MY COLOR...

For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of chocolate, the candy, color and ice cream. Chocolate Brown has received great attention over the past couple years in design. Some may see it as a trend, other’s still haven’t seen the light, but for those of us that have never been fair weather fans, we know its eternal beauty. Friends used to laugh when I would say brown goes with anything and I am so proud that my color is getting the popular respect it deserves.
My top favorite color combinations with Chocolate Brown (CB) are (in no particular order):

- CB and Black- YES! Décor, fashion, you name it, I love it!
- CB and Blue- Has been a trend recently, but always beautiful
- CB and Mint Green- YUMM!
- CB and GOLD- Yellow, red or green gold, bring it!

Creative Kids

Think back when you were a kid and how many times you would just lay on your bed staring at the ceiling? Inspire a child’s creativity by using their bedroom ceiling as a design element just like the walls. I don’t know about you, but growing up I spent a lot of time in my room, by firm parental request and by choice. A child’s bedroom is a refuge from the world, especially in the teenage years.
Five great ideas for inspiring a child’s creativity on the ceiling are:
1. A map of the world, painted (pictured above)
2. A pre-printed mural “glued” to the ceiling
3. A space theme with a moon, planets, stars, and galaxies (pictured above)
4. Numbers and letters in primary or their favorite colors
5. Musical notes
Each idea listed can be hand-painted or elements of the design can be purchased on-line or at a local hobby store. All children deserve just to be kids and daydream…

Ceiling Medallions

BEFORE.............AFTER- Match the Chandelier Finish

Ceiling medallions are an inexpensive way to dress up any room. Our recommendation is to look for a design you like and purchase it unpainted. Why settle for a high-priced “designer” medallion that does not perfectly match your décor?

For our clients we have painted them in a number of ways, for example:

1. A conservative approach- paint in the flat ceiling color
2. To add a touch of interest- paint in the ceiling color but in a different sheen i.e. satin or semi-gloss

3. Add antiquing glaze, stains or gels to compliment decor

4. OUR FAVORITE- match the chandelier finish (pictured above)

And if you don’t want to mess with glaze, stains or gels, most home stores offer a selection of spray paint in various metallic or natural finishes. And if you are really bold, repaint seasonally or annually and treat as an accessory, matching your changing décor. Create a conversation piece your guests look forward to talking about at your holiday parties.

Stencil of the Month

Our goal is to feature a fabulous stencil every month. To start us off we wanted to share, http://www.stencilsearch.com , a fabulous site that searches countless websites to find the perfect stencil for your project. Type in a key word and stencilsearch.com will instantly retrieve hundreds or thousands of stencils that match your search. This brilliant website saves you time and headaches. The top ten most popular stencil searches include “flowers", "border stencils", and “mural stencils". And if that wasn’t enough, stencilsearch.com has an on-line directory of artists and websites, a forum to talk shop or ask questions, a resource guide, and you may also sign up for a newsletter. We recommend you check their site often, even if you are not looking for a stencil, to stay current on special sales, news, and features only stencilsource.com provides. The picture above is a ribbon stencil found via stencilsearch.com. Happy searching!

Summer Awards and Recognition

ATA won the best booth award at the 2006 Huntsville Business Expo: Austin Ramsay and Alissa Murnane pose infront of thier award-winning display. Owner and lead artist, Alissa Murnane, was honored as a Young Professional of the Year Finalist. For more details about our awards and news, link to ATA News.

Tool of the Month

The mini roller is one of our favorite tools because it is extremely versatile. The mini may be used to cut in when base painting, paint panel doors with ease, apply glaze or plaster for a finish, and so much more. When purchasing your mini, make sure you buy one that DOES NOT have the plastic tip. The plastic tip is suppose to keep the paint off of the trim when cutting in, but we have found they do not work as intended. Buy a mini with the nap all the way around so you can paint corners and almost any surface. Another reason why we like the mini is because it holds enough glaze for about a 3' x 4' wall area which is the perfect area to work, given your glaze's open time. They come in various sizes and naps. We prefer the 4” or 6” woven mini for most projects.

Welcome to Average to art!

Average to art(ATA) is your source for decorative finishes, custom murals, painted furniture and cabinet glazing/painting. Our job is to make every room your favorite! We hope to share industry stories and custom art projects you will enjoy. My name is Alissa Murnane, the owner and lead artist for ATA. Let's get started...