Watercolor Art by Debbie Cerone

Red Pickup Truck Personalized Adventure Prints Or Canvases!

I'm so excited to introduce my latest prints - for little boy's 'Pickup Truck or Fishing Themed' nursery or bedroom!

The General Store print can be totally personalized in 3 different places.  You can be as creative as you want - including your town, etc..  The 3 places you can personalize are the large store sign, the truck's side panel and the Post Office. The truck's side panel is a perfect place to personalize with Logging Co, Auto Repair, etc..

 

The log cabin print is set in a wooded wonderland - with pine trees, a log cabin with campfire and (best of all) a little boy fishing (wearing a buffalo plaid shirt) with his dog. There is a sign on the log cabin that can have the boy's name.

Here's an example of personaliztion:

I love the popular new buffalo plaid crib bedding and tried to create original watercolor prints that captured life in the country, mountains or woods - that would coordinate with red plaid but be unique.  Little boys love dogs and fishing and who doesn't love to roast marshmallows at a campfire?

I've used the general store from a small town in Alaska as inspiration for my General Store. I then added a vintage red truck because - well, I just love red trucks and so does my grandson.

Having a sister that lives in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, I've been lucky enough to spend a lot of time walking through paths in the woods and looking at all the beautiful log and lake homes. So, one of my goals in designing these prints, was to give people living in these lovely wooded areas of the country - artwork for their child's room that was different and realistic.  I wanted to create real scenes that are reminiscent of the little towns that dot the country - in places like Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Indiana ... the list goes on and on!

If you'd like to order this set of prints (or canvases) - or just want to check out my nursery & children's prints (including Paris, London, Hot Air Balloons and more!), please visit my Etsy Shop:

 

To see the children's prints, please visit my Etsy Shop.

 

Sports Locker Mural For Boy's Bedroom In Chicago Suburb - He Loves Football, Baseball & Soccer!

I painted this 'Sports Locker' for a 7 year old boy's new bedroom.  It was fun doing this project because he helped design the mural - by choosing his favorite players and then choosing what his jersey would be (team, name, number).

 

A sports locker is a great idea - if you want to capture different sports and feature your son's favorite players.  We added a few fun items - like a water bottle, cleats, football, pads, baseball and bat, helmet and soccer ball - to even add more whimsy.  

This mural should last for years - since I'm pretty sure he'll never outgrow his love of sports!

I live in Elmhurst and have been painting murals for over 20 years so - if you live in the Chicagoland area and are interested in getting a quote on a child's or nursery mural (or for any room in your house) please call or email me.

You can see more examples of my work on this blog or on my website.

Thank you for stopping by!

Debbie Cerone

call:  1(630)841-1960                            email:  [email protected]

Tuscan Mural & Stencil - Painted In Chicago Suburban Kitchen By Debbie Cerone

Have you every wanted a beautiful mural in your kitchen - but couldn't figure out where to put it because you had very little wall space? Well, here's a great solution! Just paint a mural over the top of your cabinets.  This is especially great if you have higher ceilings, as many new homes do.

I hand painted this mural - trying to get a Tuscan or French farmhouse feel.  But actually, the mural 'scene' could be anywhere.  I also hand painted the fork and spoon and stenciled 'Bon Appetit - using a custom (one time use) stencil - from The Mad Stencilist.

I have been painting murals in the Chicago area for the last 20 years -focusing mainly on nursery murals (because a nursery mural is a fantastic way to bring life to the walls in your baby's room).

If you live in the suburbs of Chicago and are interested in a mural quote, please email me or give me a call.  I'll be glad to give you a 'ballpark' estimate, once I know the details of what you are interested in.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Debbie Cerone, Elmhurst, Illinois

Call: 1-630-841-1960                   Email:  [email protected]

French Or Tuscan Kitchen Oven Hood - Create A Fabulous 'Old World' Look

I recently 'transformed' an oven hood (in a newly remodeled kitchen) in Lombard, Illinois. My customers absolutely gorgeous kitchen needed that perfect 'statement piece' and she decided that the oven hood should be that piece.

To get the 'Old World' rustic look - I first applied a rough coat of aquastone.  After that dried, I glazed the whole hood.  I also glazed the wood trim piece at the bottom of the hood.

I then hand painted a design (that I created), drew that onto the hood then painted with a cream color (to match her cabinets).

Finally, I used a little of the glaze mix to 'age' the white paint.

As you can see, the hood now looks like it has been there for (hundreds of??) years!

To get a better idea of the 'transformation', here is a photo of the before and after.

If you live in the Chicagoland area and are interested in a quote on decorative faux finish or mural, please call or email me! You can find contact information (or more examples of my work) by clicking on the link to my website.

Call 630-841-1960  or email [email protected]

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If you are interested in trying to do this finish yourself - here are the step by step instructions:

Products - 1 Gallon Aquastone (crushed marble) by Faux Effects, 2 quarts of Benjamin Moore Regal Select Paint (one in the dark glaze color and one in the white cabinet color), 1 quart of glaze, trowels, plaster tray, large and small brushes, buckets with lids, rags and a dry towel and gloves.

Step 1.  Mix just enough paint with the aquastone to color it.  Make sure it is lighter than the glaze - so that you can see depth when you glaze it.  Tape and cover cabinets with plastic.Trowel on the stone.  This is probably the hardest part, as you want it to cover all but not be too thick.  You also want it fairly smooth but with some texture areas. Remove all tape, carefully.  Do not let the stone dry on the tape.

Step 2.  After your troweled stone has dried (at least 24 hours) - re-tape and cover with plastic. This part is very messy!!  Now spray the area with water (or use a wet rag to apply, which is what I did).  Brush the glaze over entire area that you are working on (like left side of hood). Work quickly!  Then use another brush to blend in and a DRY towel to blot off.  Try to do this one time and not go back to touch up as you can get a 'burn' mark - where you actually remove the glaze. Do each area (left, front, right) separately and dab off extra glaze on edges as needed.

Step 3. After glaze has dried (24 hours or more) - you can draw your design and hand paint.  I used a white watercolor pencil and drew very lightly.  

I suggest always doing a sample board but keep in mind that it's always much harder to do a large surface than a sample board.  So, have all your equipment ready and be ready to work fast.

 

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