Cabinetry and furniture are two of my favorite things to do……you can give an old piece of furniture new life and personality with just a little time and paint.  Completely change the look of your home with bringing new life to you kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities – the possibilities are endless and it’s just your time and a little product that can make this happen.

The Artistic Cabinetry Workshop coming up in March will provide you with the knowledge and ability to re-create your home cabinets and furniture.  The workshop will cover everything from the preparation of the surface (new or old), what primers to use and many different techniques using Faux Effects Silver & Gold label products.

Some of the finishes being instructed in these classes have never been taught before – new fresh ideas!   You will learn everything from a wonderful basic Honey glaze to high-end furniture finishes – each student will complete cabinet door samples as well as molding samples.

Two class dates in March:  The Art of Designer Cabinetry and Furniture Finishes – this class is being held at the Decorative Finishes Studio in Louisville, KY – www.fauxfinish.com for more samples and complete details of class offering.  This class is schedule for the week of March 26th -30th.

Artistic Cabinetry Workshop – March 21st – 23rd – is a 3 day workshop being held at my Studio in Fresno, CA - each student will complete 5 door samples and 5 molding samples – www.artisticpaintingstudio.com for samples and complete details to register.

If you have any questions regarding either class - please feel free to contact me at 559-449-7711 – I would be happy to answer your questions.

I had SO much fun with the last Stencil Give-Away that I hosted………That I decided to do it once again!!!  What a great way to start off the new year – with a fun way to say “Thank You”!

I will be giving away 3 Stencil Shopping Sprees – YES, there will be THREE Winners!  So, the more times you post on my blog and my facebook pages, the more chances you will have to win.

Here are the different ways to enter:

First, visit my web sites www.artisticpaintingstudio.com or www.stencilledgarden.com and look around at what stencils you may choose for your shopping spree.  Then, simply leave a comment on this blog post about your favorite stencil that you would choose if you win.

Second, go to www.facebook.com and “like” both of my pages “Artistic Painting Studio” and “The Stencilled Garden” – make sure after you “like” the page to leave a comment telling me what stencil you would choose if you win.

Third, if you already “like” me on Facebook, then simply leave a comment and share the post about the give-away.

It’s that easy, just make sure you leave a separate comment on both Facebook pages and here on this blog post to Triple your chances to win.

The winners will be chosen on March 1st @ midnight –  there will be one winner from each place of posting – Facebook page “Artistic Painting Studio – Facebook page “The Stencilled Garden” and from my blog post www.studiojrenee.com

Each winner will win a shopping spree worth $50 of stencils – SO, start entering and good luck to everyone!!!

Thank you so much for your continued support over the past 23 years!  Good luck to everyone, the Winners will be announced on Friday March 2nd…………

The BYOB: Series of Classes are posted on my web site @ www.artisticpaintingstudio.com and are updated regularly………come join the fun and release the inner artist within you!

Just a few possibilities combining the Arts of Stenciling and Faux Finishing – the options are endless.   Learn these wonderful art forms while enjoying yourself with some friends and relaxing in a creative environment.

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