Decorative Painting and Murals by: Arlene Mcloughlin

Mercedes Benz Mural Project

2011-11-15T01:56:00.001-08:00

Recently I was commissioned by the Mercedes Benz dealership in Massapequa to add some excitement to their client boutique. The boutique not only is a place where people can buy the latest Mercedes a high traffic area where billing is done, appointments are made and general traffic is kind of high. The inspiration for the murals came for two areas, one was a timeline of the car, which many people , myself inclusive find very interesting. To see how the style and shape has changed over the last hundred years is fascinating. I painted 13 models for the timeline on pellon and installed these paintings in a border design around the perimeter of the showroom. The larger murals are of the "founding" historical figures of Mercedes Benz, these murals measure 54"x 82" and were painted on canvas and installed. The murals include six portraits painted in sepia tone, which gives a nice "aged" . Following each portrait is a short paragraph explaining each figures signifigance to the Mercedes Benz company. The murals give customers a little bit of history as well as something nice to look at while in the boutique.

Undersea Marine Life Mural in Whitestone N.Y

2011-11-05T04:19:00.000-07:00

I have a wonderful client in Malba , New York, a little "hub" if you will of the lovely Whitestone , Queens. This area is beautiful, overlooking the Whitestone Bridge filled filled with fantastic old Tudors, Colonials as well as massive new stucco and brick mini mansions.I am very familiar with the area as I have been coming here since I was a baby , my "Nana" lived there as well as my entire family has migrated back there now. I met this client about a year ago and developed a very nice relationship with her. My first job for her was a Faux Finish in her kitchen that has since snow balled into a finish or mural in every room of her home. When she started chemotherapy about a year ago I decided to surprise her and do her bedroom for her while whe was in the hospital. When she came home she was very pleased and has since called me back to do 3 more bedrooms. The room I am focusing on here is the boys room. I did a panoramic undersea mural depicting mammals, fish and marine plants, the mural posed a few challenges as it is on a deep slant, and all over head. The finished mural creates a soothing environment fro a kids room and adds color and interest to a large area of ceiling space.

A fine Faux Finish in Brookville NY

2011-10-12T04:06:00.000-07:00

Finally finished photos of the Brookville Mansion featuring 13 rooms of faux finishes, murals, venetian plaster and gold leaf. Please watch the attached video to see a virtual home tour of this magnificent home located in the heart of the Gold Coast of Long Island.

Designer Showcase 2011

2011-09-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Designer showcase featuring fantastic design trends, interior decorating and artists, is opening Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Chestnut Manor in Brookville. The mansion is filled with great design ideas, artwork, and beautiful wall treatments. All proceeds are non profit and benefit the Millneck school for the deaf. I am very happy to be amongst the vast amount of talented professionals participating this year. My areas are the first floor powder room which I transformed into an ultra feminine panoramic escape, and the back first level stairwell, that leads up to the athletic wing of the house. If you are in the area, and would like to spend a pleasant afternoon perusing the mansion or, if you are decorating your own home and need ideas and professionals to help you stop by and you will be very glad you did!

A busy summer!

2011-08-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

This summer has been perhaps one of the best we have ever enjoyed here on Long Island. The weather has been fantastic, hot, sunny and mostly dry. The beaches here have been crowded and beautiful! A summer to enjoy and take in the many exciting sites here on the island. We have enjoyed the many delights the Great South bay has to offer, from boating and jet skiing to a terrific meal at the Singletons seafood shack at Tobay. Painting during these hot summer months can be very inspiring taking in the vast amount of beaches, boardwalks and beautiful scenery at the beaches. We have done some plien air painting as well as taking some fabulous sunset shots from our very own John Burns Park. One of the best days we enjoyed this summer was a nostalgic visit to Lido beach, i remember taking the free beach bus there as a kid, and the fun times my friends and i had there were all but stored away in my memory. I met my brother's family there one Sunday 2 weeks ago, we enjoyed the beach, and the "mushrooms" and after had a great dinner at Jordan lobster farms. They have newly expanded the out door dining area, a very affordable and delicious way to enjoy the sea;s king of the dinner plate! No trip to Lide is complete with out a cone from Marvel, in business since long before I was a kid, this place never gets old, and the ice cream just tastes better!

Allover stencils in Faux Finish treatments on Long Island

2011-04-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

The latest installment in my on going coverage of the "big house" project is the use of stencils through out the home. The use of pattern in general was very important to the clients - as it reminded them of their home country of India. We incorporated many stencil patterns through the decoration of the home, picking up the exquisite rare stone floor inlays and the general lines of the home. The master bedroom and foyer/ great room had floor to ceiling patterns of all over stenciling. With high ceilings of over 24 feet the all over pattern is a wonderfully subtle choice in decorative painting. By adding the use of a simple color wash, strie, or simply using a semi gloss paint over a flat or matte finish can yield lovely results.

Raised Plaster Faux Finishes

2011-03-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

My next installment in my ongoing re-cap of a project I recently had the pleasure of working on is the Formal Living room , and Dining room . These two rooms are directly located off the main entry way and kitchen area, The rooms had to have a "flow". The color palette and design elements had to work together and compliment each other. The design elements and faux treatments also had to be able to stand alone. As I stated in the previous installment the clients vision had to be reminiscent of his home country. The walls, and designs were selected to evoke a feel of home for them when they walked through the doors. We did utilize many stencils, but each stencil was applied in such a manor that it became so much more than a stencil. In the formal living room we used fantastic stencils from Victoria Larsen. The room had a surround of raised panels, each was painted with Sherwin Williams matte finish paint in "Antique white" We then painstakingly centered each of the 15 stencils in each box, the stencil was plastered with a custom mix of Palette deco and gold paint for a very bright and brilliant gold raised look. The ceiling moldings were hand detailed with gold paint. The dining room also had lovely raised panels, these were octagon shaped and each one had a round stencil, some were from Royal Design Studio , Victoria Larsen and The Mad Stencilist designed our corners for us. These stencils also were treated with a bright gold plaster. The magnificent cofered ceiling had a hand painted gold leaf application on all decorative moldings

Faux Finish, Stenciling, and Mural extravaganza on Long Island

2011-03-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

I was recently commissioned to work in a grand home in Brookville, Long Island. The clients and I worked together for approximately 8 months on 12 rooms in the home that would have decorative painting in some capacity. Much of the inspiration came form lovely ornate inlays the clients had imported from India. The inlays adorned floors in bathrooms, foyers, great rooms, and contained fabulous marble , lapis, mother of pearl and other various beautiful stone elements. I used stencils for much of my "back ground" wall work . In the entry way foyer and great room , which boasts 22 foot ceilings and a lovely round "rotunda" style architecture, we used a very soothing color palette of warm shades of white and tans that coordinated with the marble floors. The wow factor in the rotunda comes from the 9 foot diameter dome that is directly above the round entry inlay. We chose to paint this a red velvet faux finish with gold leaf stenciling and hand applied jewels to each individual flower. The columns flanking the balcony in the foyer and great room were faux painted to look like marble and have lovely gold capitals.....My next installment I will cover the formal living areas, Dining room and Living room...

Tropical Murals

2011-02-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

Bling in the Faux painting!

2010-12-31T04:18:00.000-08:00

Going forward in 2011, I have noticed through out 2010 the request for Bling!!I have had more commissions this past year including bling than I have had in my entire 15 years as a decorative artist, and 25 years as a paid artist. Let m define BLING , here on Long Island I think we are getting bit by the in flux of reality tv. The tv shows that air homes of the rich and famous have inordinate amounts of marble, crystal, jewels, gold leaf and opulence galore. So my "BLING" filled commissions have included a lot of leaf this year. Gold leaf, copper, or aluminum, used as accents or entire walls or ceilings. I have used more crystals than when i had my bridal gown business 20 years ago! The crystals have been used in faux painting, as well as murals and kids rooms. I have also used more metalic paint this year than any other paint, so I think the desire and appreciation for all things shiny will comtinue through the new year. I look forward to 2011 and all it will bring, wishing all of you a Happy and Healthy BLING filled New Year!

Ceiling Murals on Long Island

2010-11-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been getting an abundance of requests for ceiling murals. From Merrick, to Montauk and Hewlett in between. Murals on the fifth wall seem to be very popular this year. I did a ceiling mural with gold leaf and Sworavorski crystals on a dining room ceiling in Merrick,a week later a ceiling design with ornamental scrolls , floral's and pearls in Dix Hills. The most popular ideas for ceilings used to be cherubin and sky scapes, recently I finished a Victorian home in Rockville Center with for different ceiling treatments all with variations of stenciling work. True murals on a ceiling are even transpiring into kid's rooms. In Massapequa Park I recently finished a fun compass rose mural for a nursery. So when designing the decor of your rooms remember to take into consideration the ceiling, be it a tray, recessed, coffered, cathedral or flat - Murals on the ceiling add an unexpected element to any room. To view photos of many of the works mentioned please visit www.arlenemurals.com

A Valley Stream Classic

2010-10-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Valley Stream Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor icon "Mitchell's" on Rockaway Ave. has been serving happy customers since 1938! Recently I had the pleasure of working with owners Chris and Dimitrious in lending a hand in the updating of the establishment. The interior has been completely renovated, revealing fabulous "mod" looking glass tiles in fun gradient colors wrapping around the eating area. The counter where you can sit and have a refreshing ice cream soda has fun glass tiles and a new mural complete with a hot fudge river! The vestibule and back areas were treated with a mica faux painting treatment to compliment the tile work. As an ode to the original I was asked to paint a portrait of the old building on a canvas that will hang in the main dining room. What a wonderful place to take your family and friends for a bit of Valley stream and old New York nostalgia! And the ice cream is delicious!

Amityville Art Show

2010-09-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

Outdoor art show next weekend in the Amityville Main street market. There will be live music , artists showcasing and selling works, art demonstrations as well as opportunities for folks to meet and get to know some great local artists. I will be showcasing some gold leaf paintings around 2:00pm.

Long Island Faux finsh trends

2010-07-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

As an artist and experienced faux painter celebrating almost 20 years working for myself on Long Island I have noticed many trends over the last few years, I sold nothing but Italian "fresco look" paints and plasters for a while, then it was the "chocolate brown " trend. Lately and for the last year or so my top selling finish is an interpretation of tissue. I personally love tissue as a finish. The tissue is cheap, and labor is not huge so it's quite affordable, but what draws me to the tissue is the diversity in which this substrate can be manipulated and transformed into countless looks. The fact that the tissue is also a fantastic remedy for botched wallpaper removal, and poor walls is always an added plus. My number on selling finish is tissue with metallic paints and activating sprays, the results are nothing short of magical when all that mica gets caught in the tissue creases! The classic leather look utilizing tissue paper faux finish as a base is also a popular look. For some diverse and fantastic looks please visit my gallery on facebook or my website...thanks for reading!

Solo Show in Hicksville

2010-06-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce a new show for the month of March at the Hicksville Public Library on Jerusalem Ave. I have 35 paintings in the show. Some of my oil on gold and copper leaf paintings, along with ornamental, floral and a few abstract paintings. The paintings are hung in the lower level gallery and can be seen during the hours of 11 am- 8 pm daily. All paintings are available for purchase.

Amityville Artist Circle Gallery

2010-05-23T04:15:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that one of my paintings has been accepted into the Juried show "Dreams" opening this weekend at the Circle gallery in Amityville. The show opened Saturday evening , with a beautiful and interesting collection of works from Long Island Artists. My painting is an aluminum leaf painting with acrylic and plaster. The theme of my work is the longevity of the Earths ocean and my dream of keeping them clean and the marine life safe. Hours of the Gallery are daily from 12-6. The Circle gallery is located next to Vittorio's on Main Street in Amityville , Long Island. The show "Dreams" runs until June 26th

Avon Walk for Breastancer

2010-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

I have officially started my training this week for the walk in October, this walk is a 39 mile walk around Manhattan. I did it last year and it was a truly wonderful experience. My fundraising efforts are a bit slow going this year, but I am confidant through word of mouth I will raise the much needed money to end this disease. My training will be periodically updated here and if you feel like giving me a small donation I would much appreciate it! Click on the link above to go to the fundraising page http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1970&px=4423358&s_src=boundlessfundraising

Faux Glazing Techniques

2010-05-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

I would like to talk about some very simple faux painting techniques that I have been using successfully for over 20 years. Many of these techniques require a paint - glaze ratio and or water. Fundamentally a glaze is a medium which makes paint tranlucent and workable. I have several favorite means of application , for fast results over a good solid pre- existing base coat a color wash looks terrific and is almost effortless. I like to use a round car wash brush for this and blend and stipple he glaze, for a cloud like faux finish. Some times on a ceiling i will use a woolie for this finish it covers for area and also gives a nice even finish. Ragging on a glaze will give you a more defined pattern of a finish depending on how much glaze you use. I prefer a faux finish that I devised for covering bad walls or minimizing the time for a base coat. This is a "roll and faux" technique. I roll 3-4 foot sections with a light basecoat then rag wet into wet for a very mottled and heavy movement type faux finish. This has cut out an entire day of base coat painting because you are essentially basecaoting while you faux. This works well with 2 people as one will roll the other will faux paint. These are just 2 of my favorites more to come......

A trip to Versaille and all things Parisian

2010-04-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

I recently was lucky enough to be able to travel overseas to enjoy a few days in Paris with my daughter Niamh. We specifically went for the annual exhibition of the Salon Of Decorative Painters. This years exhibition was held in the glorious town of Versaille , just outside of Paris. The Salon is set up to showcase the best of decorative arts. To be included is an honor and to be an onlooker is a treat. The Panels submitted and shown this tear were simply fabulous from the grandest of murals to ornaments and marble. We spent the morning perusing the exhibition hall taking photos of all the panels, then went to the demonstration hall to watch some of the masterful artists in action. There were some great artworks in progression and it is always a delight to see these artisans work. After our Salon visit we walked to the Palace Versaille. The day was a glorious sunny , cloudless afternoon and to enjoy the ponds, trails, and gardens on such a sunny day was a treat. We rented bicycles and were able to ride to Marie Antoinette's apartments and to the farms in the back. We especially loved the small lite houses with thatched roofs and small rabbit pens. Enclosed is a link to my photo album please feel free to enjoy the magnifcence of it all.

Hierloom Christening Gowns

2010-03-23T03:49:00.000-07:00

Hierloom Christening gowns, made form a treasured wedding gown. What better way to pass on your wedding gown fabrications. I was recently commissioned to design a Christening Gown for a dear friend a very good client. I was given the wedding gown, which was a fabulous concoction of silk satin, ornate beaded accents and alencon lace. I made a pattern for the dress, my main concerns were utilizing the beautiful cut work on the front hem and train of the shirt. The gown was a traditional long gown with a matching bonnet and head band. I trimmed the waisteband with small satin rosettes and pearls. Creating these gowns are fun and being able to incorporate and mother's or grandmother's gown into the Christening gown is a fabulous way to creat a family hierloom.

Yankee Stadium Mural

2010-02-28T04:29:00.000-08:00

This mural of the new Yankee Stadium was one of my most challenging and rewarding projects I have done. The clients vision was a feel that you the viewer could "jump" right into the field. The length and height of the wall served the challenge because a panoramic view would not include the field or diamond. I elongated the outer boxes and seating to give the viewer the feeling that they were in the stands, and at the same time was able to fill in around the outer stadium walls with the "feeling" of surrounding buildings. This mural is 10x 16 feet in a little boys room. On the other walls and closet I used graffiti lettering to write the boys name and painted trompe lockers on his closet door. The results are a true Yankee lovers theme room. I am not sure who is happier daddy or baby....

Upcoming show

2010-02-19T05:39:00.000-08:00

I will be having an exhibition at the Oyster Bay Public Library for the month of March. The exhibition will iclude about 30 various media paintings n canvas, as well as several acrylic tapestries and 4 new paintings I have recently completed on gold and copper leaf backgrounds. The show is a part of the Town of Oyster Bay Rotational Arts Exhibition. The paintings can be viewed during regular library business hours.

Solo exhibit for February

2010-01-27T16:57:00.000-08:00

I will be hanging approximately 30 various media and themed paintings at the Town attorneys office in Oyster Bay this Firday. I was happily chosen to be a participant in this years Oyster Bay Rotational Arts Exhibition. This is a non- profit organization that focuses on the advancement of the arts on Long Island. Each year some of Long Islands fine artists get together to exhibit and compete in a juried show. Artists are then aked to participate in the 12 month long rotational exhibition. This is a great way to network with other artists, learn about upcoming shows, sell some paintings and exhibit works in various locations all over Long Island. if you are in the area stop in and see some works Audrey ave, in Oyster bay.

Long Island Press "BEST OF WINNER"

2010-01-04T11:37:00.000-08:00

We would like to take a moment to thank all our clients, family and friends who once again voted for us in the Long Ilsand Press' Best Of 2010 annual list. This is our third year being recognized amongst the best Long Island has to offer in business, retail and entertainment. We as a company are very proud to be honored amongst the "Best Artist " winners. The 12 exceptionally talented artists in the category all deserve recognition for talent and excellence we are very pleased to have recieved the second place position and congratulate all the nominees and winners in this years January 14th edition.

Norman J. Levy Lakeside School Murals

2009-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

The Norman J. Levy lakeside school was the perfect venue for some interesting and fun mural work. There were seven pre-existing panels in the cafeteria that were just BROWN. These ugly brown panels were begging for some excitement. the PTA President , and principal contacted me and we shot around some ideas, until we came up with filling the areas with the subjects in the schools curriculum. I submitted sketches that featured math, social studies, science, reading , art, and gym for their approval. I was also asked to come up with an idea to fill a large space high above the kitchen window. I painted the murals in three days over this past Christmas vacation, the students and faculty have not seen any of the work yet! This is my favorite part, seeing the reactions of the kids when they first go back to school on Monday.

PDPA SUMMIT

2009-12-10T03:23:00.000-08:00

This is a summit our industry has been in need of for a while. I hope to be able to attend in September 2010. Hit the link above for all the information you need to learn about the workshops and lectures that will take place. The summit is being launched by my good friend Patrick Ganino a true leader and innovator in the industry of decorative painting.

Art League Long Island

2009-11-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

The annual member exhibition will take place in two parts this year due to such a large participant out pouring over the summer. The first exhibition will be on November 8- 29, 2009 - reception November 8 from 3-5 pm. The second part of the exhibition will be on December 6 - 27, 2009- the reception December 6 from 3-5 pm. The juror for this show will bw Lynda Anderson from Lynda Anderson galleries in Locust valley. I will be exhibiting my painting in the secon half of the show. The Art Leauge of Long Island is located at 107E Deer Park RD in Dix Hills. The Jeanne Tennelson gallery is a lovely gallery and a wonderful venue for exhibiting work. The reception promises to be an afternoon of diverse artwork and a delightful mix of talented artists and collectors alike.

The Best Of Long Island

2009-10-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

Once again we have been nominated by the Long Island Press in the "Best Artist" category. This is the third year as a company for us to be honored by this newspaper. We have won the title for 2008 and 2009 ! We hope to win for 2010 . We are very proud to even be nominated again and are looking foward to the results in December. For those of you who would like to vote, and we NEED votes!!! Please hit the link above and go to the "arts and entertainment" section we are located in the "Artists" section. Or go to www.longislandpress.com/bestof/ The Long Island Press is a weekly paper that covers the heart and sole of issues, happenings and areas of Long island, look for it in your local supermarket or subscribe to delivery.

A hotel lobby in your living room!

2009-10-12T05:52:00.001-07:00

Recently I was contacted by clients who wanted the feel of a hotel lobby in thier entryway and living room areas. HMMMMM how do we create that breezy, relaxed island atmosphere? We worked together in coming up with ideas that would include murals in 6 built in panels as well as a massive barrel cieling. On the wall facing the "water fall" wall, I designed a mural that created the feel of a veranda opening out onto a beach . We included palms, birds, lush tropical plants and a rock waterfall. On either side of the actual water wall we decided to paint an actual hotel lobby scene complete with a baby grand piano, inviting wing back chairs, plants and wine! The completed mural was finished off with a sky mural painted on the barrel cieling. Finishing off the wood work surrounding the murals I crackled and distressed an off white color semi gloss paint over a copper verdigris tropical blue. The effect is a very weathered and Carribean like wood finish. Now when you walk into this entryway you can almost hear the steel drums beckoning you for a margherita and a cool ocean breeze.

LG Salon a study in metal and texture

2009-09-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

LG salon , recently opened in Amityville, a lovely high end salon with a big open and inviting floor plan. When you walk in you are greeted with smiles from owners Larry and his wife Nicole, then it's off for color, cut or style whichever you prefer. The salon offers everything from hair cuts and color to nails and waxing. We did a silver , copper, and gold dutch metal finish over crackled walls, the results give a luminous quality to the environment and are a nice contrast in color and texture to the rustic brickwork on the opposing walls. Located in the Five Guys shopping mall, LG Salon has plenty of parking and is conveniently located on Merrick Rd.

Tissue Finishes and beyond....

2009-09-20T05:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite finishes to do is a tissue finish. I love the variations you can get with the tissue, from rich supple leather looks to ultra modern and sophisticated looks with metals. Recently i started applying the tissue and activating my metal paints with an activating spray. The results on the tissue are spectaular. The fun of this of course is the element of surprise because you never really know what your going to get as far as pattern and reaction depth. I use Modern Masters metal reactive paints and sprays, Baroque and Blue Patina being my favorites. My most recent project was a small powder room for a long time client. I did a dark eggplant base color to apply my tissue and then randomly applied Statuary Bronze, baroque and Copper paints. When Sprayed with the blue patina solution the results were phenominal. the beauty of these finishes are the tissue, all the metal and patina get caught in the cracks and folds, delivering a lovely surface that invites the viewer to touch it.

St Elizabeth Seton school

2009-09-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Updating and creating a warm environment for Catholic School children. Most schools in general have an "antiseptic" type hospital feel about them . St. Elizabeth Seton school in Bellemore was no exception. When I was contacted by Joe Maniscalco, (head of the Father's Guild) to transform the 2 vast cafeterias and entryway. I had some very definative ideas about what I wanted to achieve. The principal, Leann Graziose, was a dream to work with, her only wish was to include the Noah's Arc theme mural in the foyer connecting the two cafeterias. The rest was up to me, she stated "if you see a spot that needs paint, knock yourself out" - so I did! The main entrance was treated with religious theme mini murals depicting the seasons of the church. I used a mosaic cross stencil and hand painted scrolls and leaves. Cafeteria one has an all out fun feast for the eyes mural depicting fantasy dragons, mermaids , princesses and space. Cafeteria two is hosting a Dali reproduction featuring butterflies and vast perspective. The Noah's Arc themed mural shows the Arc breaking through the wall of the school and the animals are strategically scattered through out the corridors. I believe the paintings have indeed created a fun and more creative environment for the children and I hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Cafe Gio gets a new look

2009-09-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

The lovely resturant Cafe Gio located on Sunrise Highway in West Babylon recently had some new addistions added to its already cozy and inviting decor. Sal the hospitable and friendly owner asked me to decorate the large frames around two huge tray cielings overlooking the diningrooms. I handpainted scrolls in liquid gold leaf on a metalic copper plaster. The results look bright, interesting and very pretty. Cafe Gio, known for it's brick over pizza among other tasty dishes, also features a large wood sign over the main brick oven, I painted a mural with an old world style Italian chef and some pizza fixings here. If you are in the mood for some great food and a lovely atmosphere check out Cafe Gio

Summer Fun on Long Island

2009-08-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

The best place to live in my humble opinion is Long Island. I do not think people realize the abundance of natural beauty this island has to offer. When a person has the luxury of exploring this gem of a place by sea, the wonders never cease. I was out jetskiing last week on the glorious great South Bay, the sun blaring, waves crashing in my salt stung eyes, wind blowing through my hair and all I kept thinking was this is the life!! I felt such gratitude in being able to experience this wonderful place, and cherish it as if it were my own backyard. The tide was real low, just south of the Robert Moses Causeway, we stopped and got of our skis. The water was a mere 18 inches tops. There were bushels of clams, crabs and sea snails everywhere. I picked up a coch shell the size of a football!.. Of course I brought it home to add to my collection. Then we headed over to Fire Island....whew was it hot! Figuratively and literally! Little didwe know ther area of beach we moored on was nude...Then we spotted a very naked man who looked exactly like Santa emerge from the surf..we new we either had to take it all off or head for the bar...Sangria won out and we will be happy to be keeping our tan lines thank you very much! On the way over to the bar we saw a family of deer in the grass just beneath the light house, what a place!! The lighthouse was crawling with people. Kismet is a quaint and lovely little place to beach comb, relax or just throw a few back. Our ride home was choppy, exciting and very wet! I love my little slice of heaven.

Painting outdoors in Plien Air....

2009-08-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

Have you always thought you would like to pack up your easel, tubes of paint and head for the park or beach? I have passed people I see doing this and often wondered to myself is it more of a pain to lug all my stuff, or is it worth the trip. I have never painted in Plien Air, I have thought about it. I even envy people I see doing this, secretly wanting to sneak up on them and ...well, never mind that. I think I will try it. I have had a creative funk this summer, due to to the chronic fun I have been having, seems painting is more like work and i have been an absentee employee in the work force this summer. My dark skin color is a dead give away to my slacking abilities. I am going to paint in Plien Air, I saw a woman, from my jet ski last week, did I mention I was on my jet ski? Anyhoo, she was painting her little heart out on a canal over looking the Great South Bay, what a view! I admit it I was jealous for a second, before I sped away and sprayed her with my wake...no just kidding , really I am going to do this Plien Air, out door painting thing .

Nursery Decor

2009-07-04T04:41:00.000-07:00

I have noticed in recent months people asking me for a simpler style in thier babies nursery decor. Over the years, I have done everything to character murals, to theme rooms consisting of firehouses to galaxies in a nursery. In recent months the challenge has been to create a room theme that is a more elegant and lasting feel for the baby. Nuetral colors utilizing textures, such as plasters, can be quite elegant and striking. Stripes, or harlequin diamonds are another approach. For girls the new color scheme is pink and chocolae brown. A great place to get inspired is Posh Tots, this catologue is chock full of great ideas, items and unique furnishings for a nursery.

Collaborating with fellow artists

2009-06-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Last month i had the distinct pleasure of being asked by my good friend Jeanne Schnupp, of "Jeannie's Designs" to corraborate with her on a magnificent wood floor she was commisioned to finish. I had done a similar floor about a year ago, and was happy to share my experience on that job to help her project run smoothly. The floor was stripped by a pro floor finisher and Jeanne and her partner set out on the arduous task of marking off all the boxes. Next I came to help her hand taping, and scoring each box that was to be stained. We scored each box with a straight razor to ensure minimal bleed in the stain, bare wood, that has no conditioner, or sealers on it is highly susceptable to stain, so we took this extra pre caution. Next we off loaded of chip brushes and stained away for a full day. The last step was a light stain to be doneby the floor guy, and a coat of poly. The results are a spectacular dramatic diamond pattern that really enhances the area of this sprawling ranch in the North Shore of Long Island.

Inspiration in our daily day to day tasks....

2009-06-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

Mural painting is something that feeds my family, through diligent efforts and smart planning. I find fun, challenging and interesting projects. Lately I have been finding inspiration for my murals and fine art painting in my daily routines. Last Sunday I spent a lovely day at the local dog park, located just east of the Robert Moses Causeway, I went armed with my camera, and a bottle of water. 87 photos later I had found inspiration for shadow, sky, sea and landscapes. Just the beauty of walking through dense trees, and looking up, gave me wonderful photos of the sky surrounded by leaves. Inspiration is only a short walk and a sunny day away!

Avon Walk for a Cure

2009-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

This week I have signed up for this charitable and worthy cause. Because of the inspiration from my good friend Jeanne, who does this walk every year, i have decided to join her. The walk it self is 39 miles through New york City and the proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research. I am hoping to reach my goal of 1800. I have begun training this week which can't be a bad thing, getting out , walking in the beautiful spring weather is good for mind, body and soul. Plus my dog is not complaining about the extra time out! To find out more about the walk, to donate or to join hit the link above.

Westbury Gardens: an artists delight

2009-05-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

A recent trip to Westbury Gardens on mother's Day with my family was met with ture awe and delight. This beautifully manicured oasis in the heart of Old Westbury is a rrare jewel on the island's north shore. We started our tour in the sprawling mansion, the handpainted wallpapers, and ornamental plasters greeting us in every room. The exotis marbles on table tops and surrounding fireplaces made me itch to break the "no photographs" rule. The most impressive 2 inch slab of solid lapis in the main foyer begged me to touch it despite the many "do not touch" signs. Yes the mansion is a decorative artist's paradise, every room had something to make me stop and stare! The outdoor gardens were just lovely my favorite being the reflecting pool surrounded by the wisteria trellis'. We packed a picnic lunch, brought a football and had a relaxing day on the great lawn. There was quite a few artists with easels propped up in various little corners of the grounds. If you are an artist or just appreciate an abundance of beauty , why not plan a day here and bring your easel.

Art in the Park

2009-05-01T03:38:00.000-07:00

The Amityville Artists Circle is sponsoring it's annual Art in the Park event on May 16, at the Nautical Park on Ocean Ave. and Merrick Rd. The event promises to be a fun and inspriring day full of art, demonstrations, and entertainment. I will have a booth this year and plan on showcasing some of my newer paintings as well as doing a few demos myself. I will be dmonstrating fresco techniques, as well as japanese marbling. for info call 516 541 8782 see you there!

Japanese Marbling

2009-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

This Easter I wanted to try something a bit different with my eggs. My friend Theresa Cheeck, from Texas sent me this lovely pear paperweight she made for Christmas. The pear had a paint technique that i had seen before but never had a clue how to do it. Theresa was generous enough to "walk me through " the process as if it were " Marbling for dummies" and gave me a link which is connected to the title of this post where I could buy all my supplies. I was set to try this wonderfully fun technique. I invited a few of my artist friends over and we marbled wooden eggs, trays, scarves and paper. The technique call "Sumingashi" is created by floating paint on water that has carageenan added to it. This bath now has a slickness to it that allows the paint to float on top. We then used a stylus to create patterns and designs in the paint colors. Our objects to marble were soaked in allum and then we dipped away. Our egges and scarves were really fun, the kids enjoyed watching the process. The fun thing about this is , the element of surprise, you really do not know what you will wind up with, but almost garanteed it will be beautiful! Thank you again Theresa!

From trash to treasure

2009-04-07T13:30:00.001-07:00

Scouring garage sales is one of the highlights of the warmer months for me. Whenever I see a sign or a driveway full of "stuff" I slow the car down, it drives the kids nuts. Some of my best finds have been from garage and tag sales. The items I am always looking for are classically shaped wood furniture, glassware and large paintings in frames. I like finding pieces of furniture because sometimes they are really good as new, when they need a make over its an opportunity for me try "play" with a fun piece and I usually wind up donating that to my church. Glassware is some what of a hobby of mine, I like odd shapes, mismatched chrystal and stemware, decanters and vases. The paintings are always good finds in my opinion because if the canvas is usable, I can paint over the existing painting, if not I toss the painting and keep the frame. Frame can be expensive and having nice frames are important when I display my artwork. Someone's trash might be your treasure, and it really never hurts to look right?

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Well Finally Spring feels like it might be around the corner. I spent today cleaning my home, office and studio spaces. Many bags of garbage were disposed of! Today was a good day for me. I got alot accomplished here. I went through old sample boards, I tossed the ones that just don't sell. Like an old pair of shoes, if I have not worn them in over 2 years I toss them. With my sample boards if I have not sold it ever I tossed it. I recycled a few that I think might make interesting backgrounds for fine art type paintings. I organized my "inspiration" photo albums, and stacked my books and papers. The studio needed some tidying and the house was cleaned top to bottom including the cars! Taking inventory, and cleaning your work space helps keep you feeling in control and organized. For me it helps remind me of projects I found interesting a few months ago, and then unfortunately they may have been buried under the next "great project" added to my plate!For spring, its a good time to go through your ares, and re- establish your priorities. Plus it frees up time for gardening!

Learned Lessons in Reproducing Old Masters Paintings

2009-03-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

As an artist I have many favorite painters, sculptors, and artists that I look up to, derive inspration from, and sometimes emulate. John William Godward is someone whose work moves me and inspires me. For many reason, I love his saturation of color his use of fabrics to convey form, and his incorporation of the often lovely female as the centerpiece of the painting. I had been wanting to incorporate my daughter into one of my favorite Godwards for a while. Over the last few months I gave it a go. I use these excersises as just that, an excersise in discapline, painting like someone else, as a challenge, and of course for my own pleasuer. My painting has a few lessons foe me. The lessons are positive and negative, I am very pleased with my renderings of the fabrics, shadows, marbles and girl. My dissappointment is that I have learned that not all paintings can be "morphed" successfully, my major failure in this painting is that my daughters face is not age appropriate to the original woman in the painting and that is why the painting looks a bit awkward. As artists we must learn from all endeavors, success is in everything because any lesson learned is of value, and all paintings serve as practice for your next Magnun Opus!

March 2009 Artist of the Month

2009-03-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Faux Forum is my cyber home away from home. This is an online community where I have met and collaborated with artist friends from around the world. The Faux Forum is a place where I go for critique and help with my paintings while in progress, it's a place where I can ask questions when experiencing proffessional, or technical difficulties on a project. Faux Forum is a place where I can find out about upcoming events or plan to meet my friends at planned events. I have been honored with the Artist Of the Month recognition and I am in tremendous company. The artists recognized previosly is a long and impressive list, being added to this list is very special to me , being amongst such gifted talents, humbling. Take a moment to explore this wonderful online community, you will find some inspiring how to demo;s, some useful information on products and some interesting techniques. http://www.fauxforum.com

Sunday Sauce

2009-02-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

Recently my husband has started taking an active interest in the house hold chore of cooking. Could it be because I burn everything? nahhhh We have been watching Lifeschool tv, and Stve Schirripa's "Hungry?" is our new favorite cooking show. He recently did a program featuring a Sunday Sauce. This is an Italian favorite and we decided to try the recipe for Dale's(my husband) birthday dinner. The recipre included Braciole, meatballs, sausage, cavatelli, and lotsa cheese! The recipe was shown on the show and made in a resturant in Littel italy in N.Y.C. We cooked the sauce for about 4 hours and the results were the hands down best sauce I have ever eaten,in fact the entire family agreed that the Irishman made the bets we Italians ever had! Thanks Steve! Here is the recipe, invite lots of friends over get some good red wine, and some home made canoli for dessert never does any harm! Braciole parsley, grated parmigiano cheese, sliced garkic, grated provolone, prosciutto fat, pignoli, raisins soaked in water, salt, pepper, chuck filet shoulder(pounded flat) mix your parsley (chopped) bread crumbs, chopped garlic and olive oil to a thick paste. Lay out each filet and put about 1.1/2 tbs of breadcrumb mixture in each slice. sprinkle cheeses, raisins, nuts, and place small piece of fat on top. wrap tightly with butchers twine. Braise in Olive oil on all sides. cook in sauce. Sauce 1/4c of olive oil and 2 cloves sliced garlic add 4 smashed shallots to pan and brown to golden. add 1/2 cup diced inions. 3 quarts of sauce(plain tomato) pinch oregano,lots of fresh basil , salt pepper to taste. add meat, braciloe, meatballs, and 6 sweet sausage. cook for 3-4 hours, add serve over cavatelli, with generous dallop of ricotta cheese! enjoy

Usinig "down" time to better our skills as artists.

2009-02-24T11:23:00.000-08:00

There is no getting around the fact that we are in an economic down turn. For many of us in the Decorative Arts field, we are experiencing a slow down in work flow, as is the entire country and other fields. During slower times people can do many things to continue to help secure work, and market themselves. Today I would like to focus on bettering skills as an artist during a slower period. Maybe you have a few days here and there that are not filled. Can this time be used to paint a project purely for the sake of challenging yourself as an artist? Have you been wanting to try a different medium? such as pastels? Have you been thinking your landscape skills, or composition skills are lacking? This is the time to be painting, researching and planning for future jobs. This is a time when a painting a day, or week can really build upon skills you already have , or skills you would like to really fine tune. Libraries are free, as is internet resources such as ARC and Wikipedia, I find so much inspiration on these sights. Why not plan a project for yourself, today. I have come to realize that although I am slower than I would like in my business, I have never spent more time cranking out painting after painting these past few months. Once the creative juices flow, let yourself go! If you do start painting I would love to see what you are working on. I will be sure to share some of my newer inspirations. Have fun!

Kitchen Cabinets Revamped

2009-02-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

Let's face it Kitchen cabinets are expensive, in a sluggish economy renovating a kitchen can work itself right off the "to do " list. If you have a kitchen that has wood cabinets, they can be finished in a ver affordable , highly durable, beautiful finish. We strip the wood, prime then and apply the desired finish. The finish can be a lovely faux wood, a warm cherry look or glazed oak. Some of our lovely finishes can include crackling, distressing, pickling, and handpainted designs. Our variety of samples also show various plasters, activated finishes and all colors.

Concrete Countertpos

2009-01-30T03:46:00.000-08:00

There is an inexpensive quick, durable attractive way to get rid of ugly formica counter tops. A concrete over lay is a practical way to achieve the look you want for less. I have done quite a few of these over lays there are several manufacturers that make the concrete geared for this application. A products I have had great success with are SKIMSTONE from Modern Masters . Skimstone can be manipulated to give various looks on a counter top from poured concrete, travertine looks to granite and venetian plaster type looks too. The product goes right over the existing counter top and has a surface when dry that is rock hard. Skimstone can also be used for floors, patios and basements. The beauty of the product is that it can be made to look like stone.

Utilizing Home Show venues for Marketing your decorative painting Business

2009-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

I have done several home shows over the years as well as outdoor craft, and art shows. All of the above mentioned have their benefits to Decorative artists. I like doing the larger home shows because they are usually indoors, and the traffic is heavy. The opportunity for potential clients to actually "see" what you do is very important, the booth gives you the opportunity to showcase some of your work as well as meet with and talk to people. Many of these shows attract designers and people in the industry that use artists . Craft and open air art shows are a great way to showcase your work, for a smaller fee and meet clients also. These shows are usually outside and the opportunity to bring an easel and paint in plien air is a terrific way to create a "buzz" around your booth.

Thank you Long Island !!

2008-12-28T05:19:00.000-08:00

Once again the votes have been counted and the Long Island Press has tops in all categories. The Best Artist Honors have been bestowed on Arlene Mcloughlin Murals the studio is finishing in the top 3 and is very proud and gracious to all Long Islanders who took part in this voting process! To read more please look for the January 15 issue of the LONG ISLAND PRESS

Merry Christmas to all!

2008-12-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to my friends and family from myself and the staff at Arlene Mcloughlin Murals .

MEOW

2008-12-05T02:51:00.000-08:00

Kids rooms are a joy to paint. Some of my favorite commissions have been for childrens living spaces. The client is always thrilled, the child's wide eyed wonderment and enthusiasm is contagious! My most recent project in a three year old little girl's room is quite the sophisticated look! The mother wanted a chocolate brown and pink color scheme, she painted "shadow boxes" around the room, but they were missing something.... I came in and added the "leopard print" through out the room, the completed project is very dramatic, fun and the perfect balance of whimsy.

Using Plasters in Mural work

2008-12-01T03:58:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been getting calls for an olde world look to my mural painting. I enjoy utilizing plasters in my mural work and there are several ways I go about this. Traditionally if I am using a lime based plaster I will paint my mural as a fresco using egg tempera, earth pigments and water. This method is time consuming, and more expensive ar far as products being used, but the results are quite stunning, and finished murals look like old Italian walls. I also use a method where I paint my mural using regular artist acrylic paints. I use very saturated colors, and then I apply carefully placed layers of synthetic plasters on top of the painting. This method produces a crusty old worn down look that is quite attractive. The plasters can then be sanded for even more age, waxed or left alone.

Long Island Press BEST OF 2009

2008-10-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Arlene Mcloughlin Murals has been nominated again by the Long Island Press as LONG ISLAND'S BEST ARTIST!! Please show your support for us and vote at http://www.votebestofli.com/ we are located under the "Arts and Entertainment " section. This is an honor for me and our staff here at the studio. We work hard for our Long Island clients , to bring new and exciting Mural looks as well as Plaster and the latest Faux Finishing looks to you! So thanks again for the nomination, and keep voting for us!

Illuminated Jack o' Lanterns

2008-10-09T03:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.nassaumuseum.com/spookyhalloween.html This is a link to a great Halloween exhibit, at the beautiful Nassau County Museum of Art. I am looking foward to participating this year, and carving a Jack 'o Lantern for the festivities, I can't imagine how cool 3000 illuminated pumpkins will be at night! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and these kind of community gatherings really get people in the celebratory mood. There are also several really good Haunted Houses in the area, my favorite being the Bayville Firehouse. This Haunted House is definitely not for the little ones, but more for a date night or group of people. Go on a rainy night! The numerous corn fields on Long Island and hayrides, pumpkin picking and festivities are in abundance so go have some Halloween fun! And go ahead eat your favorite candy bar...I know the Grand will be in ,my trick o treat bowl

Redecorating for teens, and tweens

2008-10-02T03:14:00.000-07:00

When kids get to a certain age, 11-12 they no longer seem to be interested in "characters" fairys or superheroes any more. I had this dilema recently with my daughter. We have muraled her room 3 times since she was born, her nursery was a circus theme, as a toddler she had Princess room , and then around 7 years old we did a Breakfast at Tiffany's look with Cats. She loves cats. So this year she will be 11, she has Jonas Brothers mania, and wanted bright colors, turquoise, fuschia and purple, How do we make this work? I came up with an India inspired theme. We used plasters in these bright saturated colors on the walls and furniture. The touches of gold, orange and fuschia accents really pull it all together , but the Taj Mahal type head board my husband and I cut from a sheet of plywood and upholstered really says "India Princess" Coming up with a color scheme is the easy part its finding the cohesive elements that make the story work. I look through magazines before I commit to anything for inspiration and ideas.Determining my theme helps too. Albeit India, sports, or just color. A scrollsaw and some good hand tools are helpful too.

Decorative Painting on vehicles??

2008-09-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun little project I worked on over the summer in my spare time(ha) An artist friend of mine does these for hunters and fieldsmen in her area and gave a few of us the recipes that she uses for successful painting on an automobile or boat. So I ran with the idea, I figured my van was pretty nasty and a paint job would attact some attention as well as look a heckuva alot better driving up to a jobsite. The paint is all exterior grade latex, and the results are durable and so far holding up to some nasty weather.

How's Robb?: Word.

2008-09-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

How's Robb?: Word.

A new Salon in Smithtown

2008-09-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

My good friend Ryan Demarco has opened one of the first "Elements" massage salons oin the area. This salon specializes in therapuetic massage amongst others types of massage. He has built a beautiful, serene sanctuary for people to come and relax, or have the "kinks" worked out. The interior of the salon features murals in the bathrooms , metalic foil accents on all the interior doors as well as a custom built desk in the entryway. The monochromatic color sceme of the salon lends itself to the tranquil aspects found at every turn from the trickling water falls, to the aromatherapy infused through out. The attention to every detail is sure to entice your senses.

Ceiling Murals

2008-08-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

As summer draws to a close , we can look back and say wow! We had quite a diverse and busy summer at that! between the school murals 18 in total, the renovation of a historical landmark home( which I will talk about later) and the cieling murals we have worked on we had a few very exciting jobs this summer. The cieling murals were done in 2 resturants and 1 private residence. All clients wanted very different and distinct looks for thier spaces. We atarted with a new resturant in Valley Stream , owned by Umberto Napoli this family style Iatlian resturant features a very large tray cieling in the ceter dining room. The walls have a beautiful shimmering plaster treatment, created by leslie Salka, of ACI. The cieling was painted with a large tropme style motife in soft gold colrs, decorative foliage, and a blue sky. The border is a Melanie Royals design that frames the mural sky beautifully. Our second cieling is in a residential home , this cieling is in an enormous great room. We painted a simple sky with warm clouds and bordered the sky with flowers and vines that matched the custom draperies. Our last sky is a study in perspective. We painted ballister, and a balcony from a "worms eye view" our ornament around the sky area is full color floral matching the clients bold upholstery. Cieling murals can be a challenge, preliminary sketches are important as well as scaffolding and well planned designs.

Chatterton School Murals

2008-08-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of working with two very kind ladies. Lisa and Penny, chairladies of the Chatterton School PTA in Merrick. We collaborated together to create several murals incorporating the students curriculum and beautifying the all over appearance of Chatterton School. We came up with a colorful faux finish for the entry way collumns, decorative scrolls outlining bulletin boards, and several murals that will surly excite the children when they return in September. Among the themes of the murals were Charlotte's Web, an Aquarium, a Rainforest, and popular Childrens fairytales.

KEEP LONG ISLAND BEACHES CLEAN!

2008-08-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I spend quite a bit of time at the beach, I have loved the oceans all my life, and teach my children to love and respect the oceans. (10 people drowned here on Long Island in July alone.) The ocean beaches on Long Island are beautiful, but nothing like the Carribean. The Atlantic Ocean can be volitile and deadly, I get angry because I see so much disrespect for this wonderful gift , people do not appreciate. I go at least twice a week sometimes more, we own jet skis so I enjoy the water as a craft owner also, the waters are clean and thriving with marine life. What puts a bee in my bonnet is, that I am a swimmer, I never allow my children to just "jump in" with out checking the currents and I always sit up close or go in with them, I can not for the life of me understand how so many mothers do not go in, swim, or even glance up from thier conversations to see if the kids are being pulled out. I also don't get how these same people drive nice cars, live in well to do nieghborhoods, and spend money on recycling . but leave thier trash all over the beach. Every time I go i bring an extra garbage bag and fill it up. Today i picked up 26 empty bottles and cans. I felt like that crying Indian from those 1970's commercials on pollution. If we as a human race do not care about one of greatest natural resources than how can we expect to survive as a whole? I am not opening a political can of worms here, I just don't get it. Every where I look there are signs, movements about "going green" and these same people can't even pick up an a water bottle. My son was annoyed at me because I made him pick stuff up too, but I told him, these beaches our a little slice of heaven and if he wants to take his son out in the water like I swim with him, he better pick his stuff and the slob next to him stuff up too...sorry for the rant............just that I love the beach and I want it clean............

Mural Class at Convention

2008-08-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

This years convention was held in South Carolina, and the new name "Idal" was unveiled! I taught a class for the first time at convention and the students were great. We painted an undersea mural on Roclon canvas, using Golden acrylic paints, the students transferred an image and used various techniques to paint the mural. We went over the use of dark underpainting, light source and blending methads as well as free hand drawing for smaller fish and plant life. The students all did a fabulous job and everyone left with a painting suitable for framing!

Long Island Muralist gives school a makeover

2008-07-02T03:57:00.000-07:00

Camp Ave. school in Merrick has recently undergone a makeover. I had the opportunity of creating 9 unique murals through out the grammar school. The murals encompass the grade appropriate curriculum of the school, and are large , bright and colorful! We were excited to work on these murals because the characters in the murals were fun , and very identifiable with children and adults of any age. The children were so enthusiastic, asking for autographs and offering constant positive feedback and encouragement! There were 9 murals in all, and I tried to make each mural different -reflecting the grade, subject matter and feel of the painting. Some challenges were painting on brick and cinderblock, as well as having to complete these murals from concept to finish in onlt 1 weeks time! The murals were sketched in concept on paper first, then we painted backgrounds and large ares first. Our biggest challenge was the entrance to the school due to the high ceilings and stairwell. We decided on overgrown animals and characters to fill the space and bring an air of cheerful welcome to the entryway.

We love you grandma

2008-04-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am writing this in hopes that some of my siblings , cousins and family members take a moment to look at some of the pictures and add to the great memmories I have of Grandma. I will miss her. The more I think of her these last few days the more I realize what a unique person she is. What a unique Christian she was, and how she really did live her life in a state of grace. I don't think I can say I know too many people who have been such admirable role models but as I sit here today one thought comes to mind, patience. I have yet to meet someone in my lifetime who epitimized the word, 40 years never heard her even raise her voice. Grandma came to every school play, dance recital and communion we all had. I even remember her and Grampa, mind you not small people, squeezing themselves into child size desks for Grandparents day back when I was in third grade. My most impacted memmory of grandma is when I was about 13, and all the smaller cousins broke the crib upstairs, Grampa was angry, and we all knew it, but she came up from the party basement and in her soothing voice, "its ok Chris, its Christmas, let them play" Yes I can certainly take a page from her book! Grandma, likes games and she was a Grandmother who never said no to a good game of cards, or a simple page to color. I love Grandma, she and Grampa were unique people, they tried to understand and bond with each and everyone of thier grandchildren, me in 5th grade having some growing pains and not fitting in, I recall telling them that the kids in school called me a fagot because of my sneakers, I laugh now as I remember Grandma getting the dictionary and Grampa looking puzzled as the definition said a bundle of sticks! I missed those Christmases in thier basement before the extended family got too big, I missed playing bartender with my sister, and those funky flowered Christmas lights. Grandma has always reminded me of Mrs. Claus, especially after her hair went white. She has always had a smile, and a kind heart for each of us. I will miss her, but she will be in my mind, like Grampa is whenever I see a pink sky. His made up crayon "sky blue pink" that I could never find! I will think of Grandma when I eat a peanut chew, or when I see someone drink scotch. I will think of Grandma when I see those cheesy polyester pants advertised in the back of the Sunday paper. The pink lipstick that somehow got worn down flat? How that happened will remain Grandma"s mystery , but I will think of her. And of course a really good chocolate chip cookie will make me smile as no-one really ever made them like her. I hope she finds her peace soon , and is laughing , traveling, bowling and drinking with grampa, crocheting, and happy with Auntie, and her parents...I will still miss her

Puglia... a new look, a new resturant...

2008-04-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

A new resturant in East Meadow Long Island, Puglia of Little Italy. The warm , cozy atmosphere was achieved by colorwashing the walls in the main diningroom with a soft terra cotta glaze. We then transformed what felt like miles of mouldings from white semi gloss to a warm Faux Mahogany , for a rich and classic look. The restirant is located on Hempstead Turnpike and is a well known establishment in NYC's Little Italy.

New Class

2008-03-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

I recently taught this beginner trompe style fruit bowl at the Art League , We hade 5 students in the class. We used Faux Effects paints and transferred our images onto cambric cloth. The concepts of light and shadow were covered in the class. I think the students did a great job, and we had alot of fun! The next class i will be teaching at the Art league will be Venetian 101 , this class will cover proper techniques for application, surface preparation, differences between synthetics and lime. Students will complete 3 sample boards.

Up coming Art Classes

2008-02-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

I will be teaching several classes at the Art League in Huntington. The classes are a Trompe L'oeil niche painted on canvas, the niche will hava a bowl of fruit in the center. This class is in March. The other 2 classes are "Venetian Plaster 101", this class is in April. The class will focus on proper troweling techniques, different plasters, and decorative applications. Students will see demonstrations of the plasters as well as hands approach. The last class is a "Basic Faux All You Need To Know" this class wil cover different applications of glaze techniques used in Faux Painting. Students will create several boards , This class is in May. For more info visit the Art League or click the title of this post

Painting on Pellon

2008-02-03T03:44:00.000-08:00

Cieling murals are particularly difficult to paint areas. When appraoching a mural on a cieling I like to take several factors into consideration. Are there multiple techniques needed for the background, are there figures, and what the height is. Height factor is important because scaffolding slows you down, being careful is a prerequisite, and cautious painting while up there is mandatory! I recently did a cieling mural with quite a few figures the faces were done on pellon which made the mural install very painless. Literally. Looking up for long periods of time can be quite stressfull on the neck muscles . Using pellon is a welcome alternative. Pellon can be found at craft and sewing supply stores, I used the mid weight. The fabric takes paint beautifully and the mural melds together seamlessly.

Textured Plasters

2008-01-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

I really like working with plasters, I prefer Lime for smooth and polished applications, the benefits of Lime are durability, mildew and of course the "green" factor. I also have alot of fun with synthetic plaster applications. I do alot of crackled looks, the plaster gives a very old, and leathery appearance. I have also done a variety of stria'd looks with plaster. The look can be nubby and shimmery like raw silk, or more rustic like a grass cloth. Stenciling on top gives even more dimension!

Faux Marquetry

2008-01-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

The look of a fine wood floor is classic and beautiful, add to the floor a marquetry pattern or inlay and the results can be stunning, timeless, and a fortune! So the art of a "faux" inlay is quite affordable and looks very convincing. I did this floor with the help of "Modello" a decorative masking pattern that makes staining these types of floors a breeze. The preparation of the floor should be left to a proffessional floor person. This means sanding, base staining is needed and the polyurethane topcoat. I cut the Modello to size and used gel stains , which gaurd against"bleed through" Voila! a faux inlay!

Thankyou Long Island!!!

2008-01-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

Long Island Press Best of issue 2008 ....Thankyou to all of my friends, clients and family that voted us "Best Artist" on Long Island!!This is very exciting, the Long Island press features businesses all over Long Island each year in their annual "Best Of Long Island " issue. We are featured under Arts and Entertainment section with a link to our web site. Just in time for this weekends Home Show, come see why we were recognized for our excellence! We will have a booth featuring our Murals, Italian plasters and our unique Custom finishes! The show is in Farmingdale on route 110...Hope to see you there!

Texture on Walls

2008-01-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am involved in an amorous love affair with textures, I love walking into a room and wanting to "feel" the walls. My portfolio is filled with different textures, plasters, rough and smooth, tissues, sand finishes and relief stenciling, but my favorite of late has been "crackling" I love the look of thick crackled synthetic Venetian Plasters. The statement is indeed bold, but oh so dramatic. When these finishes are glazed or stained they look very leathery and rich. I like pairing them with gilded finishes and or smotth walls.

A HOME SHOW!!!

2007-12-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

We are proud to be included in the first Home Show of 2008! This great event will be happening on January 11, 12,+ 13 at Farmingdale Community College on route 110 ..We will be demonstrating some of our "Fresco Lime Plaster" techniques as well as displaying many of our unique murals, surface textures , Skimstone Concrete and a few surprises! The show is from 10:00 am till 10:00pm Friday and Saturday and 10:00am till 6:00 pm Sunday. Come see us and find out a little more about our artists, and our company!

Merry Christmas!!!

2007-12-23T16:42:00.000-08:00

To all my friends and family, clients, nieghbors and aquaintances....MERRY CHRISTMAS, health and Happy New Year!!! LET"S MAKE 2008 THE BEST EVER!!!

MURALS for the Holdays!!

2007-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

As the holidays approach quickly, I find I recieve a large amount of phone inquiries for Holiday custom painting, as a decorative artist, Long Island is full og Holiday inspiration, the beach, the EAB building and so much more, I enjoy painting holday murals as much as my year 'round painting, I create handpainted fireplace screens, handpainted glassware, toy boxes, and mural gift certificates make great Holiday gifts.

My new bathroom

2007-12-09T13:35:00.000-08:00

Since taking a class over a year ago, with a dear friend and talented artist-Linda Marstellar, I have been very interested in fresco, plasters, and all things Italian. So when remodeling my own bathroom this year, my husband (who also took her class) and I had a vision of decayed fresco walls, and crusty plasters of time gone by we looked to a fabulous book for inspiration. "Domus" was the book we used to try and emulate this look. To achieve these walls we used Travertino and Marmorino Italian Lime plasters from Dimensions in Florida. We custom tinted our plasters with pigments and troweled away! The ceiling is a stencil from Jan Dressler, we used pigment washes and metalics for this. To finish off the look we tinted our wax and rubbed it into the plaster for an overall aged appearance. The result MAGNIFICO!!

A week in Georgia

2007-11-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

I spent a week in Georgia learning about the beautiful products from the School of Italian Plasters, we had a small class of 7 people. We spent a week troweling thier lime plasters, and gorgeous synthetic plaster called Veneziano, that shines like glass! We also used a Metalo plaster that had a lovely shimmer to it and dried hard and smooth. These products were stunning! As well as the results of the students walls.. http://www.italianplasters.com/

VOTE TODAY !!

2007-10-31T19:16:00.001-07:00

WOW I am so honored!! I have been nominated for Best Artsist on Long Island! The Long Island Press is doing thier annual Best of Long island, so be sure to vote for all your favorites! i am located under the commerce section , in artists! http://www.longislandpress.com/?cp=167&show=article&a_id=10245

Suffolk County Water Autority gets a new look!

2007-10-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

This building is located at the Gun Club rd intersection and its in a nice , residential area, so the building needed to look nice as well as be functional. The building has 2 large garage bays and a door in the middle that were previously white. I painted them with a decorative "carriage door" look. We used Sherwin Williams exterior grade metal paint in orange and painted the panels a barn red color. the result is very striking from the street!

Flip that house woth faux update

2007-10-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I recieved my copy today of the "flip that house with Faux" book! Filled with great advice on flipping homes for profit, faux techniques as well as info on all the charitable donations made. Check ou the "official" photo of my mural from the book, the installation really makes a difference! http://fauxflip.com/

A link to my new book!

2007-10-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Fun and Exciti...

Ideas for creating...

By Arlene Mcloughlin

Book Preview

My Lucky day!!!

2007-10-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

So October 1, should be officially Arlene mcloughlin day!!! I submitted a photo of a mosaic floor I did a while ago to an online Decorative arts contest. Sponsored by Talk Faux, the prize was a very generous package og platser stencils from the very talented and innovative Victoria Larsen. i am proud to say I won the contest by votes from my talented peers and friends! I also had the good fortune of winning a 6 day lime Plaster class from Saffra plasters. I was randomly chosen from a postvard I sent to Doyle, the owner of the School of Italian plasters. What a day!!! Please visit http://www.victorialarsen.com/ to see the fabulous products and schooling these artists have to offer!!http://italianplasters.com/ http://www.joytothehome.com/blog/ http://talkfaux.com

Slideshows

2007-09-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Slideshows are a great way to customize a blog,or web site here is one of my slideshows, click the link to make your own or view several more that feature my work!

PRANA YOGA & PILATES

2007-09-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hey another ELMONT girl doing good for herself, my friend and alumni, Lauren Calarco-Zummo From the class of "85, recently opened Prana Pilates and Yoga studio in St. James. With her partner Nicole they have created a warm, and highly relaxing atmosphere that speaks to your body and soul. Featuring "state of the art" pilates eqipment, a yoga meditation room, massages, and babysitting the studio offers all the anemities your looking for. Lets talk logo and decoration, thats where yours truly comes in, I designed a logo using the colors Lauren and Nicole suggested, and then did some decorative painting through-out the studio to create some visual pizazz! To see more about the studio visit http://www.pranapilatesandyoga.com/postnatal.html

Lest we not forget

2007-09-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

9-11 ia a day of remembrance, I offer a tribute to all who gave the unltimate sacrifice, and challenge those of you reading this to treat someone with kindness today and everyday. http://attacked911.tripod.com/

Latest project

2007-09-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of a private spa I recently finished in East Hampton. The walls, and ceiling are plastered in a custon tinted pure lime Venetian Plaster. The results are a semi smooth surface with lots of depth and movement. The benefits of natural lime in a spa like this are tenfold due to the nature of the spa. The spa is below the ground , and quite damp and steamy, the lime retards mold, mildew and bacterial growth. The Lime is a "green" product and it "breathes" allowing clean air flow and a certain"freshness" in the spa area. Not only is this finished spa a relaxing and rejuvenating space for the home owner, it is also an environmentally friendy area for enjoyment that will keep its beauty for years to come.

Flip that house with Faux

2007-09-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

This project was a wonderful opportunity to help a family in diress, and also to be involved creativly with a group of artists donating thier time and skills for a better purpose. The mural I worked on was a ceiling mural, I was contacted by Jeanette Fischer last spring, she told me about the project and I was more than willing to participate. Jeanette told me the dimensions of the room, and e mailed me a sample of the fabric selected for the bedding. I designed a mural utilizing the unique bamboo leaves and delicate florals from the fabric. I wanted to soften the the edges of the room and ceiling with an entwined motiff in the bamboo. After I painted the mural on a light weight canvas I mailed it to California from my NY studio. There the mural was installed to the ceiling -the results very pleasing and comfortable master bed room. To read more about this project scroll down and hit the link to the right.

A New Studio a New Look!!

2007-08-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

So two girls from Elmont get together to decorate a dance studio....the results....LA Prima Dance Academy.....Delia Del Forte has realized her dream of opening her own dance studio, after years of hard work and dedication she has branched off on her own, one of her students Niamh Mcloughlin happens to be the daughter of Artist Arlene Mcloughlin, by coincidence another Elmont girl. Arlene offered her creative expertise to Delia in decorating her studio, their goal was to achieve a fun, proffessional, exciting atmosphere for the new venture. Arlene painted the logo in her entry lobby, and created some fun graffiti style dance motiffs in the dancers lounge area. This new dance studio is sure to be a swashing success with the talented staff Delia has brought in. Add this to the list of growing Long Island businesses that have used Arlene's creative talents to enhance thier appearance!

Teaching classes

2007-08-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

WoW!! I post a few classes on my website and get inundated with e-mails, thanks for the interest! I will tell you about the upcoming classes I will be teaching at the Long Island Art League in October and November. I will be teaching 2 classes the first will be a n authentic lime plaster fresco, the students will recieve a panel prepared in plasters by me, they will then choose a designe there will be several and transfer to panel. We will mix pigments, water, and egg yoke together and create and egg tempura. The fresco will absorb the pigments for lovely results! The second class is a Faux technique class the students will create 3 samples, a tissue leather look, a stone plaster, and a stensiled technique, all techniques are "hands on" and the classes are alot of fun!! Bring your creativity!!!!For more info you can e-mail me or visit http://www.artleagueli.org

Long Island Art League

2007-08-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

So this week Ii finished up my maiden voyage of art classes at the art league, WOW what a great experience! I think I am addicted to this teaching thing! The students were very receptive, they enjoyed both classes, the first being a handpainted Grissaille panel with Florentine design embellishments. The second was a faux technique class that introduced the class to foils, and various decorative plasters. The boards came out lovely. Looking foward to part 2 in October!

August 23, 2007

2007-08-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, welcome to the blogspot, I am happily working on a fabulous book project that promises to be very exciting. The book is a collaborative effort from artists around the globe contributing an original piece of artwork, then shipping the book on to the next artist to share thier talent.