|
| |
Atlanta Journal & Constitution,
Faux Painting
May Be the Answer
Author: Kathy Cote The Atlanta Journal/Constitution
| Date: 1/10/1997 |
|
|
Donna Mabrey shows off her handiwork - a floor cloth -
which she painted for the home of Mr. And Mrs. Jim Ward in Stone Mountain.
With the tinsel and holiday treasures stowed away for another year, many
home interiors seem a bit drab in January, but now is the ideal time for a
New Year's facelift, according to Snellville faux painting expert, Donna
Mabrey.
Whether the goal is to change the entire feel of a room with a dramatic
new paint treatment for the walls or add the finishing touches that accent
existing walls and trim work, faux painting can be an effective affordable
alternative to wall-coverings and traditional color schemes.
"Faux painting is a wonderful choice for enhancing special features
in the home, like windows, mantels, bookcases and trim work, as well as a
cost effective way to camouflage problem areas," said Donna, who began her business at home when her three children were small.
Today, in addition to design techniques like sponging, rag-rolling,
marbleizing and foil-leafing, faux painting includes various types of wall
glazing, color washing, and even transforming walls to resemble expensive
fabrics like suede and leather. Homeowners can also make a dramatic impact
by adding touches of free form art, spot motifs and trompe l'oeil in
various rooms, according to Donna.
"Free-form stenciling and stencil painting is where the industry is
headed," she said. "In each home, it is important to determine
the feel the client is trying to create and then use special effects to
bring their ideas to life. The goal is always to help that person get what
is right and cost effective for the final look they are trying to
achieve." The result, based on Donna's impressive
portfolio of work in more than 300 homes, several upscale Bed &
Breakfast Inns, and Atlanta area show homes, runs the gamut from dramatic
paint treatments in two-story foyers to barely detectable, but highly
effective gold-leafing on interior columns. Her work has been featured in
Better Homes & Gardens, as well as numerous trade publications and she
has been selected for the last six years as an instructor at the annual
convention of the Stencilers Artisan League, Inc. From rather humble
beginnings experimenting with stencil painting and special effects in her
own home, Donna has developed a highly successful business
which combines both doing and teaching others about her career. In
response to demands from artists and interior designers from all over the
country, she began teaching specialty workshops eighteen months ago and
eventually established a studio at the Henderson's Antique Market in
Snellville. "After struggling to break into this industry, my goal is
to have a place where people can come and learn what they need to know to
go into business for themselves," said Donna.
Art by many workshop graduates is featured throughout the Antique Market
showroom providing a dramatic backdrop to unusual furnishings or enhancing
pieces with a cleverly designed floor cloth. Several pieces by Donna
Mabrey are also on display, and clients can commission work through a
private in-home consultation with the artist.
Canvas floor cloths and painted sisal rugs are an ideal alternative to
traditional carpeting in high-traffic areas, according to the artist, who
creates custom sizes and designs to meet the needs of each client. Most
pieces, whether contemporary or traditional, are priced at approximately
$15 a square foot, including materials and depending on the degree of
embellishment. "I can paint on any surface and create any look a
customer is seeking, " said Donna, whose portfolio
includes work done on tile, outdoor decking, furniture, walls, ceilings,
and even etched window glass. "I bring a sense of proportion and
color to each home and work to help the client create a certain
feeling," she said.
Students interested in breaking into the highly competitive faux painting
industry are being drawn from all over the country to participate in
Donna's week-long workshops.
|
|
