Things are looking "Up"

Things are Looking “Up”

Things are looking up for 2019- literally. Look up in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, or even your lanai. What do you see? Your ceiling is a huge blank canvas just screaming for attention. I’ve been blessed to work with clients that are art collectors, artists themselves of some nature, and people who just love art. Each person and home have their own story to tell. That’s what makes each day fun and unique.

One of the most recent ceilings was painted in various layers and types of plaster. The overall objective was to create an almost Monet feel to the abstraction. The result is spectacular. The ceiling is in the central heart of the home and can be viewed from the front door upon entrance, from the lanai in the back, from the open kitchen, and of course, from the gathering room itself. The ceiling now seems to have a gravitational force to it, pulling you into the room:

Sample board : The plasters used for the project are Modern Masters Venetian Plaster and Faux Effects Venetian Gem, Stucco Lux, and Nuvilla. Using both premixed and custom colors in off-whites, cream and gentle blues.

Ready to turn it up in your own home? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc:

http://www.swanstudio.net/

Follow Swan Studio Inc's art adventures on:

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

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

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

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

Swan Studios Inc's entire portfolio is available on :

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

#fauxpainting #venetianplaster #paintedceiling

Art for Art's Sake

Art for Art’s Sake

What do you do when you have a beautiful piece of art or wall accessory but hate the frame finish?

Have the frame faux finished, of course! Just like favorite pieces of furniture that need a re-finish or change of color, often the frame around a piece of art or a mirror needs a face-lift.  Sometimes the change is needed due to updating the homes décor. Other times, the frame isn’t complimentary to the art work is surrounds.

The before and after photos below show what a dramatic change faux painting the frame work has done for the art pieces: 

The original was boring and did absolutely nothing for the glorious sunflower art it surrounded. The new verdigris faux finish is art within itself and accentuates the art piece perfectly.

This beautiful bird print fell flat when surrounded by a basic black frame. The new metallic faux finish gives the glory the print deserves.

This #JackVettriano print holds a romantic deep meaning for the home’s couple.  Placed in a shallow niche, the niche is faux painted as an extension of the art work:

Originally bright brass, this gorgeous mirror is faux painted in various shades of new and old copper allowing this favorite piece to work in the home's new updated palette:

Have a favorite piece of art work or wall accessory but need the frame work refinished? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc:

http://www.swanstudio.net/

You can follow all of Swan Studio Inc's #artadventures on :

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

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

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

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

#fauxfinish #fauxpainting #paintedfurniture #artblog 

Baby It's Cold Outside

Baby It’s Cold Outside

While the Northern half of the U.S. is feeling a balmy mid to high 40’s today, those of us in the southern portion of the U.S. are cuddling up in sweaters and blankets to brace against temperatures below 70. To a true southerner anything below 75 degrees marks the next coming ice age. It only seems fitting on today’s art blog to feature that unique architectural piece that gets blessedly used this time of year – the fireplace! Granted most of the fireplaces here in SW Florida don’t actually generate heat. Technology allows the electric and alcohol burning fireplaces to give an ambience to the home space. And, of course, during Christmas season, offers a place to hang our stockings. Santa must come through the front door though since there isn’t a chimney.

Like any other feature in your home, the fireplace finish occasionally needs an update. Faux finishes offer the perfect way to update your space without having to entirely replace your fireplace:

This fireplace is located in an indoor/outdoor room. Faux painting transformed it from dark wood tone to a softer grey and white wash look:

a closer look: 

all decked out for the holidays:

Faux Finishes of brick, metals, and marble techniques give this plain fireplace the much needed detail it needed to make a true focal point:

This outdoor fireplace is a stunning Crema Marfil. It features a hidden television. The counter top that hides the tv as it lowers inside had to be light weight. The MDF to create the counter top has been faux painted to match the stunning marble of the rest of the surround:

To get this view of the now painted MDF lid, I'm standing on top of the fireplace on the marble portion:

Using a simple whitewash changes this fireplace surround :

Ready to update your fireplace surround ? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc:

http://www.swanstudio.net/

Be sure to follow all of Swan Studio Inc's art adventure at:

Google Plus:

https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MartyWisher

#fauxfinish #fauxpainting #paintedfireplace

As Bright White as Christmas Snow

As Bright White as Christmas Snow 

‘Tis the season for all things sparkling, twinkling, and gleaming as bright as the North Star. And that perfectly describes this week’s featured faux finish. Gone is the dark wood tone with deep grin texture and aged brass handle finish. This furniture set is now gleaming white in bright white lacquer and boasts an ultra- smooth sleek texture and shiny bright brass handles.

The old finish is sanded and primed. Wood fill and epoxy paint fill gives to a sleek feel. Even epoxy white paint is not as bright as white lacquer so another layer of primer is needed before adding the lacquer. Lacquer is thin and dries quickly. Buffing between layers creates the much- craved modern mirror finish. The new look is as fresh as newly fallen snow.

Want to convert your furniture to a new finish? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc

http://www.swanstudio.net/ 

Be sure to follow all of Swan Studios Inc’s art adventure on:

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

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

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

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

And if you’re a photo enthusiast, Swan Studios Inc is also on FLICKR 

#paintedfurniture #lacquerfurniture 

A Vacation To Remember

A Vacation to Remember

I have the pleasure of meeting some lovely people through my work. While it seems the world is restless and constantly fighting, God has blessed me with days of enjoyment and creating. I’m truly thankful for these blissful days of paint brush in hand and listening to the stories of my customers. I recently met a gentleman, twice widowed, who shared stories of his travels through Europe with his past wives. Through his second wife, he gained an appreciation and love of art. He showed me around his home to see his collection. Gorgeous pieces and each one with a unique story. So I am truly honored that he chose me to paint a scene from one of his favorite places- Italy, of course. Not something grand, but something comfortable. A place he fondly remembers walking down the cobblestone paths as he and his wife created memories that now fill his days.

The room to be painted was what we call a “Florida Room”, an outdoor roofed area that has been enclosed.

A closer look:

Sideview:

Have a favorite location you would like painted? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc: www.swanstudio.net/

 Follow Swan Studios Inc on your favorite Social Media Sites: 

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

#custommural #Tuscanmural #muralpainting

Going Dark to See the Light

Going Dark to See the Light

“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present”- Sir Francis Bacon

The juxtaposition between light and dark is a common theme in throughout our literature, movies, and Biblical stories. Typically, Light symbolizes hope, love, and purity. Meanwhile Darkness symbolizes fear or evil. In today’s illustration, however, it is quite literally “You can only appreciate the Light when Darkness is present”.

The faux finish request was for a German Schmear over brick. German Schmear is a beautiful classic aged effect over bricks. It’s a step beyond using whitewash on bricks. Instead of diluted white paint, a layer of wet mortar is applied. Areas can be skipped to expose some of the bricks or the mortar can be knocked back.  The home exterior had been painted a pale grey. The pale grey had even been painted over the front brick façade. Since removing paint out of brick is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. In fact, it’s down right grueling. Furthermore, the idea was to go with a grey scheme. But the beauty of the mortar wash wouldn’t show well on the solid pale grey paint. I opted to faux paint the brick area as dark grey bricks. I used 5 various shades ranging from medium to black. Then the mortar was applied. The result is delightful! A gorgeous classic finish in today’s sought- after grey color scheme.

Does your home need a special effect face lift? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc.Inc http://www.swanstudio.net/

You can follow Swan Studios Inc. on your favorite social media

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

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/+SwanStudiosIncCapeCoral

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

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

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

#GermanSchmear #fauxbrick #exteriorfauxfinish

By Land-Air or Sea

By Land-Air or Sea

Excerpts from Swan Studios Inc's custom murals featuring modes of transportation. From children's rooms to military ships and aircraft, we're on the move !

#murals #custommural