Tromp Loi’el chair by my friend’s mom
Before I talk about the sweet table and fresh entry transformation by
House of Smith, let me share that
painted furniture came to me as an extension of other interests.
When I was just getting started out in creative interior applications, I gravitated toward the art of Tromp Loi’el (Microsoft applications hate this word; it’s French for Fool The Eye) and
painted furniture which is a natural extension of Tromp Loi’el. Here is a great example (left) by my friend’s mom, which is painted on a piece of masonite, which at first glance appears to have 3-dimensions. Some of the best tromp loi’el out there you have seen at least via photos, exists on the ceiling of Michael Angelo’s fabled
Sistine Chapel ceiling.
I studied the work of my friend Nina’s sister
Margot Datz, who at the time was busy illustrating Amy and The Dancing Bear for Carly Simon and had done a great deal of amazing interior work for, amongst others, one of my song-writing heroines from high school days of yore.
Their entire family were artists; from their mom (whose work is on the chair, left) on down, who passed away some time back, but whose creative legacy flecks her daughters’ interior and lives on through their myriad of creative expressions. Nina’s house was full of inspirational muses, and one of her particular gifts was arrangement of found objects in Bohemian-chic displays – I was so inspired by her patio that I did a painting of it, based on an angel (or putti) that my friend’s husband gave her, beholden to the striking and uncanny resemblance this statue bears to one of her baby pics.
My Friend Nina’s Garden Putti
My painting of Nina’s Putti, dry oil & pastel on masonite
But thankfully your project doesn’t need to rival the Sistine Chapel in complexity!
I am going to be getting into both some advanced applications later but for the edification of those of you who are just getting started on painted furniture this project from thehouseofsmiths blog is right up your street!
Before you check out Shelley’s fabulous up-cycle, take a tip straight from Margot, who appeared on Bob Villa’s show to demonstrate: When you tape, use a foam brush (above) and seal your taped edges with Acrylic Matte Medium solution. This is a surprisingly unknown painter’s secret, and the ONLY absolute insurance that you will get the desired result when you pull up that tape!!
Shelley Smith creates a beautiful end result with tools that are readily available and supplies that are inexpensive and easily obtained – check out her blog to get steps A – Z at thehouseofsmiths blog. Every piece of up-cycled furniture that does not go to the land fill is a treasure indeed!
Thanks so much to Shelley Smith at www,thehouseofsmiths.com for her kind consent to share her project with Re-Do it Design and all you!
Wow. I love your painting. That is one cute little table. Thanks for the tip on the tape, I did not know that. Now I want to go paint some furniture. Thanks again.
That painting was accomplished in 3 days; thus the dry application. I was having a show and was one piece short! I had to drive 40 miles to and from to catch the light at the right time of day for 3 – days; way to get inspired!