Another Big Catch Up for This Blog...

This project was completed in August 2010, and I simply never got around to posting about it, I had so many deadlines, I never found the time...but it seems worthwhile putting it here now. It turned out very nicely, and makes an interesting change from so many posts about ceramics. In fact, you won't be seeing much about ceramics for a while, now...that season is past...for a while anyhow. This is a mural painted on canvas, in my studio, and stapled directly to the wall. It is painted to match the floorcloth, also painted by me several years ago, which its looking pretty good, too.

I painted wooden framing pieces that are applied with finishing nails, and these cover the edge and the staples. It took forever to hang. I couldn't believe it.

But then I was done, and it looks great.

I had a wonderful time painting the water. The theme and style were the result of the client and I coming up with these ideas- a very simple tropical water scene, serenity, but with movement in the water... big, big clouds, etc etc.

Here is the canvas on the work table. You can see the stretched edge, and the extra area painted in case it needed to be bigger for some reason. In the end that was cropped off.

I also painted this little mirror, to match the mural floorcloth duo, and it's cool to them reflected in it.

There is silver in the floorcloth and in the framing that picks up reflected light. The ceiling is fun too, with the star lights ...they scintillate and flicker on and off...magical.

More Pictures From Restaurant Project

Here are images of the completed wall painting .

Its really cheerful and smart looking...and it looks very nice at night. The lighting in this are is great to show off the saturated colours...its very inviting.

There is one more phase in this project: This metal screen is going to be covered with my painted fabric.

(Some of the solid walls,door and window reveals, and the trellis you can see partially painted, will also be finished up, later this week, by the house painter.)

So keep checking in to see the fabric being painted, and how it all looks together!

Bedroom Waves

Soon THESE walls will be transformed into blue waves too...!

After a thorough installation of lots of plastic sheeting everywhere, and always moving very carefully, I can more or less relax and get into working with the larger scale for a flowing sense of these waves....the effect is pretty cool!

The groovy mirror reflects the light from my flash onto the walls like light dancing in the water!

Waves

The final touch with the fishes along the top of the reef is now complete....it was an awkward space to paint in!

There are some very cute little fishies here! Click on the images to see them bigger.




I used the white trim paint to blend right into the sand along the bottom. Its a good effect, adding a lot of depth.


The remaining walls of the bathroom are going to have just stylised waves....and a few little bait fish swimming around, the idea being, that that's the open water, as opposed to the busy reef.





Through the bathroom door, you can see the work I have begun in the bedroom hall right outside.....

Lots More Fish

Standing in this room, you can practically hear the underwater sounds as you look at all these fish milling around!




























Here are some pictures of my work space...



...its a little cramped, but one soon gets used to how one has to move around, being careful to avoid bumping things, or stepping on the plastic the wrong way.

Getting the lights in the right place is sometimes the hardest part, in small areas like this....either they are shining right in your face blinding you (and cooking you!) or your own shadow falls right on the work...it can be very frustrating, and also a big relief when they are finally right.

Cloud Room

Back in the spring, I painted the wall of this house with very light wispy clouds while it was being comlpetely remodeled. Click on the key words, at the end of this post, and you will be able to see those older posts describing the mirror and walls being created.
Here is the room, and the house, completed, and looking very serene!



These are pillows made from my painted fabric.

And here is the partially silver leafed mirror I painted in February.

Here a length of my fabric is being used as a curtain to close off the closet instead of a clunky door!

And last, but not least, one of my ceramic painted plates empolyed as a useful catch all by the front door!