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Jennifer

The “white goop” in my bucket!

Proceed - Professional Decorative Painting System

I have been in the decorative painting industry for 25 years and I still love what I do – each and every day!!! But, I will have to say – that I have not been this excited in years about the “white goop” in the bucket – thanks to Proceed by Golden.  I made some changes in the products I use over this past year and found a couple of products lines that I just totally in love with.

Proceed® Cracking Textures

Proceed by Golden was created by artist for artist – and the possibilities are endless!  The more I play with the materials, the more possibilities I keep coming up with – I have at least 5 to 10 samples boards hanging up at all times making new creations with this stuff.  Every product they have can be mixed with another product to create something different and believe me, I’m creating!

bella florish3

class19Another point that totally impresses me is the amount of information that they have provided to the artist.  I really try to be available to my customers at all times – but for those that never sleep, you can go to www.proceedsystem.com at any hour of the day and find an enormous amount of information.  (Sorry but I usually don’t answer my phone between 10pm and 6am)  LOL

The Proceed web site has everything you could ever imagine and beyond – coverage calculator – recipe builder – product crossover chart – product information – finishes and much much more!  You can search each product and find out everything you could just about ever need to know.  The more time I spend on the web site the more I learn myself 🙂

I also love the fact that they have packaged all the materials in a sample size container – price range is from $8.79 to $14.98 to get 16 oz of material to play with.  Enough to create a sample board to show a client before buying a full gallon of something your not sure you will need.

proceedsample

My favorite product at this time is Smooth Transparent Glazing Gel (STGG) – I personally think I may need some intervention soon, I can’t get enough of this material.  Here is one of my creations – Crystal Ice:  I use the STGG mixed with Glitter (one or more colors) and create beautiful Stria’s using several different tools.

crystal ice

Just start to imagine the many possibilities that you can create with just STGG – It is a clear gel medium that is glossy – you can mix anything into this medium:  Mica Powders, Mica Flakes, Glitter, Paint, Colorant, glass beads, etc……Just to name a few.glitter2

I have every product in stock – 8 different Mica Flakes – 6 different Glitter colors – many Foils and much more – www.artisticpaintingstudio.com or call the studio @ 714-386-3243!

Studio Floor Project

My new Studio located in Huntington Beach, California is starting to come together.

First things first – for some crazy reason I decided I needed a unique floor for the showroom (even at age 48 – I can still get down there, it just hurts more!)  The owners of my building were nice enough to humor me in removing the old carpet, glue, etc and have the concrete floor ready for my creative endeavors!!!

My clean concrete floor
My clean concrete floor

Now it was time for ME to get to work on this project – I primed the floor with Modern Masters Zero VOC Basecoat in Black, two coats were applied (I just rolled this onto the concrete).  Once the MM Basecoat was dry, I tinted some RSCrete that I had left over – using Black and Brown to create a custom Espresso colored floor.  I troweled on two layers of the RSCrete to create the Espresso floor (you could just use a paint that is made for concrete) – the troweling was a lot of work and my age was sure showing!!!

Base color applied
Base color applied

With the concrete overlay complete, it was now ready for some decorative painting – I picked my stencil design – APS525 Verdalee Swirls and I wanted a fun color to go with the Espresso floor.  I decided to use the American Paint Company’s Chalk paint and made a custom color – 50/50 mix of Surfboard and Beach Glass and off to work I went!

Stenciling begins :)
Stenciling begins 🙂

At this point I really thought the stenciling would be easier than the troweingl of the concrete material – BUT I was wrong!!!  The stenciling itself was easy, it was the amount of time I spent on the ground – kneeling, squating, sitting, etc – no position was comfortable after a little while!!!

Almost done stenciling
Almost done stenciling

I will have to say that this is my most favorite floor I have ever created – the colors are wonderful together and I love this design!!!  Once all the stenciling was completed, I top coated the floor with a material that I also tinted with a little Umber to age the stenciling (yes – I aged the stenciling – LOL).  I applied three coats of the top coat and will be protecting it with a final layer of Metropolis Epoxy Waterbased clear coat!!!

The complete Floor!
The complete Floor!

I did say when I was done – this would be my last floor!!!  Two weeks later, I receive a call for a floor project – bidding the job next week!  LOL

Artistic Painting Studio – 15102 Bolsa Chica, Unit E, Huntington Beach, CA  92649 * 714-386-3243  *  Studio Hours:  Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

 

Complete Make-Over – Moffett Home

Sometimes you get the best projects that fall into your lap and this was one of those projects. One of my girlfriends had been talking about updating her home for a long time and finally said she was ready. She asked me if I would be willing to take on the whole job – acting as her coordinator (for lack of better word). Of course, my answer was yes……because NO is not in my vocalbulary!!!

Before picture of Kitchen

I decided that I wanted to start this project with the materials that would not be changed out anytime soon – so, we went shopping for tile, granite and carpet. What fun it is to spend someone else’s money…..woohoo! Debbie was so easy to work with – not only are we friends, but she makes decisions and sticks with them……..and she lisented to my imput and suggestions. This project was on it’s way to a great start – now it was my job to figure out the progress of the work and not distrube Debbie’s life too bad. With only having two bathrooms in the house – we could only gut one at a time……gotta have one functioning bathroom at all times!

After picture Kitchen

With the decision to start with the remodeling in the masterbath room I finished helping Debbie pick out the additional items that were need for this project. Tile, granite, sinks, toilet, faucets, etc…….then it came to the design of the tile. I shared my ideas with Debbie and the tile contractor and we were on are way. As the masterbath room was being gutted, I started the painting in the Greatroom, office, entry and hallway. Debbie choose a color that would go throughout the home – once this was picked and painting began – I started working on samples for the cabinets and faux finishing.

Before picture – master bathroom

I love it when a client goes for a finish that is not the typical Umber glaze over Off-White paint……..and Debbie went for the dramatic!!! This is my Tuscan Nights finish that I just love and I painted all the cabinets in her house with the same finish – Kitchen, Laundry room, guest bathroom and master bathroom! I also decided for her that we needed to create a faux finish in the master bathroom and the Kitchen – both rooms deserved a little something special.

Once the master bathroom project was complete and Debbie could move back into her own bathroom – we started gutting the kitchen and guest bathroom at the same time. I was really trying to not tear up too much of the house at once, but the Greatroom, office, entry and hallway was all painted and the new carpet was installed at this point.

After picture – master bathroom

Debbie moved a make-shift kitchen to the office area and everyone moved into the master bathroom with her – and we were off working on the rest of the house. Again, spending someone else’s money is just too much fun. I assisted Debbie in picking out all the new appliances for the kitchen, hardware for all the cabinets, light fixtures, mirrors, towel bars, even down to the new towels for the bathrooms!

Debbie was so thrilled with all the transformation to her home that she continued to go shopping – all new furniture for the Great room, new dining room table/chairs and even new office furniture. This house looks amazing – great client/friend to work with and she was willing to go the extra mile and update furnishings too! Spectacular new home!!!

This project was featured in the last issue of Faux Effects World Magazine.

 

 

Finding the right paint color for you

Painting is one of the least expensive, quickest and easiest ways to immediately transform the look of a room.  With a change of color, any space can immediately take on a new personality.

Choosing the perfect color for a room is key!  There’s is no right or wrong color, it’s simply about people finding the right hue for them.  While it may be tempting to follow the trends, sometimes the “in” colors simply do not mesh with a person’s design style.  In such instances it’s best to go with what feels the best.  Choosing colors that impart a certain mood can also help create a dramatic, comforting or energizing space. Certain families of colors say different things and can create a particular atmosphere.

Here are some common colors and what they can do for design.

Green:  If the desire is for a relaxing, all-natural retreat, green may very well be the color to choose.  Green’s connection to nature makes the shade refreshing and soothing to the eye.  It can instantly create a calming effect in any space and people need not worry about going overboard with shades of green.  Complementary colors to green include shades of red and pink.  Use this accent color in draperies or on prints. Fill a vase with magenta-colored blooms and add a special pop of color.

Blue:  Another calming color is blue. It can make a room serene and soothing.  Blue is a cool color, which means it can also be used in abundance with little worry.  Made a bedroom a quiet retreat with the right shade of blue.  A touch of orange or peach blends well with blue.

Red:  An energizing and dramatic color, red demands attention.  It’s stimulating and provocative, and some people love an entire room of red. However, to others red can be overwhelming.  But red can be used on an accent wall or sparingly to spruce up a neutral color scheme.

Purple:  This color is often relegated to a girl’s room, but purple is elegant and regal and can add a touch of romance to a room.  Individuals torn over painting with red may want to try the drama of purple, which is a bit more subdued and mysterious.

Yellow:  There are few colors more uplifting than yellow.  This hue is reminiscent of a bright, sunny day.  A dark house can be brightened by painting a room in a soft shade of yellow that will reflect any visible light.  From bedrooms to bathrooms to kitchens, yellow is a versatile, illuminating shade.

Orange:  Another vibrant color is orange.  This hue can be captivating and friendly and alos brighten up a dull space.  Orange adds energy to a room, so it may not be best for bedrooms or other calming retreats, like a den.  People needn’t paint a room pumpkin to get the full effect of orange (burnt orange’s are wonderful).  More subtle shades, like apricot or terra-cotta, can also add the power of orange.

Pink:  Pink is a romantic color and ultra-feminine.  Pink has long been considered nothing more than a bedroom color, but when used in the right fashion, it can also add spirited whimsy to a living space.

Brown:  This earthy, wholesome shade is rustic and rich.  It can make a large room seem more cozy.  It also exudes a feeling of sensuality and durability.  Neutral shades of brown are very popular in homes because they can be paired with many other colors, including blue, green and pink.  One of my favorite combinations with brown is teal!

White:  Some people think the absence of color is ideal (not me).  White is fresh, bright and clean.  It’s also a timeless choice for consumers who can’t decide on another color.  White goes with just about anything, but if all white seems too sterile, think about mixing white with shades of beige for just a little color.

Experimenting with color can dramatically change the look of any room in the house.  Consider using a online room simulator to try out different shades before painting.  I also recommend purchase a quart of the color you choose and try it out on all walls in the room to see if it’s creating the feel you desire.

I found this article on color sometime ago – Metro Creative Connection – and felt is was worth sharing, I have added some of my photos to inspire you and some of my personal opinions on color 🙂

Artistic Cabinetry Workshop

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 November 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 this class 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 10 cabinet door samples as well as 10 molding samples.

Artistic Designer Cabinetry and Furniture Finishes – November 12th – 16th – a full week course being held at my Studio in Fresno, CA  – for samples and complete details to register – www.artisticpaintingstudio.com

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

Stencil Give-Away!!!

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…………