Domed Ceiling Trompe L’Oeil Mural
This mural was painted onsite and includes images of the client’s children, family pets, Trompe L’Oeil architecture and palm trees, etc.
Also included is a picture of my scaffolding so that I could paint the ~20’ domed ceiling above a winding staircase. Sections of my scaffolding were set up on the 2nd floor landing and at various points on the staircase and floor and then plywood and planks bridged the gaps such that I could stand or sit to paint. Openings around the side where left there for light and ventilation. The clients could also see the work in progress from the 2nd floor landing. Knowing how to efficiently manage and utilize materials and equipment like scaffolding is one of the things that sets me apart from many other decorative painters.
Also included is a picture of my scaffolding so that I could paint the ~20’ domed ceiling above a winding staircase. Sections of my scaffolding were set up on the 2nd floor landing and at various points on the staircase and floor and then plywood and planks bridged the gaps such that I could stand or sit to paint. Openings around the side where left there for light and ventilation. The clients could also see the work in progress from the 2nd floor landing. Knowing how to efficiently manage and utilize materials and equipment like scaffolding is one of the things that sets me apart from many other decorative painters.
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Klimt (Stoclet Frieze) Pastiche Panels
I painted the wall paneling in this photo. This client is one of several for whom I ended up working for on various projects stretching over a decade. She owns an original drawing by Vienna Secession artist Gustave Klimt and wanted these paneled doors on either side of her fireplace mantel (with a Robert Henri painting above) done as an homage to Klimt’s work. I did a pastiche of his Stoclet Frieze ‘tree of life’ over composition leaf gilding. Prior to this I had done a simple ‘fantasy’ marble treatment on the rest of the paneling (seen here) along with other decorative painting features in the rest of this home.
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Private Museum
This is the largest job I’ve ever done. It kept me and a dozen helpers busy for over a year. We did about 14 murals after Old Masters and miles of gilded architectural ornament. The building was based on what was Napoleon’s Apartment in the Louvre (in a Neo-Classical or Empire style). Here you see in progress images (almost finished) of the ceiling murals and some of the gilded ornament. Also I am shown underneath one of the murals for an adjacent library room on the second floor.
The largest rectangular ceiling mural was done in my studio on 4 canvas panels which were then glued up to the ceiling and seamed together. About 2 working days were required by me and an assistant to touch up the seams and to varnish the mural while on scaffolding. The mural is based on a mural called The Institution of the Rosary by Tiepolo.
The largest rectangular ceiling mural was done in my studio on 4 canvas panels which were then glued up to the ceiling and seamed together. About 2 working days were required by me and an assistant to touch up the seams and to varnish the mural while on scaffolding. The mural is based on a mural called The Institution of the Rosary by Tiepolo.
Rice Hotel Murals
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The old Rice Hotel is arguably the most historically significant building in Houston. In 1998, there was an adaptive re-use renovation of the building and I was charged with painting murals with fidelity to the original interior of the late 19th Century (long since destroyed). This also garnered some local print and television coverage. Here you see related press clippings along with the two murals we did for the ballroom. I also did several large paintings for the Foyer.
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Rovinj Landscape MuralThis 8' x 22' mural was painted in about 2 weeks in oil for the residence of a Houston attorney. The client enjoys vacationing on the peninsula of Rovinj, Croatia, an ancient city on the coast of the Adriatic Sea below Trieste, Italy. The composition includes some invented geographic detail, omitting the modern industrialized sectors of the ancient city and replacing them with more rural elements.
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Snake on the FloorFool-the-Eye Snake Painting by Russell Erwin
This life-sized Trompe L'Oeil snake was painted in an afternoon, directly on the floor of Jim Carroll's Show Barn near College Station, Texas. The project also included a Fool-the-Eye hat on the wall, and a landscape with bull. The Artist enjoyed this project immensely, especially the Texas hospitality of Mr. Carroll. |
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Stormy Sky on Gilded Dome Ceiling
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Having done a great deal of mural painting and also gilding, it was only a matter of time before I combined the two. This represents a unique visual effect achieved via the combination of the two media: in that the reflection of light on the silver domed ceiling sky always makes it appear as if the sun is behind the darker (painted, matte finish) clouds.
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Trompe L’Oeil Pergola MuralThis 10' diameter painting was done on canvas and installed in a Kingwood mansion in 2000. The imagery includes Trompe L'Oeil trellis work, birds, Wisteria vines, trees, clouds and sky. Here you see a picture of the mural installed and also before installation (on un-stretched canvas in my studio at the time). Installation Photo by Joel Draut.
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Trompe L’Oeil Architectural Folly
I was commissioned through Curtis and Wyndham Architects to paint this copper fronted concrete pool house building to look like a draped tent. The effect was uniformly achieved via minimal means with only a few colors. The tradition of architectural follies is one that I have long admired. There are entire books on the subject.
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Trompe L’Oeil Wine Niche
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This French Provençal landscape fool-the-eye piece was commissioned for a niche area adjacent to a storage area for fine wines. It was painted on plywood panel and then installed. I used colored putty to overlay 3/D faux brick over part of the painting to inset it within the niche and further maintain a Trompe L’Oeil effect. The gate on the right is real whereas the one on the left is painted illusion.
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Deco Butterflies
This work was for a young girl’s bedroom, using muted and soft tones as part of the overall design scheme in collaboration with Giarusso and Associates, Interior Designers.
David Weekley HomesThis 6' x 20' mural was painted for the new offices of David Weekley Homes in Houston, located at 1111 N. Post Oak. The mural was inspired by the WPA (U. S. Works Progress Administration of the 1930s) era murals of artists such as Thomas Hart Benton. Depicted in Benton-esque multiple-perspective are monumental/dynamic images of home building. At the far left are David Weekley and his brother Dick Weekley. This mural is on view to the general public. Special thanks to Joy Stowell and Kathy Andrews of Kathy Andrews Interior Design and to Randall Walker and Brian Malarky of Kirksey and Partners Architects. Photo by Joel Draut.
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