Sunday, August 30, 2009

Things are Looking Up.........

What do you see when you look at your ceiling? It has been called the "fifth wall" and rightly so. The ceiling is many times overlooked in setting a mood for a room. I make a living interpreting people's dreams and giving them environments that nurture them after a hard day at work. This post is a series of ceilings I have painted for client's home environments.
The above is one of the most challenging requests I have had to interpret. This ceiling is a story told through twelve panels depicting travels made by my clients. It tells a story of european travels through France and Italy.
This master bedroom ceiling brings a smile to the client each night as they unwind from the day...it is based on designs in the fabric used for the room and is painted on a plaster ceiling.

(Thank you Beth for featuring me today on your blog-Chinoiserie Chic)

Detail of the chinoiserie motif.
This red study demanded an embossed and gilded ceiling to accent a wall of framed art. It really plays well off the light fixture original to the home.
Faux crocodile was the request for this coffered ceiling. The homeowners raise exotic animals and have a lodge feel to their environment.
This dome was given a nod to early Christian symbolism. The "stitching" on the groin lines is done in a "fish bone" design or "Ichthus". This symbol of Christ would be typically applied to the highest point of the profile of a building such as a bell tower or dome.
I had pure delight on this restoration job. These walls and ceiling were obscured with paint for over sixty years. I used Farrow and Ball organic paint and plaster to restore the stencil work originally done at the turn of the century.

Two wishes were incorporated into this living room ceiling. The subtle clouds were based on a hotel lobby they had stayed in and the corner motifs were based on carvings in the gilded french mantel.
This ceiling done with sepia clouds finished the illusion of an Italian villa.
Think about it...when you lay in bed at night, what is above you as you drift off to sleep? Is it a neglected fifth wall ? Even if a solid color is the answer for your room, consider a shiny venetian plaster or a simple flat lime wash.. Don't overlook this important "wall" when you are feathering your nest and making your home your personal environment!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Let's Organize....!


Being an artist, I am constantly trying to balance chaos and order in my environment. I like things to be functional, yet pretty.....take these great wooden cigar boxes. Stacked, they look great.





Each one holds an incredible amount of art supplies, chalks, pens, charcoals......I picked mine up from a local tobacco shop. They sell many of there boxes once empty.




Look at this fabulous laptop holder from Paul Smith..so different, functional, yet artistic.




                                                (Ullabenulla)

Need a daily reminder board? Step it up a notch and make this french inspired organizer . I made one for myself after seeing this one on Ullabenulla. I found a gilded frame with half of the ornament missing in a junk shop. Perfect for my needs.



What about your desk? There is always the sea of paperwork to deal with. Use this spiral holder available from the Museum of Modern Art.





Now that you have the file holder, get some graphic file folders. Think visual, I use one design for bills, another for clients, one for my blog, etc. You just need to enter the room and glance to the files to see the one you need!




There are many styles out there, from William and Morris designs to faux bois.



My last thought is also a quirky little art inspired item. These "paint tubes" are door stops! Just because we all have work to do and things to organize doesn't mean our environment has to be dull! Put some color and art into your life this week.
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