Signs Archives - Leichsenring Studios

A Sign of The Times

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 01, 2019· in Signs, Trompe L'oeil·

This project started with a call from the talented Matthew Willinger of Doyle Herman Design Associates of Greenwich. A senior landscape designer with the firm, Matthew had need of my services for a project he has been involved with for a decade. He didn’t know, but he had me at “there’s a trompe l’oeil chicken involved”. How could I not say yes? The property had a sign that had seen its better days years ago. I couldn’t estimate how many years old it might have been, but what was clear that it was well beyond the point or repair. This allowed for an opportunity to fine tune the design and come up with a panel that would echo the elegant streamlined architecture of the home. A few alterations to copy let me add the address to make it easier for guests to find and I was on my way. The new sign was made of medium density overlay exterior wood. All the molding and raw edges were sealed with West system two part epoxy. The molding, simple squared steps mimics the residence. The background color for the sign and the post also matches the home. And then it was time […]
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A Circle Comes Round

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 03, 2018· in Clouds, Lettering, Murals, Signs·

I got a call recently, a blast from the past. It was a client from 2000, back when I was still known to many as Sharon the Signpainter, owner of Sign It Sharon. The decorative artist I have become was still in her foundling stages. Back to the call. It was the owner of the “Sea Angel”, a sailboat whose name I had lettered. The work had a back story. I loved the design and the banner covered a ghost image from the name of a previous owner, which takes years to fade. It seemed that recent communications had gone awry and what was supposed to be a simple touch up to refresh the color and turned into a disaster when the banner was repainted a deep green. With the red hull, the transom screamed Christmas. With me being gone from the business, did I know anyone who could help. And I did. Know someone. The perfect person who could solve her problem. Me, the original artist. Was it perhaps time for me to end my self-imposed exile from the world of signpainting for at least this one boat? During boat lettering season, my world was at the mercy of […]
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A Little Piece of Heaven

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 05, 2017· in Birds, Ceiling, Clouds, Historic, Lettering, Murals, Signs, Trompe L'oeil, Video·

So sometimes a project starts out as a wonderful surprise. When I pulled into the driveway of this home for the first time, I just knew this was going to be something special. Looking at this beautifully restored country church in Fairfield county, Connecticut, I had no idea of what to expect. Originally built in 1873, the church was sold and converted into a private residence when the parish outgrew its tiny size in the 1950s. An attic floor was built converting it into a five room home. My client purchased it in 1990. By that time, the deed restrictions dictating that “it not look like a church” had passed and she was able to renovate the exterior back to its original beauty in 1992. The interior renovations started earlier this year and are nearly complete. When the closet was demolished and the false ceiling removed, an absolutely lovely foyer space emerged. Salvaged wainscoting was used where needed. I experienced the special gift when I “get” a new client and they in turn “get me”. It’s a special combination of crazy and inspiration, with a dash of whimsy and when it’s there, we get magic. Here is the vision I […]
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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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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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