subtle

This is a very subtle finish. The homeowner wanted a hint of antiquing on the wagon wheel and knuckles. A little bit of paint makes a big difference.

the gilt

A very solid brassy gold. I would have loved to age it a bit but the color matched the gilt edges of the furniture and the gold braiding on the draperies. When all was done it was an appropriate finish that fit the overall decor of the house. Very Louis XIV. (saying Louis XIV is fun: LooEEE Kaht-OHRZ-ceh)

Sweet Earth

This has been my most popular color since I started painting. A tawny brown applied in different ways over a black, dark brown or bronze base to achieve a rustic, naturally aged look. In the summer when I'm working outside a lot and I get this paint color on my skin, I hardly notice because the sun tans me to the same deep brown. I'll most likely post this finish over and over. It can be applied in different ways for different looks. If you drive around Rancho Santa Fe you'll see this finish everywhere. It's my signature finish.

the great concrete statue experiment

Every once in a while I step outside my wrought iron maiden box and venture forth into uncharted territory. This was fun. A homeowner had this gorgeous garden statue/fountain of a nymph. The statue was getting along in years and had deteriorated due to weather and the the general hard life of being a concrete statue in Southern California sunshine. The homeowner contacted the store where she had purchased the statue and they told her to fill in the cracks with bond-o, a putty used to fix small dents in cars. She had another worker apply the bond-o but after they were both at a loss as how to make the statue look statuesque again. (Har, har. I like puns, I can't help it.)

This is where I came in. While I was on property doing other faux work she asked me if there was anyway I could help her. I said yes. I had no idea if I would be able to make the statue look presentable again but I wanted to try. I sanded away the excess bond-o to smooth it out. I applied a few coats of a sealer I've been using for years, then bronze paint, I went to town with a patina then sealed the whole thing. I was pretty impressed with my work and have been wondering if maybe this is another little niche I can pursue.

the lovely minutiae

The homeowner here had a lovely wrought iron framed mirror that came with a factory finish. She loved the finish and asked if I could paint her plain black toilet paper holder to match the mirror frame. I said yes. This finish is a combination of bronze, pewter and a few different browns.

it only looks easy

If I had a fireplace this is the screen I would have. I love how this screen feels a little Art Deco and a little modern.

Sometimes I have to mix a lot of color to get the color I know will enhance the piece just the right way. This is a fine example. I almost felt like an alchemist on this one, adding tint and adjusting how much metallic sheen I wanted. Often painting takes on a meditative quality. I get into the zone and focus to the point of obsession. Anyone who has seen me work on a custom finish can attest to my mad scientist moments; surrounded by paint, mixing and remixing, adjusting, readjusting, giving it my all.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Gates

These gates were originally a dark brown. The homeowners wanted them to be more dramatic and selected an oil-rubbed bronze finish. The gates were a few years old so there was quite a bit of prep work. I had to clean them, wire-brush all the rust off, apply my magic rust-stopping product then paint and faux them. These gates are the entryway to a gorgeous estate.

The French Fireplace Screen

I call this the French Fireplace Screen because the house it was in was decorated in a gorgeous French Provencal style. And I was listening to a book on the French Revolution while I was painting it. The lighting in these pictures isn't the best. I painted the screen a blackened bronze with bronze highlights and detailed the leaves in gold before antiquing them.

the monster chandelier

This is something I completed recently. The homeowners contacted me because they had purchased a house and were remodeling it. The previous owners had a very different color scheme and overall style going on than what the new homeowners wanted. This chandelier came with the house but the original color wasn't going to work with the new style of the home. The homeowners were installing dark bronze sconces with an antique copper finish and asked if I could match the chandelier. I knew I could but also knew it would be a ton of work. I said yes.

This is one of those jobs that make me happy I discovered audiobooks. The chandelier wasn't difficult to paint but it took a really long time. Chandeliers are all nooks and crannies ad tiny spaces that are hard to reach. I sprained my pinky painting this as it got caught in one of the nooks and/or crannies. It was a lot of work but I'm happy I said yes. I love how it came out and by painting the existing chandelier the homeowners saved themselves the cost and hassle of replacing the chandelier. I love a good challenge.

I'll paint anything metal

This was fun. A homeowner who had spent a lot of time making his home's exterior composition really flow was befuddled as to what to do about his grey metal gas lines. He was considering planting a sort of covering around the pipes to hide them but realized the person who came to read the gas meter monthly would be inconvenienced. I suggested painting the pipes the same blackened bronze as his exterior gates and garage hardware. Even with the gray meter box, they looked a lot better. I've painted a lot of pipes over the last few years, these were my first.

The Vines

This railing is one of my favorite pieces. I was at the client's home looking at some exterior work she wanted finished. When I came in I saw the iron work and fell in love with it. I'd never seen anything like it before. The homeowner designed it herself and had it made by an artist in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it was plain old black. I asked her if I could make a sample for her and she said yes, loved it and hired me to do the work. I pulled out all the stops and went to town.

I used a blackened bronze base then added highlights in bronze, copper and several shades of green. The homeowner had a gorgeous bronze statue at the bottom of her staircase and I did my best to match it. This is the result. I worked with the vines, following their contours and concentrated on making the leaves dramatic. I love love love this piece. I love when a homeowner or designer gives me free reign and lets me go with my instincts as an artist. Trust the artist, friends. Good things happen.

oil rubbed bronze with gold highlights

This was a fairly simple railing. It was painted black and came stock with the house. I met the designer to go over samples for painting the fireplace screens and suggested they try out a custom finish on the railing. The designer and homeowner were skeptical and didn't think a finish could add anything to the simple railing. I made a sample and they loved it. A little paint goes a long way. I know iron is traditionally black but I truly love my work and how my finishes can make something ordinary into something extraordinary.

patina

I originally painted these gates about five years ago. The homeowner called me last week asking to have them redone.

The original finish was a very light patina and verdigris over a black base. This time the homeowner wanted something more dramatic, more green she said. I suggested a heavy turquoise patina over a dark bronze.