Do a Little Foxtrot in the Kitchen

Do a Little Foxtrot in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. We eat, gather, have family meetings, and if you’re anything like my family- you dance while cooking. One of my mom’s dance numbers while twirling a dish towel to Elvis Christmas tunes has been a classic. The number even includes my sisters and myself as back up dancers. However, today’s “Foxtrot “is actually a color rather than a 4/4 timed step through the kitchen.

Previously dark stained cabinetry now features a wonderful off-white color called Foxtrot by Valspar and then gently glazed with a color called Hubble House Clayo. 

Cabinetry receives a clear coat protection for ease of cleaning

Swan Studios Inc can make your kitchen “dance”. Contact me at

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7 Little Cockle Shells All in a Row

7 Little Cockle Shells all in a Row

This year has been blessed with a stream of beach murals on privacy walls around lanais and pools. Homeowners are spending more time vacationing and “stay-cationing” in their own homes and maintaining social distancing from crowded beaches. Of course, they still crave the beauty that is SW Florida. Cerulean blue skies with angelic white clouds or perhaps sunset with brilliant orange and purple along with sparkling water. Having a mural scene depicting a tranquil getaway is not only beautiful to look at but gives the soul much needed rest from the craziness that is the outside world today. Mural paintings which were once a “want” are actually now a “need”. I’m honored each time to give through art these needed moments of peace and happiness. Each mural is uniquely painted and most often incorporates objects that have a particular or special meaning to the homeowner. A recent mural is no exception. The client had specific instructions of items to be included that represented and held special meaning to them.

I’m titling this one “7 Shell Beach “:

Yes, there are more than 7 shell objects in the mural, but I was instructed to have a row of 7 shells specifically. Each shell represents one of the homeowner’s children:

 

Another specific and fun request was to have 5 seagulls painted into the mural. Of course, seagulls in the are common but these were to represent the grandchildren. My personal favorite is the seagull with mouth wide open and wings flapping. Hey, there’s one in every family, right?

Celebrating a loved filled marriage, two beach chairs were to be painted into the mural. Her chair reflecting her love for collecting shells. And a near by tree is carved with their initials:

Side angle shot :

Close up of foliage and trees:

Swan Studios Inc can make your own lanai and pool area into your own personal oasis. Contact me at:

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In Memory of Mason

In Memory of Mason

Our pets are everything. They love us unconditionally. They never judge. They patiently wait for us each day and greet us with enthusiasm as if we’d been gone for years even if it were only the few minutes it took to check the mailbox. They only need a gentle pat, belly rub, or scratch behind the ears to know that the world is okay. They feel our pain and sorrow and comfort us with love that only a furry heart- beat can provide. When we lose our beloved creatures, our buddies and best friends, the pain is extreme. I still cry and grieve over the memory of each of my sweet best pals. I was contacted by someone who recently suffered the lose of their beloved Bulldog named Mason. She wanted a garden statue she had purchased in the shape of a Bulldog to be painted with his likeness. The statue would then be placed in a memorial garden spot she was creating for him. I placed the photos she provided of him all around the statue as I painted. Concrete ie easy to paint and wonderfully takes almost anything you use on it. Since the statue would be outside, exterior stains and acrylics were used. The statue is clear coat protected with c500 UV for easy care and longevity.  I used a satin finish over the body and a gloss finish for the nose, mouth, and eyes. Rest in peace, Mason. It was an honor to paint you.

 

For this another homeowner, I added in their 3 gorgeous Labs and 1 Golden Doodle into their powder room mural:

A few dog illustrations I’ve created over the years:

From murals to canvas to statues, Swan Studios Inc can memorialize your beloved fur babies. Contact me at Swan Studios Inc 

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Storm at Sunset

Storm at Sunset

SW Florida is known for our gorgeous sunsets and almost always perfect weather. At the same time, we’re literally the lightning capital of the world. The lightning storms are spectacular and breathtaking. It would be nice if they weren’t so deadly. Combine the glorious colors of sunset with storms clouds rolling in and you get a sky that appears to other worldly. It was this kind of sci -fi looking sky I was requested to paint as a wall mural. God is the master artist. I just did my best to recreate His sky he blessed us with off the Naples Gulf.

The completed mural:

Here’s a side by side of the inspiration photo and the mural. For the mural, the lower portion needed to dip to black to bled into a black wall bracket the rests underneath it:

Check some other dazzling sunset murals:

To have your own sunset mural created, contact me at Swan Studios Inc

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A Girl's Gotta Have Her Glam

A Girl’s Gotta Have Her Glam

Glamping became popular a few years ago with the idea of having a camping experience along with life’s luxuries. Now that Kim & Kanye have reserved a 500-acre cattle ranch to themselves as they glamp away it’s surely about to have another resurgence. Even fine hotels have decided to pitch in (Get it? Pitch in- as in pitching a tent, Har-har!) on glamping amid Covid concerns. You stay in a tent on the grounds of the hotel and are treated to lush mattresses and top chefs. Call me old fashion, but I prefer spa days, private dining, and staying indoors of luxury hotels. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve done plenty of rustic camping in my day. I’m over it. The glamour part I’m all about that as most girls are. So, I was completely giddy at the request of a client to glam up her guest powder room. The entire home is absolutely glamorous in neutral grays and silvers with glints of gold. The powder bath received a triple layer foil of silver and champagne gold. The result is breathtaking, the epitome of glam, and sure to make her female guest squeal in delight at the sight of it.

The first foil layer is Silver , followed by a second layer of Champagne Gold- then topped with another layer of Silver foil:

Close up view: 

Art work to be hung after curing:

Here are more foil creations by Swan Studios Inc for your inspiration:

A deep charcoal grey wall topped top with silver foil:

A master bathroom ceiling for a client who adores all things purple:

A mix of gold, silver, and copper make this ceiling positively gleam:

Ready to get glamorous? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc

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The Great White Heron

The Great White Heron

SW Florida is known for our glorious white feathered friends. They flock our fields, marshes, and beaches. Visitors here are entertained watching them silently skulk hunting for morning breakfast. The Great White Heron was almost lost to the world in the early part of the 20^th century. They were hunted for their elegant long white feathers to be perched on ladies’ hats. Thanks to conservation efforts their numbers increased. However, the degradation of our wetlands from construction expansion and water re-routing is now threatening them.

Walk into any art gallery in SW Florida and you’re sure to find images from original paintings to multi produced prints featuring our stunning snow colored bird. I was recently commissioned to paint a Great White Heron with an impressionistic marsh land

The gallery wrapped canvas is painted in acrylics. The low side profile allows the piece to be hung with or without a frame:

A few more paintings I’ve created of our milky white plumed flying creatures:

Whether you want your SW Florida bird painted on a wall mural or canvas, these beautiful birds add grace to any home. Contact me at 

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The Soft Silk of the Truffla Trees

The Soft Silk of the Truffula Tree

I’ve painted a vast variety of trees over the years. I’ve painted Ponytail palm trees, Royal Palm tree, Coconut Palm trees, Weeping willows, Pine Trees, Cypress Trees, and even an oak tree(in the dark- long story there ). I’ve painted tree silhouettes, Belgium forest trees, and Jungle trees. But this was the first time a customer requested Truffula Trees.  I must admit I had to look it up. What a fun tree! Of course, anything Dr Seuss is an absolute delight.

A once bubblegum pink wall is now a reminder that:

 “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful, NOTHING is going to get better. Its not.” – the Lorax

Whimsical is always fun and not just for the young. It’s also for the young at heart:

Other whimsical paintings:

Let your imagination run wild! If you can dream it, Swan Studios Inc can paint it. Contact me at Swan Studios Inc

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