point. Here is a […]
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Trees For All Seasons

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 04, 2015· in Artwork, Gifts, Staircase, Stairwell, Trees·

I just completed this project for one of my favorite clients. We have from an artist’s perspective, the perfect relationship. She’s very visual and we approach each scenario as a team. I love her input. Her home has a charming walkway to the front door, terraces of rounded brick steps. It’s beautiful for guests. However, family members generally come into the house from the garage and enter climbing up a most boring staircase. Climbing the stairs may be good aerobically but the view! It can’t get more boring than this. If one could see through the back door’s window to the right, one would be rewarded with a gorgeous sylvan vista. So a solution was born. A canvas of a good size (30″ by 40″) depicting the missing view. The transom window mimics those found in the home. I drew this sketch and we were on our way. I had to shift the perspective a little and drew it as it would be seen from a “worm’s eye’s view”, the opposite from looking downward like in a bird’s eye’s view. It may not be something the viewer is aware of, but it trick’s the mind to accepting it as more […]
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A Tale of Two Projects

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 06, 2015· in Artwork, Bathrooms/Powder Room, Floor, Gifts·

One of the best parts of my schedule is the wide scope of work that comes my way. Here are two projects that illustrate my point. The first is an elegant and sophisticated powder room. My part in it was quite small, a painted floor cloth. The cloth, a mere 27″ x 3″, was the perfect solution for the space. More importantly, it provided a vehicle to tie the palette of the room together. Here’s a picture of the cloth, the wallpaper and the fabric trims for the window treatment. Kudos to Linda Brencher Interiors of Branford for t the design found in this lovely powder room. The Anna French wallpaper in a light apple green sets the perfect crispness for every detail. Take a look at the floor cloth. This powder room is a busy place, so the protective topcoat will keep it looking like new for years. Here’s the finished project. The nightstand refitted as a vanity base with a new marble top and vessel sink is brilliant. The second project called for an entirely different direction. My client commissioned me to create a 24″ by 36″ painted canvas as a birthday gift for her husband. The […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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