Social media marketing for muralists, and faux painters.

Utilizing social media in today's market is as important for muralists, artists, and faux painters as a solid portfolio. Facebook business pages are a great start to enhancing your companies social media presence. The use of Facebook drives traffic to your website blinking photos, deals, classes and recent mural projects to your potential clients. Inviting past clients to like and share your page creates a presence on the web and allows people to see your work for free. Houzz.com is another fine example for muralists and faux painters to enjoy the opportunity to share projects, photos and interact with potential clients and other trades unique to the interior industry through question and answer forums, as well as suggestions, idea books and favorite project options. The opportunity to have reviews , and detailed descriptionsis a plus on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/photos/5966647/Fabulous-ceilings-traditional-dining-room-new-york

Ephesus

I have just returned from a trip to the Meditereanean. I will be posting about some of the highlights in up coming posts from a muralist, faux finish, and decorative artists point. Of view. Today I post on a spiritual point of view. I had done minimal research on one of our ports, this was Kusdasi, Turkey. I didn't know what to. Expect except lovely bneaches and lots of shopping so when I heard some of the oldest and best ruins to be seen in all of Europe were here naturally I planned a visit. What I also found exciting was a chance to visit that actual, last home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both the ruins and the home of Mary are located. In Ephesus, a scenic short taxi or bus ride rom the port. The home of Mary is located at the top of a mountain that is secluded and set into woods. The smell of floral was overwhelming on the 95 degree July day. Oddly the secada bugs got louder and louder as you walked to the top and got near the house. The house itself is a small clay brick modest house with two small rooms. Now there is a shrine with candles and a statue of Mary, as well as an area where Joghn Paul the second left his offerings to her. As I approached the candlelit statue I was overcome with emotion. Hoards of people were there with me all denominations, races and ages, quietly bowing, kneeling and praying. Outside the house. Is a natural spring that has free flowing blessed holy water. For those who wish to fill a bottle and take it home its advised for its healing properties. A walk down the hill and you are ebntering the ancient city of Ephsus where Alexander the Great, Constantine and Cleopatra all rode their mighty chariots through the gleaming marble streets. What was so extroidinary about these ruins were that indeed the mosaics were preserved as well as friezes, bass relief and full statues still stood tall and proud. One. Of thge first amphitheater ever was built, we went one of us climbed to the to pas the other stood center stage and talked, the acoustics were pretty amazing! A 2000 year old library facade is the relic cherry on the cake so to speak, the facade with its two stor arches, niches and columns still stands mostly complete in the blaring sun. A few statues fill in the niches. Walking through the streets you will see pipelines, these people had running hot and cold water! Imagine 2000 years!! I have things that are ten years old that are defunct!

A decorative painting event!

This year has been a world wind of fantastic opportunities for. Faux painting and murals. In May I had the unique opportunity to join 50 other decorative artists from around the globe for a week long mural, and faux painting extravaganza in the first ever decorative arts convention in Japan. This years annual Salon of Decorative painters was held in Tokyo,Japan. Hosted buy the dynamic and gracious Yaeko Kurimata . The week long event showcased the talents of select participants. Each. Artist was able to display a finished panel as well as participate in the community mural as well as work on their own demonstration pieces. The theme "East meets West " sharing, encompassed many traditional examples. Of decorative arts, like wood grain, and marble as well as gilding, and grottesca. The exhibition offered many opportunities for the artists to get to know one another on a more personal level which is what makes the annual event such a wonderful opportunity. Salon 2014 will take place in Seattle, I hope to see many old friends and make new friends next year. I look forward to the techniques that are shared each year, going to the event offers my the opportunity to share these skills with my clients here on Long Island.

5 months post Hurricane Sandy

It's been almost a month to the day since my last post! How time flies when you are busy! We, meaning myself and my helping hands who work with me are currently helping restore our 27th home post Sandy. Things are starting to come around for people, many who lost their first floor and or basements are re-floored, re-rocked and ready for paint. This is all good news for so many people. Thank God the weather has begun to warm up too. A few things post Sandy I think will be in the forefronts of people's minds along he shoreline of the south shore will be tides during storms. Post Sandy we have had 3 pretty wet, rainy storms, all have brought water, scary enough to make people nervous about flooding again. The other thing I have noticed is the abundance of dead trees away from the shore. There are dead white pines, cedars and other smaller shrubs all around the island. I think it has something to do with all the salt that was in the air during that storm. Quite the weather anomaly . Long Islanders still continue to preserve and be strong.

Almost 4 months!

Well, the Hurricane Sandy aftermath is almost four months past. I am sad to say way too many people are still displaced, with out repairs or waiting for insurance money. I am on my 17 renovation. We have been working round the clock , often 7 days a week trying to get friends, nieghbors and our community back into thier homes. Many of these people have had problems finding the resources to get them to a completed home. This link is a link to my album on Facebook, showing some horrific before pictures. I pray the people get the insurance and FEMA monies they so desperately need.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4937945570443.2194903.1352742366&type=3. In the mean time we are painting one house at a time.

Long Island faux finishing and paint trends for 2013

So this is the beginning of a new year! I am happy to bid a good riddance to 2012 after the last few months I have seen too many gutted homes, exposed studs and subfloors as well as the lovely pink insulation to last me a life time. It's time to get people back into their homes and restore these homes to the original beauty. Many of my clients were effected by the hurricane Sandy. All these clients shared an appreciation for faux finishing, and specialty painting, some clients are painting the exact replica of what was there originally others are looking at the storm damage as an opportunity to have fate force their hand a re decorate or restyle the home. The trends I am seeing are going towards smooth walls, minimal if any textures like Venetian plaster or tissue. Soft colors , color washes, strie or a color on color handpainted mural. Faux finishing on Long Island is still relevant, the color palette may have quieted but people still love a custom look that only a trained professional can achieve. Murals on Long Island are happening in homes, and commercial venues in many effected areas, businesses are rebuilding and either replacing murals or adding them. Long Island is strong, we will come back better than ever!

Friedbergjcc JCC gets a new mural

The beautifully new and spectacular Friedbergjcc JCC camp for sick children has a new grand pavilion. This wonderful new building boasts a huge meeting room, that can host a slew of events, bathrooms, and a lovely foyer. I was approached to donate a Muralin the entryway as all building, and materials were donated by very generous organizations from all over Long Island. I painted a donor tree. The mural consists of the large tree, and a depiction of a scene right from the camp grounds, cabins and all. The tree will host metal art butterflies which will have the names of all the donors who helped make this wondrous project happen. On the opposing walls I designed decorative paintings that mirror the lovely doors, that feature branches and etched glass. This project is a wonderful way for the community to help these children who may be terminally I'll, and or handicapped.

Green Harbor Beach Club gets a new mural

Over the summer my good friend and member of the beach club asked me if I would be interested in a " beautify my community " project. Of course I said yes, I loved the idea of a mural on the beach front property and to paint outside in the summer was an added bonus. I got my friends at the Seaford paint place to donate the Benjamin Moore paints and got to work! The mural s 6 foot by 15 feet and faced the main pool area. I did an under water mural scene complete with dolphins, whales and a mermaid. The beach club members could not have been more gracious!

Long island faux finishing trends

In the last year I have been incorporating a lot of bling into my finishes. What I mean by bling, is the use of jewels, crystals and stones. The use of these elements adds a dimension to the finish that is luxurious, opulent and a ton of fun. The majority of these finishes have been done on ceilings, which makes sense because the jewels can not be touched. Lowers the risk of loosening them. I have used large gems, and a wide range of crystals. The array of jewels to be found are endless, and incorporating them into a faux finish, or stencil job is another creative way to create a design in a clients home that is unique, beautiful and very distinctive. To view the latest coffered ceiling using jewels and gems please visit my Facebook page.

A new home completed in Rockville Center features custom murals, stenciling, gold leaf, copper leaf, Venetian plasters and an abundance of fabulous furnishings. We designed the fantastic finishes in conjunction with the talented designers at Desalvo interiors. The foyer features copper leaf and tissue in the dome, a Lusterstone plaster with all over stencil adorns the coffers. We did a soft wash on the walls and tied it all together with gold accents on railings around the lovely circular staircase.