Salon 2017 NYC
As an artist and educator I find few conferences more engaging and welcoming than The Salon. The world stage of decorative painting comes together as an international community for a few days every year to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and showcase the extreme talents of decorative artists from all corners of the world. If you are not familiar with this gathering click out the link below. Live demonstration by Pascal Amblard showing the progression of painted roses throu

I Wood, Wood You?
If I have the time I always like to explore new materials. It seems like there is always something I haven't tried yet. When the set for Romeo & Juliet came along, the designer, Peter Munton, desired a textural look to the old wood of this half-timber and wattle-and-daub style set. I knew that I would need (want) to explore some new ideas for texture. After trying about a dozen different mixes of things I came across Ceramic Tile Mortar, not to be mistaken with Tile Adhes

Stamp Ideas...
Recently I was handed a rendering for a realism inspired parquet floor. It looks like a fairly easy process, there is just a crap ton of it - technical measurement, of course. Ok, not a crap ton, but enough to make me want something to save time. So, a stamp walks into a bar... I know a stamp will save time when it comes to laying in the grain structure, as long as the the stamp is clear enough. The closest audience member is less than five feet from the set, so clarity i
