Spring? Where are you??

If you're like me, you are going batty trying to endure the last vestiges of this epic winter. Mother nature is such a tease! Apparently she's giving us one more wallop tonight. Oy vey! To hopefully encourage the coming of spring, I've shared a bit of warmth and light with few past projects that I did that are nature inspired. There are many more in my portfolio.

Enjoy!

Sun through the Trees

garden door

Garden Doorway (mural on canvas)

Safari Bedroom

Safari Bedroom

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

Straughan Environmental

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Main Street Ellicott City (prints available)

Airplane Bathroom

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Girl's Bedroom

MD State Police Dept of Corrections Training Facility Mural

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Modern Chinoiserie Mural

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Gilding Class with Annie Lemarie!

In conjunction with our local chapter of the International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL), the Greater Maryland Decorative Artisans (GMDA) will be hosting a gilding class with Annie Lemarie of Main Street Arts!Link to GMDA's blog: http://greatermarylanddecorativeartisans.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/two-gilding-classes-by-annie-lemaire/

Description:

Basic Gilding                Thursday, March 6th,  9am to 1pm (4 hours)

$155 for GMDA members, $165 for non-members

Learn the basics of gilding!  Using 23K gold leaf, we will learn to handle, cut, pick up and apply genuine leaf.  We will also explore types of applications using 23K, composition leaf, copper leaf and aluminum leaf.  Learn how to seal, tint and tone leaf.  Class samples will include gold on carved molding, leafing through a stencil, and production applications such as rolling gold and working with roll leaf (two different things!). We will work on a “sales” board, laying different kinds of leaf for using to upsell your gilding projects.

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Architectural Gilding

Glass Gilding           Friday, March 7, 9am-4pm (7 hours)

$250 for GMDA members, $260 non-members

Verre Eglomise is a technique of gilding and painting the reverse side of glass.  In this class, you will learn the basics of applying real 23K gold leaf to glass and creating designs with the leaf. We will discuss traditional techniques for backing and creating backgrounds and layered images.  In this class, however, we will be using more modern techniques to create stunning backgrounds for your patterns.  Students will create their own work of art, and there will be opportunity to play with additional pieces as you wish.  Previous gilding experience is helpful, but not necessary.  Please bring a favorite stencil or pattern, with a fairly simple design (please, nothing too intricate), suitable for use on an 8 x 10 piece and a mop brush (no larger than a #10). There will be other designs available.  If you already have gilding tools, please bring them, otherwise you may use studio tools.

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Verre Eglomise

Annie Lemarie has been in the decorative finishing industry since 1980. She works, primarily to the trade, with a wide variety of media and techniques.  The business has evolved to include conservation and restoration of architectural painted finishes, frames and works of art.  She also consults with contractors and homeowners regarding historic paint and decoration. Clients include trade customers, private homeowners, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian, the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. She has been an instructor for the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program and IDAL. She is a past president of Habitat for Humanity of Washington County (MD), former member of the International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL) board, and is currently a Trustee with the Society of Gilders. Her studio is in her historic home in Sharpsburg, Maryland.

The classes will be held at Dee Cunningham’s Studio, 8602A Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD

Please Pay before February 28th!

Mail a check (made out to GMDA) to Cathy Rinn (10607 Montrose Ave, #3, Bethesda MD. 20814) or contact Cathy ( cathrinn@msn.com ) and she will send you an email with a  Pay Pal invoice to pay with your credit card ( you do not need a pay pal account to do this).

One Step Closer

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A few years ago I traveled to Atlanta to be a spectator at the annual "Salon." Salon is "a gathering of dedicated decorative painters from around the world coming together to exhibit their work and discuss old and new techniques, products, and information in the field."   Every year it is hosted by a different member in that person's country. Since Atlanta, it has been hosted in Hamburg, Germany and last year it was in Tokyo. This year's Salon will be in Seattle.  I was curious about the group so when I heard that it was going to be relatively close to me I decided to check it out.

When I visited Salon in Atlanta I was amazed at the breadth of talent that was on display. Members traveled from across the globe to in order to come together in the name of decorative art. Members have expertise in the traditional decorative arts such as faux marbre (marbleizing) faux bois (woodgraining), gilding, trompe l'oeil, and ornamentation.

group panel salon 2011

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Unlike other groups, to become a member, you have to be juried in. I decided that I would apply for membership but was sure that I wouldn't be accepted because this group is the best of the best! Well, I submitted my portfolio to this year's host and was accepted to participate! I was floored! Participation in this event has been on my list of professional goals for a few years now. The next step is to plan and paint a panel that will be exhibited along side my mentors and peers.  Talk about setting the bar high!

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Knock on....wood?

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After a two year hiatus from participating in the HEC Decorator Show House, I have had the pleasure to design the grand foyer of this year's house, Mount Ida.  Knock on wood, that all of the efforts of the designers, volunteers, and workers will pay off with a record turn out of visitors! For tickets and more information, click here. My rendering for this year's promotional material.

Mount Ida is located atop the hill next to the Court House in Ellicott City.  Originally built in 1828 by members of the Ellicott Family, Mount Ida was built in the Greek Revival/Italianate style.  Sometime in the 1970's or 80's, the foyer was divided up into three spaces but has now been restored to all 30 feet of its original glory.  In designing the space, I wanted to honor tradition but had to add my own twist.

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The original foyer, as seen in this photograph from the Library of Congress, taken in the 1960's.

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This picture shows what I saw when I did my walkthrough.  These partitions were put in place sometime in the last few decades and the decor was left from when Mount Ida was a decorator showhouse in 1995. This is taken from the same vantage point as the black and white photo above.

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You then passed from the first space into this room. This is the central area of the foyer. The door to the right led to an office.

The first thing that happened was all of these walls, including a wall covering the back doors were taken down.  Repairs, scraping, cleaning, painting, and more painting took place over the course of 8 weeks.

And here are a few images of what my space looks like now just to tease you!

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Knock on...wood? You will have to come see for yourself!! ;)

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Look closely at the chandeliers that Bill Knapp fabricated. Can you tell what they're made from?

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This is Brian, the contractor who HEC hired to do all of the renovations that needed to be done, like fixing the waste stack that exploded in my space the week before I was to start. (I know. gross.)

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I really have to thank several people for making my vision happen.

-Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors for help with the design layout, moral support, and great friendship.

-Bill Knapp, Bill Knapp Arts, for without him we would be in the dark.

-Alison Roy-Harrison of Columbia Interior Finishes for doing all of the basecoating for my space.

-Phil Adams from Floors Etc for my area rugs (all three of them!)

-Amy Alder for her upholstery expertise

-My mom, Carol Lenehan for her immaculate sewing skills on the skirted tables.

-My dad, Kevin Lenehan, for helping me build the skirted tables and wiring the chandeliers (all three of them!)

-Barry Sheehan- Metal in Motion, for helping out with my brainfart that "there should be a sculpture here..."

-The volunteers and members of HEC, Inc.

and Mikey, for his patience.

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We all hope to see you there!

BSO Decorator Showhouse 2013

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"Cosy Corner" is the title designer Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors gave to this tiny little bedroom at this year's BSO Decorator Showhouse.  Previously owned by legendary Baltimore Colts Quarterback Johnny Unitas, the house was transformed by almost two dozen designers. This year Paula enlisted my services to create a unique ceiling treatment and textural wall finish.  In addition, I created sketches of some of our beloved pets, my cats and her dogs.

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It was a whirlwind trying to get all of the work completed but the final result is a stunner.  Paula always has a great way of visualizing and executing a beautiful environment.  I'm always happy to be a part of her projects.

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A special thanks goes to my Friend in Faux, Alison Roy Harrison who owns Columbia Interior Finishes.  Alison bailed me out and executed the finishes on the walls while I was busy trying to finish the ceiling before deadline. Thank you Alison!!

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