Bathroom Transformation: From Mediocre to Medieval

I went to Florida to visit my dad, a retired Air Force Colonel,  a few months ago to help him with his bathroom renovation. He had recently returned from a trip to Germany, and was inspired by the beautiful, Medieval Castles. He decided to take his master bathroom way back in time by giving it a Middle-aged, European ambiance. When he decides to do something, he doesn't just take it half way. I guess this is partly where I get my creativity from. 
By the time I arrived, he had already gutted the entire bathroom.

Dad's bathroom;  Before renovation

Dad's custom cabinets

My job was to transform the white bathroom doors and the cabinets he had just custom built out of mdf (medium density fiberboard, an engineered wood).

The goal was to make them look as if they had been around for centuries. I used layers of products to get that "aged", dark rich wood look, and added an embossed design, highlighted in luscious golds and silvers. Dad had purchased some unfinished beams that were made of condensed Styrofoam, that my step mom and I  faux finished to look like real wooden beams for the ceiling.
 

condensed Styrofoam that I transformed into aged ceiling beams

Dad transformed the rest of the room by hanging fabricated stone on the walls, laying new tile, and adding exquisite lighting and fixtures. We worked long days but managed to take a refreshing break once or twice.














                                                                 

The results... 

                                                         

To see more of my decorative art or hire me (Dallas/Ft. Worth area) to faux finish your walls, ceilings, cabinetry, etc., please visit Creative Wall Designs
To purchase original oil or acrylic paintings, click on Chris Brandley Originals

Runaway Canvas

During one of our "Serotonin" meetings recently, my friend Charice and I walked out onto her back deck and realized what a beautiful day it was to go and do some Plein Air painting. We quickly threw our things together and headed for Grapevine. I set up my easel by the vintage train, on a slight incline in the gravel between the train tracks. I couldn't resist the colors and rusting metal on one of the train cars.

Charice parked several feet away, deciding on another train car to paint. As soon as I set up, I knew what a challenge this would be. My easel wasn't exactly stable, sitting on the gravel on a hill, and suddenly the wind decided to pick up. If you've ever been to Texas in the spring, you know it can feel like a wind tunnel. The sun began bearing down and it was getting hot. As soon as I dipped my paint brush into the paint, it dried in the heat and wind as quickly as I moved it to the canvas. I had to work fast. I glanced over at Charice, who was close enough to see, but too far away to have a conversation. She was smart. She had parked on the level platform in the shade, and seemed to be peacefully whipping up a masterpiece.

It may look like fun, but looks can be deceiving!

Charice working on her masterpiece

I drudge on. Paint fast, grip the canvas tightly for fear it would blow away; let go momentarily to grab a runaway paper towel, and off the canvas goes, like a kite in the wind,  rolling down the tracks. I run after it only to come back to a collapsed easel. After 2 or 3 repeats, and a sunburn later,  I get the majority painted,  enough to finish up in the studio. I desperately glance Charice's direction and see that she's chasing her canvas down the platform. I feel bad, but it actually makes me feel a little better that she's sharing my pain. I run over to help her. As I take off my sunglasses, she bursts out laughing b/c I have two white rings around my eyes outlined by the sunburn. We agree it's time to pack up and go home. We chalk it up to another one of our adventures.

Grapevine Vintage Train

I did my final touch ups to the  painting in the studio. Hopefully the next outing won't be as windy!
To view and purchase other paintings, please visit Chris Brandley Originals

Welcome to my Art Blog

     Hi! My name is Chris Brandley. My passion is painting in oils, but I also love creating art with plasters, metal paints that will oxidize, gold leaf, and whatever else I can get my hands on. I absolutely love texture. I suppose my interest in working in different mediums started with my background in teaching, and also from being a professional faux finisher, where I plaster and glaze walls and ceilings, re-finish furniture, enhance iron banisters, etc. etc. I use a lot of these techniques and incorporate them into pieces of art on canvas.

    "Oxidized Metallic Ceiling in a Bathroom"

                                                  Back to my teaching background: I was a middle school art teacher for 11 years (from 1991-2002). I introduced my students to lots of different art media. As I taught, I also learned. As much as I enjoyed seeing my students light up when they created their own works of art, I felt as though I needed to create...MORE. A LOT more. So I took a leap of faith and was trained in faux finishing and business, I quit teaching, and I started my own business: "Creative Wall Designs" ( Visit my faux finishing website) I balance my "professional" time between that, and being a professional artist.

Panini Cafe'

                                                click here to purchase or see other paintings

     I decided to start a blog (as if I don't have enough to do with being a wife, raising our daughter, and running 2 businesses!) Seriously, though, I'm finding that people that I've connected with have influenced me greatly and helped me to grow even more. I will be sharing paintings and other artwork as they progress, outings with other artists, ideas, and thoughts on being an artist.
I would love to hear from you anytime and hope this blog can become a community of inspiration.