Les Fleurs Decorative Painting

Decorative plaques

Decorative wall plaques remain one of the most popular items among my students as well as among my customers. I guess it is due to the simple, flat surface and the versatility of the plaques - small enough to hang anywhere inside or outside the house yet big enough to complement or enhance the decor of the respective areas. You can place it at the entrance or the living room with the words "Welcome", "Home Sweet Home" or just the house number. Everyday French words such as bonjour and bienvenue are also regularly used. Or you can place one on the door of each room e.g. "Dining", "Kitchen", "Powder Room" or "Washroom". For some strange reasons, washroom door plaques are very popular among my customers. You can also place one on the door of each bedroom with the given names of the rooms or the kids. Plaques are also a good starting point for students wishing to paint for own use, for sale or for a gift. They are the most popular gift items for events such as moving to a new house, opening of a new shop or redecoration of a house or a shop. The plaques come in various shapes and sizes. The bigger plaques are sometimes written with words of inspiration or extracts from the religious verses as specified by the customers. More and more people these days want unique and beautiful plaques painted to order according to their own unique personality or the unique theme of their home decor.

Every house used to have one

Now, here is something that I would love to have one for myself. This kind of nostalgic items from the days gone by can really bring back fond memories of the past. In this case, it reminds me of how sewing machines used to be a common feature in almost every home. It used to be an indispensable part of every family. My mother had one, and her mother had one too. How times have changed. They don't make this kind of things anymore and sewing machines are no longer an essential part of every family. So, I really enjoy having things like this old sewing machine case in wood in my care for a while, until it's time to say goodbye. After the necessary makeover as requested by its rightful owner, off it goes back to where it comes from. But not without leaving a mark in my life. The thoughts continue to linger, not so much on the painted product but on how the society has evolved. It seems to me that mothers no longer have the time or the necessity to sew or mend items of clothing for the family, and so many new gadgets continue to take over the place of the old ones as time passes and people change the way they live.

Le nouveau studio

I still receive inquiries from time to time, originated from this blog, on where I conduct my painting classes. So here it is - my painting studio - which has recently been given a fresh new makeover. The french door gives it a more continental look. Previously, it looked like this. What hasn't changed is the fact that it is my home. Yes, I paint and conduct painting lessons at home. In that way, going to work is not a big hassle to me - no traffic jam, no toll charges, no parking fees, no lunching out and never far from the kids. Some students may take a while to get used to the idea but others may take no time at all to feel at home. The facelift is designed, among others, to give better physical and sensory comfort - more space, more natural light, better air circulation, better acoustics, the natural outdoor feel and the soothing sound of gentle cascading water from the water fountain just outside. The french door and clear glass all-around enhances the aesthetics and reduces mental constraints caused by the indoor effect to make you feel more relaxed and encourage creativity. Sounds like an advertisement? You bet. Although the renovated studio at times has the tendency to increase distraction and reduce concentration. I think we all try to do the best for and take pride in our own home.

Painting vs blogging

I know that it is a challenge for me but I hope to be able to update my blog more often. It has been a long time since my last posting here. I think have a lot to say and to share but everytime I get myself in front of the computer, somehow all the ideas seem to evaporate. The cyberworld is very different from my decorative painting world - the real visual-touchy-feely world of patterns and colours. I can do so much with my brushes and paints in half an hour than what I can do in the same amount of time in front of the keyboard and display monitor. Speaking of display, I have a fair number of empty cans on display all over the house such as this one. Friends, students and visitors often ask me where do I get them. Honestly, I do get a little embarassed to admit that I got many of them from Paris. A typical reaction would be; What? You mean you actually brought home all these stuff from Paris? I can immediately see the animated picture in their minds, of me shopping for empty cans in Paris and taking them through the airport baggage scanners and the customs who can't help wondering why would anybody travel so far for so many empty cans. Well, I managed to take a shot in front of a shop at Les Halles, it is actually a shop selling everything to do with tea, and there are so many cans on display.