Places Archives - Leichsenring Studios

An Illustrated Map

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 11, 2026· in Artwork, Clouds, Fine Art, Gifts, Historic, Places, Trees, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

Finding the perfect opening sentence is sometimes a challenge but this commission was a joy start to finish. It depicts a Texas map, noting that my client, a longtime Houston resident, was moving to her new home in New Braunfels. She picked scenes and places that will mark how special her new home is to her and her family. What made it particularly personal for me was the fact that I know all these places having visited them with her. So lets start with the sketch. I had a list of what to include and this is like a moving jig saw puzzle giving every piece its best place to shine. Once approved, I prepped my canvas. The canvas is a 36” square with a 2” depth. I will be finishing the edges as well, so there will be no need to frame. After painting it a soft white, I added a quick glaze to give the background a parchment feel. Ready for the fun stuff. First, here’s the Gruene Tower. Anyone familiar with the area automatically knows the tower marks the location of the Gruene Dance Hall. Built in 1878, it is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous […]
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Horses of a Different Color: a Second Look

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 26, 2025· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase· 0 comments

This month finds me with several projects, all vying for my attention but not one is ready to share with you. I thought I’d take the opportunity to share an older project that still remains one of my favorites. (Who’s kidding who? They are all my favorites). It is done in grissaille, required a ton of historical research and posed its own challenge in that there were several vignettes that needed to be combined, on a staircase wall. 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 […]
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Molding painted green with wax and gold gilding

Invite me to your wedding

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 02, 2019· in Artisan Finish, Events, Lettering, Places· 0 comments

So, when you think of some of the projects you might contact a decorative painter for, a number of things might come to mind. Paint a mural, create an artisan finish, add some clouds to a ceiling. But here’s a request that was as much unexpected as it turned out to be great fun. I was contacted by a mother of a bride to be. Might I consider handling some of the “more artistic” aspects of her daughter’s wedding? You betcha! It’s a great feeling to dig deep into the bag of skills one collects as a decorative artists, and pull them out to use in a new and unexpected way. The bride shared her palette, which I converted to Benjamin Moore colors I’d be able to use. She also requested, a touch of gold. Oh yeah, we are in business now. So I’ll walk you through some of the items I handled. The bride’s Dad was going to be constructing two large frames on which strung wires would hold the seating place cards. Here is the sample I created. I used a molding Dad had found. It had a simple leaf pattern that tied into the elegant leaf motif […]
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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· 0 comments

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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Rooms with a View

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 03, 2015· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Clouds, Dining Room, Kitchen, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell· 0 comments

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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Take Me To Venice

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 05, 2014· in Furniture, Places, Scrollwork· 0 comments

Mr. John Hennessey might be one of the most romantic husbands I know. I’ve known John for, well, decades really. We go back to my earlier life when I was Sharon the Signpainter and I lettered many a panel for John in his bustling real estate enterprise. We’ve crossed paths over the years, so I was not surprised when John called for my help in creating a surprise for the lovely Marianne for their upcoming 38th anniversary. John delivered a chest to my studio. Funny thing about it; I had monogrammed it some thirtysomething years ago and it was going to be redone as a surprise anniversary gift. He was leaving everything in my hands. The metal straps could stay, or not. It could remain cedar, or perhaps not. The subject matter was Venice, and John emailed me some great photos from a recent trip there. Beyond that, all he said was “surprise me, Sharon.” He didn’t want to see sketches, concepts, progress pics. He’d be as surprised as his wife at the unveiling. I’ve got to do this in order. Here’s how it started out. My husband took off the straps and brass tacks and sanded it smooth. I […]
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By The Sea…

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 10, 2013· in Murals, Ocean, Places· 0 comments

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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A House Touched by History

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 03, 2012· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell· 0 comments

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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Horses of a Different Color

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 01, 2010· in Historic, Horses, Murals, Places, Staircase, Stairwell· 0 comments

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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