I haven’t run out of surface area yet – so, here is one of the finishes that was installed in the entry of the studio.   Due to the fact that I can’t figure out how to add pictures where I want them in the post – you will have to view the”gallery” at the top of this post. 

The first picture is the completed “Royal Wedding” finishing, with the second picture a close-up of the finish.  I have also included pictures of the process – so that you could better understand the process of embossing a stencil design in plaster.

I first base coated the wall with Faux Metal(r) this is a product by Faux Effects(tm) – the Faux Metal was troweled onto the surface, which provided a rich gold undertone for the finish.  Had to allow this to dry for several days – that is one thing I have discovered about the Faux Metals(r) - they take a couple of days to dry – even more in the winter months. 

Once the base was dry I then began to layout the all-over-repeat stencil design that I was going to use.  I pre-marked all the registration marks onto the surface – I use the blue tape (2080) and mark the registration holes onto the blue tape – this way there are no marks to remove later.  I made sure that the design was staying level, by using a level as I marked all the registration holes.  Pre-registering is necessary when creating with any material that will not dry immediately - this will allow you to jump from one section to another and allow the previous embossed areas to dry.  (With the way this stencil is designed and most stencils for an all-over-repeat – the stencil will over-lap wet work – so it is necessary to jump around the wall or room to allow everything to dry). 

With several of the photos, you can see the progress of the project.  The wall wasn’t very large, so I was only able to create several repeats at a time…….clean the stencil…….and wait a couple of hours.  The product that was used to emboss was – LusterStone(r) another product by Faux Effects(r) – color Mandarin Red.  The time frame was several days to complete the wall – mostly due to the fact that it was at my studio and I kept getting distracted with other projects! 

The final step was using RS WaterWax(r) – yes, another Faux Effects(r) product!!!  This is one of the finishes that I teach in my Designer Walls III – RSSeries workshop.  You can check out more samples of RS Series finishes @ www.artisticpaintingstudio.com – just click on classes.

Just a couple of notes on embossing with a stencil – the one used in this finish is my design (one of my newest under – Black & White Collection).  All of these stencils are single overlay and cut in 10mil mylar – which I believe is the best to use for embossing.  I always use spray adhesive to hold all parts of the design in place (when troweling material over them – it’s easy to lift the stencil and have bleed-under) – pre-mark all registration holes so that you can move around the area without waiting for product to dry.  I apply the material usually with a trowel – don’t put too much onto the trowel and only on the edge you are using (I’m a right handed person – so I load the right side of the trowel) – trowel over the open areas of the design and leaving material in the stencil openings.  I don’t build up higher then the thickness of the stencil – it doesn’t take much to create this illusion.  Scrap off excess material (with a light touch – not too much pressure) and then remove the stencil pulling straight up from the surface….if you did get a little bleed-under of material, Q-tips work well for cleanup – also, make sure to clean off the back of the stencil before repositioning if you did get bleed-under.  You will find that you will need to clean the stencil after every 2 to 3 repeats (I like to have at least two or three copies of the same design ready to use – this keeps the embossing going and then clean everything and start all over).   For smaller stencils or small openings – you can use a spatula or styrene card to apply material over the stencil.

They came in second place in Denver, CO at the Colorado Crossroads tournament and they just finished third in Anaheim, CA @ the SoCal qualifier.  This season has been such a great experience for a teenage girl – I talk about the passion I have for decorative finishing and see that same passion in my daughter, but for the love of volleyball.

Don’t know where this will lead her – but the life experiences are priceless (well they cost mom and dad a lot of money – but it is worth it). 

Well, in between starting this post and getting it published – Ashley’s team had another qualifier in Reno, NV and her team finished 2nd – it’s their third time qualifying for the JO’s – WOW!

So, we are off to Dallas, TX on June 30th for the JO’s – I will get to celebrate my birthday in Dallas this year – for the past three years I have celebrated my birthday at the JO’s – Atlanta, Minnesota and now Dallas!

I’ll keep you posted on how her team does and how the good’ol birthday was (I was in Dallas in October for Meeting of the Masters – we went to a Piano Bar that was very fun – I may go back there for my birthday!)

I have been involved in SALI for at least 20 years – when I discovered SALI it personally opened many doors for me.  I had discovered the Art of Stenciling – but, here in California I sure wasn’t finding much of anything on the art form.  Through SALI I found many different stencil companies, a great organization that has a inspiring magazine, insurance for professionals and support/networking through local and online chapters. 

SALI truly did change my life – I had been stenciling for several years (as a professional service) and finally had the opportunity to attend one of the annual conventions.  When I returned home after convention,  I told my husband that I knew what I wanted to do – with his support, I opened my own studio “The Stencilled Garden”.  Here at TSG we carried almost every stencil company and product related to stenciling, taught 100′s of classes in the art form and still offered custom stenciling.  We opened the studio in 1994 and we out grew our first location within three years and had to move to a larger building (only a couple blocks down the street) – as we continued to explore in the arts, we also offered classes in all decorative finishing – faux finishing, plasters, murals, stenciling, and much more.   We still have our studio – just changed the name about 3 years ago to reflect more of what we do “Artistic Painting Studio” is now what we are called. 

Not sure if I would be were I am today if it hadn’t been for SALI – if you love to paint as a professional or just love to paint, SALIhas something to offer everyone at every level.  There is nothing like being involved with a group of people that share your passion and the passion for paint is different than any other passion. 

If you are close enough to make the trip to Charleston, SC this summer – make sure not to miss this great event.  The teachers and classes are unbelievable – and the exhibition will be filled with evey great company you can imagine.  By the way – class registration is open online and is very easy to do - www.sali.org. 

I will also be teaching at convention this year – don’t forget to check out my classes……I will be co-teaching with an incredible gifted person (Krista Vind) she teaches for the Decorative Finishing Studio in KY.  These are new classes that we created together – finishes that are new and inspiring – plus Krista and I are a lot of fun!!! 

I hope that I will see some new faces at this years convention – it’s a wonderful opportunity to see and experience so much all in one place.

I realize that this event did take place this past October 2007 – but, this was such an incredible experience that I still wanted to share it with everyone…..and I have some great pictures too!

Meeting of the Masters (MOTM) was a celebration of the Arts that was created by Faux Effects(tm) – the FE team created an environment for us all to gather a celebrate what we do.  There was an incredible presence of Masters from all over the world (some didn’t even speak English) – it was a great experience even trying to communicate.  I was in awe of all the unbelievable talent that was gathered together and all they were willing to share. 

The event started off with a Private Party for the Masters and their guests – (Ray and Jane wanted to make sure that when the event open to the public – that we would actually stay in are own booths, instead of going and seeing what everyone else was doing)……….

The event opened to a line of people that went on and on – I don’t think I had ever seen a line so long!  It was nice to meet so many people that you talk to through-out the year – share some of your favorite samples and demo your techniques – which all the Masters did over a two day period. 

There was also a wonderful evening (in Faux Effects(tm) style) that had live music – Just eat, drink and be merry……I think was the theme (oh, no it was Diamonds & Denim)! 

I know that Faux Effects(tm) is planning another MOTM for 2009 and believe me – I wouldn’t miss it.  If you didn’t have the chance to experience MOTM 2007 – make sure to mark your calendars and make it to this wonderful celebration in 09.

 For more information and all lot more photos – go to www.meetingofthemasters.org.

This past year I finally made it back to the drafting table and created a new collection of stencils.  These designs were created with the decorative finisher in mind – all designs are single overlay and cut in 10 mil mylar – making it very easy to work with any material. 

The new stencil collection dabeted in Dallas at the Meeting of the Masters – this was kinda funny.  My collection was called the Black & White Collection – so I decided to do all the sample boards in Black and White (the pictures posted here are from my studio as I was creating all the sample boards).  When I went to set up my booth, I discovered that FE has decided to use Black and Orange drapes for the booth……I kinda looked like Halloween.  Now, if I had known that, I would have created something in the spirit……oh, well – you couldn’t miss my booth.

Check out the complete collection at www.artisticpaintingstudio.com – look under Black & White Stencil Collection.   

This has been one of my most unusual projects that I have worked on over the past 20 years.  Royal Flush is a company that provides “upscale” portable bathrooms (not your usual out-houses) and the owner decided to go the extra step and allow me to create some beautiful walls (under the direction of the Designer – Thanks Kim).   This is a very nice looking trailer that houses a men’s, women’s and handicapped restrooms.  In my opinion, these have been needed for a long time – I just hate going to an event and all they provide are those horrible construction site out-houses. 

The designer and I went to work on several ideas for the bathrooms – she decided that the Metallic finishes I created would work out very well.  They had a “faux” tin ceiling installed with crown molding – so, I was hired to create a finish on all the walls and moldings (crown and base). 

Due to the materials that were used to create these rooms – there was a lot of preparation in making sure that my products would stick!  I spent a full day just prepping the surface – sanding and sanding and sanding.  I wasn’t going to go through all this work if it was going to adhere properly.  I created a multi-layered, multi-material finish in the women’s bathroom working with Venetian Gem Bellissimo, LusterStone and Palette Deco – what a great metallic finish!  Then, both the crown and base moldings were painted Black and dry brushed with Dutch Metals – Bronze.  On to the men’s room – this room was created with Metallic waxes – layer and layer – beautiful finish – with Black moldings highlighted in Copper/Bronze Dutch metals. 

Great project – owner delivered the trailer to my studio (we used a few more parking stalls than usual) and it was very convenient to walk out my studio and have my project parked right there.  So, the next event that you attend – hope that you will find a Royal Flush protable bathroom to use.

I’ve been working on this project for the past two weeks and just about have it completed – the womens restroom is a multi-layered metallic finish using Venetian plaster, LusterStone and Palette Deco – moldings were painted Black Set-Coat and then dry brushed with Dutch Metal Copper.  

First and foremost “Welcome” to my blog – StudioJRenee – this blog is meant to be a Celebration of the Decorative Arts.  I hope that I will inspire you with some of my projects – encourage you to try and find the “artist within you” and be creative.  I have been blessed for the past 19 years doing what I love – painting – of any form and type.  I love to share my passion with others, so you might find the pleasure and enjoyment that I do when painting…..it’s very easy to get “lost” in a project.

I have been meaning to start this blog for some time now – so as I get posting, please excuse some of the “old” projects, events and other items I still would like to share with you.  As I do get started with this “blogging” forgive me for being a little slow – I’m currently negotiating with my daughter to help me with “uploading” pictures (this is not easy for me)!  But, I believe that it will be fun learning how to work this program and I’m sure when I get stuck, my kids or webmaster can help me along.  I decided a long time ago that it was okay not to be good at everything and computers are just not my thing….I love them for communication – but I know they can do a lot more for me. 

Creatively yours,

Jennifer