What Do You Get When You Cross a Cabin Plank with a Raisin?..

What Do You Get When You Cross a Cabin Plank with a Raisin?... Mahogany Wood. No joke, you get a mahogany wood look.

Being blessed to live in SW Florida, we live in perpetual summertime with a humidity level that will curl your hair. As in, literally it curls your hair. Our humidity level has been hovering in the 90 % plus mark. This green house level air along with all day sunbeams (exception being each afternoon there is a 5-minute downpour in Biblical proportions) brings challenges when faux painting wood-tones outside.  Wood stains deplete and fade too quickly. Oil paints turn to dust. Kits ready made are ready made for anywhere but here. Never fear, there is a Florida sunshine solution. Let’s get into it.

First, if your garage door (or front door has old chipping paint you’ll want to remove that). Typically, I also wipe down the surface with denatured alcohol. Assuming doors are operable and not rusting away (paint won’t fix those situations), you’ll want to apply a quality primer (Bulls eye 1-2-3, Kilz, Valspar bonding just to name a few). Yes, these are all bright white, but it is necessary to prime to ensure proper adhesion. Next up is a base color. Depending on what look you want to end up with, you may want to test out combinations of colors. The combination discussed today is how I created the look below. I used Valspar Duramax (outdoor paint) in Cabin Plank as the base. However, to add a little more depth to the end result, I swirled in into the paint tray (not fully mixed but swirled) Valspar Duramax Amber Sienna and Sherwin Williams Oakledge. I brushed the base on (not rolled) since I wanted just ever so often for the swirl colors to appear. Let the base color dry. Then the magic, create a mixture of Valspar Duramax Black Raisin (I love this color !!) with Faux Effects Aqua Crème (you can use other glazing mixtures- however, if you are painting outdoors you need to have an outdoor graded glazing medium). Brush the glaze mixture be sure to get the mixture into the wood grain grooves of the door (assuming the garage has these and is not smooth). Wipe off any access just be sure to wipe in the direction of the woodgrain (even if the surface is smooth, pretend its wood grain and wipe just as if you were gently wiping an oil-based stain over wood). Joints in garage doors can take a moment longer since paint needs to cure. Move the doors up and down exposing the joints giving them time to dry. That’s it!  Using Florida grade exterior paint your wood finish should last for years. 

Here are some other wood finishes I created for exteriors for your inspiration:

Ready to give your garage doors a lift? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc

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PickleBall

Pickleball

The first time I heard the term Pickleball I giggled. You have to admit it sounds funny. Its actually quite the rage down here in SW Florida. So much so, that some of our city parks have Pickleball courts set up. I had no idea so many people love to play pickleball. Kudos to all those willing to hit the courts this time of year when our humidity hovers the 90% plus mark. I prefer painting the sport. This art piece I simply titled “Pickleball”. The original piece was painted with acrylics on art panel then converted to a digital art piece.

Although the original artwork is unavailable for purchase, the digital art piece can be purchased at

 https://fineartamerica.com/featured/pickleball-marty-wisher.html

It is now available in variety of print sizes and types, as well as, tote bags, phone cases, and greeting cards.

If Pickleball is your thing check out the link above. The variety of items also make great gifts for friends who love Pickleball.

Have a favorite sport? Let’s create your own unique custom art. Contact me at:

Swan Studios Inc 

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#pickleball #pickleballart #floridaartist

Big-Bold-Blue- and Beautiful

Big-Bold-Blue- and Beautiful

Small spaces needn’t be shy and timid. Use the intimate space to make a bold, very bold statement. This week we are featuring a bold graphic design that encompasses every inch of wall and ceiling space. Rather than shrink the space down it expands the space allowing the occupant to breath:

The home’s overall palette is shades of gentle blues and greys. The base color for these lanai walls is a Pure white. The graphic design is down in Sherwin Williams Bluebird tipped with just a touch of Valspar’s Skyspace: 

I created a pattern as a guide to chalk on and paint certain sections. Some had to be painted freehand as the lanai walls bent.

 In the guest bath the colors were reversed. The walls were already painted a delightful powdery blue. The graphic was painted in white. Unlike the lanai which has two shades of blue, only white was used to create the graphic. 

Although there will be a mirror hung over most of the space above the sink, the graphic was fully painted onto the space. This allows for the mirror to be changed in the future without having to fill in any gaps:

Have a small space? Let’s create something Bold & Beautiful! Contact me at Swan Studios Inc 

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#custommural #boldgraphicmural #oversizedleafmural #blueandwhitemural

 

Standing Free- Standing Strong

Standing Free-Standing Strong

We are truly blessed to live in such an amazing country. America was founded on freedom, limited government, and individual responsibility. Our founding fathers would be astonished to see the state of affairs our precious country is currently in. Or would they? God has blessed this nation throughout her decades with men and women who have continued to hold up the beacon of hope and light for everyone. It was never said that life and the decisions we make would be easy. That every day would be sunbeams and lollipops. What we have each day is a commodity so dear and in the world as a whole so scarce, but we often forget it. No matter where we each came from, no matter what events happened in our past both recent and long ago, all those combined together to bring us to this point in time. We have Freedom and the Right to pursue and pave our own path.  You may recall a document written in 1776 wherein it states:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

So here we all are, at this point in time. And when the day comes that we stand before God at judgement, He won’t ask what weight we carried of our forefathers, what woes we suffered because of those before us. He will ask what we have done with the gift of life and freedom that He gave to us in the time He appointed to us. Who did we help? Did we continue to hold up the torch of Freedom and light the path for those yet to come? My prayer is that we will hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” – Matthew 25:21

I debated posting this painting recently completed due to its political nature. I never wish to offend anyone. Yet, I also know my own beliefs and why I believe them and I’m not ashamed of those beliefs.

Titled Heroes of Freedom: Acrylic on Canvas Panel . 24x36. All rights reserved. 

#GodBlessAmerica 

What A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

What A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

Yet another reason to love SW Florida, our incredible palm trees. There is such a wide variety from Royal Palms that line the famous road of McGregor, ponytail and fishtail palms that grace almost every yard, the king palm, and the sago palm. (Beware of that Sago Palm though, a prick of its palm can cause an allergic reaction). I learned that the painful way. Of course, one of those most coveted is the coconut palm.  It is also one of the most requested to be painted onto lanai walls and interior mural scenes.

The fun thing about a custom painted palm tree is zero maintenance. No watering, no trimming, and no bugs. Almost every home has that empty canvas like space that the slider door pockets into. That is a great location to have your favorite palm tree or tropical scene painted. Here are a few to inspire you: 

This pocket wall palm tree was inspired by one of the home owner's favorite art pieces:

Your favorite palm tree can be painted inside as well even in tight spaces:

close up detail view:

Whatever your favorite tree, wherever your "blank canvas" contact Swan Studios Inc and let's create your tropical oasis.

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#palmtreemural #palmtreepainting #floridamuralist

Here Fishy Fishy

Here Fishy -Fishy

 

Happy Father’s Day! Today we celebrate the incredible men in our lives who have raised us. I’m definitely what you would call a Daddy’s Girl. One of my dad’s greatest past times is to fish. He seriously fishes almost every day now that he’s retired. South Florida offers such a wide array of fishing activities from deep salt water, lobster diving, and dad’s favorite, freshwater fishing. Here’s to you dad. Some of your favorite aquatic buddies:

 A set of four freshwater fish portraits. Each is painted onto a wood art panel measuring at

 8" x11" x1.5" cradle then clear epoxy sealed for both protection and giving depth illusion:

Here's a closer look at each:

To purchase or commission your own favorite aquatic catch, Contact : Swan Studios Inc

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When Palm Trees Do the Salsa

When Palm Trees Do the Salsa

 Southwest Florida is bursting with color and sunshine. Sunbeams lift your spirits as they dance the salsa among the palm trees. That’s the inspiration for this this trio set of palms. Specifically painted for a laundry they certainly lift spirits and bring joy into what would otherwise be a boring household chore. 

The palm trees appear to have a paint pour technique. I say appear to be, because in reality they are NOT pours. Rather they are carefully constructed. I tested the swirling of paints with added body mediums before painting two of the trees onto square canvas.

The third tree could only be painted working against gravity since it is painted onto the door cover of an electric panel mounted into the laundry room wall:

Now the 3 palm trees bring cheer to an otherwise dreary space:

Ready to lift the spirits in your home? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc

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#customartwork #custommurals #floridaartist