CELEBRITY PAINTER

Canadian native, Kathy Hynes’ passion for the arts started in her early school days but was not always encouraged by her adoptive parents as a career path. The concern always was could one support oneself as an artist? Despite the legitimate concern, Kathy pursued her passion and graduated from the University of Guelph in England with a Bachelors of Arts majoring in theatre and political science; good balance to fulfil the artist inside but also cover the bases for a 9-5 job. Returning to Canada, Kathy went to work as a writer for a newspaper as she thought she could never pay the bills as an artist. During this time, Kathy was discouraged with her current job and the lean salary it provided, so she decided that she needed more art education–it was just in her blood! Researching art schools, she discovered a studio in Toronto that specialized in decorative finishing using solvent based products. Immediately, this struck interest! It was over 25 years ago and wow…have things changed and for the better with now the availability water based products. This was a tough decision at the time says Kathy “Do I take the class that is $2,000, or pay my mortgage?” Opting to learn the skills definitely paid off. Immediately, Kathy was commissioned to do a beauty salon that paid $5,000, and it was her first job to financial freedom!

Kathy was off and running in the decorative finishing industry. By word of mouth her work became recognized in both Canada and the United States. After establishing a decorative paint company in Hamilton, Ontario, she was then hired by a designer to work in Atlanta, Georgia at the home of the founder of Home Depot®. The job requests kept coming so she then decided quickly to make Atlanta her permanent home. It was here that she discovered Faux Effects® in the early 1990’s.

Kathy quickly transformed her solvent skills to water based by taking numerous classes at The Finishing Source in Atlanta with Caroline Woldenberg and Bob Turner. She also considers herself lucky to have had the option of learning from guest instructors such as Bob Marx, Melanie Royals and Sean Crosby. “I have been in this business for a long, long time. As Faux Effects® has grown, I’ve grown along with your product lines!” says Kathy. Her work covers a broad spectrum from private residential homes to over 50,000 square foot commercial spaces using a wide variety of Faux Effects® products such as the famous LusterStone®, Stain & Seal™, SetCoat® Metallics, FauxStone Pull-Off™, AquaStone® and many, many more. Being so well versed in the FE product line and application methods, no job is too big or too small for Kathy. She primarily works with design firms but will also work directly with individual clients looking to beautify their homes.

Commissioned to create an urban office space and main living area at the home of Atlanta Brave outfielder, Jordan Schafer, at the Residences at the W-Atlanta downtown, Kathy immediately transformed ordinary columns into dramatic red crocodile! The use of tinted Palette Deco® through the ever popular Crocodile StencilFx® makes the initially stark space anything but ordinary!

Kathy also is intrigued to replicate traditional wall covering using FE products and stenciling. “The bathroom finished feature looks like encaustic wallpaper, but it’s all done with Faux Effects® products!” A base of FauxStone Pull-Off™ was applied for a light texture, and then AquaStone® was passed through a stencil pattern and allowed to fully dry. The final touch was toning with a glaze of FauxCreme® Clear and FauxCreme® Color. Only by feel could one tell it’s not paper!

Wood graining is also her passion. Creating a carved wood grained finish started with a customized color by mixing Woody Yellow and Leather Red SetCoat®. A Rich Brown Stain & Seal™ glaze was used for the faux bois pattern and then over glazed with a brown FauxCreme® glaze to enrich the finish. “Stain & Seal™ is one of my favorite FE products; I use it a lot! Classic finishes like wood graining will always be in style,” says Kathy.

Kathy is very happy with her chosen career path even during the recession. “You’ve got to change with the times regardless of your own decorative style to keep your business afloat, and it makes a difference doing what you love.” Adapting from old world finishes to modern metallic is easy for her and is why she stays constantly busy. “It’s all by word of mouth—I’ve never had to advertise!”

In her adult life Kathy since learned that her birth mother, grandfather and aunt were all successful, known artists. It truly is in her blood. “Artistic talent is so much more genealogical than environmental,” she says.

Certainly her determination for art has paid off, tenfold! Kathy’s clientele includes star athletes, political figures as well as Fortune 500 company executives. Some of her well known clients include Ron Gant (formerly of the Atlanta Braves), John Roman, producer of Law & Order Criminal Intent, Ralph Reed, political strategist and former head of the Christian Coalition, Bob Whitfield, former Atlanta Falcon, Curtis Lofton of the New Orleans Saints, Mac Baker,CFO Chic-Fil-A, “Mo” Ivory of the “Mo” Ivory morning show and Sean P Diddy Comb’s restaurant Justin’s…to name just a few.

DECORATIVE ART BY: KATHY HYNES

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: KATHY HYNES ARTISTRY

WRITTEN BY: NATALIE WOODWARD

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