We had enough of "Orange Peel" walls .....

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by a client  who had bought a home in which I had done all the faux painting. These clients eventually built a new home. Missing the warmth of faux painting  and living five years with "orange peel" walls, they had enough and wanted to capture the warmth of faux painting. I was contacted to fulfill their vision.

We decided to do the kitchen first with a "Florentine Plaster", a finish I had developed years ago, which has been proven to be a reliable seller ever since. It's easy, effective and fast.

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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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Growing a Cash - Cow... Marketing 102

Welcome to the latest blog on marketing your business.

Yesterday I mentioned the S.W.O.T. analysis. I was exhausted  when I got done. Looking at the outcome made me hopeful and scared at the same time.Most of all it,  took lots of blood, sweat and tears. BUT  IT'S DONE!!!!!

Where do I go from here? I want to develop a Cash-Cow and you are invited to join me.. 

Any idea can grow into a business. However, you must find the "GAP" of your business. The Faux Academy  prefers to teaches only. No products are sold,  only art, knowledge and education. In addition, I teach with every day mediums. Sometimes these medium are  unorthodox which is the fun of it and which provides  exclusive samples and techniques. Finding your gap you will have to initiate some market research, And yes, I know you find it boring; so do I. But I am committed to my business, because I love what I do and I am good at it.

Your "GAP"

• 
  
  Offer unique and exclusive faux finishes
• 
  
  Give extra ordinary customer service (Remember,  your clients pay your salary!)
• 
  
  You need commitment and take some risks (Even if it's stepping out there and doing your market research.)
• 
  
  Start to develop new ideas for your business
• 
  
  If you don't have any news to tell, create some news.

 This class is my risk I took, offering a class of that magnitude in an economical difficult time. But be assured I am going to make "News" with it.

If You would like to be in the News, join the class on April 19, 2010

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I Heard It Through The Grapevine.......

Hopefully s you received the last newsletter a couple of weeks ago. I talked about some really cool and  "FREE MARKETING TIPS And TRICKS". The subject is so gigantic, that I  decided to blog about about it, not to faux get about it! Blogging also gets my creative juices going and like you I need to evaluate my situation and do some work.

It's Marketing Time!

Times are tough, so it seems. All I hear are sad stories, really sad. Decorative artists all over the United States  have given up, taken different jobs or just waiting for the faux finish tide to come back in. I don't believe in giving up, because I instinctively know, that  if your business survives this,  it will prosper when times are getting good again. So- Listen to me now and hear me later.Tighten your belt, sit down  and take a good look at your business. Together we will get you enough clients to keep you busy..If you are the typical artist you don't want to bother with the nitty gritty business techniques necessary to keep a successful art studio. You can change that, this instant. Take a look and do a little work


Key elements of a ......

Marketing Plan

1. SWOT Analysis - Strengths  Weakness' Opportunities  Threats
2. Learn Faux Painting SWOT

Maybe your business is important enough to do some focused work.


Hang in there and 


Best Wishes

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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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Kitchens gone wild.... paper floors, kitchen cabinets, fake tiles and plumbing fixtures Part 2.

It has been a while.I took this time to come up with a just awesome

Here is an instant fix for a TLC treatment for a linoleum or sub floor.

The Inspiration floor was my Library flooring, which I fell in love with at a  client's home, which was under construction. The flooring came from her great grand fathers first warehouse and was milled into flooring. Absolutely positively gorgeous.

One Saturday morning the door bell rang and lead carpenter was outside with abox car truck and the flooring. The client had given me the flooring for my library including the installation. If I ever move out of my home I will take this flooring along.

Being a creative artist at times, I decided to copy that floor on paper and install in my kitchen. Here are the necessary steps.

Supplies:

Brown packing paper or construction paper ( available at Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com
1 Gallon of Elmer's Glue
 Scissors, 6" Putty Knife, utility knife, ruler/ tape measure.
Water, sponge/rags
Yellow paint
Acrylic paint Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber and black, black and gray Sharpie

1. Technique:
2. Cut strips of paper.
3. Submerge into water.
4. Apply glue onto floor.
5. Paste paste strip and smooth with putty knife
6. Let dry
7. Apply 2 coats of yellow paint
8. Let dry
9. Wood grain   http://www.fotosearch.com/CSP020/k0204632/ 
10. Let dry.
11. Apply three coats of Varnish

You have created tough flooring which also will be a conversation piece and best of all Eco friendly and inexpensive. Almost a "must" floor.

Voila, my floor

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Kitchens gone wild.... paper floors, kitchen cabinets, fake tiles and plumbing fixtures Part 1.

Do you ever "think outside the box decorating your home?If you don't you are missing a lot. As a popular local artist and designer and raised among couture fashion designers "thinking outside the box seems natural to me

• There is no  other way to transform a room quickly and inexpensively but with decorative artistry
• No wall paper can do what paint, creatively applied, can do. In addition you have something artsy and unique; and the the neighborhood has finally "something to talk about".

Art is never finished, only abandoned (Leonardo da Vinci)

Don't we all know it.I really do not need a kitchen except to make coffee or tea and once in a while like a true bachelorette, I am having dinner over the sink.
From avocado green, to watermelons, to Tuscany old world, to French Country and now to eclectic Transitional; and all that in the last 20 years. I have a very difficult time to decide what style/finish to create in my home. All I know it must be comfy, bohemian and informal (typical artist crib) and representing what I stand for. It's my haven to come home to.


I am in love with my wide plank naturally distressed floor in my family room/library. I won't ever consider selling my home because of this floor;and should I be ever evicted, I'll take my floor with me. This floor fits me to a "T". It also represents a great friendship and sadness and a beloved friend. This friend kept my business card (a postcard)for ten yeas, knowing that if she ever built her "dream home" she would hire me to do all the artwork... and she did. The floor was a gift from her.It used to be the beams of her grandfather's warehouse which were milled into flooring.


Back to my kitchen ...

The original floor was black and white linoleum. Then I painted it mustard yellow and red. It held up for 15 years.(prep is important)

Here is what I did:

• Sand floor
• Vacuum
• Wash with ammonia
• Apply 123 primer (love that stuff)
• Let dry
• Apply base color
• Measure and tape off 
• Paint the diamonds. Be wise and mark every contrasting diamond. Believe me I learned my lessons, so nowadays I mark off.

Voilà - you have a "New" floor.

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