fetchingstudio.typepad.com > FETCHING STUDIO PORTFOLIO (2002-2007)

Kat's Journey: Cover & Interior Illustrations

Our book is now available! I did the illustrations.

Synopsis:
“Lost? I can’t be lost! I want my family!”

When his family accidentally leaves him in a strange town, Kat the dog must look for a new place to belong. As he travels from place to place, he receives gifts from those who have little but are willing to share with a “friend” in need. At the end of his journey, Kat not only finds a loving, new family, he then learns of the ultimate Gift of love—God’s Son.

Parents and children alike will delight to read this warmly illustrated bilingual book (each page has English and Spanish translations) that reinforces the concepts of our love for each other and God’s love for us."

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Available @ WalMart and at several online locations:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Blackwell (UK)
- BooksAMillion
- Buy.com
- ChristianBook.com (1-800-CHRISTIAN)
- Libreria Universitaria (IT)
- Winepress

Starfishdetail

The next several images depict a seaside themed mural I did for a nursery in a builder's home. My clients had in mind something fresh and "dreamy". I had the luxury of beginning the project while the house was being built, and we were able to add some details like wainscoting and a custom cornice to really enhance charm of the room. While we were brainstorming, it became clear that we were envisioning a seaside theme as opposed to a beach theme. My hope is that this is a space that can be enjoyed by many ages for a long time.

Smallcrabs

Seawalldetail

Seasidegrassdetail

Seabird2

Seabird1

Sandcastleshellsdetail

Sailboatsdetail

Sailboatcabanas

Porthole

We wanted to continue the seaside theme into the adjoining bath, and a porthole seemed like a good way to add a bit of detail.

Lighthousecrab

Lighthousecliff

Leftwallview

Crabdetail

Centerwallview

Cabanawindowwall

My clients and I started working on the concept for this room while the home was under construction. I came up with the idea of a custom window cornice which looks like a cabana tent, and the trim person built it according to my rendering; then I painted it to coordinate with the bedding and mural (notice the row of cabanas to the left).

Cabanagullscrabs

Cabanadetail

Plasterdamaskfoyer

This foyer is an example of how to address the issue of awkward stopping points for wall treatments. I added a piece of trim under the lower portion of the ceiling to delineate one space from the other, and painted the trim the wall color so it would disappear to an extent, but you still have the visual cue that you are leaving one space and entering into another. This space doesn't get a lot of light, so I lightened up the walls, and the venetian plaster arabesque motif over a slightly deeper glazed plaster relates to the adjoining living room, but defines the entry as a separate area. I also added part of my collection of sunburst mirrors and mercury glass to reflect light into the dark room. Another tip for small rooms that I like to employ is painting doors the wall color so they recede and no longer visually break the room up.

Office3

This is a home office in Westhaven. I started working with the clients while the house was under construction, and they wanted the decor to complement the home's Tudor Revival style. For this particular space, we wanted a masculine, rich room. I came up with the concept of three layers of plaster on the walls (a layer each of caramel and coffee colored plasters, with a rich red topcoat) which were then waxed, a rich bronze and parchment treatment on the ceiling, and a dark umber paint on all trim and woodwork.

Office2

Notice here how the main red in the window treatment is not an exact match to the red in the walls...a slight shift in value or tone of a color is so much more interesting to the eye. Many people needlessly obsess about an exact match of fabric to wall color--especially with reds. I really prefer to visualize each element as a part of the whole room, and variation really keeps the eye moving around the room.

Office1

I also worked with these clients to choose fabrics and window treatments for several rooms. In the office, I chose this chenille with an arabesque repeat to complement the furnishings and surface treatments. We kept the style of the panels simple and in keeping with the masculine feel of the space.

Medallion

This is a ceiling treatment in the Tudor Revival home in Westhaven. This room is a wonderful contrast with the masculine office/study. The homeowners had chosen a peaceful pale blue-gray for the walls, and wanted a feature on the ceiling. I came up with a combination of ethereal, shimmering layers of oyster and bronze, and a quatrefoil motif hand painted around the light fixture. There are also delicate motifs painted in the curved-in corners of the trim work.

Chinoiseriemural

This is my dining room. I've been obsessed for a while with hand painted French chinoiserie panels, and when I found the retro chandelier in a great little shop (Nest, in Waynesville, NC), the antique gilt bamboo mirror and the pierce-work jars, I knew I had to paint the first mural I've ever had in my own home. I wanted to keep the palette subtle and monochromatic. I really enjoy a space in which, with a change in rug, window treatments, etc., it can have a completely different feel--even if it has a mural! Now I'm fixated on Grisaille murals, so if you are reading this and in the market for a mural...

Brentwood residence

Glazed ceiling treatment adorned with a hand-painted medallion.

Shadowbrook residence, dining room detail

Hand-painted detail on formal dining room moldings.

Shadowbrook residence, formal dining room detail

Custom wall glaze, ceiling treatment, and handpainted detail in a home in Brentwood, TN.

Shadowbrook residence

Venetian plaster wall treatment with relief detail in original design.. Brentwood, TN.

Shadowbrook residence, dining room ceiling, detail

Glazed ceiling treatment with hand-painted medallion in Brentwood, TN.

Shadowbrook residence, dining room

The beautiful architectural details of this home are enhanced in the dining room with the use of warm wall and ceiling glazes and hand painted details.

Shadowbrook residence, dining room ceiling detail

I designed this motif for the ceiling based on the warm, traditional style of the clients.

Shadowbrook residence, powder room

A rich, hand-rubbed venetian plaster wall finish dressed up this powder room, which has very high ceilings.

Hampton Reserve residence, hallway niche

I did a custom oyster-colored venetian plaster finish throughout the first floor public spaces in this beautiful tudor style home, and the niches in the main hall begged for an extra something, so I designed an arabesque, cut a stencil by hand, and troweled the plaster through the pattern. An oil glaze brought out the pattern even further.

Hampton Reserve residence, living room

I resisted the call to become a decorative painter for years mainly because of a fear of working in high areas. This was the first project two-story project I would take on, and with the enthusiasm of a most wonderful homeowner, the encouragement of a fantastic designer, and the best crew in the world, we did a gorgeous venetian plaster finish. I can't help but imagine a scene out of THE GREAT GATSBY when I am in this house.

Hampton Reserve, living room, opposite wall

Hampton Reserve residence, foyer staircase

We chose a subtle wall color for the venetian plaster treatment for several reasons; the clients wanted an airy, ethereal feel for most of the home, and these clients also have a collection of modern art, so a wall color that would not compete with the predominantly bright paintings was best. We also needed a palette which suited the style of the house, and the color, while preferably light and neutral should still have the effect of warming the soaring spaces.

Hampton Reserve residence, foyer

The custom-tinted venetian plaster not only warms the space by virtue of its color, but the texture adds an element of softness, which is very effective in an area that normally will not have a lot of softness from elements like fabric and upholstery or carpets, such as an entry hall or a kitchen.

Westhaven residence, kitchen glaze detail

Glazed venetian plaster with original pattern.

Glazing and subtle texture from plaster mimic aged wallpaper.

Patterned venetian plaster foyer

The soft, worn-looking pattern and painted front door add depth and openness to this small foyer.

Nursery mural, bluebird on picket detail

Nursery mural, bluebird nest detail

This was so much fun. My client wanted a classic, dreamy, pastoral nursery for their baby boy. Bluebirds and cardinals hold special meaning for the family, so they appear throughout the scene with sweet lambs napping and jumping over fences, a quirky sheep or two, bunnies, dragonflies, clover, bumblebees, and all other sorts of flora and fauna for baby and his big brothers to discover. The ceiling is painted with clouds, and birds even fly around up there.

Nusery mural, resting lamb with grazing sheep on hill detail

The sweet lamb is curled up right at the end of the baby's crib.

Nursery mural, lamb in clover detail

Stationed sweetly in a clover patch near the nursery door, this lamb faces baby in the crib.

Nusery mural, rabbit detail

There's a surprise behind every door in this space. The bunny is nestled into wild strawberries and tall grasses.

Nursery detail, shepherd's staffs and Bible verse

My clients chose a verse for the nursery, which I hand-lettered above the staffs and banner with baby's name. The homeowners also commissioned me to paint the window hardware finish to coordinate with the fabrics for the custom bedding and window treatment fabrics.

Nursery detail, Bible verse and banner detail

Nursery, crib wall

Baby sleeps sweetly under the boughs and fluffy clouds.

Nursery detail, bluebird house