Curtis Heuser - Your Home: A Living Canvas: Create Fabulous Faux Finishes and Amazing Murals with Paint

YOUR HOME
a living canvas

CURTIS L. HEUSER

www.artistsnetwork.com

Your Home, A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes and Murals with Paint. Copyright 2008 by Curtis L. Heuser. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. The patterns and drawings in this book are for the personal use of the reader. By permission of the author and publisher, they may be either hand-traced or photocopied to make single copies, but under no circumstances may they be resold or republished. It is permissible for the purchaser to paint the designs contained herein and sell them at fairs, bazaars, and craft shows. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The content of this book has been thoroughly reviewed for accuracy. However, the author and publisher disclaim any liability for any damages, losses or injuries that may result from the use or misuse of any product or information presented herein. It is the purchasers responsibility to read and follow all instructions and warnings on all product labels.

Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or direct from the publisher at www.fwbookstore.com.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Heuser, Curtis L.
Your home, a living canvas / Curtis L. Heuser. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Subtitle on cover: Create stunning faux finishes and murals with paint
ISBN-13: 978-1-58180-783-7 (hc. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-58180-783-X (hc. : alk. paper)
eISBN: 978-1-5818-0783-7
1. Painting. 2. Decoration and ornament. 3. Finishes and finishing. 4. Mural painting and decoration. I.
Title. II. Title: Create stunning faux finishes and murals with paint.
TT385.H485 2007
745.723-dc22
2007002798

Edited by Vanessa Lyman
Designed by Clare Finney
Photographed by Tim Grondin, Christine Polomsky and Curtis L. Heuser
Production coordinated by Greg Nock

METRIC CONVERSION CHART

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Curtis Heuser is one of the Midwests premier decorative artists, celebrating 20 years in business with the release of this much-anticipated book. He is an expert on custom paint finishes, specializing in fine mural and trompe loeil techniques. His finely detailed work has been featured nationally on HGTVs Around the House and Before & After programs. Curtis transformed interiors from across the country before finally turning his talents to the biggest challenge of all: refurbishing his own historic home, located in Newport, Kentucky. His efforts earned him the City of Newports Excellence in Historic Preservation Award in 2005. Curtiss home has been spotlighted on several public home tours, including the prestigious 2006 Tall Stacks Historic Home Tour, the annual East Row Victorian Christmas Tour, and the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky Tour of Remodeled Homes. Curtis also offers private group tours of his home, as well as occasional public workshops and demonstrations of his craft. His website is www.livingmurals.com.

I dedicate this book to my mother, Clara Heuser, whosekindred spirit will live forever in my heart. I love you, Mom!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The most rewarding aspect of this project has been sharing this adventure with family, friends and communityand now with you! My living canvas (as people call my home) has been included in several neighborhood home tours. This has afforded me wonderful opportunities to meet countless neighbors and new friends and also to introduce many of them to the creative splendor of decorative painting. People are inspired by this homeand that artistic spirit seems to be contagious! The countless hours and intense effort put into revitalizing this property has been a shared goal of many local craftspeople and specialty contractors. My wholehearted gratitude goes to my general contractor, Joe Hunt, (Hunt Custom Remodeling, LLC), and his fine network of subcontractors, especially Jon; Ken, Sr.; Ken, Jr.; Jim; Jerry; Pete; and Cory. Spectacular job, guys!

A loving thank you to friend and fellow decorative artist, Robin Harrison, whose expert assistance and companionship during this project kept me sane. I couldnt have done it without you, darling!

I fondly appreciate and thank my dear friends and family, who generously volunteered both time and muscle. Youve done a little of everything: organized the massive yard sale; demolished, cleaned and painted; led home tours; sent notes of encouragement; arrived at a moments notice to take a picture for me; even dropped by unexpectedly with a cold beverage and a hot meal! Thanks for all your heartfelt encouragement and support, especially: Mom (Clara), Linda, Brenda, Larry, Harold, Eric, Lori, Tim, Robin, Jeff, Steve, Meg and Mike, Marvin, Dianne, David L. and Gary, Robb and David, Donna, Jim and Emery, Denny, Robert, Israel, Adam, Steve B., John and Rita, Bill and Diane, Sandy, Rachel, Ed, Paul, Sue, Brett, Kim, Joby, Sharon, Carol, Ros, Aaron, Barbie and Brad.

Im grateful to have shared my God-given talents with all the many patrons, who have supported my decorative art business since its start in 1987. I especially wish to thank the following patrons who believed in and generously supported this unique undertaking: Kerry and Russ Mock; Anne and Kurt Lundblad; Barbara and Dick Bruder; Linda and Dan Whittenburg; Linda and Steve Schuler; Jeanne Corwin and Mark Deutsch; Lisa and Kevin Fitzgerald; Kathy Wilkinson; Donna and Dean Trindle; Michelle and Greg Young; Roseanne and Don Beckmeyer; Marianne and Matt Castrucci; Lindy and Steve Wyatt; Rebecca Walker Drouhard; Larry Johnson and Tom Ridgeway.

Finally, I wish to sincerely thank everyone at F+W Publications who helped bring this book together. I am especially grateful to Clare Finney, my wonderfully creative art director and neighbor; she introduced my talent to F+W, turning me into an aspiring new author! Kudos to photographer Tim Grondin and his assistants, Bethany Vail and Tara Trullinger, for producing magnificent beauty shots of my home. Warm thanks to my editor, Vanessa Lyman, who recaptured the initial spirit and enthusiasm behind