A SALI teacher for ten years, Lynn Brehm also creates custom canvas wall murals for private clients and designs all of the stencils in her own line Natural Accents. Her work has been featured in Decorate with Paint, Romantic Homes and Paint Magic Magazines.
Susan Bickford, owner and principal artist of Susan Bickford Singing Walls, Nashville, TN, started her business in 1999 after a detour into the corporate world. Bickford studied Fine Arts and Business at Austin Peay State University. Although just a hobby, her drive to paint things spread to the walls and the thought of a full time business in decorative painting began to take shape. It remained only an idea while she pursued a career in corporate public affairs, returning to school in the evenings and completing work on a BBA in Finance and Economics. Her duties as corporate lobbyist demanded an extensive knowledge of economics, finance, accounting, taxes and government regulation. Because of her background in finance and accounting, the first thing Bickford did when she started her decorative painting business in 1999 was to develop an automated system to track job costs and efficiently develop estimates. Through the years, Bickford has expanded her automated program, as well as refining her estimating techniques to a fine art.
Bickford was the 2004 Fauxacademy Level II Platinum Trophy Award winner for Best Venetian Plaster, Veneziano, or Marmarino Decorative Finish Project. Bickford's finishes were featured in the custom home that won the 2005 Golden Aurora Award, a competition presented by the Southeast Building Conference recognizing excellence in design and construction. Bickford teaches “The Art of Making a Profit – Taking the Guesswork out of Estimating and Pricing” at The Faux Finish School at Decorative Finishes Studio in Louisville, Kentucky. Bickford is a member of the Stencil Artisans League and the Atrium Chapter, a member of Sisters Hands Decorative Artists Consortium, as well as serving as moderator on Murals Plus. Bickford regularly collaborates with other artisans both locally and nationally.
Burleigh, Tammy & Brian
Tammy began her quest for the perfect faux finish in 1987 when she opened her own school in Colorado, instructing old worldstyles of painted trim work and embellishments. In 1998, once mastering the fine art of trompe l’oeil and murals, she continued to further her education by enrolling at the Faux Finish institute, one of the premiere faux finish schools in America. Tammy gained much knowledge and skills working along side these nationally known faux masters, and quickly put what she learned to work.
Winning three awards at the 2002 Fauxcademy of Decorative Finish Awards ceremony held in Key West FL. was a highlight of her career. In the categories of ‘Best Trompe L’oeil, ‘Best Architectural Feature’ as well as ‘Best Furniture’ she won both gold and silver awards, which clearly established her and her team as the go to Faux Finishers for discriminating interior Designers and Architects.
Still searching for excellence, Tammy was recognized for her recent work in the ‘2006 Fauxcademy of Decorative Finish Awards’ held in Las Vegas NV, by winning thetop award in the ‘Best Old World Finish’ category as well as three top award nominees in the categories of ‘Overall Residential’, ‘Best furniture’ as well as ‘Best Kitchen or Hearth Room’.
Brian joined Tammy in 2001 after a career in custom home construction.
Tammy and Brian continue to be an integral part of the ‘Decorative Arts Group’, as co-founders, creative consultants, teachers and mentors of the many diverse participants of our apprentice programs. As a group of award winning faux finishers who specialize in large estate commissions through-out the nation, our passion for faux finishing continually drives us forward to share what we have learned and promote this industry.
Kirstin Carey lives the life of a business owner every day through her own companies, through her husband’s businesses, and through the businesses of her clients. Since 1994 Kirstin has been helping people make more money, find better clients, and sell more effectively.
She specializes in working with people who have a creative flair and are “right-brained thinkers”. Her clients include decorative painters, coaches, interior designers, photographers, videographers, restagers, florists, event planners, and graphic artists throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Her latest book, “Starving Artist No More, Hearty Business Strategies for Creative Folks” is selling like hotcakes.
An award-winning professional speaker and consultant, Kirstin has offices based just outside of Philadelphia, PA and Phoenix, AZ. Kirstin also has a strong background working with corporate clients such as The American Cancer Society, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Crozer-Keystone Health Systems, and Verizon.
Kirstin is the President for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Speakers Association and is an immediate past Board Member for the Main Line Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications from West Chester University.
Faux finishing is Kathy Carroll's passion. As the owner of the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes, Kathy enjoys teaching faux finishing and decorative painting. She also finds that her students appreciate her knowledge of the faux finishing and decorative painting industry. Over 14 years in the decorative arts and interior design, along with her talents in creating unique faux finishes gives Kathy a background to worth sharing with other faux artisans, muralists and decorative painters.
Kathy knows that to bring the best to her students, she must also be a student, and Kathy's skills are constantly evolving as she learns new faux finishes, taking faux design classes from painting artisans and then passing along her knowledge of decorative painting techniques to her faux painting studio clients and students. Kathy's vivacious enthusiasm as a faux painting instructor is second only to her artistry and knowledge of the industry.
The relationship between Kathy and her faux finishing students does not end upon completion of a course. Taking a class from Kathy is like becoming a member of the family. Kathy prides herself on helping others begin their own faux finishing careers. Her philosophy has always been "Your Success ... is Our Success."
Sean Crosby is a self-taught artist with years of experience in the painting industry, both on-the-job and in the classroom. Over the past 10 years, Sean has become a highly regarded instructor of mural, trompe l’oeil, graining and marbling. Sean presently owns and operates The Mural School in Delaware, and he has taught numerous classes at various schools throughout the US as well as in Europe.
The courses that Sean teaches are strict disciplines of decorative painting, however he thrives on creating a classroom atmosphere that combines his vast knowledge with humor to make the classes not only educational, but enjoyable as well. With all of the courses he teaches, Sean says the key to success for artists and decorators is to heighten one’s sense of observation regarding geometry, color, value and horizontal & vertical line. Crosby cites his influences as Italian fresco masters such as Tiepelo, Michelangelo and Veronese, as well as 19th Century artists such as Bouguereau!
Davis, Cynthia
Cynthia Davis has been a decorative artist since 1993 and has owned Cynthia Designs, a decorative design and painting company, since 1994. She has been a SALI member since 1996 and has taken classes with SALI at many conventions. Cynthia has a bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Vermont and has continued her study of art at the Museum of Fine Arts SChool in Boston, MA, Silvermine Artisans Guild in CT and the Brookfield Art Center in CT, as well as traveled and studied in the US and abroad with the industries top professionals. Cynthia has studied ornament painting at Pratt University, NYC and at the Bottega D'arte School in Florence, Italy. She has also studied the technique of Fresco and Tempura painting in France under the instruction of French Fresco painter, Laurence Sousa and participated in a church restoration. She is currently designing her own stencil line for the industry.
Barbara Dickerson was born an identical twin in Syracuse, New York. Barbara and Betty were adopted at three years old by a family that put tremendous weight on education. Their father had a PhD in Business Administration and her mother had a master’s degree in Marketing, quite a feat for a woman born in 1908.
Barbara won a scholarship to the University of Illinois where she majored in Elementary Education, graduating in 1968.
Barbara got married, had three children and decided to stay home, Barbara took oil painting lessons in Houston Texas for two years. She learned a beautiful Flemish Old Master’s palette from one of Dalhart Windberg’s students. In 1979 the Texas state legislature passed an act naming Dalhart Windberg the ‘Artist of Texas”.
After moving to Atlanta, Barbara decided to enter art shows. Doing well the first five years, she and her husband did shows for a living for the next twelve years. Barbara was accepted into the most prestigious shows along the east coast. She also did murals.
After seventeen years of doing shows, Barbara decided to teach oil painting by blending her teaching knowledge with her art skill. In three years Barbara’s nine classes were built up with a waiting list.
For the last ten years Barbara has dedicated herself to teaching and taking workshops from well known artists... Her favorite teacher is Dalhart Windberg himself of whom she is an ongoing student. Knowing the color wheel, practicing numerous color schemes, learning how to achieve mood and/or impact is what gives us the ability to communicate through our paintings and give a message to the viewer.
Barbara Dickerson
2021 Wendover Drive
SnelIville, Georgia, 30078
H 770-982-8433
CIW 678-471-0592
Discepoli, Laine
Laine Discepoli has been painting for as long as she can remember. After earning a marketing & communications degree from Bentley College in Boston, she went on to enjoy a 15 year career in Advertising. But in 1989, her passion was truly in the arts and she spent free time building MissElaineous Decorative Painting "just for fun." When the fun showed promise of big business in 2000 - she made it official and never looked back on corporate life. Still itching for more growth, Laine and business partner/husband John fulfilled a life long dream of opening a studio and Decora Discepoli was born. She thrives on the excitement of teaching and helping others discover the beauty, wonder and challenge of turning simple spaces into desirable places. While continuing her contract work, the studio welcomes beginners and professionals alike regularly. Classes are available for all skill levels and special interest topics such as textures, metallics or collage are offered throughout the year. Decora Discepoli is the only Adicolor dealer in Ohio and also offers a variety of products and tools for the discriminating finisher.
Laine uses her business savvy and marketing background as the power behind her artistic passion. As a busy mother of 11 year old twins, she understands the struggle that so many finishers have in balancing family and faux. She speaks freely about tricks and tools of the trade that experience has taught her - from products to techniques to time management. She is down to earth, intensely creative and believes that "we create our own luck", which is supported by her success. She built her business from the ground up and within only 5 years of going full-time, replaced her corporate salary. As for her commitment to painting -"trends may come and go - but style is here to stay!"
Jeanine went to University of Cincinnati for Fashion Design. Upon graduating she landed a job designing beaded and sequin gowns, taking her to India for months at a time for production. I was very influenced by the 3-dimensional design in India.
When I began doing wall finishes 15 years ago, I embellished my treatments with jewels and anything else that would stick! Thus leading to my book called Spectacular Walls. I also am extremely fond of Pompeian STYLE fresco. I stress style because I do not follow traditional colors or motifs, allowing the frescos to have a certain freedom. I love to share these ideas with others, and hope they will love learning them. I
Dozpat, Cindy
Cindy Dozpat and I served on the SALI Board of Directors at the same time. I had many opportunities to work very closely with her. She is very organized and logical in her thinking and her work. I have taken classes with her and from her. She is an excellent painter, has a wonderful sense of color and design. This spring she taught her color theory class for Delaware Valley Stencilers, my local chapter of SALI. All the participants in this class were able to complete the assignments and gained very useful skills and information. The class was organized in a systematic way so that the concepts built on each other. Because it was a hands-on class, we were able to experience more clearly what was being taught. There were several levels of students in our class, and all benefitted from Cindy's expert instruction. I have taken other color theory classes; this class was by far the best. I enthusiastically recommend Cindy as a convention teacher. Cindy is the former President SALI and the current President of the Delaware Valley Stencilers Chapter of SALI.
Ferguson, Jennifer
Jennifer R Ferguson, Owner & Designer of The Stencilled Garden, has been teaching at the SALI conventions for the past 9 years. She also owns a decorative painting store & studio called the Artistic Painting Studio. She is a regular guest on the Carol Duvall Show and has also appeared on Smart Solutions with Maty Monfort, Kitty Bartholomew: You’re Home, and Aleene’s Creative Living. She is the author of several books, Painted Chairs, Painted Whimsies, Trashformations and Painted Fabric Fun. Jennifer is a talented, creative and patient teacher - that loves to teach and share. Jennifer is currently serving as the EXPO chairperson for the SALI convention.
Mr. Finkelstein, who is the owner and principal painter at Grand Illusion Decorative Painting, Inc. is recognized world wide as a superior craftsman and master in the art of faux painting. He specializes in high-end residential and museum work.
He creates photo realistic faux finishes, faux marble and faux wood, intricate glazing, 18th and 19th century patinas, gilding, handmade plaster finishes, hand painted ornamentation, custom-cut stenciling and architectural trompe l'oeil for internationally acclaimed interior designers and architects. His field of expertise is a recreation of 18th and 19th century period rooms. He also works as a consultant on extensive projects, recommending and writing recipes for different finishes.
Mr. Finkelstein started his career twenty three years ago as a sign painter. In1986 he graduated from the Van Der Kelen Painting Institute in Brussels and was given a gold medal for his superior skills. In 1990 he was awarded the distinguished title of "Best Craftsman of France" for decorative painting by the French government, and since has won numerous awards from the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.
He runs and teaches a short term successful program on high-end decorative painting twice a year in NYC at the Pierre Finkelstein Institute of Decorative Painting, and is often a guest teacher and speaker at other schools throughout the United States.
He has authored two well-known books on decorative painting, Recipes for Surfaces, (Simon & Shuster) and The Art of Faux (Watson-Guptill). The latest book The Art of Faux is an excellent source on decorative finishes for designers and architects.
My name is Richard Fischer and I own Deco Illusions based out of Fort Wayne, IN. I started in this trade 13 years ago and have been working to enrich my skill and background though classes, seminars and hands-on experience. My company is dedicated to residential and commercial faux finishes and stenciling with a concentration on Old World and historical finishes. Deco Illusions was recently featured in Business People Magazine of Northern Indiana.
John Catalanotto & Greg Frohnapfel began ProFaux® in Akron, OH, in 1989 and have conducted over 1,000 workshops throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to designing and teaching special in-house programs, they have consulted and written manuals for clients such as The Faux Finisher, General Motors, Paramount Studios, Sherwin-Williams, 20th Century Fox, The White House and more. Proving that they can do what they teach, they swept three prestigious awards in a single year at the International Picture-It-Painted-Professionally Contest sponsored by the PDCA. In fact, John and Greg’s Interior Commercial project in 1994 is still the only PIPP entry to ever take a perfect score of 100! They later designed their own product line to meet the needs of working decorative artists
Goldenberg, Susie
Susie Goldenberg started Paintin' the Town Faux in 1988 out of her love for the decorative arts and her natural flare for color and design. An art major and graduate of Ohio University, she has studied with master decorative artists from around the world. A professional decorative artist and faux finisher, she teaches beginning to advanced classes at Paintin' the Town Faux from coast to coast. She has been featured on HGTV; in magazines including Better Homes and Gardens, Atlanta Home and Lifestyles, The Building Link, among others; and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; and in many show houses throughout Atlanta. She has featured columns in several decorative arts magazines. Susie is dedicated and committed to sharing her love of faux finishing with her students; helping clients enhance the beauty of their homes and businesses; and sharing her knowledge, experience and expertise to help others succeed in the decorative arts business. She has volunteered her creative services to the Make A Wish Foundation, World Mission and Habitat for Humanity.
Sheri Hoeger, aka The Mad Stencilist, has worked in the decorative painting field since 1988, focusing her custom work on residential interior decorative painting. She has embellished a wide variety of surfaces, including hardwood floors, drapery fabric, tile, furniture, sisal rugs, and (of course) walls. Her love of Trompe l’oeil is apparent in her whimsical yet realistic mural work. Sheri continues to increase her knowledge of technique by exploring new mediums and by attending workshops taught by leaders in the decorative painting and fine art fields, combining these new skills with her tried and true methods to bring her innovative artistic style to her painting projects.
Sheri has produced Embellishments Stencils since 1993, which now features over 200 of her original stencil designs. From Trompe l’oeil to farm animals, fruit garlands to flowers, these intricately cut, realistic designs are available for home or professional use. The Mad Stencilist also produces the SayWhat? custom cut lettering system for the application of letter perfect text on virtually any surface. Sheri is nationally knows for her airbrush stenciling, and her work has influenced the use of this tool by custom Stencilers throughout the country. Sheri has taught workshops since 1993 including classes at the annual SALI Convention. Her studio in Placerville can accommodate up to ten students.
Sheri’s work and stencils have been featured in many home shows and national magazines, such as Better Homes and Gardens Paint Décor, The Artistic Stenciler, Airbrush Action, Window & Wall Ideas, Romantic Homes, 1001 Decorating Ideas, and Somerset Studio. Sheri contributed a chapter on airbrushing interiors to the Ultimate Airbrush Handbook by Pamela Shanteau. Her work is also featured in Stenciling Techniques by Jane Gauss, Trompe l’oeil Murals with Stencils by Melanie Royals, the Stamped and Stenciled Home by Doris Glovier and Stenciling for the First Time by Rebecca Carter. Sheri has appeared as a guest on television with Christopher Lowell and on the Carol Duvall Show.
Ryan Wiley Hoeger is a muralist and plaster finisher with extensive training in the visual arts. He has attended schools in San Francisco and Irvine, California, and trained and worked throughout the United States on both coasts and in between. Ryan currently resides in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where he continues to serve the decorative needs of the greater Sacramento area and beyond.
Jones, Nancy
With thirty (did I admit that!) years experience in all aspects of the decorative painting business including shop owner, retailer, teacher and custom decorative painter, Nancy Jones is a full time decorative painting instructor and custom faux finisher at her own studio/showroom, ArtWorks!...Spokane's Decorative Arts Institute. Nancy holds national certification from the Stencil Artisans League (CS and CST) and the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association. In addition, ArtWorks!...Spokane is a teaching partner school of Royal Design Studio and Modello Designs featuring Extraordinary Stenciled Effects as well as a certified SkimStone™ training facility.
Using her extensive training in the latest decorative painting techniques and products, Nancy and her team of trained decorative painters do custom faux finishes, designer plaster applications and SkimStone™ concrete finishes in residential and commercial settings.
She is a member of the Society of Decorative Painters, SALI, Emerald City Artisans, and is a charter member of the Inland Northwest Decorative Artisans. She has taught decorative painting since 1985 and has taught at community colleges as well as four SALI conventions. She is currently serving SALI on the Education Committee as Teacher Chairman.
Amy founded Ketteran Studios, in Columbia, MD, as a way to combine her classical and theatrical art training. She received her BA in studio art from Grinnell College, and her MFA in Scenic Art from Brandeis University. Her varied training allows her to work quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing the quality and individuality achieved in studio work. Amy's teaching experience has led to her instruction philosophy, which is based on teaching her students to learn how to see, then using that skill to create better visual art. She prefers not to lecture, instead having her students work in a methodical process which can help to de-mystify some aspects of artistic creation. Her emphasis is to help the student develop skills that can be applied in any media, not just the painting techniques seen in the studio. Amy is a member of SALI and is currently the president of the Chesapeake Bay Stencilers.
In 1984, Kelly S. King began his career much the same way as many of his students: Starting with a basic talent and interest in decorative painting combined with a burning desire to continually increase his knowledge of faux painting techniques, Kelly soon found himself being offered freelance faux painting assignments for applying his unique wall and ceiling finishes, European plasters, marbling, stenciling, and other faux painting applications.
Kelly's first endeavor was The Painting Pros, Inc.™, which continues today as a full-service paint contracting company offering general painting, faux painting, and decorative finishing services. As word of his unique talent spread, Kelly once more found himself being offered a number of prestigious faux painting projects throughout the country and abroad. His many faux finish commissions include residential homes and estates, commercial properties, governor's mansions, and even European castles, including Princess Park Manor in London, England.
Kelly uses his combined field talent, his travels abroad, and his education from talented European craftsmen, along with his artistic gifts, to deliver the best training possible. Involved with classes in every division of decorative painting, Kelly believes that a student who wishes to seek out instruction in this field needs to be trained and supported by someone with vast knowledge of faux painting techniques and who supports the integrity of the trade. His experience lends much credibility to the faux painting classes offered through The Kelly S. King Academy of Faux Painting & Decorative Finishing, Inc., and he uses this very experience to train students to master the world's finest faux and decorative finishes. Kelly S. King has trained thousands of successful students and has become one of the nation's leading choices for training in faux and decorative finishing.
Kelly’s latest endeavor is the Director of Education and Product Development for Modern Masters Inc.
Kurimata, Yaeko
Restaurants, shops, hotels, public places and theme parks and all kind of commercial spaces are my working field. Now my crew is more than 15 people, and they are moving around all over Japan, painting walls, ceilings, floors, furnishings, etc. We work with iron artist, sculptor and many different type of artists.
I have been working in this field for 16 years, and I do decorative paintings and murals and of course, plaster works too. I love to create my own materials from different type of products. I am a self taught painter.
The history of decorative painting of Japan is quite different compared to western countries. But Japan has wonderful art history, and Japanese design is really simple and modern, even its old style, thus it is a treasure of patterns and design. I would like to introduce our historical paint and expression to you.
Since 2000 I have worked with Sun Shue Shan, originally from Beijing China. He has a great skill of Chinese painting. We are happy to share our art with SALI.
Lee, Leanne & Smith, Shana
What started as a childhood friendship has flourished into a successful decorative painting business. Shana Smith and Leanne Lee met in the sixth grade. They grew up together playing sports and that sense of teamwork they cultivated as children has become a way of life in their personal life and business.
Shana, a former first grade school teacher, has an Elementary Education degree from Southwest Missouri State University and a Masters in teaching from Webster University. Leanne, a former marketing executive, received her Bachelors degree in Business administration from the University of Kansas.
In the years to follow, their friendship continued, they married, started their families and became neighbors. Their careers were fulfilling, but as their children arrived, they felt the need to have more flexibility. While on maternity leave, Leanne saw a show on decorative painting and a great idea was born.
Since 1999, Wallworx has grown from a part-time business to a full service decorative painting firm. Along with a crew of seven, they work with over 25 builders and decorators in the area to create award winning model homes and stunning remodels. Since WallWorx inception, they have been commissioned to paint thousands of rooms, (both residential and commercial).
The latest venture for WallWorx is the creation of Studio WallWorx. The professional staff of WallWorx offers classes for the do-it-yourself homeowner and the decorative painting professional. They are committed to staying at the top of their field with continuing education classes emphasizing the latest techniques and new products available for decorative painting. Both clients and students benefit from their extensive field experience.
In January 2007, Studio WallWorx became one of eight Certified Training Centers for Modern Masters Inc. This accreditation allows them to offer the Modern Masters Preferred Applicator Training Program in their studio.
LeMare, Lori
Lori Le Mare is an artist who is proficient in the craft of decorative painting. This encompasses such areas as murals, trompe l'oeil, restoration, marbling, woodgraining, stone, gilding, polished plaster, painted furniture, painted ornament, wall glazing, etc.
Lori has been teaching decorative painting since 1988. Her school and studio are located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She holds annual mural painting courses/holidays in Tuscany. She works out of her studio designing and decorating finishes for private clients as well as her own line of painted furniture.
Lori has taught and worked internationally in Canada, USA, China, France and Italy.
She has appeared and helped produce numerous videos for Ritins Studioand Modern Masters.
Lori acts as a consultant to Modern Masters in developing their decorative paint line of products.
Lori’s upcoming “deco-tourism” course is in Italy (Spring 2007) and Beverly Hills (Summer 2007).
Lori Le Mare Studio Inc.
251 Sorauren Avenue #405
Toronto, On M6R 2G5
Canada
Annie Lemarié is the owner of Main Street Arts LLC, a decorative arts studio located in central Maryland. The company offers graining, marbling, glazed and plaster wall finishes, gilding, casting and murals, and often works in the exacting historic restoration arena. Annie trained in fine arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, and has studied with several artists and studios in the U.S. Projects have been published in Elle Décor, numerous editions of Frederick Magazine, Washington Home and Garden magazine and the book The House that Faux Built. She was recently an instructor in Graining and Marbling with the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program (DPAP)’s inaugural project in Chadds Ford, PA, and also teaches small or individual classes in her studio. Since 1980, she has been providing custom decorative arts for interior designers, architects and private clients in the mid-Atlantic region and throughout the United States.
In addition to her decorative arts business, Main Street Arts offers graphic design and advertising services to small business clients in the hospitality, education and retail industries. With extensive experience using computers for design, illustration and presentation/client visualization work, she frequently trains business clients in the use of graphics software for their special applications.
Lord, Gary
Gary Lord is a master decorative artist, author, international teacher and television personality. Gary is also the owner of two nationally recognized companies, Gary Lord Wall Options, and Prismatic Painting Studio. Wall Options, his residential and commercial faux finishing business has won countless awards in faux finishing at various home shows around the city of Cincinnati. It was also honored with the best faux finisher in the nation award in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 by the Painting and Decorating Retailers of America and in 2003,2004 and 2006 by American Painting Contractors. Through his company Prismatic Painting Studio, he teaches nationally and internationally. In October 2007, he will be hosting his 5th international working tour which will take place in and around the beautiful region of Florence, Italy. Gary has authored 3 books “Great Paint Finishes for a Gorgeous Home”, “Marvelous Murals you can Paint” and “It’s Faux Easy”. He offers companion videos and DVDs to these books along with a variety of faux finishing tools and supplies on his website at www.prismaticpainting.com. He has appeared on over 100 television shows demonstrating decorative finishes, and has written numerous articles on decorative painting for national magazines.
André Martinez, President and founder of the Faux Design Center, has been an applied artist in Colorado for 17 years. His first years were spent in traditional art settings; designing jewelry, sculpting, and painting fine art. For over 11 years, his remodel company, Colorado Custom Remodel, showcased André's talent and skill in construction and art. His custom inlayed furniture, concrete countertops, award winning decorative painting, metal fabrications, and training with master decorative painters and plasterers in Europe, have helped him achieve a master level of craftsmanship. His use of new art mediums in application to decorating residential and commercial projects has brought him international recognition in the decorative painting community. "Working in an industry that is focused on bridging the gap between fine art and construction has been the most rewarding thing yet." says André. André divides his time between working in the field, consulting, lecturing, and instructing for the Decorative Painting and Interior Design industry. André holds the Education chair on the Board of Directors for the Professional Decorative Painters Association and is now teaching THE PRINCIPLES OF APPLIED ARTS curriculum at the School of Applied Arts.
Arlene Mcloughlin has been painting unique wall murals for over twenty years. Arlene painted her first mural while attending grade school at St. Boniface in Elmont. She went on to graduate with a B.F.A from the Fashion Institute of Technology .While Arlene enjoyed the excitement of working in NYC , she longed for the creative freedom that comes with running her own painting studio. Arlene has studied with some of the finest decorative artists in the country. Arlene and her staff of professionally trained artisans exude enthusiasm and creativity, some of their areas of expertise include fine Italian plasters, furniture decoration, Skimstone decorative concrete and custom murals. Arlene is a member of the Stencil Artisans league, The Society of Decorative Painters, The Suburban Art League and a teacher at the Long Island Art League.
Menendez, Henri
Born and raised in the Northeast, growing up in a family of artists, it was only natural that Henri Menendez follows in their footsteps. Though Menendez studied art at several colleges, he considers himself a self-taught artist.
Putting his talent to work, Menendez opened DeHuelbes Designs to bring decorative artistry to those in the metro-Atlanta area. Avoiding the phrase “starving artist”, Menendez has developed his company into a successful mural and decorative painting business, while continuing to experiment and mature in his fine art.
DeHuelbes Designs, Inc. is in its 18th year of business and provides the finest in decorative painting to both the residential and commercial market. Menendez teaches and writes for national and local publications and is available for lectures and projects both nationally and internationally. Menendez has received honors in the “APC Top Job Awards” for 2004, 2005, and 2006, for his murals and decorative painting in the commercial painting field.
Menendez is a firm believer in the evolution of an artist through experimentation and education and feels his style will always be changing as he progresses in his journey of artistic expression.
Milligan, Lisa
Lisa Milligan took her first class with faux wall finishes in 1997. That experience opened her heart and soul to what she wanted to do with her life. She has trained with several product lines, and also worked as a Venetian plasterer and faux finisher for several years. Eventually, she joined Vero Fine Italian Finishes of Orange, CA. She fell in love with the “real Italian plasters”. She soaked up all there was to learn, from lime paint to stencils, resin-based finishes, and waxes. She is now a Master Teacher at Vero and has completed many of her own projects in New York and California. Lisa’s works directly with contractors, designers, architects, and home owners creating finishes that matches their projects and concepts. She has taught SALI classes in Northern and Southern California, and is always excited to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for these wonderful finishes with her fellow artisans.
Moccia, Sal & Nancy
Sal & Nancy Moccia had interests in art growing up. In high school Sal had worked on two murals that were installed within the school. Both Sal and Nancy attended Parsons School of Design. While in school, Sal worked as a painter and wall-covering installer. While doing this, clients began to ask for some decorative painting. Although at that point he had no idea that this would be the road his career was on.
Nancy and Sal graduated with BFA’s in Illustration from Parson’s. They continued their education studying drawing, illustration and mural design with David J. Passalacqua, Sr. It was here that they developed their appreciation for diverse genres.
Nancy and Sal began decorative and mural painting together in 1990.In 1992 they formerly started their business as well as their lives together.
Moroni, Lucretia
Lucretia Moroni was born in Milan, Italy. She attended the renowned Van der Kelen School in Brussels and continued her training in interiors with the Renzo Mongiardino architecture firm in Milan. After working with Franco Zeffirelli for the sets of La Traviata, she moved to New York City in the early 1980’s. She has worked on a large number of private and public projects, including the renovation of Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, residences in Italy, South America and the U.S. Her work has been published widely in design and general magazines worldwide.
Lucretia Moroni in 1997, also founded Fatto a Mano, a creative workshop located in New York, which designs and produces a variety of printed silk and linen fabrics, a collection of wallpapers, floor treatments such as faux-mosaics, painted rugs and wood inlays, murals and glass and mirror panels.
The British press has called her their country's leading stencil expert. Helen Morris is one half of The Stencil Library, designers and purveyors of a large, distinctive range of stencils. Her stencils and projects are imaginative and she is constantly working on new stenciling directions to interest her customers and the media. The stencils are sold worldwide through catalogues, stores and web site www.stencil-library.com Helen has taught stenciling since 1988. Helen is a regular face on British TV. The Stencil Library is a regular contributor to both American and European magazines, books and television programs. She is the author of 'The Stenciled Home', writer and presenter of 'The Stenciled Home' video and international speaker on her subject. Helen is also a decorator. The Stencil Library has a reputation for innovative design and Helen relishes experimenting with stencils and product on various surfaces.
She enjoys SALI convention and has taught many classes there.
Jennifer Pace, a native of Baltimore, Maryland has an extensive art and art related business background and attended Pratt Institute and the Maryland Institute of Art. She worked as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer while studying for a degree in Fine Arts. In 1972 she relocated to Winter Haven, FL and for 25 years owned and operated an art gallery, art supply, custom framing business and was an art consultant working closely with designers and clients on residential and commercial projects. During that time she also taught painting classes in all mediums and accepted private commissions. In the early nineties, upon leaving the gallery business to pursue her passion to paint she embraced the art of Trompe L'oeil murals and Faux Finishing. She established her venture in Sarasota, FL and perfects, through nationally known designers, extensive projects consisting of faux, gilding, cabinetry and furniture finishing and exquisite Trompe L'oeil. Her beautiful murals grace the walls of art aficionados and fabulous homes throughout the country. With 33 years of teaching experience, she has taught murals at Faux Effects International for several years and currently teaches at the Sarasota School of Decorative Arts as a guest instructor.
Pardon, Leonard
LEONARD PARDON is one of the foremost decorative faux & mural artists of the era. After graduating from Twickenham Art College in the 50s, and a short time working for his father, a sign painter, he apprenticed in London with acknowledged English Master A.E. Baxby. After 7 years of learning techniques, Leonard started working on his own. His clients begin with the Queen of England - carrying out work at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, he grained rooms in Clarence House (the London residence of the late Queen Mother) along with many other historic houses and sites throughout the Britain and Europe. Other notable clients include the Sultans of Brunei and Oman working both in the Palaces and in their homes in England.
In 1984 Leonard began the School of Specialist Decoration in London's fashionable Knightsbridge; he opened the New York school 2 years later spending the next 3 years dividing his time between the US and the UK. In 1987 Leonard produced 10 stage by stage videos, "Faux Finish it with Leonard Pardon". An additional 5 were introduced to the series the following year. PBS added a booklet when they showed 13 as a weekly TV series around the Nation during the mid '90s. The videos are still selling to a new generation of prospective faux finishers and are now available on DVD.
Leonard's work can be found in numerous hotels, restaurants, private homes, yachts and cruise ships worldwide. Notable designers that he has had the privilege of working with include John Fowler (Colefax & Fowler), the late Mark Hampton and currently Yabu Pushelberg.
Living in Miami since 1991 Leonard has worked extensively around the US and still finds time to take part in many Faux Finish shows. He has given his time for worthwhile causes such as Red Cross show houses in Palm Beach, The House of Faux in Chicago and Washington, has contributed a regular column to Faux Finisher magazine, and has been featured on many special interest TV shows including Home Matters and appeared in magazine and newspaper articles.
Leonard is delighted to make his first appearance with SALI and share his marbling and wood graining techniques with students young and old.
Phelps, Donna
Donna Phelps is an accomplished faux and decorative artist and has operated a successful faux finishing business for the past fifteen years. She has trained extensively at schools from California to Florida with masters of the industry.
As owner and principle instructor of Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing Donna continues to study new products and techniques as they are developed. Ongoing studies at The Faux Effects Studio with the Faux Effects product lines, as well as at other fine painting institutions, help keep her teaching style fresh and her techniques cutting edge. Her more than 20 years of training and experience translates into her ability to offer her students a wealth of real world knowledge, technical support, and the unique opportunity to learn to execute complex finishes with simple and profitable techniques.
Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing is a Professional Faux Effects Licensed Training and Distribution Center. The school offers a full complement of the Faux Effects Signature Series of workshops including all Designer Wall classes. Other classes focused on introducing the latest innovations in the Faux Effects product line such as RsCrete and LusterSuede are exciting new additions to the curriculum. Donna’s personal Design Collection Series of classes utilizes a very special line of raised plaster stencils along with fabulous combinations of Faux Effects textures and metallics. The exciting line of stencils, marketed as The Victoria Larsen Professional Collection of Raised Plaster Stencils, is exclusively distributed by Donna and her school.
With her enthusiasm and creativity well in place, Donna will always offer her clients and her students cutting edge finishes and techniques with a smile.
Prowinski, Jacek
Jacek Prowinski has a teaching degree and is a graduate of a professional painting school. He has taught all aspects of faux painting workshops ranging from one-day to five-day comprehensive training sessions. His extensive field experience enables him to empower his students with no only cutting edge decorative finishes, but on-the-job advice and business savvy. Jacek has been profiled in a number of publications including The Faux Finisher and Profiles in Faux Finishing.
A self-taught decorative artist and entrepreneur, Melanie Royals has developed a reputation as a leading innovator and educator in the art of stenciling and decorative painting through her company, Royal Design Studio. Melanie’s new company, Modello Designs, offers a revolutionary approach to the design and application of decorative pattern to all surfaces. Custom designed and custom-sized, Modello decorative masking patterns are cut to order for use on all surfaces including walls, ceilings, wood, plaster, concrete and more.
As the founder and creative force behind Royal Design Studio and Modello Designs, Melanie shares her passion for paint and its exciting possibilities through television appearances, books, instructional videos, website and workshops offered throughout the country.
By combining his fine art training (M.F.A. Painting) with the free
wheeling effects of vinegar painting, Bill Russell has been able to
develop a decorative painting style that uses the form of furniture
as a foundation for his painted designs, but incorporate a range of
textural and color effects that both expand and enrich the form.
While it might be said that he uses the furniture as three-
dimensional canvas, his paintings tend to reveal aspects of the
canvas rather than obscuring or overpowering it.
When Bill began to seriously pursue furniture painting in 1986, he
looked for pieces at auctions and yard sales to work with. His
qualifications were threefold: structural quality, interesting form
and lack of antiquarian value. This led him to collect castoffs
from the 1920's to the 60’s. Bill has sold work through galleries and shops from Martha's Vineyard to the Midwest. He has exhibited his work at the Philadelphia Furniture Show and Fine Furnishings Providence or in his
own gallery in Philadelphia.
Today Bill's work incorporates a range of techniques and stylistic
influences. One of he most commonly heard comments about his work
is:” I’ve never seen furniture like this before."
In addition to creating his furniture finishes, Bill has authored two
books on decorative painting: "Decorative Furniture Finishes with
Vinegar Paint" and "Furniture Magic", published by Northlight Press.
He also teaches workshops in decorative paint
techniques, focusing on vinegar painting, throughout the Northeast,
and he has taught drawing and design at Philadelphia University for
the last twenty years.
Examples of Bill's work have been included in several national
publications including the New York Times, and can currently be seen
on his website.
