Singerie and Treillage....What's not to love?

Have you ever wondered what the process is behind a decorative art project? I thought I would document a larger project from start to finish to share what a decorative artist really does.

Meetings are done with the client, pouring over photos, pinterest files, books and personal photos to capture the feel for the project. On this project, painting could not be done on site, so canvas was bought, cut, primed on both sides and prepped for the design.

This was to be an outdoor ceiling of a "folly".  The client wanted lattice with some historical elements of monkeys, fruit, vines and  flowers. Here, miles of blue tape are used to gride the bands of border design.

Once the tape is pulled, the rows make more sense. The sky is now blocked in and the trellis design can be painted in.

Things are coming together for the trellis edging....now, on to the large panels.

Taping and sky was done the same as the banding. The ceiling of the folly is made up of seven angled panels butted together .I had to figure out this jigsaw on the ground , in reverse and make all the lines in the trellis match from panel to panel....ahem...

Vines, flowers, shading and highlights were added...all done in a workshop in the dead of winter with me wearing three layers of clothes...common practice for a decorative artist!

Add one capuchin monkey, a few more flowers and some fruit, and it's time to go to the job site!

Hatch-back, SUV vehicle is a must! Panels were delivered and installed by a carpenter. Crown molding, trim and one chandelier later, and it was time for me to add the final details!

The folly is part of a garden maze of other wonderful architectural design. This was the first time for me to see the panels installed.

The seams matched! Color and sky gave the illusion desired! Time to add some details.

The monkey and two birds were added with more vines and the border pasted on to frame the design.

Fill in the seams, one more coat of sealant, and it is on to the next project.....

....and I get to paint again!

Trompe l'oeil in Nature....

I attended the annual gem and mineral show this weekend to pick up a few needed items. Remember? I posted on this show last year .

I am still fascinated with the "fake food" tables! There is always a large display of tables set with food, except everything you see is a mineral or gemstone! Nature playing tricks with it's own trompe l'oeil. 

The meat, breads, vegetables and desserts are all works of nature in gem and mineral form. Even the candles are spar calcite!

What better place can you get detailed photos of malachite for future studies?

This one was spectacular. Alternating dark and light bands of green nodules with small amounts of blue azurite , often found forming together near copper deposits.

Malachite has been used for centuries in pigments, makeup and jewelry including Fabergé eggs.

Tony Duquette used malachite often as accents in his decorating with walls  or in textiles as pillows or tablecloths. If you are as fascinated with malachite, I hope you enjoy these reference photos. 

Missoni leads the way for 2013...

It seems bright and bold are back, according to trends at the January Home and Gift Show at the Dallas World Trade Center. I attended the show this week and was immediately smitten with the Missoni Home line.

Bubble lights and woven poufs were featured in lighting showrooms. The Missoni home line includes rugs, throws, bedding and lighting.

I fell in love with the poufs! Bright, geometric designs typical of Missoni make these true accent pieces.

Bright, bold colors are being interpreted in many lines of gift items. It all reminds me of the 1960's...even the cut velvet look of these purses was a nod to 60's trends.

Clean, geometric lines in bold colors have made their way into many home items. This is a company that makes party plates and cup holders that will not spill.

Are you ready for all this bold print and color?

More bold, geometric designs seen in hats and tote bags...

It wouldn't be a flashback of the 60's without some bohemian influence! Lots of ethnic, hand woven textiles in pillows, bags and scarves were featured in the "Finds" section. Get ready to add some bold color and design to your home decor and wardrobe for 2013!

Brush Washers....

Have you ever been at a flea market or estate sale and see a small decorative object with a bowl? Not sure what it is? 

source

Many times, you have discovered a brush washer. These items started as utilitarian, but became decorative, collectable items and an art form unto themselves!

source

Asian themed brush washers are most common as they were created to clean the ink from calligraphy work, but their popularity continued and has been interpreted through many mediums including ceramic, bone and precious minerals.

source

This is a fine example from the Ming dynasty of a dragon with a wonderful surprise of a fish design inside.

I received this antique  frog brush washer for Christmas. They are usually quite small since the brushes they cleaned were for detail work.

This is the first decorative brush washer I ever bought. It is signed and was  brought back as a souvenir from WWII.

source

Do you own any brush washers that you thought were teeny flower vases? Now you know the correct usage of these decorative objects!

Details..Details...Details!

Details can make or break a project. I recently worked with a client who understood the importance of every detail in the creative process, what a delight to work with!

They had me copy their family crest and apply to the large chandeliers in the main room.

When these vintage sconces were added to the clubroom, they were a little too rustic for the drapery hardware.

Adding some gold details tied the two together and made the wall flow.

The client wanted the look of old zinc on a new bathtub. I started with washes of grays on the sides and asked the carpenter to make me 20 wooden rivets for the bottom band..this was his humorous way of letting me know he made one extra!

Pitting and the illusion of oxidation were added to give the aged look the client wanted.

A few touches of gold and the look is complete!

I saved the best for last, there were four sconces from the Madeleine Castaing estate that needed a little love. I gently touched them up and they now have a new home over a wall of Farrow and Ball wallpaper...lovely!
Many more touches of detail were added to transform this house into a very custom home. When working with projects, never forget the details!

Curtain Call.....

Theatre curtains...to me, they are the most grand illusion and example of trompe l'oeil. Ravenswood Studios created this illusion.

Sande Chase of the blog, A Gift Wrapped Life,  just posted on Bergdorf Goodman's holiday windows. Designer David Hoey also seems to appreciate the grandeur of trompe theater curtains.

This is the famed Opera Garnier in Paris. Most people would not know these are all trompe!

Sfumato Pintura Escenica excells at trompe theatre curtains! The scale of this project and detail keep me in awe...

Being able to study these step-by-step make it even better!

These curtains from Hillsborough, New Hampshire were sold at one time to another theater and are now restored and returned to their original home.

source

Never pass up an opportunity to tour an opera house or old theatre...the trompe is usually well worth it!