Mindy Harrell Mindy has been painting and drawing for most of her life and as a young child she completed many gifted and talented programs. Holding a Bachelors of Science degree in Art, Mindy has studied various mediums and techniques inspired from the artists of "yester-year." Her artistic quest ultimately led to the world of decorative painting where a fire was ignited and a new found passion was born!
As an artist, her large scale commercial murals gained recognition and ultimately led to bigger and more advanced jobs. Mindy expanded her training and studied master level artistry with some of the top artisans in the country. Mindy credits her success to many artisans in the field who have helped cultivate her passion. Providing this same kind of support to other inspiring artists is Mindy's passion.
"Mentoring artists in the field of decorative painting has been a dream that is finally coming to fruition. It's a wonderful cycle to learn from the masters and pass it on! Advanced level artistry has been lost with very few masters still practicing and teaching today. I hope for years to come that other artists will continue to keep their mastery in the forefront of our society!" A huge part of her success is continuing to train and staying current on product advancements. Mindy and her team of artisans recently completed the "Ski Magazine" dream home, gaining world wide recognition.
The rawness of her art form and the unlimited boundaries in her design keeps Mindy's creations in high demand. As a former training and curriculum specialist for the United States Army, Mindy will now take her training to the classroom.
Jason Lucas Jason is a graduate of the American Institute of Interior Design. He began his professional career in residential & interior design out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Intrigued by the skill and creativity of other accomplished finishers, Jason's interest turned to the field of decorative painting. In 1999 after studying under several of the industries most highly respected artisans Jason began Deshu Designs, Inc. He soon developed a reputation as an "innovative and original" artisan for his approach to design. Deshu Design, Inc has been featured in many national publications for their award winning projects. Jason now resides and manages his contracting and very successful art career in Denver, Colorado. We are excited to have Jason as part of our "Guest Instructing Team" and know that his prior as well as current practical experience will be beneficial to all!
Kathy Wear Kathy Wear is the owner/artist of Artistic Finishes in Hendersonville , Tennessee. She has studied extensively over the years to perfect her craft, and is known amongst her peers for her one of a kind finishes. Classic, Unique, yet functional is a great way to describe Kathy's approach to the decorative arts. Kathy takes enormous pride in her work and stands out amongst so many as a mover and shaker in the industry. In the Nashville area Parade of Homes, Kathy has won five awards from the Home Builders Association of Middle Tennessee including Best Faux Finish and Peoples Choice Award for Faux Finishing. Her work has also been published in many local magazines including Sumner Lifesytles, Nashville Lifestyles At Home and House and Home of Nashville. Her work can currently be seen on Southern Homes and Lifestyles TV.
Anthony Pinkston Anthony is a very talented artist from Idaho who has been featured in many publications to include an up and coming article in the Faux Finisher Magazine. He has won several awards from Fauxcademy for his unique style and presentations. We are very pleased to have Anthony as part of our Guest Instructing Team! He will be developing a curriculum and guest instructing at Faux Assured Studio beginning May 2009. The five day class will cover wall, ceiling, ornamentation, and architectural finishes grouped into complete room schemes. Look for details coming soon on dates!
Susan Bickford Susan began her art quest at an early age. Her grade school teachers complained to her parents that the papers she turned in were much more about the "illustrations" than the subject. And that love of enhancing any and all things with decorative flair has never let up. Bickford began formal studies in art at the age of 12, continuing her education through high school and college. She attended Austin Peay State University pursuing a degree in Fine Arts. Shortly thereafter, she was diverted by life; and her dream of making a living in the art field took a detour. Although her dream was put on hold, she never stopped in her endless quest to enhance her environment through the use of decorative art. Along the way, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from T.S.U. with a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics. In 1999, Bickford had the opportunity to pursue her dream of building a decorative arts business after leaving behind a 20 year career in corporate public affairs.
Susan believes that her education in the decorative arts is an ongoing process and continues her studies on an annual basis with master artisans across the country.
Gina Wolfrum What can we say about Gina other than she is known in the industry as the Ceiling Master!! Like many other artisans, Gina's creative talent started at a very young age. After receiving a Business Degree, Gina persued the financing arena of Banking but her true passion led her to the world of decorative painting. We are so happy that she did too! Currently, Gina's work is published in the Modello Design catalog and website and has appeared in the Faux Effects World magazine and the Artistic Stenciler magazine. In addition to these publications, Gina has been featured on television, specifically for murals produced for the Defiance Regional Medical Center.
Our Mission
"Excellence in the field of decorative painting is a core value I practice and promote on my team daily. Our committment is to remain current on the latest development of products, techniques, color trends, and design concepts. Providing our students with superior customer service, and a top notch training facility is a quality we will not compromise. It is our passion to create simple and elegant to the most complex looking finishes with ease. We promise to take your investment seriously as we expect our students to take their training seriously. All of this combined with having fun too!"
