Paint with Personality

Just before the holiday season, I had the pleasure of working on this VERY fun project for Mike, Gordy and Mark- the “MGM” behind the restaurant’s name! It’s always exciting being involved in the creation of new business, and watching it all come together.

With carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and lighting experts all bustling to get their work done on time, there was never a dull moment! MGM opened their doors shortly after Thanksgiving and like all businesses that support MY business- I like to return the favor. Offering hearty breakfasts and hand-carved sandwhiches, their menu is focused on quality and taste. Visit their homepage for more information, a menu and directions.

I wish I had taken more pictures during this project, but none-the-less, I thought you would enjoy seeing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos.

Here is the main wall - picture taken during my initial site visit.

And after adding some funky retro-modern designs:

The counter area during the construction phase:

And after the final painting!…. I think seeing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ really makes you appreciate all the little details that go into making a place look great- and these guys spared no expense! So thanks to MGM for bringing another quality restaurant to our great city!

Over the summer I completed this beautiful backyard mural off Independence Avenue in Capitol Hill. The garden faced a rather tall privacy fence and the couple wanted to add more depth to the back yard. The result was fantastic!

It started out like this….

First, the fence was cleaned and primed to create a good painting surface.

Next, the brick building that closed in part of the back yard was extended to add realism and the effect of depth.

Next, the sky was added along with extending the look of the actual wooden fence. This provided a gateway for the viewer to see the horizon.

Working around the flowers already planted in the garden was definately a challenging part! With the help of 2 ladders, I was able to move around the mural without interfering with the plants too much.

Once the mural was complete, a protective top coat was added for durability through all types of weather. The finished product is a view of the Capitol and a year-round garden to enjoy!

When it comes to finding a source of inspiration- sometimes look no further than your Pottery Barn catalogue!… My client fell in love with the concept and asked if I could replicate the look. When faced with a question of ‘Can you do this?’… the answer is 99% of the time, “YES”… but the bigger question sometimes remains, ‘HOW do I do this?’

That is where us artistic types have to rely less on our creativity and more on our problem-solving skills!… I have no idea how someone else might have painted this pattern, but here’s how I did it!….

First I began by drawing out the grid with chalk. This involves measuring the points at precisely the same distance apart, making sure they are level… and then connecting the dots.

Next, I taped off the diagonal lines running in one direction. Because these lines overlap, you can’t do it all at once. You have to allow the paint to dry.

Next, to get the look of the ’stitching,’ while still taped off, I added the lines of background color. When the tape is pulled off, the look is clean and concise!

Once the first set of stitched striping is done and DRY… you can begin going the other direction and repeating the method. Looks too complicated?… Give me a call, that’s what I’m here for!

Lastly, adding the scalloped edges along the ceiling and a few rosettes create that delicate touch to finish off the look.

This mural is so simplistic in its design, yet its sharpness of form and theme made this home theatre mural an instant classic.

At the client’s request, the logo was painted on canvas…. in the event of an untimely relocation!

Once hung in place, the canvas painting was the center point for the wall. Corresponding numbers and letters were then mapped out.

The result is a bold and engaging statement telling the viewer, you are in Star Trek territory now!…

Most of the time when I paint a scene, I start with painting the background first. But not the case with this skater dude themed mural!… because the skaters were the main focus, I wanted to make sure that I captured their action and gave them an almost lifelike size. So I began this mural by sketching in the figures first.

Next, I began filling in the background- the sky blue.

And then the trees. Notice how the contrast already makes the figures pop off the wall?!…

Next, I began adding details to the skateboarders. In case you’re wondering- I use actual pictures to help me in painting the characters as lifelike as possible. That’s why you see the sheets of paper taped to the wall. Often times, several different pictures are combined to creat the final image.

Lastly, the ramps and railings of the skateboard park were finished up.

The only thing better than a story about surfing Penguins is watching the painting unfold before your eyes.

OK, so it started out as a bit of a joke, but this hilariously quirky piece of furniture is one of my recent favorite projects!… this entire project was completed on the tailgate of my truck. If you’ve ever seen my work truck, you’ll understand!….

It started out as an old bar table- about 24 inches in diameter. It needed to be primed first.

Next, the pizza ‘crust’ was painted on:

Then the sauce was added:

Next, just like a REAL pizza, after the sauce, comes the cheese:

And more cheese:

Next, ‘toppings’ such as pepperoni, mushrooms, and green peppers added more color and depth to the pizza.

Finally, a protective coating of polyurethane was applied to make the Pizza Table both fun and functional!

This past March I had the pleasure of participating in the 2008 Washington Home & Garden Show hosted at the new DC Convention Center. My overall goal for the show was to paint a spring-themed mural throughout the 4-day expo. I chose the theme of butterflies because I wanted to do something colorful and somewhat unexpected in its arrangement. The result is something I was really proud of- and quite the show stopper!

It began with a blank wall:

One by one, I added butterflies. I used actual pictures of butterflies I found online to help me paint them accurately.

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Despite working on the butterfly mural tirelessly throughout the show, I was amazed at the number of questions I got asking: A) 'Did you do that freehand?' or B) 'Did you use stencils?'...

The Butterfly mural at the end of Day 4:

See how this classic rural landscape is transformed from a sketch to the ‘real deal.’

The new owner of this Alexandria home was lucky to inherit some beautiful faux finishing. Only problem was, the color scheme didn’t match her decor!… so, without a complete do-over, I simply recolored some of the stripes while leaving the gold tones in tact. The result was elegant, yet bold, and that complimented her furniture.