I have to say a BIG Thank You to my client – if it wasn’t for her idea, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to paint this incredible project.  Recently, Ruth Masters was referred to me for a project that she had been wanting to do for many years – she just hadn’t figured out exactly what she wanted in this space.  One day, surfing on the web – she ran across a project that was featured with a painting of Peacock feathers on the ceiling.  Ruth knew at that moment it was exactly what she wanted – now to find the artist to execute the idea.

I meet with Ruth and she provided me with several pictures from the web site – we talked about colors for the feathers and then it was up to me to see if it was a possible project.  The area she wanted them painted in was a very high octagon sky light – approximately 22′ to the top!

I called a fellow artist friend of mine, Penny Ray to assist with this project – she meet me at the clients house to see if we could get a scaffold rig into her kitchen, over the island and up high enough to accomplish the work…….with very careful measuring – we decided we could do it!

Even though we did all that careful measuring – the day we installed the scaffold rig – we discovered we were off just a little……..but, we made it work!  Our first day was installing the rig and then using an overhead projector to project the images that had been drawn onto the walls………..now this was an area that started at 10′ and went up another 12′ or so……..it took the entire day to transfer all the drawings.  We carefully placed each peacock feather to create a wonderful composition in the octagon area.

Day two and three was a lot of painting and moving the levels of the scaffold rig to accomplish the many heights we had to work at.  Day four – we needed to completely remove one of the levels of the scaffold rig and try to finish all the painting.  Penny and I are a pretty good team – only one cut finger, a few bruises and sore muscles – we accomplished our deadline.  The entire project took four days including installing and tear-down of the scaffold rig……..we painted a lot of hours each day!  Most of the painting was accomplished with Americana Acrylic paints – regular and metallics – I also used Faux Effects newest metallics – SuperHide Copper (love this product).

Many thanks again to Ruth – thanks for providing me with such a fun project!!!  Looking forward to the next one…….I think I will be painting Parrots and Palm Trees!!!

Once I started painting chairs it was totally addictive – I couldn’t stop painting or stop buying them………at one point I had 35 chairs waiting in my warehouse (it was a hell of a yard sale).  Most of the time when I start a project, I haven’t exactly figured out the entire design layout ahead of time…….it usually takes on a personality of it’s own and the ideals just keep coming.

As you can see in my work I love to layer patterns, design and  incorporate a lot of colors and create something fun.   I believe the layering of pattern, colors and design add a lot of depth to your painting – it also allows you to mix and match different styles of pattern.  Mixing fun, whimsey patterns with sophisticated design elements.

Painting furniture is one of my “true” loves……..I recently started looking through the warehouse to see what there was left around to still paint – feeling the need to be creative with a piece of furniture.  Hope that my “funky” style inspires you to create something for your home!

Blessings, Jenn

fruit cabinet

I think I can credit Martha Stewart for my initial introduction to stenciling, back in the very early 90’s. Yes, I was one of those who religiously watched her show and subscribed to the magazine. I didn’t give a damn about the food and gardening, but I loved watching her paint things. I vaguely knew you could use stencils on walls, but I had no real imagination with them at that point because the resources were so limited. Then one day, I saw her put stencils that she had cut and designed herself (OK, her team of minions did the grunt work) on fabric and furniture. It was a revelation to me. I could cut my own designs! I could put them anywhere!!!

I cut stencils by hand forever. I nearly lost limbs doing it, but I kept plowing along,  applying them to various surfaces.  With the advent of seach engines on the internet, I finally found sites to purchase stencils from, could custom design and order them if needed, and my fingertips finally had a chance to heal. What didn’t change was my surface of choice for stenciling. FURNITURE! I love love love painting furniture.  I especially love stenciling on furniture. I love taking a plain, unadorned piece and transforming it into something unique. The more complicated and involved the pattern, the better. I can get lost in the detailing.  But also, just a few simple adornments stenciled on can make the difference between blah and brilliant!

For me, one of the most important parts is to think of the piece as a whole concept. Don’t just slap down a stencil, smoosh on a little paint and call it a day.  There is more to look at on a table than just the top, a cabinet is more than just the doors.  And don’t stop at a single color. Highlight and shadow. Wet blend colors.  Add flourishes. Use unexpected colors and materials. Your stencil is a guide and a reference, not the end all to the design. A painted piece of furniture is a piece of art. The stencil aides in your expression.  You don’t have to use a complete set, you can marry up designs from different companies, you can layer one design over another.  Each stencil adds a layer on complexity and flavor to your ideas.

Simple step-stool with feathers

A simple plain wood step-stool from IKEA becomes a sturdy and special accent piece. The peacock feather design makes the stark lines of the stool a fun contemporary item that can be a stool, seat, bedside stand or end table.

Same idea

The same simple stool has a completely different feel when decorated with a more traditional design. The stencil chosen hear make this a better fit for a country home. Your choice of stencil design and application method can customize anything to fit your client’s need.

Nifty nesting tables

 These nesting tables were formerly dark, dull and boring. The application of stencils combined with water based translucent wax products created different shimmery textures  and raised designs.

nesting legs

legs

Don’t forget that something has more than one surface to be stencilled. The legs of all 3 tables had a different stencil applies and each was treated differently. The legs on the left had a simple pattern applied and was then hand painted over it, The legs on the right was a more complex pattern applied with gold shellac. The tiny details make all the difference!

Pay attention to scale at well.  A piece that has many small panels works well for small vignette stencils and classic flourishes where something simpler can handle a bolder hand. For example, the featured photo for this article has an antique secretary whose drawers are smooth and flush, so a large design was a great solution. And the vintage nature of the piece make the branch and fruit pattern an appropriate choice.   Larger, flatter surfaces can adapt to a variety of pattern scale.

You can even indulge you love of Elvis on a tabletop!!!

With this new look – new page……I’m adding my BFF Morey Dunbar as a regular contributor on this blog site.  So not only will you be hearing from me once again on a regular basis, but also Morey will be contributing on a regular basis too……..Now, that could be trouble – if you know Morey and I, we tend to have a little too much fun together (really, we just know how to enjoy life)!

So please get ready to enjoy some great information – a preview of the class Morey and I have been developing – a wonderful article by Morey on Painted Furniture and much much more.

Jenn

Over the years I think I have just about painted everything I could find, including a suitcase.  This was a fun project that I had created for the studio and eventually one of my customers had to have it!  No surface is safe around me, I have painted buckets, flower pots, toasters (yes, toasters) and have had so much fun just being creative. 

This project takes me back to my “dumpster diving” days – loved stopping at every (yes – every) antique store, flea market and anyplace off the side of the road that just looked like it would be fun to dig through!  I have a stash of stuff that is still waiting for its turn to be transformed into a wonderful painted item………I even started to dig through my warehouse the other day to see what was left and ready to paint. 

Whether you are whimsy or sophisticated – you can have fun painting just about any item and transforming it into a wonderful painted treasure! 

Have fun painting everything and anything you can find,   Jenn

I’m not sure how long Amy and I have known each other but, it does go back a few years!  Amy and her husband, Don have opened their house several times for me when I have traveled to PA to teach for their local chapter of the IDAL group.  Talk about incredible hosts – Amy and Don make you feel so welcome, cook amazing food for you and even let the guest bet them at WII…..I Knocked Amy out!!  (Only in the game…LOL)

Amy Scheg is the owner of Stensational Walls  in Lebanon, PA and has been painting for 12 years.  Her decorative painting business encompasses many facets of the arts and one of her loves has always been stenciling.  You can find her on Facebook @ Stensational Walls  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000503166358 – ph: 717-228-0905 or email: stensationalwalls@email.com

One of Amy’s favorite projects are Babies and Children’s rooms – Amy indicated that usually she is given a budget and is told “do whatever you want, we trust your judgement”!  Now, that is a dream client!!!  Recently she had a project in where she had taken the bedding for the room, traced several of the elements and cut her own stencils by hand (now that’s a lot of work!) – but, she had a dilemma in the fact, she needed a Polka Dot stencil and she knew should could not cut perfect little circles the size she had desired.  So this is where I entered the picture on this project……..Amy called my studio after seeing several “post” by me, indicating that I was offering Laser Stencil Cutting service.  Amy provided me with the details of the design she needed and I had my associate Ron create the stencil.

This room is absolutely adorable – Amy worked with the palette of colors from the bedding, a couple of pinks, white, green and chocolate-brown.  One wall was created like the bedding and the other walls she scattered flowers, leaves and bugs randomly around the room.  Then she painted two 1 inch chocolate-brown stripes around the room at chair rail height, about 6 inches apart and put the Polka Dots in the middle of the stripes…..she also created a French Wash below the Polka Dot border. 

Amy said my Polka Dot stencil was amazing – it only took her about an hour to paint the entire border.  She indicated that polka dots are very popular in children’s bedding right now, so this stencil will come in handy!  I want to “thank” Amy for sharing this fun project with us and allowing me the chance to create a fun stencil!

Have fun Stenciling,

Jenn

Stenciling is something that I think everyone can learn and it’s such a great way to discover the inner artist in those that never thought they could paint anything.  I think once you have tried stenciling, that all it takes to become addicted to this art!  I appreciate all of you that share this love of mine and that you will continue to share this art with others………

As promised, I have three (3) winners – each person will receive a stencil of their choice up to a $40 value.  So, the winners are:

Sarah Hines – Ruth Mowry and Heather of 5th Wall Surface Design. 

I am thankful and delighted that so many people stopped by my facebook pages, blog and web sites.  Hope everyone will continue to find something to stencil………

Congratulations winners!!!

Stenciling is a remarkably easy painting technique and here is some basic instructions for the art form. 

Positioning the Stencil …..

Position your stencil, locating its open design elements exactly where you’d like the painted design to appear.  Then tape the outer edges of the stencil to the project with Blue painters tape. 

Loading the Stencil Brush……..

Pour a little paint onto your palette (painters palette or plastic plate), add one to two drops of extender, and use the handle end of your stencil brush to mix the extender into the paint.  Next, holding your stencil brush straight up, pick up a small amount of paint with the tips of the brush bristles.  Then work the paint into the bristles swirling them in a circular motion on a clean section of the palette.  One trick to successful stenciling is keeping a “dry” brush – this is accomplished by removing the excess paint from the bristles.  Hold brush upright and with a firm, circular motion – rub the bristles onto a clean paper towel.  If the brush is too wet, the paint will bleed under the stencil edges – I suggest practicing on paper before attempting your project.

Applying the Paint………..

For a smooth stenciled surface, “swirling” is the best technique to use.  Hold your stencil brush perpendicular to the surface and apply the paint by moving the bristle ends in tiny circular motion.  To add texture and depth to a stenciled design, hold the brush perpendicular to the surface, but instead of swirling the bristles, apply the paint by dabbing the brush straight up and down – a process known as “stippling” or “pouncing”.  Whether you’re swirling or stippling, always start with a light touch and increase pressure as needed to transfer the paint to the surface.

To create shading within each stenciled design area, first create sharp, crisp edges by applying paint lightly all the way around the outer edges of the design opening.  As you work, blend paint into the inner design area but apply less pressure to the brush – and less paint.  By varying the pressure you apply to your brush and the amount of time you spend stenciling a given area, you can achieve a wide range of values with a single color.

For added contrast within a design, use more than one color.  Let each color dry before applying the next, use a different brush for each color, and leave the stencil in place until you’ve applied all the colors.  (Once you’ve removed the stencil, it’s very difficult to replace it in the exact same position.)  To keep the paint-dampened bristles of your brushes from drying out as you work on a project, place the brushes in a small plastic bag with a dampened paper-towel, until you need to use it again.

Here’s one important tip:  When you’re stenciling on top of a dark base-coat color, stencil the entire design in white paint first.  Then apply your colors over the white.  This technique is referred to as “Whiting-out” and helps to allow your colors to “pop” off the dark surface. 

Stenciling of Fabric………..

To hold fabric flat as you stencil it, apply repositionable spray adhesive to a piece of smooth cardboard.  (The cardboard doesn’t have to be as large as your fabric piece – just reposition the fabric as needed.)  Gently press the fabric onto the adhesive-coated board, and tape your stencil in place.

Mix one part fabric painting medium with two parts acrylic paint on your palette.  Using stencil brushes, stencil the designs as instructed in the basic stenciling directions above.  Make sure that the stencil is positioned over the area of fabric that is attached to the cardboard – this will keep the fabric from moving or stretching while you are trying to stencil.  After the paint has dried completely, heat-set the paint by placing a press cloth on top of the fabric and pressing the cloth with a warm iron. 

Cleaning and Storing Stencils and Brushes……….

After using a stencil, clean it as soon as possible.  The longer the paint stays on the stencil, the harder it will be to remove.  One of the best products I have found in years – is Dawn Power Dissolver!!  This product works better than anything else I have ever used.  If the paint has been there for a while or many many layers – spray with Dawn and let it soak for a while before trying to clean it off – then once it’s clean, do a final rinse with clean water and allow to dry.  Be careful when cleaning – this is when you can damage your stencil. 

To clean your stencil brushes, scrub the brush over a brush scrubber under running water to remove as much paint as possible and then use Masters Brush Cleaner to clean out the remainder of the paint……lay them flat to dry.

Have fun with Stenciling and some of the best advice I can give, is to practice, practice, practice!!!  Blessings, Jenn