Swan Studios Mural and Faux Finish Adventures: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

A City of Marble

“I found Rome brick, I left it a city of marble “- Augustus Caesar

Back in my college days I attended a Humanities course because it was required. I didn’t expect much. I thought it would be just another plain course necessary to get through. Wow was I surprised. The class became one of my favorites to this day. The central figure studied was Augustus Caesar. No doubt you’ve heard of him. He did indeed find Rome as mere plain mud brick and left it in idolized and envied marble.

Although not necessarily creating a political and societal structure on which Western Civilization is founded, as an artist I like to leave a place better for having been there. In this case, changing plain blank surfaces into glorious faux creations of…marble.

SW Florida homes are peppered with columns both indoors and outdoors. Most often these are constructed of cement, wood, or fiberglass. And they are plain white surfaces screaming to painted marble.

Here’s a recent example of changing a plain Jane white interior columns with faux marble painting:

A closer look:

There are actually two columns in the home to create a formal dining entry:

Marble Faux painting on exterior columns enhances a home’s curb appeal:

Both interior and exterior columns receive a durable clear coat allowing the faux marble to gleam and to withstand the elements:

Marble faux painting can be created on other surfaces, as well:

Walls:

Outlets:

Statues:

Countertops:

Floors:

Even insets into existing marble can be faux painted to match:

Ready to have your plain as mud surfaces changed to a stunning marble surface?

Contact me at Swan Studios Inc: http://www.swanstudio.net

You can follow Swan Studios Inc's mural and faux adventures on your favorite social media sites at:

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/swanstudiosinc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanstudiosinc

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SwanStudiosInc

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/swanstudiosinccapecoral

#fauxpainting #fauxmarble #marblefauxfinish

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Give 'em the Bird

Give 'em the Bird.

These delightful feathery friends are a great addition in murals. They add color and movement. They are a joy to paint and a joy to look at. When deciding on mural scene for your home, inside or on your lanai, consider having birds grace your scene:

The colorful parrots are painted onto a dome ceiling and greet guests as the enter the homes foyer:

Excerpt of a Limpkin from a lanai's panoramic Everglades mural:

SW Florida is blessed with amazing Heron's and are a favorite to be added in home's murals:

If you love pink, then flamingo is the bird for you:

For a serene beach scene, little sandpipers are a gently sweet touch to add:

SWFL is home to the protected Burrowing Owls. This scene is painted onto an owl lovers Garage Door:

Our large white heron's are angelic creatures:

Excerpt from a lanai mural that spanned the entire backside of a home:

Itty bitty hummingbirds migrate through SWFL in the Spring:

I've been blessed to have painted some many variety of birds over the years. The above is merely a handful of these feathered friends. You can see more on my Face Book page in the photo album titled titled "Birds":

https://www.facebook.com/swanstudiosinc

Be sure to follow all our art adventures on :

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/swanstudiosinc

You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/swanstudiosinccapecoral

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/SwanStudiosInc

and, of course, you can always reach us at :

http://www.swanstudio.net/

#birds #birdmural #muralpainting

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Name It

The most personal thing we each is our name. Granted more than one person may have the same name. You might even be named after your Mom or Dad, or even your grandparents (I am). But your name is still uniquely you. Even the inflection of saying a name can be different from on person to the next. We wear jewelry with our name on it, or a loved one’s name. We splash our last-names across the threshold of our houses. We wear our names on business lapel badges. And, of course, we have our names blazoned across our walls in our homes. Yes, you can have it printed onto family portraits. But what is even more fun is to have it painted as your own personal artwork. For inspiration for your own walls, here’s a look at some creative ways my client’s names have been incorporated as custom wall art:

For a home receiving a modern palette makeover (more on that make-over in an upcoming article), the children’s play area is visible in the open floor plan. The walls are painted in a concrete faux finish and the adorable little boys’ names are painted graffiti style in metallic silver:

Here’s a fun twist for a homeowner’s last name:

This homeowner's prized boat christened with a blend of the homeowner's names is incorporated

into their bedroom mural:

What to do when your restaurant is named after family… be sure to incorporate the name in a custom mural:

Of course, kids love to have their names larger than life on their bedroom walls:

Ready to have your name emblazoned onto your walls? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc:

http://www.swanstudio.net/

and be sure to follow all our art adventures on:

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/swanstudiosinc/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SwanStudiosInc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanstudiosinc/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/swanstudiosinccapecoral

#custommural #muralpainting #murals

Sunday, March 10, 2019

The Year of the Bath

According to the Chinese calendar this is the “Year of the Pig”. Here in Southwest Florida, however, 2019 is becoming the year of the bathroom upgrade. Today we’re featuring a bathroom upgrade with an Asian inspired wall stripe.

The motif came from an engraving on a picture frame. I sketched it out and then enlarged it using a projector to make a wall stencil. The pattern is painted with metallic painted close in color to the matte wall color to keep the finish soft.

The original cabinetry was kept, but the counter top was replaced with a gorgeous suede finished granite. The sink and faucets were replaced with a vessel style. The mirror frame was refinished as well.

The shower received a complete remake and now has glorious marble surround and a niche. Of course, all the hardware was upgraded and the rain showerhead is everyone's favorite.

Close-up shots of the glorious marble tile:

The floor is stunning in the same marble as the shower but with an unpolished finish:

The dressing area features the same gorgeous suede (leather) finish counter top as the sink area:

Ready to embrace the " Year of the Bath " resolution to upgrade ? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc:

http://www.swanstudio.net/

You can follow Swan Studio Inc's art adventures on:

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/swanstudiosinc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanstudiosinc/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SwanStudiosInc/

You'll find Swan Studio Inc's entire portfolio on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swanstudiosinc/albums

#fauxpainting #bathroommakeover #bathroomupgrade

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Changing Focus

Change is inevitable. Everyday brings a change to our lives. Some changes are major like a new career, a new love, a newborn baby. Some are minor changes like a new hairstyle or a few more or less pounds (I prefer the “less”). Some changes you cannot control; ie- the weather. Some changes you can control, such as your home’s interior. And that’s where the fun begins. I’ve been blessed to have repeat clients over the years. And as their lives have changed, we’ve changed their interiors. Four years ago, I worked on a home I called “Fifty Shades of Grey “ .

https://swanstudiosinc.blogspot.com/2015/03/faux-painting-fifty-shades-of-grey.html

So much has changed in the home owner's life and now it's time for a refresh of the interior. This year the central room's focal point has changed from ceiling to wall. Rather than do a complete over haul of the room, an abstract plaster art was created. I maintained the original base color ( Ocean Storm ). Plasters in Cobalt and Lapis were troweled on first. Then plasters in various shades of deep grey to pale grey were blended in. Once set, four shades of white in various textures were troweled on. The final step was to strategically place ochre plaster, then top with another layer of smooth Lapis plaster ( I used Venetian Gem Lapis by Faux Effects. I love the way it glides on like soft butter )

The results is a breath taking art piece that is now the focal point of the room. It's both energetic and sophisticated and a reflection of the personality and changes of the home owner's life.