The painted House.......A Harlequin Patterned Powder Room

My clients love harlequin diamonds. Therefore,  I get a lot of requests to adorn walls with the ever popular design. The Harlequin design,  a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end, has been around since  the fifteenth century. It is still a theme which is in high demand. This design can be found in antique fine furniture, marquetry, inlaid boxes, tables, dressers, and even floors.

The Italian-based classical character, the servant, wore colorful diamond-patterned tights and a mask.

Creating harlequin diamonds require lots of patience and measuring, but is well worth the intensive labor involved. If you want to save some time here is a harlequin calculator harlequin diamond calculator courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

Supplies:
Lots of 1"or 2" blue tape.
Soft fine pencil ( I use a mechanical pencil)
White Eraser ( art store or Michaels)
Chalk line 
Chalk in the color of the paint    or 
Pastel Pencils in the color of the paint
Two contrasting paint colors*  or if you like to create a monotone design use Eggshell sheen *

 Level ( if possible 5ft long) **
Ruler (if possible 5ft long)
Drop cloths
Paint roller
Angled paint brush ( for touch ups)
Razor ( for mitering corners)



* If you choose a monotone color theme you may use Eggshell sheen paint and MinWax satin polycrylic. 

** available at the wallpaper section in any paint store.
Step One:

Decide on the size of your diamonds. The rule of thumb is that the height of the diamond is twice the width. Now that you have figured out the the design or size, select a focal point. Usually the wall you see, entering the room. Completed this task you are now ready to tackle step two.

Step Two

Paint the room in the color of your choice.

Step Three:
Having calculated the height and width of

Courtesy of Silverspoon murals

 your diamond theme draw vertical lines onto the wall. The space between each line equals the width of your diamond. Continue around the room until each wall is done



Step Four:
Draw the horizontal lines onto the wall. These lines represent the height of your diamond theme. Continue around the room until each wall is done.

Step Five:
Once you have laid out your pattern you might have to make small adjustments in  each corner so the diamonds match up. You may make these small adjustments with the width only. 

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals 

  

  Step Six: Find and mark the middle of each rectangle and mark the top, bottom,left and right side. Connect the points, using your ruler, chalk line, pencil or pastel pencil. Be aware that using a chalk line will deposit chalk residue on the wall.

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

 Step 7:
Having  your base color applied to all walls (step two) you now have to tape off each diamond. Mark each alternating diamond with a piece of tape, so you will not get confused which diamond to paint with the contrasting color. Use you single edge razor blade to miter the tape corners.

My client wanted a tufted harlequin pattern so I omitted contrasting paint colors, which gives you a subtle effect.

Try this classical design and let us know how you did. Good luck,

 

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Grüße aus Amerika

Hallo,

Sheraton Hotel  On Market Street

Herzliche Grüße aus St. Louis!!!






Ich lebe hier in St.Louis und arbeite als Malerin und Innenarchitektin. 


In Kürze werde ich einen speziell deutschen Blog für meine Leser herstellen. Bis dahin bitte ich um Geduld.. Ihr wisst ja.... was lange dauert, wird endlich gut.

Ich bitte Euch auch mir meinen amerikanischen Akzent zu vergeben. Ich lebe seit 34 Jahren hier in St. Louis und habe zwischenzeitlch mich mit dem Satz  "Deutsche Sprache, schwere Sprache " abgefunden.

Hollywood Reporter

Hier habe ich ein Wandgemälde für ein Spa angefertig. Man kann wunderbare Motive auf eine Leinwand malen und diese Leinwand  auf die Wand kleben. Ganz einfach. So könnt Ihr das Bild immer wieder abmachen. Schaut wie dieses Wand fertig aussieht. Auch meine Sassie (Hund) wurde mit eingemalt. Natürlich mit ihrem Cartier Halsband, es musste ja Glitz und Klimmer sein.

Projekt Sheraton Hotel in St. Louis. Diese Art von Malerei nennt man  Trompe L'oeil ( tromp leu) " ("das Auge betrügen") Wir haben den Begriff von den Franzsosen übernommen. Das Gemälde muß so echt aussehen, dass man an Wirklichkeit glaubt. Bei Euch sagt man auch " Illusionsmalerei". Erfolg heisst hier, den Betrachter zu täuschen.


So wird es gemacht.

•   Motive mit einem Tintenstift  maßstabgerecht malen. Ich ziehe Tinte vor, da man eine qualitative gute Zeichnung anfertigen kann. 
• Wenn Ihr nicht malen könnt, könnt Ihr auch ein Projektor nehmen, um das Bild auf die Wand zu projektieren.

•  Das Motiv/Gemälde bei einer Druckerei  maßstabgerecht vergrößen lassen.

Copy....
1. ....mit einem Nährad durchlöchern. Ihr könnt auch eine Nähmaschine ohne  Faden benutzen.






2. ....auf die Leinwand legen und befestigen. Im Projekt "Sheraton haben ich es direkt auf die Wand befestigt.

3. ....mit Kohlenstaub heftig betupfen.


 

4.....abmachen.

5.....nun hast Du Dein Motiv auf der Leinwand.  .... jetzt wird gemalt.

Nächstes Mal lasse ich Euch alles über "Shabby Chic" wissen. 

Bis dahin alles Gute und eine gutes Wochende.


Heidi

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In pursuit of the WOW factor

After  many years (19 to be exact) 

a simple dream of mine became reality. 

Garth Benton, a much admired master trompe l'oeil artist graciously agreed to teach at the Faux Academy. Totally in awe and somewhat intimidated,  I tried very hard to to overcome my demons. Like so many artists, sometimes I too  feel  "it's not good enough".  According to my son I don't see my talents. I know this about me.... I am best when I allow my soul to soar like an eagle and be totally free. I guess that's what art is all about.... freedom of expression.

I thought I'd share  my experience of  this totally unique  trompe l'oeil class  at the Faux Academy. First and foremost, Garth's words "I can show even the non-artist the steps necessary to render extraordinary examples of trompe l'oeil art. The participants who successfully follow these simple steps and formulas will be in awe of their new-found abilities" are so true. Wow, when we first saw what we were supposed to paint, we gasped for air. NO WAY! Garth was able to  put us to ease immediately and  the class began. Replete with  fun, laughter and great food (according to the participants) we embarked on an adventurous trip creating our masterpieces.

First we were introduced to Benjamin Moore Flat  Exterior acrylic paint. I always painted my murals with Windsor Newton acrylics, so that was different for me. The canvas (sign painting canvas) was easier to handle and very light weight. Paint colors were all selected from the fan deck, which meant virtually no mixing, which is a good thing.

We used cartoons transferring/pouncing each design segment onto the canvas. Garth promised it's "like painting by numbers" - and it was.  With Garth's guidance the murals  began to grow into a "WOW"  piece of art. We couldn't believe that we could create this mural.

But we did! And we are proud!! And we had fun doing it.

An awesome class, thanks to the guidance of Garth Benton, an extraordinary teacher who encouraged us and read us like a book. Thank you Garth.

As I mentioned before the Vichyssoise and Wiener Schnitzel were well liked and I promised to list the recipes - here they are!

Vichyssoise  (vee-she-shwaz)Potato soup flavored with leeks and onions (mostly served cold), but IMO hot is so much better and that's the way I served it.

It is a somewhat pretentiously French name for an American soup first served  in 1917 to Ritz-Carlton, New York City  patrons by chef Louis Diat. Chef Diat named the soup after his home town Vichy, although attempts were made during World War II to change the name altogether. But the name stuck, although  most well-meaning folks don’t even know how to pronounce it correctly. The proper French pronunciation is "vee shee swahzz" and NOT "vee shee swah" because an "e" after the final "s" signals a "zzz" sound. A simplistic potato soup recipe of his mother created with a new twists such  as  leeks, onions and very importantly whipping cream. 

At any rate, it is an absolutely simple soup to make and  in fact, you could call it Leek potato soup, it still tastes great.

Here is my recipe:

4 fresh, washed and sliced leeks. White part only(About 2 to 2 1/2 cups)
4 cups peeled and diced baking potatoes
6 to 7 cups Swanson light Chicken Stock

2 Tablespoon unsalted butter

1 cup crème fraîche or whipping cream
Salt and white pepper to taste

Garnish - Fresh chives

In a 3-quart saucepan with cover simmer leeks and onion. (do not brown.)
Add Potatoes and chicken stock
Simmer until potatoes art done.
Purée  the soup and add whipping cream or crème fraîche.
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Wiener Schnitzel

Much to my distress Wiener Schnitzel is always referred to as "German". I am here to say it is so Austrian as Apple Pie to America. Wiener(Vienna) Schnitzel is an extremely loved  Austrian traditional dish  and is served with a mixed salad(potatoes and lettuce) or a potato salad. BTW both of my children were about six years old when they first learned to make Wiener Schnitzel. They still love it today. 

4 Butterfly pork chops pounded paper thin
Flour
Eggs (beaten)
Bread crumbs
Lard (traditional and best) or you may substitute with oil
Salt and Pepper

Salt and pepper  cutlets
Dip both side in flour
Submerge in beaten eggs followed by the bread crumbs
Heat enough lard that the cutlets "swim" in the very hot lard.
Brown until golden.
Trick insert fork. If fork comes out easily the Wiener Schnitzel is done. 

Guten Appetit!

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What's up with this blog??????

Not too much.... Obviously

It's taking a me huge amount of time teaching classes,  re-vamp a boring  and  not so user-friendly  website, promote  an awesome up-coming  Trompe l'oeil class, keep my designs up-dated, continue to educate myself, research new trends, and figure out what must be done next. In addition, carving out a few moments for a "Life" I don't  have. (Not able do this one as of yet)

I have a lot to say (many of you know) . As a typical ADD artist my brain harbors thousands of ideas but time is unwilling to let my creative juices flow freely. I am trying to change the craziness in my life, and be a better blogger, so you’ll love to visit and come back often. Listen closely. You’ll and learn some things from this “ADD" afflicted artist. 


Take care of yourself and be safe.

Let me know how I am doing? And a warm thank you for hanging with me.

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Garth Benton - Mastering Trompe L'oeil Trickery

 
 

TROMPE L'OEIL WORKSHOP

As human beings, we are unique from all other creatures on the planet because of one magnificent quality that we all share: We create just for the sake of creating.  And as creative beings, it is not by happenstance
- but by design - that we seek out the means to fulfill this human propensity by exploring different avenues of expression.  Whether we choose our individual form of expression by writing; or by dance and theater; by sculpting and graphic pictorial art; or by any of the other means available to demonstrate human creativity, we strive to obtain the skills that will enable us to put our creations out there for the world to see; out there so that we can share our creations with others. (The mere fact that you may be considering attending, or have already signed up to attend my Trompe L'Oeil workshop at the Faux Academy attests to the above.)
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In my life, I have chosen the painted image as a means to express my creative side.  We all draw upon our unconscious - to a certain degree - for creative inspiration.  And since the language of the unconscious is imagery, I felt that painting images was the most direct way of expressing my unconscious inspirations.
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In my Trompe L'Oeil workshop, I will help you to learn the techniques needed to express your own inspirations and thereby achieve amazing results.  I do this by reducing the steps needed to achieve a finished work to a minimum; the equation, so to speak, into it's lowest common denominator; into the simplest approach. An approach, I might add, that even a non artist can assimilate and execute in order to achieve amazing results. (I sincerely feel that whether you possess any degree of experience or none at all; whether you have proven artistic abilities or not, you can greatly benefit from the workshop.)
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Above all, for those who do attend, we are going to have fun!  The "fun"
and thrill that goes with turning a blank canvas or bare wall into something wonderful - something that never existed on that blank canvas or bare wall before!  If you are anything like me, you will step back from a finished work and feel a "glow" and a sense of exhilaration at what you have just created!
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In my seven-day class the schedule will be as follows:

Day 1-3)  ARCHITECTURAL TROMPE L'OEIL
          a) Egg and dart moldings
          b) Fluted column with ionic capital;
          c) Acanthus leaf motifs and rosettes, etc. 
Day 4-6)  NON ARCHITECTURAL TROMPE L'OEIL
          a) Draperies
          b) Sashes,fringe and tassels  
Day 7)    FAUX BOIS
          a) Panel with moldings. 

I will supply pre-drawn cartoons on tracing paper of the various designs that we will all share.  (This will eliminate the time-consuming necessity of drawing the designs individually.)  I will also supply light-weight canvas (sign cloth) to all who attend.
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Remember, the main goal of the workshop is not only to achieve results in trompe l'oeil you have never before achieved, but - above all else - to have a fun and enjoyable experience, and a sense of fulfillment.
These are my sincerest wishes for you all.   -- Garth Benton

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