From My Studio Walls to Your Home -- For Less!

I am now hand painting murals in my studio that can be easily installed on your smooth walls.

Why is this to your advantage?

I can save you money by working in my studio in my own free time rather than returning day after day to your home: you pay only for my working time and materials. There is no travel, gas, set up or clean up. Working in my studio with my tools at hand, I have less travel time, spend less on gas, and can spend less time at your home. I can pass on my savings to you. Additionally, you need not worry about scheduling time for my multiple painting sessions: your privacy is maintained; your routine is not interrupted.

When your interests or your children's interests change, the art and your investment is not lost! You can easily peel the mural from your wall without damage rather than have to sand down and paint over your investment. The wall is not changed or damaged by the mural. The art can be enjoyed again.

Murals that I traditionally paint on site at your home cost a very reasonable $200 per day plus materials. However, few murals can be painted in one day as various layers of paint and glazes need time to dry. Murals that I paint in my studio can be purchased for less. I believe this is an excellent option in this trying economy, and I welcome your ideas and questions.

I look forward to bringing your children's dreams to life and your creative and decorative ideas to fruition. Smaller wall accents (a unicorn head peering around your doorframe) and other creatures (dragons, horses, lizards, dinosaurs) and themes (sports motifs, big flowers, favorite characters for both boys and girls), as well as silhouettes are available. Most budgets can be accommodated. Pricing is directly affected by detail required.




The Unicorn Mural

The unicorn mural in its entirety is approximately 6' by 6'. I will take a more accurate measurement upon completion. The colors are mostly cool shades of blue with white. I am asking $200.00 for this mural. For an additional charge, I will install it myself in your home. If you are interested in purchasing this mural or have ideas for another, please contact me at gentile.faux@yahoo.com .

Other detailed photos can be viewed in previous blog entries below.

Unicorn Mural Photo Progression

The finished mural can be yours. . .

Note: Please click any photo to enlarge.

Photo 1 - Day 1 :Humble beginnings with a simple gray and white image. I begin most projects by blocking in basic shapes.

Photo 2: I've added some detail.


Photo 3: I have painted in more detail including some vague background elements (hills, snow). I've shortened his rather long cumbersome horn and started a castle (which will later disappear). The paint was still wet when I snapped the photo.

Photo 4: I have painted in more detail in the way of feathered legs, mane and tail. Castle begins to fade into the background.

Photo 5: I decided the snowy background was not very interesting and have begun painting a birch tree (left) and distant woods (right). Yes, the entire mural is still being worked on and further refined.

Other detailed photos of the unicorn's tail and legs can be seen below in an earlier entry.

Please click any photo to enlarge.

Unicorn Mural Update

These photos were taken today. As you can see, I've been working on the mane, tail, and feathered legs and have done some work on the background. He's shaping up quite nicely.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

Please Page Down for a Tour of Possibilities...

Leathery textured and glazed walls, faux brick and faux stone, followed by a more subtle texture and glaze treatment.



This formerly grey tile fireplace was resurfaced (with VersiPlast). Faux tiles add color and life to a previously all white, monotone kitchen.



A jazzy saxaphonist, a happy little fish or an inquisitive snail peering down from a child's bathroom door frame.

Have a question?

Don't hesitate to contact me at gentile.faux@yahoo.com.

Some exterior work can be accommodated. Estimates are always free.

Fireplace Faux - Bland Tile to Textured French Provencial

Before: Plain glossy grey tile--my clients just didn't like it...




After: A repainted, aged mantle and surround and re-textured, fauxed tiles that meshed perfectly with their French Country decor!

Suede Faux Kitchen Walls - Soft Sophisticated Color

Kitchen Remodel in Progress, Before Faux




After Faux...

Sunroom

Before...



Gaps in beadboard...





After. Beadboard caulked, primed, painted.



I had painted this Greene County customer's living/great room before Christmas, and recently was asked to return to paint the sunroom. The beadboard had been installed in sections of various sizes, and the carpenters left large gaps between sections. I caulked all the gaps in the beadboard, and there were many, as well as sealed the bleeding pine knotholes with shellac based Kilz. It took three and in some areas 4 coats of primer to conceal the original blue green wall color, and then three coats of wall paint to reach a nice, even tone consistent with the pale yellow my customer selected.

The sunroom now has a complete, clean finished appearance, and my client's color selections brightened the atmosphere tremendously making this sweet bright little room a very pleasant space indeed.

Master Bedroom Remodel

TEXTURE & GLAZES APPLIED



CLOSEUP OF TEXTURE



MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE...




My Greene County clients decided it was time to update their master bedroom. With the impending delivery of new beautiful Tuscany inspired furniture set, we decided to update the focal wall with a leathery, somewhat stonelike texture and finish. While interesting to look at and rich in texture, the new wall treatment was understated enough to make the new, bold new furniture stand out. Updated pictures with the new furniture in place are forthcoming.

New Link to the Creative

Please take a look at my creative blog where I sometimes showcase my non-faux work. A reminder to my faux customers: I can be as creative as you like and am happy to discuss creative options regarding art on your walls. I have no problem thinking "outside the box." So if any of my art appeals to you and you think you might like to see it or something like it in your home, please don't hesitate to contact me. My email is: gentile.faux@yahoo.com.

Recently sold piece, "Winged Woman Waiting."

You can view more of my creative works at Divine Synchrondipity.

Great Room Repaint - Greenville, NY

Textured and Glazed Dining Room - Glenmont, NY

The dining room was an important gathering area for my client's family. "This wallpaper has got to go," she said. It was a dated floral print on a silver metallic background. She and her husband couldn't wait to see it go. I steamed it off to reveal walls that were in surprisingly good condition.

She and her husband wanted something warm and different, but not too extreme or busy. And the color needed to work with the deep mustard color of the adjacent kitchen.

I suggested a very light texture, just enough to make the faux interesting. I topped with a light base coat and glaze that were both in the same color family as the kitchen. Shades lighter than the kitchen, the final color could be best described as golden--not metallic, but like a golden pear.

First, I caulked around the trim for a smooth finish. Then I applied texture, the base color, and then the glaze. My client was a bit skeptical as she watched the coat of texture dry. Several days later, when I was applying the glaze, she said, "It's amazing how much the appearance changes from step to step--the first day is completely different from the last." And the walls do go through quite a transformation that can only best be appreciated a few days after the glaze dries and the colors soften.

What did my client think about the final finish? "We love it!" she said. See her and her husband's comments in About My Work.

Sax Mural, Country Meadows Estates, Glenmont

Today I completed an approximately 3 1/2' by 3 1/2' abstract/modern mural of an alto saxaphonist for the son of a client in Country Meadows Estates, Albany County. It is lively, colorful and jazzy, and both my client and her teenage son were very pleased.

Comment from a Recent Client...

"Working with Andrea was a pleasure from start to (faux) finish! Her craftsmanship is outstanding and the finished product beyond what I had envisioned. Our fireplace belongs in a countryside cottage in the south of France..." S.H., Delmar, Albany County.

I created a delicately-colored Old World texture over the existing grey-tiled face and floor of a master bedroom fireplace. Then I painted and softly antiqued the wooden mantle and surround to fit my client's French country decor.

Now Offering Versiplast

Versiplast offers high tech, durable alternative to traditional troweled on textures that may or may not hold up well in high traffic areas. It can be used in Mediterranean or Old World finishes, and also works well in most raised relief designs. It can be tinted and glazed for a myriad of effects, from understated to the dramatic.

Several Versiplast Finishes... of Thousands of Possibilities!


The advantage of Versiplast over many other finishes is that it is more durable. But one difference between Versiplast and plastery finishes that may affect your choice is that the Versiplast gives a rougher, grainier, almost sandy finish. Most of the traditional more organic finishes I create are rather smooth, even if the texture I creates with it is pitted and rough looking. I also think traditional materials would also be the better choice for any raised relief designs that have fine detail.

A Very Successful Kitchen Makeover - Country Meadows Estates, Glenmont, Albany County

From bland to beautiful...

A great shade of paint on the walls, Sherwin William's Ryegrass, and a 23' long faux tile backplash in greens and plum brought this beautiful but bland all white kitchen to life.

The Kitchen After
The Solution? Pump up the Wall Color and Add an Eyecatching Faux Tile Backsplash!


The Kitchen Before
The problem: Too Much White!


This spacious kitchen had only one problem: a lifeless white on ivory color scheme. The customer and I discussed decorative painting in key places (over windows and doors, around the bay window of the dining area). We came to the conclusion that the room needed more than just accents: It needed a serious shot of color. That said, the color needed to work well with existing drapery in the dining area and living room. Additionally, the kitchen color had to flow harmoniously into the living room, which is painted in a warm golden Tuscany finish.

After brainstorming colors at the new Delmar Sherwin Williams store, where we had a serendipitous run in with just the right shade of green, I began the project by painting the kitchen walls in Duration Ryegrass.

Now, the formerly unobstrusive, indistinct white cabinets and grey countertops stood out and could be seen as actual colors. The green walls were warm, inviting and alive! We knew we were on the right track. But the kitchen still needed something else. Faux tile on point rather than in a checkered pattern was the answer. I sketched several tile patterns. My client chose a configuration that picked up on the pattern in her existing flooring and added a shot of plum to the color scheme, echoing the plum in her existing floral arrangements, drapery and accessories.


A closer look at the dimensional faux tile backsplash...