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	Decorating with Plaster Stenciling

	Grand Prize Winner in our House of Faux Contest!

	Click Photos to Enlarge	Arlene McClughlin is a professional artist and it shows! She was our top winner in our "House of Faux" art contest in October with her submission of her Mosaic Tile Floor. Congratualtions Arlene! No, it's not real mosaic, it's all paint! One of the designs included in our first prize package was our Raised Plaster Worthington Medallion Stencil which she promptly used as a stove back splash in a clients home! (photo to the left). Arlene's talents range from faux finishing to fine art and you can check her out on her website listed below. Here's what Arlene had to say when she found out she was the Grand Prize Winner! Victoria, Thank you so much, honestly I never win anything, to win twice in one day!! wow, is all i can say. I love your work, I was introduced to your site about a year ago, Murals-plus had a link, I loved the music and the photos. The Mosaic floor, was indeed painted in my own home, I had been wanting try the Faux Effects product True tint stone for a while and I almost always do a test run on a new product in my home, I don't really think you get a real feel for a product from just a sample board alone. My husband is Irish and we have both really admired Celtic knot work so I ordered a stencil from a UK dealer that specialized in that kind of artwork. I I prepped my area, which was hard wood by sanding, scraping and then priming with oil base for maximum adhesion. The next steps were all Aqua products, I primed again using Aqua bond, then troweled a smooth layer of the stone, un tinted. Followed by two more thin layers of stone I stenciled the outline of the medallion. I then hand painted each mosaic tile with a color, highlight and shadow, Once all the hand painting was done I sealed it with 3 coats of Benjamin Moore poly. Its in a very high traffic area, and Its been Nice, scuff and scratch free for over 2 years! I have known I would be an artist since I was 6 years old. I have always had a talent for drawing and my parents and family always encouraged it. My father drew as a kid and was very talented, he did not pursue a career but he had skill. I think my biggest inspiration comes from seeing what other artists are doing, I like to challenge myself, and when I see a great painting I like to try to challenge myself by trying a new technique, or medium. I started my career in art over 20 years ago as a Fashion illustrator in NYC, I was wide eyed and very excited about the Fashion world, and what I soon came to realize was the lack of creativity for me was stifling, I soon started my own company, I designed about 400-500 custom wedding and bridesmaid gowns, I had 2 sample makers and I did all the cutting and fitting but again it really was not the ultimate creative force. When I had my daughter 10 years ago, I did a carousel mural in her room, I was hooked, I bought every Better Homes and garden painting publication there was, I started painting rooms for family and selling fine art canvases, 10 years later I have a full time partner, my husband , and 2 part time helpers. I have a BFA , and have taken numerous training classes, with Lime plasters, Sean Crosby, Nicola Vigini, Helen Morris, Melanie Royals, and am Skim Stone and Lime Plaster certified. I started teaching about a year ago, and love it. !My work has been published in Paint works, Artistic Stenciler, Jeanette Fischer's book, "Flip that house with Faux, The Atrium online finishing book, and my local Massapequa news. I am currently working on a children's mural book . I have a web site, www.arlenemurals.com http://arlenesmural.blogspot.com/ My advice to anyone entering this field is to be prepared for competition, and much more than painting, you must be proficient in sales and the marketing of yourself to have a thriving business. Take a course in pricing, read, and listen to what other artists have done to succeed! Thank you again!!! Arlene
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