CREATIVE FREEDOM

One of the greatest gifts a professional decorative artist could ever hope for is the gift of creative freedom. Getting paid to paint… good. Getting paid to interpret a clients’ vision…better. Getting paid to create your own vision… Jazz Hands!

Amy Morfesi of Amy’s Paint Brush, Inc. in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, has been blessed with the gift of creative freedom more than once. On one such occasion, what began as a simple faux finish job in a client’s bathroom quickly blossomed into applying finishes on all of the home’s cabinetry, the walls in each of the bedrooms, painting picture frames, furniture and even repairing scratches in the hardwood floors. One thing lead to another and before Amy knew it, several months passed and she still had more surfaces to cover. “Using Faux Effects® products made touch ups so easy!” Amy exclaimed. Amy’s clients reside in Georgia for most of the year but do make frequent trips back to their beautiful home in Destin, Florida. During the times they were out of state, Amy would often tease them by offering hints as to her latest artistic additions to their home but not disclose anything specific to give it away. “They loved the surprise when they finally showed up!” Amy said.

Amy began in the master bathroom, which had matching carved and footed sink basins topped with black marble, above which were large antique mirrors framed with very dark, intricately carved wood. Amy first applied a mid-tone green base paint to the walls. Green Onyx LusterStone® was then applied by trowel through a floral stencil creating a slightly raised intermittent pattern. The final step was the application of a warm brown AquaGlaze® mixture over the entire finish. The overall effect was quite beautiful but additional changes to the décor had yet to be made. The heavy, dark mirrors were replaced with two Art Deco style mirrors, and finally Amy created the perfect balance of contrast and color by painting over the dark wood basins with Neutral White SetCoat® and then antiquing with combinations of AquaCreme® and Earth Brown and Van Dyke Brown FauxCrème Colors™. SetCoat® Clear was then used to create a low luster sheen.

The master bathroom was a glorious success, so the next logical step was to, of course, bring the fabulousness into the adjoining bedroom. Amy decided to once again use Green Onyx LusterStone®, but this time it was used as the overall wall and ceiling finish. She began by rolling on the first coat and then troweling on two more thin coats to create graceful movement and bring out the famous LusterStone® glow. Amy completed the room with a delicate raised stencil design on the ceiling. Champagne Mist LusterStone® was tweaked using Metallic Bronze and Van Dyke Brown FauxCréme Color™, and then it was troweled through the stencil as a subtle yet effective embellishment.

Amy knew when she saw the graceful archways in one of the guest bathrooms that she had to do something to accentuate them. She decided to simulate the look of stone by blocking out the “grout” lines using 1/4" automotive tape and then troweling AquaStone® over them creating the stone-like texture. Amy then gave color and depth to the stones using a variety of AquaCreme® glazes and FauxCréme Color™.

The walls of the entry foyer were given an inviting Tuscan flair by applying two AquaGlaze® mixtures over a neutral white base. A rich walnut Faux Bois finish was applied to all of the doors, trim and molding. Amy started over a pastel grey base color and then applied AquaCreme® tinted with Earth Brown and Van Dyke Brown FauxCreme Color® in a linear fashion imitating a soft wood grain. AquaThane™ Satin was the final protective clear coat applied, which also gave the finish beautiful depth and vibrancy.

Amy’s artistic talents can be found around every corner in (and out of ) this home, right down to the smallest detail. She used a plethora of FauxCréme Colors™ to make a funky, whimsical statement on a bedroom chair, and she also gave the outside lights a facelift by utilizing the Faux Effects® Verdigris Kit™.

Amy’s work keeps her very busy, but every now and then, she gets a chance to support her community and inspire young artists as well. Amy, along with a few talented kids, created a cityscape mural on the fence outside of a cat rescue facility named Socks in Ft. Walton Beach. She also had the privilege of being a mentor to a gifted high school girl who painted a mural in one of the cat rooms at Socks. “That was a wonderful experience for both of us!” Amy exclaimed. She added, “Albert Einstein coined one of my favorite sayings: ‘I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.’”

DECORATIVE ART BY: AMY MORFESI

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: AMY MORFESI

WRITTEN BY: CAT FAUST

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