Swan Studios Mural and Faux Finish Adventures

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Going for the Gold

The count down begins to the 2024 Olympics! USA won the bid and the world’s best athletes are headed to L.A. As they prepare to go for the gold, we’ve been going for the gold here in sunny SW Florida too. Gold faux finish that is. Since gold is highest on the Olympic winner’s platform, it’s only appropriate that these gold faux finishes are on the ceiling.

This entry ceiling gleams in a metallic gold finish with a duo toned texture overlay:

A dining room and entry ceiling glisten with gold metallic over a molded textured finish:

A wall niche is faux finished to match. The prefect back drop for the client's art sculptures:

Ready to go for the gold ? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc: http://www.swanstudio.net/

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#fauxfnish #fauxpainting #goldfauxfinish

Sunday, July 23, 2017

A Kitchen S-O-S

A Kitchen SOS

I received an SOS call concerning color selections for a home. It seems that the homeowners had spent months trying to select wall colors for a home remodel. The contractor was at his wits end and was willing to paint anything from day-glo pink to blinding yellow if a color could just be settled on. I walked into a scene that was a spectacular rainbow of color choices across five walls. But this is where the artist shines. Colors and coordination are our expertise. Having an artist guide you can save you hours- or in this case, months of anguish. It took mere seconds to realize where their project had gone off the rails. A gorgeous quartz counter top had been selected and installed in their kitchen. It contained deep rich tones of olive, umber, cream, a hint of apricot. Mexican tile had been installed on the floor. I guided them to a neutral tone for the walls and steered them away from the day-glo peach (have mercy!) Then came the big question: what to do with the cabinets. What cabinets? There weren’t any yet installed. To my horror, they showed me a cabinet door that had been made with a white pickling finish on it. Yes, they had thought a bright white wash on top of a yellow based wood would somehow in some universe look good. Sweet mercy! They could tell it was a horrible choice but had no idea what to do. Faux artist to the rescue! I’m happy to report the kitchen has been saved from total disaster.

An aged crackle finish has been applied in neutral tones. The cabinets now have character that coordinates with the feel of the remodel and other finishes. The photos below show the kitchen still in progress and you'll see glimpses of the rainbow of colors that had been splashed across the walls. When completed I'll post up photos of the final wall colors. Meanwhile, the new faux finished cabinet doors look amazing !

Cabinets are now hung in place and awaiting hardware.

Have a color SOS you need resolved- contact Swan Studios Inc http://www.swanstudio.net

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#fauxfinish #weatheredfauxfinish #paintedcabinets

Sunday, July 16, 2017

The View from the Top

Have a piece of furniture that fits just right in the space but you wish the finish was different? Happens all the time. Rather than replacing it, have is faux painted. With faux painting, the possibilities are limitless. And yes, durable when finished correctly. I love transforming pieces. This past week I transformed 3 pieces. They fit in the space perfectly but weren’t quite what the home owner wanted color wise. We’re in the process of transforming the walls too. So, over the course of time, the home will be revealed. For today, here’s a sneak peek featuring those 3 side tables:

The first table is in the living room area. The formerly black insert is now burnished with metallic gold in the appearance of metal that has been scorched. The inspiration came from a background section in the home owner’s Asian art piece.

Here’s another shot showing the high gloss protective clear top coat:

The inspiration piece:

In the bedroom, 2 night stands snug in perfectly but they needed a light top to accomplish the ultimate look the room is transforming into.

Detail view of faux finish:

Let Swan Studios Inc transform your much loved furniture piece that needs a perfect finish:

Swan Studios Inc: http://www.swanstudio.net/

Be sure to follow our painting adventures at:

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#fauxpainting #fauxfinish #marblefauxfinish #metallicfauxfinish

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Drifting Along the -Beach Wood

Drifting Along the Beach

The sun, the sand, the almost always perfect weather causes people to flock to Southwest Florida. Even if it’s just for a short stay at first, the lure of living in paradise keeps people returning and investing in a place of their own here. Some come from just a state or two away. Some from our Northern neighbor Canada. Some from even further- like Ireland. This Irish couple, however, had already made the USA their home and still have work ties in Chicago. But the perfection of Naples keeps them longer and longer each year. Previously, I had refinished their kitchen cabinetry their beachside condo. You can see the kitchen makeover at: http://swanstudiosinc.blogspot.com/2016/08/whats-cooking.html

This year it was time to refresh the built in Family Room credenza. It was typical fair of golden mid-tone wood without personality. Now it is refinished to coordinate with the family room coffee table in an ashy gray wood bleached by our glorious sun and drifting along the beach:

An inside peak shows the original wood color. Quite a difference !

Have a piece of furniture or built in cabinetry that needs a new finish? Contact me at Swan Studio inc: http://www.swanstudio.net/

Be sure to follow the Swan Studios Inc painting adventures on your favorite social media:

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You can also reach artist Marty Wisher on Instagram and Linked In.

#fauxpainting #fauxfinish #fauxwoodlook #paintedfurniture

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy 4th of July !!!

Happy 4th of July !

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Ask Any Mermaid....

Ask Any Mermaid…

Chances are you can finish this famous jingle. After all, we’ve been hearing it on T.V. since the 1960’s. Personally, being a Star Trek fan, I was thrilled to find out that the Chicken of the Sea mermaid introduced in 1952 was modeled after actress Grace Lee Whitney. Grace is better known to Star Trek Fans Yeoman Janice Rand.

Mermaids are always a popular theme down here in SW Florida. Whether its mermaid art, mermaid hair, or yes, mermaid inspired clothing. I have some friends who want to be a mermaid so much they own the mermaid fishtails worn while lounging by the pool. Plans are to have a mermaid inspired theme party to christen a recent mermaid mural I painted.

The mural is very near the poolside, so it was of utmost importance to have a quality clear coat for protection. As well as, having a clear coat with UV protection.

The mermaid below was painted for an indoor /outdoor commercial dining area:

Of course, mermaids aren't the only people underwater:

Ready to have your poolside mural created? Contact me at Swan Studios Inc http://www.swanstudio.net

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#mural #mermaidmural #mermaidpainting #outdoormural

Sunday, June 11, 2017

If You Live in a Glass House- Throw Stones!

We’ve all heard the phrase “People who live in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones”. We’ve debunked that phrase and changed it to “People who live in a glass house – SHOULD throw stones”…at the wall that is! For this week’s featured home, I did just that. The home owner is an avid glass art collector. Glass objects, statues, sculptures, and glass furniture from local to world renowned glass artists are arrayed throughout the home. Which meant the faux finishes for the walls need to be just as spectacular.

To grace the focal wall in the master bedroom, Pearl Mica Rock Paper was selected. The Mica Rock allows the light to bounce and sparkle against the wall. The glass like translucency of the Mica Rock Paper allows the base wall color to show through. A base color in rich teal was selected. It’s one of the client’s favorite colors and works perfectly with the sculpted glass accent table.

The transformation is dramatic and totally stunning:

Here's a closer look:

Mica Rock Paper comes in a variety of earthy colors in hues from ranging from pearly off-white to umber brown. Each is translucent which makes the possibilities endless when selecting the base color. Here's a few varieties I've put together:

Bronze Mica on Black