Commercial Space Archives - Leichsenring Studios

Looking Back at Looking Up

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 01, 2020· in Artisan Finish, Ceiling, Clouds, Commercial Space, Floral, Fretwork, Gold Leaf/Silver Leaf, Lettering, Mica, Murals, Textured Finishes, Trompe L'oeil·

OK, I’m not proud to admit it but there is a really bad outcome when two of my personality traits collide. I easily admit to being a bit technically challenged. Less easy to admit is that when there is a task at hand that I really don’t want to do, especially something requiring computer skills, I dig my heels in and become a first class procrastinator. And now I’m dealing with the fallout. I had to get rid of my beloved laptop because I kept accumulating photos way past the point of storage capacity. So I have a new laptop with tons more storage and I’m creating clutter and chaos. No way to avoid it. I’ve been cleaning up my mess. There was a silver lining. While sorting through hundreds ( OK, thousands) of old photos, I came across ceiling projects that for the most part, I don’t think I’ve ever posted. There might be a few that have showed up on my Instagram feed, but the fun was the older projects, done before I started this newsletter. And forgive the quality of a few of the older photographs. Just saying. I didn’t have an Iphone 11 back in the […]
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I swear the walls are growing at night

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 01, 2019· in Artwork, Commercial Space, Murals·

When I received the first inquiry about painting a mural at the soon to be opened Seaquest at the Trumbull Shopping Park, I must admit, I was intrigued. For two reasons: The size (the wall measured just under 200 feet in length and was 15 tall) and the location (a chance to work in my hometown of Trumbull). I took a ride to see it, and literally, driving into the parking lot with the wall looming in front of me, my heart just got stuck. Was I crazy for even considering this? “Oh no, not you” hollered that distinctly crazy side of my brain. “You’re not afraid of anything”. I walked up to touch possibly the worst surface I’d ever been asked to paint. “Be afraid.” Said that grounded, sane part of my brain. “Be very afraid and walk away.” I considered that option for a few moments and then crazy kicked in. “I can do this.” I resolved, but not alone. I turned to fellow Trumbull resident Dino Tetu, owner of Paint Smart, a full- service painting company. (learn more about Dino at www.Paintsmartnow.com). We have worked together over the past two decades. We’ve recommended each other and worked […]
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Two sides of texture

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 01, 2018· in Artisan Finish, Budget Conscious, Commercial Space, Furniture, Textured Finishes, Trompe L'oeil·

Wall finishes have come such a long way since DIY sponge kits. Let’s take a look at two approaches to using texture. Recently, Bella’s Café in New Haven underwent major renovations when the original café was expanded by taking over the newly available space next door. Dramatic warm colors were chosen for the multi-layered plaster finish on the walls. The color started with depth , a mesmerizing merlot, followed by a rich carmine, and finished with a cinnamon hue. The plaster is infused with mica powder. The layers alternate from smooth troweling to lacelike texture. Here’s the wall to check out. The banquettes were covered in a deep oxblood color, which prompted the trim color I chose. The excitement came when I spotted these shutters on a fun hunting trip with Rose, the owner. I was tasked with matching the worn colors on new wood needed to hang the shutters. I took a cue from the shutter colors and instead of flat black on the ceiling, it’s a dark gray with a definite deep blue green cast. Take a breather from these highly charged color choices, and see the ship lapped wall opposite the banquettes has a textured salt […]
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When you hit a brick wall

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 02, 2017· in Brick White Wash, Commercial Space, Lettering, Murals·

When I hit a brick wall, it’s with a smile on my face and paint brushes in hand. Painting on brick brings a whole set of challenges to the table. The surface is uncompromising and changing at every turn. I deal with it by remembering the mission: to end up with result I would have on a smooth surface. Some recent projects have been interior ones. Truthfully, each of these has been fun and an opportunity to paint something a little out of the box. A huge shout out to Bruno DiFabio , along with Steve Cioffi and Germano Minin, at whose restuarants these brick beauties reside. The most difficult part of painting these walls, ironically, is not the painting. It’s the step following, distressing armed with a sander and a squirt bottle of dirty glaze to make the work appear as if it’s been there for decades. You will find the Bertolli girl at Bronx House in Stamford. The lady on a boar just makes me want to grin. She presides on the focal brick wall at Ridgefield’s Village Tavern. I can still hear Sandra DiFabio as I got ready to hit the just completed painting with a sander. […]
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Patience and Precision

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 03, 2017· in Commercial Space, Lettering, Video·

I recently had the pleasure of painting a project for Jeff Cavaliere, president of AthleanX Training. The three million people that follow Jeff on Youtube (a truly remarkable and impressive feat) will recognize the gym that Jeff calls the Xbox as the background for his videos. Learn more about Jeff at https://www.athleanx.com. Jeff was looking to brand the gym with his slogan “Train like an Athlete”, his logo and yards of crisp red and white border. Painting by hand was the best solution. Tape was leaving flash or shiny marks on the solid black walls so this was a situation that called for hand detailing. My three decades of sign painting experience provided the old school precision needed for this project. Here are a few shots of the work, followed by a video with Jeff walking you through it. I’d like to give you another link to learn a little more about Jeff. It’s a two and a half minute video entitled “Dare to Dream” that he created as a thank you to his followers, marking the occasion his reaching the three million viewers mark. The guy is in the truest sense of the word, awesome. His […]
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You gotta know where you came from before you know where to go.

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 06, 2017· in Commercial Space, Floor, Murals, Places, Video·

So… these two projects are all about views and direction. Once I got this title in my head, I just couldn’t resist the play on words. The first project is a Humidor/Wine room that needed a little artwork to put it over the top. The room offered four areas that would make perfect window “painted views”. Perfect to complement the beautifully crafted Spanish cedar cabinets. A decision was made to pay homage to the owner’s family roots. His family is from San Fratello in timeless Sicily while his wife’s family is from the glorious area of Cosenza in Calabria. I took a photo of the area and sketched in what the possibilities could look like. Within the confines of this small space, the views came to life quickly. Here’s the finished walls. Here’s a little video to show the space. I am looking forward to a visit back when it’s all put together. So, you know where this client came from making it time to explain the twist. A call from Peter Sinnott (Homeworksny.com) is always a treat. I’m a big fan of Peter’s exquisite design, and bonus, he always sends me to the most delightful places to add my […]
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Wrapping up 2016

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 02, 2017· in Childrens, Commercial Space, Floral, Murals, Powder Room, Staircase, Stairwell·

December seemed to absolutely fly by and I am hard pressed to pick just one single project to showcase. So without further ado… I finished the hallway for the mural a Tree Grows in Tarrytown, featured in December’s newsletter. (By the way, the remarkable Pat Marlin of Business Technology Solutions who created my spanking new website, has made it easy if you just want to revisit an older newsletter. They are listed in the tab “Projects” on my homepage at www.LeichsenringStudios.com). Continuing the theme of the staircase part of the mural, using elements of the home’s landscape, the hallway captures the gentle rolling hills in the property’s perimeter. There is a stone cottage that was a caretaker’s residence when the property adjoining was part of one of the former Rockefeller estates. Seems perfectly at home in the Sleepy Hollow attraction of this area. Take a look. I wrapped up a lucky little boy’s nursery. Elegant as always in design by Linda Brencher Interiors of Branford, CT, the sailing theme is educational as well as fun and colorful. So for my darling granddaughters, the perfect wardrobe for dress-up ! As much fun as they will have playing with it, the joy […]
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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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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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Into the woods

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 04, 2013· in Columns, Commercial Space, Murals, Trees·

I recently was lucky enough to have one of those projects that are just so good for the soul. I was asked to help find a solution for a bare, structural column planted right in the middle of a middle school lobby area. Here is what it looked like. My first discussion was with the art teacher who brought me into the project (many thanks, Kristen ) after which we arrived at a direction. The school is named Fairfield Woods Middle School, and is referred to by most as simply “the Woods”. My task was to find a design that would translate around a column and keep it simple enough to “read” easily, without becoming too juvenile for the appreciation of students and staff alike. I submitted the design below, which was approved at a meeting of the PTSA . I have to admit, it’s been years since I’ve been at such a meeting, but I was delighted to be involved with this project which they were sponsoring ( and more thanks here to Tausif and the entire PTSA). Work started in prepping the ridges of the column with filler and priming and base coating it for my work. The […]
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