FIKE STUDIO

This time it is really HOT

2011-02-21T15:37:00.000-08:00

We have started up our classes again & they are HOT HOT HOT!

Join Theresa on

Saturday March 26th from 9am -5pm

9477 Greenback Ln #203

Folsom, CA 95630

916-985-8444

enjoy a surprising day of molten fun!

Encaustic painting

This is the first in a series of three classes covering the incredibly diverse ancient medium of wax paint.

Class #1

INCLUDES

a demonstration of how to make Encaustic paint

proper substrate preparation

application and color mixing

collage additions

Each student will complete at least 3 paintings

All materials included
sack lunch and coffee will be provided

Students will also get access to the video class at no additional cost, valued at $85.00

all for only $120.00

2011-01-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

In wishing everyone a Happy New Year I am inclined to reminisce about the last 12 months. What a year it was, we saw lots of changes in 2010, had some great adventures and made many interesting new friends.

One of the most interesting is being on Turf War and Yard Crasher.

We did 6 episodes (I think, it’s really all a blur) and the HGTV Christmas Show that won’t air until Nov 2011. when I tell people that we did this they most frequently ask, how did you get on the show and would you do it again?

Honestly getting on the show was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time and networking with EVERYBODY I meet. I love to refer business’ I work with and hope they refer me. So getting on the show was a matter of helping each other out. Kimberely Keck of Kimberly's Custom Faux Finishes wanted to work on some projects with me and learn some of my techniques. I brought her in to help on some high end massive jobs and she referred me to the network. It was as simple and as complicated as that. Being open and willing to share my knowledge and resources gave another person the opportunity to share with me.

The other question is so much more complicated. Would I do it again? I gotta tell you I’m a very hard working woman, long hours, hard labor, and exhausting creativity, buuutttt the two days on the last show about whipped me out. It was a thrill a minute if you like living on the edge (which I must admit I do like it) Thousands of decisions to make without time to think about it and relying on the creativity and dedication of other people. All the while with a camera in my face recording EVERYTHING! I picked a theme for my yard that I had never done before and only had my imagination as a guide. The funny things is I never doubted it. Every person, every talent, every product came through for me. Thousands of dollars worth of product was donated from people I had done business with before and when the producers called two days before the shoot and said we had to move up the date one day because of rain - every person involved changed their schedules and showed up on set 24 hours early with their prep done! It so humbles me to think of that. So would I do it again? Yes but not for the reasons you might think. It would be because everybody helping thought it was the kind of thing you might have on your bucket list and they got the opportunity to cross it off .

Here’s to the opportunity to cross off many more bucket list items in 2011

IT'S DONE

2010-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

The HGTV Christmas special is done and I am exhausted! Over the last two weeks I probably averaged 5 hours sleep each night.

I wish I could share the whole experience with you right now but I can't and don't want to give away the ending, what I can say is "what a rush". It was two days of the hardest work I've ever done, not to mention the two weeks before the shoot preparing for the show.

I had to come up with the concept, get it approved, build a team and get most of the materials donated or go "dumpster diving" for them. Then in the final two days before we were supposed to shoot the show the producers call and tell us we have to shoot a day early because there is a monster storm coming in. That day we lost was going to be a day to organize everything and make sure I had the right clothes, makeup etc. Instead I spent what little time I had left calling all my volunteers and asking/begging them to come a day early. People were coming from out of town, one person was even flying in from out of state, everyone was taking time off from work and had to beg their bosses to take another day off. THEY ALL MADE MAGIC HAPPEN - everyone showed up on set 24 hours early and worked so very hard in the cold and late into the night both days!

Thank you David, Lisa S, Desi, Lori, Pam, Debra, Martin, Sarah, Lisa J, Scott J, Chad, Dave, Scott, Patty, Amber, Brenda, Colleen, Suzy, Jody, Julio, Sheri, Gene, and Levi. Also thank you to my contractors Jim and Owen. Everyone was amazing, talented and dedicated. You all blew me away!

The show won't air until next year and I can't show you finished shots of our yard or tell you who won but I will show you a few in progress pictures.

Be sure to watch for future posts about some incredibly talented people and business. These are the people that make things happen!

HGTV and Christmas

2010-12-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

Augh *#@#* am I crazy?
This is a quote from Seth Goden's blog, "Living with doubt ... is almost always more profitable than living with certainty. People don't like doubt, so they pay money and give up opportunities to avoid it. Entrepreneurship is largely about living with doubt, as is creating just about any sort of art. If you need reassurance, you're giving up quite a bit to get it. On the other hand, if you can get in the habit of seeking out uncertainty, you'll have developed a great instinct."
I seek out and greatly prefer the excitement of living in doubt and uncertainty - that is where my inspiration comes from. It is the time I am most creative (I hope?)!

The project I am currently working on is hugely filled with doubt.

I AM ONE OF TWO LEAD DESIGNERS/ARTISTS FOR A

CHRISTMAS DESIGN COMPETITION FOR HGTV!

We start filming next week!!!!!!

Again I ask, Augh *#@#* am I crazy?

To Live a Dream

2010-11-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

It must be getting close to the end of yet another year because I've been in a philosophical mood of late, thinking of things like; is it possible to be truly happy for more then a moment, and do I sabotage my dreams because it is easier to continue doing what I'm familiar with then make the changes I know would be better for me? (please excuse the long run on sentence)

I do believe that following your dream is good if you can recognize what your dream is and have the passion to follow it once you do recognize it. A dream without clarity and passion is just a fantasy causing nothing but frustration. So my question is: Have you recognized and embraced the dream you are meant to follow and do you have the fortitude to follow it to it's completion?

Sorry but, this subject has been on my mind a lot lately. Deciding to follow ones dream can cause radical change, sometimes even painful, often times it takes a dramatic eye opening event as a catalyst for a true shift to occur. I'm not saying it is not worth the effort, but the simple truth is that most people will not risk the chaos, or make the effort to follow their dreams. It is easier to allow the numbness of "settling" for what comes our way then to be alive enough to dream. The problem with that is apathy is the result.

As apathy takes hold it becomes like a cancer that infects every thought and cell of our bodies. It's the voice in our head that says "that's good enough" or "I'll start tomorrow", and worse yet "I'm not good enough". Apathy takes hold of individuals and groups and nations until it becomes the standard. That is the true cost of ignoring ones dreams

So what to do? I challenge myself to scream at the mountains that I will find my path and travel it with purpose and passion. I choose to live with intent for to do anything less will create the very thing that will destroy me.

"Live with courage and your dreams become reality. If all of us find and follow our dreams can paradise be far off?" TF

Keeping focused on the PRIZE

2010-10-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been asking myself if having an internet presence is of any real value. All the time spent learning how to set up blogs and writing them, facebook, linkedin, websites, ebay, etsy, forums and the list goes on and on from there. I can't even guess at how many hours I've spent putting FikeStudio "out there". But the no-brainer easy answer is; a simple website and social network, like facebook, is important for any business to keep in touch with their clients. That is if their clients friend them and bookmark their website. After all, every business is doing the same and we are all inundated with information from the web.

So my next question is two fold; how does my internet presence support my business plan and does it make a difference. Yes I DO have a business plan. It may change often but the core of it stays the same - to make a living as an artist.

In order to do that so many things become necessary. Making money as an artist demands professionalism, marketing, smart business practices, creative marketing, trend awareness, focused marketing, endless creativity and dedication, broad marketing, constant learning, and of course prolific production (ha, bet you thought I was going to say something like prolific marketing). And in all honesty I believe talent is second to all the above, not to say that talent isn't crucial but if nobody ever sees your work what does it matter?

I have found that being a successful artist really boils down to name recognition, in other words the result of marketing. Here are a couple of ways to get that elusive name recognition:

An artist could die with a large body of brilliant work hidden away in his studio. (This approach has it's obvious pitfalls)
Hire a marketing agent that's hungry and will work tirelessly for her percentage (This is assuming she doesn't have 500 other artists she is also promoting)
Get John Q. Public to do the marketing for them (this is the Holy Grail of marketing, always sought after, rarely achieved)
Have an almost schizophrenic mind capable of an extreme ability to multitask. (sounds ridiculous but this is the route most artists pursue, including me) note that this ability does not necessarily equate to dollars in the pocket.

Recognizing that I need to be my own marketing agent, right now the best and quickest way to get name recognition is on the web. In the past 2 years I have greatly increased my web presence and I've had fantastic success with getting to know my peers. Which proves to me that the web is a great resource for two parts of my business plan ie. continued education and future plans to teach on a national level. I've also occasionally sold my fine art through various websites and on ebay. But, not until this week did I have solid confirmation that all my hours spent marketing was bringing in new clients and therefore cash in the bank.

Here's what happened. A person googled my name and was impressed with what she found. She called and it turns out she had had a horrible experience with an artist in the past and was only willing to work with an experienced "professional". She is a very high-end client. I still need to prove myself to her but now I have the chance. If it were not for all those hours spent at the computer marketing myself she never would have found me and I certainty would have missed out on an incredible opportunity to claim the prize!

Our Etsy Store

2010-10-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

We finally got our Etsy store up a running. There are not many items yet but, there will be. We'll have abstract art originals, giclee prints, vintage jewelry, home decor items, prayer and inspirational cards, long boards, and so much more. Check it out Etsy.com/LTLstudios

I must say that getting a web presence is very time consuming and addictive. Like the potato chip you can't stop at just one - website that is. We now have:

FikeStudio.com main website

FikeStudio.blogspot.com blog

Facebook, twitter, linkedin,

Store #1 etsy.com/LTLstudios - for prints, crafts and home decor

Store#2 TheNakedWall.com - an artist membership site

fikestudio.ning.com artist community site

and we plan on starting a forum later this year

I have wondered if it matters. Then today I got a phone call from someone who before calling us she googled Fike Studio. She was so impressed with how professional and experienced we look that she could hardly wait for an appointment. Every now and then it is nice to know that ones marketing efforts work.

Lunchables with Christine Young

2010-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago Christine Young called and asked if I would be interested in participating in a Lunchables campaign for Lunch Note Promises. Christine is the author of FromDatesToDiapers.com a mommy blog about being the mother of 6 boys and 1 precious little girl. She also happens to be my niece. So needless to say I jumped at the chance to spend some quality time with her and the kids.

Lunchables is doing this really cool campaign for parents to provide their kids with words of encouragement during their school day. It's called the lunch note promise. For every parent who participates they will donate $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of America, up to $100,000.

What I'm going to do this coming Sunday is help about 20 kids, ages 2 - 9 and their parents make cards for each other. Why am I so excited about this?

Many years ago I had a day care and preschool. Typically I had 7 to 20 kids of all ages that needed lots of things to do. One of the projects I did with the kids was making paper. It was so much fun - messy and creative - and did I mention fun? So I pulled out my old supplies (yes I still have them 20 some years later) called a friend of mine that is a Stamping Up addict and put together a project that I hope will delight, inspire, and suprise.

Wish me luck! It has been a while since I needed to entertain and teach 20 energetic little ones! I promise I will post pictures.

Turf Wars with Ahmed Hassan

2010-09-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

We've had some incredible adventures so far this year. Made lots of new friends and did projects I never would have expected. In looking back I realize it's all been pretty cool. One of the most interesting is being on 2 reality TV shows. Turf Wars and Yard Crashers with Amid Hassen on DIY and HGTV. Doing these were such a kick. We have participated in 4 shows so far. When we were originally asked to participate I was a bit leery to tell the truth. I've done a fair amount of outdoor art over the years but doing it under extreme pressure while on camera and knowing that there are no "do overs" was a bit overwhelming at first. At least for the first 10 minutes. Then the adrenaline kicks in and the do or die mentality takes over.

Another amazing aspect of all this is the camaraderie that happens between all the people doing this extremely hard, absolutely exhausting two day make over marathon. This picture is from our first episode. We painted just about every surface, created a seascape mural, distressed the "secret material" and tweaked many other things. We also brought in my brother-in-law Dan Murphy to help the designer Cheryl Weigand create her vision of a mermaid water feature.

We are going to be participating in another episode of Turf Wars later this month. A special congratulations needs to go out to Kimberly Keck, she is the lead designer for this next episode. So expect lots of new ideas and artistic features!

It typically takes about 2-3 months before the show airs. We'll be sure to let you know the date.

Six months later

2010-09-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

I started my kitchen remodel about 6 months ago...what was I thinking? Why oh why did I ever start this project? Oh, I remember. business was slow and I was going to use my remodel as a marketing deal.

Today I am no where near finished with the remodel, the marketing opportunity has postponed again and business is insanely busy. I have a huge gapping hole in my ceiling and fragile glass pendents laying on the floor. Since it has taken so long I have had time to rethink my color combinations and no longer feel confident with the color choices I made 4 months ago. I want to start over but my husband will "kill" me if I do. Sooo what to do.

I've thought of treating my project like I would if I were the client. But, that seems a bit "Syble-ish". I could just hear the conversations in my head. "You want to do what? - No No just trust me It'll be spectacular I promise! But THAT color, really?..."

Beings how I refuse to hire someone to do this for me I must come up with a solution. So here it is.

I, Theresa Fike, do promise to spend a minimum of 4 hours per week actually working on my kitchen. This may mean I do not have time for facebook, friends, or even walking the dogs, but sacrifices must be made. To reward myself for the sacrifice. when I am done I will invite 6 people over for the special unveiling and gourmet dinner prepared by a local chef at my home. Hummmm...that all sounds somewhat wimpy, I need a timeframe and a consequence for not doing it.

It must be done before Thanksgiving or I will video tape myself singing the star spangle banner and post it on youtube. That may be more of a punishment for anyone who sees it, but it's also a real deterrent for me.

I will also post weekly progress pictures, just to keep me honest!

A BLESSED LIFE

2010-04-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Oh My Goodness! What a fun, busy, fabulous weekend this has been so far. Friday night shopping, prepping and packing up for Mom's 80th birthday party (finished around midnight) Up and going by 4 am to get everything over to the garden room at the church and tables decorated and everything. I have the most amazing family, everyone did their job beautifully. We had great food, 2 slideshows and beautiful music. Les and Laurie made a fruit basket cake that was so good it was almost sinful and everyone pitched in to cleanup after. Then most of the family moved the party over to Liz and Craigs (they are the ultimate host and hostess). I went on to photograph a very special evening.
An awesome friend, Interior Designer and cookbook author, Lisa Smith donated a fully catered dinner which raised about $8,000 dollars for Jr. Achievement. I helped a little bit with the prep and serving but my main job was to photograph the event for Lisa's cookbook. The event was held at one of our clients homes. I sure hope I got some good shots. I think I got home around 11pm ... today I'm back to working on my kitchen remodel, deadline has been move to June but still no time to spare, this is for the next big marketing event featuring my business and REVEAL HOUSE. (more about reveal house later)
I used to think that by the time I was in my 50s I'd slow down but no...I thrive on being active, involved and spending time with my incredible family! FOR ME THAT IS A "BLESSED LIFE"

We finally got it done

2010-03-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

No not my kitchen! But, the new updated, better then ever website.

FikeStudio.com Please check it out and leave us feedback.

Now that that is done back to the kitchen makeover. Lisa Smith of JulieSmithandAssociates is helping me stay on track and stay on theme. I tend toward the "gooppy" over done look when I'm doing my own house. This time I want a cleaner more contemporary look and Lisa is the lady to make sure that is what happens! I'm bringing in metallic gray with a touch of bronze and keeping the streight lines and less fuss look. and I'm LOVING it.

But... will I get it done by April 24th ugh, back to work.

Lolita stays

2010-03-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

I'm almost ready to start my kitchen makeover. I have to do it in parts and pieces because I can't take that much time away from my clients and their homes, so I'm starting with my island. Yes I am doing the copper countertop and blacken-bronze cabinet finish. My son David found a great product for filling oak grain so that is where I plan on starting tomorrow!

The photo is of a vase and flower arrangement I have in the breakfast nook. It is the only thing I really want to keep from my existing kitchen. I love the happy feeling I get every morning in my BK nook drinking coffee and planning my day with "Lolita" inspiring me. She sits on a corner shelf and is about 10 feet from floor to the top flower.

GETTING STARTED

2010-02-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Today was my first planning day for my kitchen up-date. I can't really call what I'm doing a re-model because I decided not to replace any of the appliances just yet and I'm going to keep the layout of the kitchen the way it is even though ideally everything would change. I would love to tear out at least 2 walls, move the refrigerator and put in a gas stove but I can't justify spending the money right now with all the insecurity of the economy.

So, what I am going to do is reface the cabinets with new paint grade doors and drawers. I'm going to paint the main cabinets a light cream or a light turquoise with a distressed finish (like photo) and the island in a blackened bronze burnout. I decided the black burnout was to harsh for the room. The island top is going to be the copper finish I posted yesterday but I have not decided on the rest of the counters yet, maybe an off white marble with black veins (photo)

The upper cabinets are going to have glass, I'm hoping this will open up the room some. I'm also going to remove the doors on the back side of the island leaving it open for cookbooks and pretty cookware. I am going to bring in an electrician to add small can lights and I'm finally going to remove that horrible box ceiling florescent light thing on my ceiling and replace it with pendants.

Still no clue what to do for the floor but that is the last thing anyway!

Pre-destruction photos will be posted soon, I just can't force myself to show everyone just how ugly my kitchen is, at least not until I am committed to doing this for real and not just dreaming about it!

2010-02-26T20:42:00.000-08:00

I've started this blog post several times and each time I end up deleting it. I am trying to force myself to commit to updating my kitchen. When I say update I really mean it. I have old oak, flat panel cabinets, salmon pink tile countertops and white linoleum floors. UGH! It is so bad! I'm not sure why I have put it off for the last 12 years but it was in need of an update when we bought this place and it has only got worse since then.

So my thinking is this; I'm going to treat myself like one of my clients. I will put together a plan, decide on a budget and set a time frame. Yeah, right! If you know me you are probably laughing right about now. I do this for my clients but I have never been able to do that for me. So how do I even start? I have piles of magazines, notebooks full of color schemes and a wish list a mile long. Not to mention a budget that will get me laughed out of even the most humble of home improvement stores.

To make maters worse the rest of my house is basically done (minus a few details) but I want to change styles. I have an eclectic - world traveled - Hemmingway sort of look and I'm tired of it. I want a cleaner, younger, more colorful look ... but not to contemporary.

Because I have no other idea on how to start I am going to start with color. I am thinking copper, black, with various tans and a bit of turquoise-blue. The photo is a sample of a countertop finish (FikeStudio) that I am considering for my island, with the cabinetry done in a black burnout finish. At least that is what I am leaning toward tonight. Tomorrow I will price cabinetry and see if I can commit to the re-do!

2010-02-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

I know it was totally silly of me to take the time to draw this. I had to learn enough about Adobe Illustrator CS4 in order to do it but it was just to much fun. After writing that short bio for the talk faux site I just had to re-create this great memory from my past. I sure wish I had photos of that bed room. Better yet if there is anyone who would like a kids mural (minus the joint and bloodshot eyes) I'd give them a great price.

AI cs4 is a phenomenal program. I think I need about 2 more lifetimes to learn it though.

Fun information about Theresa

2010-02-14T11:36:00.001-08:00

Theresa Fike painted her first mural at 9 years old. Her parents were going out of town for the weekend. She asked them if she could paint her bedroom while they were gone, they said yes but didn’t really believe she would do it. Theresa’s passion for the decorative arts really started that weekend. When her parents got back Theresa had painted five 9-foot tall daisies in flowerpots all over her room. In the mid 60’s there was this anti marijuana campaign. It was a totally goofy looking daisy in a flowerpot that was smoking a jumbo-sized joint. The slogan was “don’t be a pot head.” Theresa had no clue what pot was or why it was so funny to everyone when they saw she had glued used cigarette butts in the mouths of the “pot-smoking-flower-power-daisies.”

Many years later Theresa graduated magma cum laude with a master’s degree in fine art. Hundreds of sculptures, paintings, murals, decorative arts projects later, when asked, Theresa will tell you her most impressive project is still the goofy-blood shot eyed-daisies she painted with house paint and magic markers one inspired weekend.

Theresa started Fike Studio, inc. in 1992. Since then she has received many awards and been featured in multiple magazines throughout the years. Her impressive clientele include such notables as Eddy Murphy, Basketball legend Chris Webber, members of the elite Tiffany Circle, the vice-president of MGM Grand Las Vegas, and the Rippy Corporation. She has appeared on public television and is a re-occurring guest speaker on Rae Designs radio program. Theresa is also the art director for the Singing Christmas Tree, an annual production that is a Sacramento holiday tradition. She recently attained national recognition as a fine artist for her music and dance series of oil paintings.

Theresa believes her sense of humor and her enthusiasm for art of all types is the key to her success. The two most consistent things her clients’ say about her is how much fun it is to have her on their project and how dedicated she is to her work.

2010-02-13T09:32:00.000-08:00

I hope I get these finished today!

Work in Progress

2010-02-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

There are certain days that are so simple and yet so perfect. Last week I took a rare day to play. I spent the entire day at the warehouse creating art just for the sake of creating. Several friends stopped by and just "hung out" David started a new sculpture and Lauren started a textural painting. I added three more pieces to my Artifacts Series of abstract contemporary paintings. We ate pizza turned the music up loud and forgot about the rest of the world. Days like that are what life is about -- family --friends -- good food -- doing what makes you happy.

These pieces are not finished. I still have to weld the metal and hang the crystals but I love the feel of them. The juxtaposition of the rough and the refined will forever remind me of one perfect rainy day!

2010-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! I am going to an AuraStone class!

This is the coolest product and I can't wait to offer it to all my clients. As I understand the product, it can go over almost any substrate including, glass, tile, and ceramic. It has an incredible bond and is 3 times stronger then concrete. And get this it is heat safe up to 500 degrees.

The possibilities are just endless. I've already created everything from refurbished kitchen counters to exquisite fine art to hang on your walls. Of course all this is only in my imagination as I have not taken the class yet. But, that has not stopped me from planning some really cool applications. I should have samples by next weekend and will be posting and blogging and bragging about this product for some time to come.

Wish me luck.

New Fike Studio website

2010-01-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

I'm really enjoying working on my new website. although my eyes are certainly feeling the strain of looking at the computer screen for hours on end. I've been looking through all my old stuff from 17 years of doing this business and found some real treasures. Like this lion from a store mural we did about 16 years ago.

I remember being under a very tight time frame and the client pushing hard to get the job done. I left late one night and stopped to get gas. A young man asked me for coffee money. Instead of giving him the money I asked if he could draw, he said yes and showed me his sketch book he just happened to have in his backpack. I gave him the address of the job site and told him if he showed up the next day he would have a job. He did and he helped us finish the project on time. It turned out he was a run away living on the streets. By the end of the job he decided to call his dad. I really wish we had kept in touch. I hope he continued working with his art as he was a lot of help. No he did not paint this lion and unfortunately I can't find photos of his work but he really was quit talented.

I still hope to have the new website up and running by the end of the month, I'm keeping my fingers and eyes crossed......

2010-01-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

Find more photos like this on Fike Studio
This is a slide show of some of our work. To see more go to http://FikeStudio.com and http://fikestudio.ning.com

Flight of the dragonfly

2010-01-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

We are working late into the night these days, because we are totally redesigning our web site. We hope to have it up and running smooth by the end of the month, that is if there is enough coffee in the house.

FikeStudio.com will have a fresh new look and many things to share. Including our new line of outdoor art, award winning decorative art and fresh new faux finishes. We will still have our Fine Art Gallery with all the exceptional artists we represent such as Laurie Blank, Stephen Shortridge, Amy Lynn, Eric Christensen, and of course our very own Theresa Fike and David Fike.

Our planned launch date is February 1st, only 3 weeks away!

Energy and spice

2010-01-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

All of us at Fike Studio decided that we were going to start 2010 off with a week at the warehouse creating new and exciting works of art and fresh faux finishes. It is only Wednesday and I am so excited with the new direction we have taken. The faux samples are more colorful, happy colors. I love the serene beauty of the Tuscan looks we are famous for, but we think it's time to add a bit of energy and spice.

This is just a teaser of things to come.

Over the next few months watch us and Lisa Smith to see the latest in Lifestyle design.

It's a whole new Direction.

Free Seminar

2010-01-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

How many different ways can a cabinet be painted? Coming up with new cabinet treatments is tough. There are only so many options, but today we created 7 new looks.

We needed these cabinet samples for a very cool event that is happening at Julie Smith and Associates on the 14th. If you are looking to buy or sell a home you will not want to miss this free seminar. Lisa Smith, Turning Leaf, and Robert Floodman have joined together to show you just how affordable and doable it is, even in todays crazy market.

Join them for a truly eye opening evening, and while there be sure to check out Fike Studio's creativity. We do some amazing things with a simple cabinet door!

I think you will be impressed.

Contact Lisa Smith for more information Lisa@JulieSmithandAssociates.com

House of Faux

2010-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

House of Faux has a new feature, the Family Showcase. So many Decorative Arts business are family owned and operated including mine. About 15 different members of my large extended family have worked with me on many projects over the last 20 years.

Kathy Boyd owner of House of Faux chose Fike Studio as the "working Family" business to debut this new feature. Hope you check it out and tell us what you think.

http://HouseofFaux.com

Romance

2010-01-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

This is a close up shot of a ceiling I did recently in a master bedroom. This room is the definition of romance. Soft colors, a beautiful precast fireplace, an over stuffed bed with silks and embroidered fabrics, and large windows with a speculator garden view. I was thrilled to do this room for my clients because they have got to be one of the most romantic couples I know.

The interior designer for this project was Tanya Newton of Julie Smith and Associates. http://JulieSmithandAssociates.com I have worked with all the designers at JSA for many years and on many amazing projects. When you look at their website you may think they only do the fabulously wealthy elite, but that's not the only truth. Yes, of course they have a client list that would amaze you, but I know for a fact they enjoy working with all budgets. I recently helped Julie with one of her clients that had a very modest home with an equally modest budget. After Julie did her magic and I did mine the home looked like a million bucks, but was completed well within budget! So, go check out JSA and be impressed, then make an appointment. You won't be disappointed

Cheers to new beginnings!

2009-12-31T07:57:00.000-08:00

I'm not much on New Year's resolutions, in the past when I've attempted the grand jester to new beginnings I'd start off with all good intentions, but by the middle of January I've already forgotten/neglected/questioned why. So this year instead of the empty promise to loose weight or exercise more or stop eating chocolate or drinking coffee (God forbid chocolate depravation should ever be necessary) I'm going with a more practical approach and one I've actually been moving toward for the last 2 years. My New Year's resolution for 2010 is that I get off my butt, stop procrastinating, do what I am passionate about and launch my new product line. Ok so now that I've put my intentions "out there" EECK... all the fears really surface! Is it wise to invest in developing a product line in this market? Is my idea even marketable? Do I have the ability to produce it? Am I prepared for the business end? Do I have the support necessary?

Well the way I look at it is: I'll never know unless I jump in with both feet, plus I firmly believe real failure is in "not doing".

I remind myself of other ventures I've started, for example I once walked into a store because they had a sign in the door - teacher wanted. I asked what they needed taught and they said "scrimshaw" I laughed, said I was currently working on a scrimshaw piece and I'd love to teach it. The class was already scheduled for that following Saturday (the teacher they had was sick). I took the job, ran home, looked up the meaning of scrimshaw, taught myself how to do it, created an item as an example, and taught the class. I continued teaching there until we moved. So with that in mind here goes another adventure into the unknown.

Oh and by the way, so nobody chews me out for not taking care of myself, y..e..s I will go to the gym more and watch what I eat and.....

Just another FYI, my Decorative Arts, Faux business will continue on as usual. Creating beautiful rooms for my clients still thrills me and I have some new and exciting finishes ready to show you!

Cheer's to 2010 may it be a year of positive energy, lots of laughter, successful endeavors, and peaceful resolutions!

Playful directions

2009-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun with my latest obsession. Abstract art, who knew? In the past I've always been a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to my fine art, it's typically representational, impressionistic, oil paint. (I saved my looser side for my decorative art and faux) Well, as the story goes, I did a faux sample for a designer, she wanted something textural-masculine-lush for a library in a Ralph Lauren style house. When I brought her the sample she so loved it, that she wanted me to make her an art piece version that she could hang in her own home. This is the original faux sample.

Well since then I've been getting requests for more pieces and did a small one person show in Sacramento featuring 3 charms and Sunset. The show was a hit, I got a couple special orders, and the owner of one of the biggest galleries in Sacramento asked me to come talk to her about a show in her gallery. I did shows in Sacramento about 17 years ago but have not done much since, I am really looking forward to it.

2009-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

On occasion I do small business coaching for creative people. I have a knack for seeing additional ways a business can market their products and make a little extra money. I just got off the phone with Lisa of Murphy's Touch. Lisa is an incredible health practitioner. Her credentials and years of private practice are amazing, but she was feeling a bit down because she recently opened her new Alternative Health client center in Placerville CA and over the holidays it's been a bit slow (as she expected). Well she is so excited right now. I'm telling you you'd better make your appointment with her asap because this woman is on fire! She will be launching a new and exciting inspirational product later this year. I can't tell you what it is yet but you may want to contact her for pre-sales, it's that cool! And, even better it's fashionable, healthy, and inspirational, and get this it's affordable!

My experience with Lisa is with my back problems. Being a faux finisher and artists I typically spend 6-8 hours a day on a ladder and my back "don't like it" The last time I saw Lisa I only had a few minutes, but my back was hurting so bad I had to seek her help. She spent about 15 minutes working on me. That was several days ago and I'm still pain free. The funny thing is she never touch the area that hurt. She new that was not the source of the problem. She worked on my left clavicle area, told me to take a certain vitamin supplement and do some pressure point massage everyday.

Your appointment with her will be amazing - I promise!

2009-12-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

Reflecting on 2009 for most of us is going to include a lot of stress and probably some sorrow. With the economy being the most distressing for most of us. I've been trying to put things in perspective for myself and my business. Yes, I've certainly been affected, my overall income is about a third of what I use to make five years ago, and I'm putting in a ton more hours keeping everything going but .... I'm still here. I've had 3 clients this year that have not paid and it's not looking like I will ever get that income .... but I'm still here. There are home repairs that will have to wait awhile longer and our 30th anniversary trip had to be postponed .... but I'm still here.

So in light of the fact that I'm still here my expectations for 2010 are pretty good. In the months to come I know there will be jobs and good ones too! I really did not have all that much "down time" last year but the little bit I did have I used it to develop new finishes, connect with other artists, do some charity work and search for a brighter direction for 2010. So what are my expectations for the year to come?

I do think things will get better. The old axiom "it's always darkest before the dawn" and "you gotta break some eggs to make an omelet" seem to apply here. The lesson I take from the last year is to value the truly important. I know it's been said a million times before but my family, my health, my friends, my freedom are the true rewards in life ... and I have that in abundance! Thank you to all my clients, even those who got the work for free, thank you to my family and friends who understood my fears and let me find my way out, thank you God for my good health and I am truly, sincerely grateful I live in the US where freedom to follow my own path is still possible.

Here's to a bright, successful, profitable, loving, New Year!

Added some drama

2009-06-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2009-06-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

2009-06-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

I've been spending my evenings and weekends developing new sample boards for 2 high end clients. Both happen to be on waterski lakes. The criteria had to be "green" one has to be over the top with lots of glitz and the other has to have a bit of a masculine feel. Here are some of my finished samples

Creative Marketing

2009-06-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

In todays uncertain market I HAVE TO PRAISE ARTISTS of any discipline for their fortitude and courage. It takes strong character to "stay the course", to keep believing the clients are there. Well, I'd like to share some of my business stratigies and hope you will share yours as well. I firmly believe in abundance for all and that true success is found when all of us succeed. After all I can't do every job out there myself (I might try but what fun would that be, ha ha)
My first thought on keeping my business "liquid" in a bad economy:
Lately my focus has been on DIVERSITY. How can I use the talent I have in multiple ways? Here is the obvious way - teaching, and I do teach. I currently have classes in Encaustic painting and basic faux finishes for the do-it-yourself-er. On the surface the classes look like a very small portion of my income with a disporporinate amount of time spent to earn that income. But the income is not my main reason for teaching. The less obvious reasons are MARKETING my business and a way for me to stay in that elusive "CREATIVE ZONE".
I find that teaching others helps me fine-tune my skills, which obviously helps me stay competitive. There is an axiom that states "if you want to learn something - teach it" When I think about teaching I will typically pick an area I want to work on for myself - it is motivating for me. That is why I am teaching Encaustic painting, I am working on a series that I will be submitting for a juried fine-art show early next year.
The basic faux classes are mostly for fun, I like the energy "newbies" bring to a class. BUT, I also use this as a marketing tool. I'll typically invite someone I know, who talks about my business to other people, to join my class for FREE. This person is one of my best resources for free word-of-mouth marketing. I ask them to blog about the experience and I provide them with my marketing brochure. I also help promote their endeavors, whatever that may be. A good book reference for this type of thinking "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

When I am helping others I tend to require more of myself which has the very real side effect ofmotivating, energizing and focusing me toward my own goals. So, even though, on the books, teaching doesn't look like a great "money maker" it has many benefits that are hard to put a value on.

Tell us what motivates you!

Luxury at its best

2009-06-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Luxury Home Magazine has some of the most beautiful homes ever built and I have the good fortune to have done the decorative finishes, murals and fine art in a lot of them. I feel really honored that my work graces such maginificent homes

ROCK THE HOUSE

2009-06-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

In just 4 days we transformed this plain room into a "Sommelier's Haven". We aged, distressed and plastered the walls added faux stone and distressed everything again. Designer Lisa Smith had custom made cabinetry and flooring put in along with new lighting. The client said this was the best room in the house. To see more go to FikeStudio.ning.com and LisaSmith,ning.com

Workshops

2009-04-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

I am making great progress in developing my latest workshop series. I've joined up with the Historic Murer House in Folsom Ca. and their sister city in Crespano del Grappa Italy. The Murer Foundation will host the workshops at their beautiful historic house at 1125 Joe Murer Ct in Folsom. Check back soon for class content, dates and times

FIKE STUDIO: Some of my latest work

2009-04-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

workshops

Some of my latest work

2009-04-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

This is the interior of a home theater. The client wanted to create an Egyptian tomb. We sculpted stone and plaster then added the bas relief. Next week I will be adding real turquoise and coral stones to the necklaces.

2009-01-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

European Interiors
3031 Stanford Ranch Suite #2-217
Rocklin, CA. 95675
866-449-2291
Eurointerno.com
info@eurointerno.com

2009-01-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope to see everyone for "Wine And Design" at Julie Smith and Associates on Weds. Jan 14th from 4-7 pm. Join me and the designers of "JSA" for some great food, wine and good cheer as we start 2009.

The Orangevale Bridge

2008-09-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas
Original 58"x85"
Artist enhanced Giclee' 24"x36"
Please contact Theresa for prices