When decorating your home, you inevitably face the dilemma of what to put on your walls. Plain color? Wallpaper? How about doing some decorative painting that incorporates the use of a “stencil” or “chinoiserie”? The first installment of this post discussed the terms “faux finish, decorative painting, murals, gilding and trompe l’oeil”. Go back one post if you want to check that one out. In this post, I will be presenting definitions and examples of stenciling and chinoiserie. I have so much great stuff to share, I decided to save ornamentation and grottesca for the next post in the series, so stay tuned!
Stenciling is a form of decorative painting that incorporates the use of plastic, mylar, cardboard or some other thin material to create a shape and mask certain areas of a painted area to form a specific shape. Modern stencils have come a long way from what they once were! The possibilities are almost endless to the different looks you can create using stencils in new and creative ways. Your only limit is your imagination. Stencils can be hand-cut using a sharp blade or stencil cutter, or they can be custom ordered from one of the many stencil manufacturers on the market. There is also a plethera of options of pre-cut stencils available today that have wonderful designs and style options from which to choose. Some of my favorite stencil resources are Royal Design Studio, Wallovers, the Mad Stencilist, the Stencil Library, Faux Design Studio, Faux by Kathy, and Cutting Edge Stencils. If you are specifically looking for help with designing a custom stencil for your project, I recommend the Mad Stencilist or Royal Design Studio (or their single use stencil branch called Modello Designs) A single use stencil, also know as a modello, is one that is cut in three layers and provides the ability to stencil without the use of stencil adhesives or “bridges” or gaps in the stencil design, which is particularly useful on ceilings or when doing intricate stencil designs. Stenciling has played a major role in the world of decorative painting for years, but has never been utilized as effectively and beautifully as it is today. Stencils of all sizes are being used by decorative artisans in innovative and gorgeous wall, ceiling and floor applications like never before.
This subtle example of stenciling was created using hand cut stencils, metallic paints, and wax.
I created this ceiling mural with the help of stencils custom cut at the Mad Stencilist.
Whether using a simple stencil for some accented areas on your wall, or doing something more elaborate that resembles wallpaper, stenciling can be a beautiful and contemporary way to decorate your interiors.
beautiful stencil example by Sheri Zeman of Faux Design Studio in Addison, IL
I love this industrial chic look created with “Roundabout” at wallovers.com
CHINOISERIE: pronounced, “[sheen-wah-zuh-ree, -wah-zuh-ree; Fr. shee-nwazuh-ree] is a style of decorative painting dating back to the seventeenth century which reflects Chinese artistic influences. It is often characterized by fanciful imagery of Chinese landscapes and birds. The style of chinoiserie is used to adorn not only walls, but also many other decorative items such as porcelain, folding screens, furniture, and fabric. The style peaked in the 18th century when it was incorporated into the current Rococo style by artist Francois Boucher. There are many sources for hand painted chinoiserie style wallpaper such as deGournay,Paul Montgomery Studio, and Gracie. Many decorative painters offer customized versions of their own “chinoiserie” style finishes.
A gilt chinoiserie screen
a beautiful example of chinoiserie by Francois Boucher
beautiful hand painted silk wallpaper from deGournay
Decorative painting has been around for thousands of years as seen in this famous fresco mural painting, “Villa Livia”
When decorating your home, you inevitably face the dilemma of what to do with your walls. Paint them a plain color? Wallpaper? How about doing some decorative painting such as a “faux finish” or “mural”? If you are exploring decorative painting options, you will first need to know the terms to use when consulting your interior decorator, designer, or decorative painting professional. In this article, I’ve assembled some of the most commonly used and misused terms I encounter regularly in my decorative painting business. I have defined them and provided examples of each. You will also find resources and links within each category.
DECORATIVE PAINTING:
Decorative Painting is the term used to describe ALL of the painting techniques artisans use to decorate and adorn everything from walls to frames to furniture. Some well known examples of decorative painting are tole painting, faux painting, mural painting, stenciling, and ornamentation. For more information or to see up-close examples of decorative painting, visit one of the annual trade expos that take place around the country such as the IDAL expo, the FAUX EXPO, and the OPEN DECOR SHOW. If you are a professional decorative painter, there are organizations such as IDAL and the PDPA that support and enrich the industry. There are many wonderful books, online forums, and schools for anyone who is interested in learning more about the art of decorative painting.
FAUX FINISH:
The correct pronunciation sounds like “foe”. Faux painting and faux finishing are terms used to describe a wide range of decorative painting techniques. The naming comes from the French word faux, meaning false, as these techniques started as a form of replicating materials such as marble and wood with paint, but have subsequently come to encompass many other decorative finishes for walls and furniture.
Wikipedia gives a brief history of faux finish as follows:
“Faux finishing has been used for millennia, from cave painting to the tombs of ancient Egypt, but what we generally think of as faux finishing in the decorative arts began with plaster and stucco finishes in Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago.
Faux painting became popular in classical times in the forms of faux marble, faux wood, and trompe l’oeil murals. Artists would apprentice for 10 years or more with a master faux painter before working on their own. Great recognition was awarded to artists who could actually trick viewers into believing their work was the real thing. Faux painting has continued to be popular throughout the ages, but experienced major resurgences in the neoclassical revival of the nineteenth century and the Art Deco styles of the 1920s. During the recent history of decorative painting, faux finishing has been mainly used in commercial and public spaces.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, faux finishing saw another major revival, as wallpaper began to fall out of fashion. At this point, faux painting became extremely popular in home environments, with high-end homes leading the trend. People are also attracted to the simplicity of changing a faux finish, as it can be easily painted over compared with the hassle of removing wallpaper.
In modern day faux finishing, there are two major materials/processes used. Glaze work involves using a translucent mixture of paint and glaze applied with a brush, roller, rag, or sponge, and often mimics textures, but it is always smooth to the touch. Plaster work can be done with tinted plasters, or washed over with earth pigments, and is generally applied with a trowel or spatula. The finished result can be either flat to the touch or textured.”
This wine cellar features a “faux” hammered copper ceiling with “faux” leather strapping.
an example of a glazed faux finish
The Art of Faux by Pierre Finkelstein is a must have book for any decorative painter!
MURAL:
Wikipedia defines a mural as “any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.” Since prehistoric times humans have felt compelled to decorate their walls with pictures and stories. Ruins from ancient civilizations in Egypt, Pompeii, China, India and Mexico all contain evidence of elaborate mural scenes. Murals held an important place in Greek, Roman and Egyptian art. During the Renaissance, cathedrals were adorned with unbelievably intricate mural scenes. The Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo is probably the most famous fresco mural example. Murals are still quite popular today and can be found in many homes as well as businesses.
This is a portion of a mural after JW Waterhouse that I recently completed for a client
Members of the International Salon of Decorative Painters work on a large mural
Next up…”trompe l’oeil” trȯmp-ˈlə-ē, trōⁿp-ˈlœi\
Definition of TROMPE L’OEIL:
1
: a style of painting in which objects are depicted with photographically realistic detail; also : the use of similar technique in interior decorating
2
: a trompe l’oeil painting or effect
3
: something that misleads or deceives the senses : illusion
See trompe l’oeil defined for English-language learners »
Encyclopedia Brittanica explains the term in the following manner: “in painting, the representation of an object with such verisimilitude as to deceive the viewer concerning the material reality of the object.” Throughout history, artists have used techniques to create spaces that fooled the viewer into thinking they were seeing something that wasn’t really there. The practice of painting and creating effective trompe l’oeil illusions in murals requires meticulous attention to detail and correctly representing and understanding color, shadow, and perspective. The ancient Romans first used trompe l’oeil in Pompeii to decorate their living spaces. A typical trompe l’oeil mural might suggest a window or doorway leading into another room. The Romans later went on to use trompe ‘loeil methods to paint and decorate cathedrals.
Gilding is used for everything from frames and furniture to ceilings and walls. The decorative techniques of applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold are known as gilding techniques. Gilt refers to the object, which has been gilded by gold. There are different types of gilding; water gilding, which is a technique that consists of applying loose sheets of gold on a layer of red clay (bole). The bole supplies a flexible surface that allows for polishing the gold with an agate burnisher thereby obtaining a brilliant and very smooth effect. The bole gives the gold red reflections due to transparency. This technique of gilding requires a significant investment in materials and long practice to obtain good results. Gilding generally means gold gilding, but there are other metals, which are also used in gilding the objects. For example, in the West silver gilding is very popular but gilt-bronze is much used in China. Gilt-bronze is called Ormolu in the West. There are various types of gilding methods. Some include hand application and gluing, chemical gilding, gold plating and electroplating. Other types of gilding are parcel-gilt and full body guild. When the objects are only gilded over part of their surfaces, the process is called parcel-gilt. This type of gilding method is applied to vessels. Water gilding is most commonly used for furniture. Additionally there is oil gilding, which is more often used for ceilings and wall applications. Oil gilding has been used to highlight and ornament some of the most opulent interiors in the world. It is accomplished by applying a glue or “size” to a surface followed by delicate and meticulous application of sheets or “leaves” which are then polished.
an elaborate example of Gilding
Watch for the next installment of Decorative Painting Examples and Terminology which will feature Stenciling, Chinoiserie, Grottesca, and Ornamentation…
Last week I visited one of my favorite places, the Art Institute of Chicago. I wanted to see the Thorne Miniature Rooms and see the holiday decorations that they had added to several of the miniature displays. If you have never seen this exhibit, it’s a permanent display at the museum and is definitely worth a look. The first set of rooms were designed by Mrs. James Warde Thorne and were originally displayed at the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago. The rooms were so well received at the exhibition, that Mrs. Thorne went on to make two more groups of rooms, a European set, first displayed at the Art Institute in 1937, and an American set, completed in 1940. Two ASian rooms were added in 1962, which completed the 68 rooms in the permanent display.
The Thorne rooms enable one to glimpse the elements of European interiors from the late 16th to the 20th century and those of American furnishings from the seventeenth century to 1940. Many are scale copies of specific rooms in historical houses, or were inspired by museum installations of period rooms. Mrs. Thorne herself assembled and supervised the skilled craftspeople who created the detailed rooms and furnishings at the scale of one inch to one foot. She also dealt with the technical aspects of lighting to effectively convey the illusion of daylight coming through windows and adjacent halls, which is one of the most appealing features of the rooms. Of particular interest to me was the period specific decorative painting and wallpaper.
Mrs.-James-Ward-Thorne
French Bathroom and Boudoir of the Revolutionary Period, 1793-1804
chinoiserie wallpaper
chinoiserie wallpaper
grisaille wallpaper
this room had a tiny shoe with toys inside set out in front of the fireplace
Tennessee Entrance Hall 1835
this Santa Fe style room had the table set for a Christmas feast
Tennessee Entrance Hall 1835
If you have the opportunity, this delightful exhibit is a great one to see for the whole family! To view all of the rooms online and get more information, visit the Art Institute’s website at http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/category/18
As a decorative artist and lover of design, I try to stay on top of decorating trends and keep images and ideas that are fresh and exciting at the top of my head to use as inspiration for upcoming projects. As we come to the end of 2011 and start to look ahead to the coming year, I feel like it’s a good time to review some of my favorite design trends, interior and otherwise, and to look forward to see what will be popular in the coming months and plan accordingly.
One big look that has really made an impact across the board is the “Industrial Chic” look. Fueled by Restoration Hardware‘s gorgeous new line of furniture and accessories, this handsome and interesting style is full of rich textures, colors, and lines. It is distinguished by repurposed “industrial” items like gears and metals, vintage signs and clocks, and anything with time-worn patina and hardware. This look is a particular favorite of mine. Shows like American Pickers and Picker Sisters have added to the industrial chic craze.
a page from the latest Restoration Hardware catalog
industrial side tables
warm and exciting, cool and chic!
The next trend I love is the “Soft Modern” decorating style. This look blends traditional, modern, eclectic and contemporary pieces within a neutral color palette. It’s a style that is pleasing to most people and is easy to live with. It’s a hybrid of styles that is very warm and inviting while still being “sleek” and contemporary.
This modern bedroom is so serene
I love the retro wall
"roundabout" stencil by "wallovers" looks a lot like the wall in the previous pic
I don't typically think of modern as having so many interesting textures! It's gorgeous.
One color trend that has been hard to miss and can be seen across all decorating styles is the use of gray. Monochromatic gray rooms can look chic and elegant or vintage and shabby chic. I like both of these looks very much and love the freedom it allows homeowners to move accessories around their homes.
elegant gray zebra stripe stencil
The warm gray chinoisserie on the walls and ceiling are stunning and classic
Expect gray to stick around in the coming year. Yellow and “greige” a green/beige hybrid are expected to be popular, while purple and brown are out.
Finally, I love the use of burlap and other rich textures. I used unprimed linen sewn to another canvas for a custom piece of artwork for a customer this past year and was really pleased with the result. According to Beasley and Henley Interior Design, the hot look in furnishings is “Paris Flea Market meets Driftwood Salvage” Think reclaimed, rustic, vintage. Again, Restoration Hardware’s influence here can’t be denied.I particularly love the combination of old and reclaimed with classic and refined.
burlap fabric, reclaimed wood and hardware, vintage accessories
love the mix of burlap and french design on these chairs shown on apartmenttherapy.com!
detail of "burlap" canvas I created earlier this year
Clearly, there is an abundance of material to use as inspiration for new finishes in the coming year…stay tuned:)
I have a new obsession thanks to my new friend and internet officianado, Regina Garay. I saw some posts on her blog “fauxology” that included images from a site called pinterest.com The images were interesting and beautiful so I thought I would check it out. If you are like me and feel that you MUST see every image in the world that is available for viewing. LOL;) then check it out. If you are particularly interested in interior design and/or decorative painting, you might want to follow me, fauxology, Theresa Cheek, Ali Kay and other decorative painters or artists who have a passion for collecting reference images for inspiration.
I was recently asked to paint and donate a pumpkin to Meadowbrook School in Northbrook to auction off at their upcoming “Pumpkinfest” celebration. I have had a ball coming up with ideas…now the hard part will be deciding which one to donate, which ones to sell and which ones to keep!! I thought I would share some of my ideas with you along with a “how-to” for my Aged Copper Pumpkins.
Pumpkin painted with the face of an owl
back of "rusted" pumpkin
Old Tin Pumpkins
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN AGED COPPER PUMPKIN:
You will need:
-craft foam pumpkin
-spray primer (I use Bin 123) in white
-chip brushes
-Copper Schabin or decorative foil
-Wunda Size or Faux Effects Aqua Size
-black paint
-Modern Masters metallic paints in copper, brass, and “reactive” bronze
-Modern Masters reactive paint activator in Blue, Green, and Black
-Modern Masters Permacoat Sealer
1) First prime your pumpkin
2) Apply 2 coats of black paint mixed with a little Brass metallic with a chip brush
3) When dry, coat with a single layer of size. Let size get tacky (about 15 minutes)
then add your schabin or foil. In this demo, I am using Schabin. I bought mine from Kathy Carroll at www.fauxbykathy.com
4) Once you have covered your pumpkin, while leaving some holes or “holidays” use a dry chip brush to go over pumpkin and press down any loose leaves.
5) Now it’s time to “age” the copper. Using a combination of copper paint, and reactive paints, loosely scumble on paint with a chip brush, covering about 75% of pumpkin.
while the paint is still wet, pour the blue reactive and green reactive paints on top of pumpkin, letting it drip over sides, then spritz with the black reactor.
6) Let it dry and coat with the PermaSeal Coat to stop the reactivity.
7) I added some bronze carpet tacks which I purchased at Lowe’s
I’m getting excited for this year’s Faux Expo in Orlando, FL. next week! This is the first year that I will be teaching and I’m really looking forward to it!
Foliage Class Panel image
The inspiration for my class came from my Salon 2011 mural of a trompe l’oeil fountain surrounded by leaves, see previous post for pics. I had so many inquiries about how I painted my leaves, that I thought it would be fun to make it into a class. All summer I have been photographing and painting leaves in preparation! I added a goldfinch so that the painting has a focal point, too. I’m also happy to be painting a mural with a team of friends, headed up by me and my friend, Sean Crosby! We are painting a reproduction of a famous mural by one of my favorite Pre-Raphaelite artists, J.W. Waterhouse. The painting we will be doing is titled, “In the Peristyle”
In the Peristyle by J.W. Waterhouse
There will be lots of great vendors and artists demonstrating. These shows are always such a great source of inspiration, besides being lots of fun. Watch for upcoming posts with more info after the show…
I’ve always been intrigued by “bonsai-d” trees and plants. There is something so cool about those tiny trees and forests! They almost look like tiny fairy gardens. I find them really magical.
they look just like miniature trees
I love the idea of working in harmony with a living thing to achieve an end result that is aesthetically pleasing and actually a living piece of art. Even though painting and drawing are my true passions, I plan on learning to bonsai.
The ancient art of Bonsai originated in China over a thousand years ago. Since then, it has been studied, copied and adopted all over the world and embraced as an artform as well as a gardening practice. The original practice of planting single trees in pots was known as “pun-sai.” The concept of bonsai is to grow a tree or shrub in a container and prune it in such a way that it is in harmony with it’s container, creating an aesthetically pleasing shape. Bonsai is more an artform than a horticultural practice, but basic gardening knowledge is essential to practicing the art of bonsai because the artist is creating and harmonizing with a living growing subject matter.
During the Kamakura period in Japan (1185-1333) many Chinese traditions were adopted. The spread of Zen Buddhism around Asia brought with it the spread of cultural trademarks, such as the art of Bonsai. The Japanese began to refine the artform and the practice of planting and creating these beautiful little living sculptures became a symbol of honor and prestige, representing a fusion of ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.
Nature has always been a prominent subject in Japanese art. This is an example of an 18th century panel painted on gold leaf.
Over time, the practice continued to develop and eventually became quite commonplace and evolved through different styles and “fashions”. In the 17th and 18th century, the Japanese philosophy was one which embraced the reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement. The styles of bonsai trees reflected these ideas and was considered a representation of this minimalist philophy.
Eventually, other trends began to develop such as introducing other natural elements such as rocks, supplementary plants, and even small buildings and people. This particular style was known as “bon-kei.” One of my favorite type of bonsai is the representation of miniature landscapes, known as “sai-ke.”
In Japan, mostly native species such as pines, azaleas and maples are used in their bonsai. However, other countries explore many other plants in their attempts.
One of the bonsai plants on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
If you are interested in trying to practice the art of bonsai on your own, there are many books on the subject. Check out amazon.com for some book options. There is also an American Bonsai Society for enthusiasts in the United States.
I have heard of her before; I saw her on Oprah. I’ve come across her artwork online. But today, I decided to research her story. I am in awe. Her name is Akiane Kramirek and she is an extremely gifted artist, poet and philosopher from Idaho.
Akiane Kramirek and her portrayal of Jesus Christ in her painting entitled, "Prince of Peace"
At four years old she received divine inspiration and began painting and writing poetry. You can learn more about her life experiences in her book, “Akiane, Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry” She paints and writes about nature, God, and all of the things that seem to matter most to her. Her work is very spiritual in theme and she seems very wise far beyond her years. As an artist, I am so impressed with not only her ability to represent an idea or image, but in her conceptual ability and vision.
"Wonder" by Akiane Kramirek, painted when she was 13 year old
I encourage you to check out her website and blog and read her poems and captions along with viewing her work. Here is an example of her poetry. This poem is entitled “Prince of Peace” and was written when she was eight years old. The portrait of Jesus was also painted when she was 8. She is now 16.
Perhaps I wanted to catch it
perhaps not
But one morning
an eagle dropped a diamond
And right then
with my faulty brush
full of my own hair
I wanted to paint
I wanted to paint the wings-
Too late – they flew away
I wanted to paint a flower
Too late – it withered
That night the rain
was running after me
Each drop of rain
showed God’s face
His face was everywhere
On homes and on me
I wrung out the love
to make the red
I wrung out the stumps
to make the brown
I wrung out the trust
to make the pink
I wrung out my own eyes
to make the blue
I wrung out the seaweed
to make the green
I wrung out the nightly pain
to make the black
I wrung out my grandmother’s hair
to make the gray
I wrung out my visions
to make the violet
I wrung out the truth
to make the white
Today I want to paint God’s face
IT’S NOT TOO LATE !
"Open Door" by Akiane Kramirek; a recent painting
a detail from another recent painting by Akiane. She says that God tells her what to paint and write.
