In preparation for painting the Abraham Lincoln Memorial climbing wall for ClimbZone Production, I led a marbleizing tutorial at the shop to help the paint team unify their faux marble style, and for fun.
We chose a circular shape for our test piece to hopefully double as a marble table when complete. After finding the appropriate DIY YouTube video on the subject we went to work using paint, glazes, sponges, spray bottles and heat guns for the desired effect.
An aged faux finish I did in a living room in exchange for an Ethan Allen sectional black leather couch.
A commissioned faux finish job using a sponge/rag technique. Orange was a bold and risky choice for the Ricatelli's but it does give a warmth and energy to their living quarters.
This area in the second location for Loafers Bar & Grill is known as the "Party Room". Its a place that can be rented out for special events and private parties. I continued the faux brick but included a scenic view of the Mediterranean Sea beyond. Loafers is owned by a group of Greek Restauranteurs and they always appreciate reminders of the old country.
Introducing the second Loafers Sports Bar & Grill location in Halethorpe, MD. You'll see the always present "Loafers Guy" and the faux brick throughout. I spent two weeks painting this area before moving to the "Party Room".
Harold, the owner and operator of Loafers Bar & Grill is constantly updating, adding and improving his establishment. He has been my most loyal and frequent client over our decade of doing business together. In 2011, I spent two weeks recreating the look of the interior by painting faux brick over every wall surface in site. I used a custom 18" x 24" foam core stencil and many aging washes to achieve the effect. In the end the warm brick gives a friendly and inviting atmosphere to the place, like "Cheers".
This job led to many others as you will see throughout my portfolio. Since these pictures were taken, He has added framed and signed sports images on the walls for a finished and historic look.
Looking back, I must have lived at Loafers in 2011! After the faux brick in the upper bar area, owner Harold commissioned a faux stone treatment in the lower dining area. The warm, earthy colors of the rock compliment the deep wood booths well and create a comforting backdrop for dining and watching your favorite sports teams on the tele.
Darryl did not like the way his bare retaining wall looked. No matter how beautiful he kept his garden, that wall was always a distraction, an eye sore. I was asked to assess the situation after Darryl met me while working on another mural. Three days later he had a stone wall at a fraction of the cost of a real one! Over time these painted rocks will age and become more natural looking as moss grows and stains appear. It's all part of the process.
Mr. Darmesh requested a papyrus wall finish and insisted on a hand painted version, to my delight, as apposed to wall paper. I often wonder how the walls I paint end up being decorated and long for a follow up visit to take some pictures but somehow never get around to that point.
At the Foster residence, Dee Dee requested that I match an existing European wallpaper with paint, and I welcomed the challenge. After three days we were both pleased at the results. The red has a soft, almost velvet feel while the gold leaf shimmers in the sunlight. This was a bold move for her. But as they say, "Fortune favors the bold!"
After the dining room was complete she had me design a custom monogram for their entryway displaying the letter F for Foster. As a bit of an encore I guess.
Renae was having a wine tasting party at her house and wanted to create a romantic atmosphere for her guests. After her new furniture arrived we agreed that a metallic finish would match well with the rest of the metallic themes in her house. The first layer was copper followed by a green sponge pass and finally a warm gold to complete the sheen. It's the first of its kind for me.
The BB Murals artisans spent six weeks, (12 hours a day) gold tipping the miles of ornate crown molding, chair rail, picture frame molding, archways and columns. Sometimes painting into the wee hours to accomplish the Christmas 2007 deadline, which we did!
The treatment for the bathroom at the Wisenbaker house includes gold leaf crown molding, gold leaf pin striping and faux marble ceiling dome and pillars. I spent two days working on this room painting the marble while four other BBMurals painters completed the gold leaf.
Aged stripes for Mrs. Sullivan using a sponge method after painting the stripes. This was another contracted job for Valley Craftsmen LTD.
After spending a few months working for Valley Craftsmen llc where I learned how to apply Venetian Plaster, I wanted to hone my skills by practicing in my own house. This particular style was more rustic than some of the other finishes and entitled Tuscan Sun. I liked its warmth aside the wood floors.
