Catherine specializes in two types of wall painting:

• Faux Finishing

• Murals

In faux finishing, a wall is painted with multiple layers of color, giving the wall a textured, custom look and feel. The range of colors and quality in the final product is largely dependent on the skill of the artist. Catherine has 15 years' experience working with faux finishing, including work in Texas, California, New York, Virginia, and St. John.

A mural is a painting that is placed over a textured or faux finished wall. Both the painting and the texturing are done by Catherine. Murals can be painted directly on a wall or can be painted on canvas and then attached like wallpaper to the wall. Some people prefer to have their mural painted on a canvas and then have it framed.

Below are some examples of recent work she has done for homes on St. John. Take note of the range of colors, textures, designs, patterns, and glazing; you will see that her faux is clearly artwork.

This is the bathroom of the Cottage of A House of Open Arms.

This is another bathroom wall of a vacation home on St. John.

The is the wall adjoining the bathroom to the outdoor shower of the Cottage of A House of Open Arms. As you can see, these faux finishing treatments are incredibly sturdy and stand up to the elements well, making them an option for both interior and exterior walls.

This is the wall of the circular kitchen in the Artists' Studio at A House of Open Arms. It is wonderfully textured with palm fronds and incorporates many subtle shades to give a richly detailed feel.

This is a subtle treatment done to the living room of another vacation home on St. John.

This mural was painted on canvas for a home in California to give the home an Italian accent. It measures 4 feet by 6 feet, unframed.

The canvas is plastered directly onto the wall. This allows for a mural look while giving its owner the ability to remove the artwork and take it with them to a new home.

This mural was painted directly onto a wall after faux finishing to give the impression of multiple windows looking out onto a St. John view. It measures 6 feet by 12 feet.

This mural was also painted directly onto a bedroom wall in a St. John home, and is done with muted tones to create a peaceful atmosphere. It measures 6 feet by 12 feet.

Further samples of Catherine's work are available upon request.

Pricing: All pricing is given following a brief consultation with Catherine, after which she will be better able to create an appropriate estimate. Costs typically range from $15 - $30 per square foot, depending on the complexity and design, with a minimum total cost of $500. These costs include both labor and materials. Contact Catherine to set up a meeting so that she can go over your plans and ideas, brainstorm additional ideas with you, and create an plan for completing your project.

A quick note on picture quality: Some monitors do not properly display color ranges. Also, pictures may fail to show the subtle variations in texture and tone that would be readily apparent in reality. As a result, the pictures throughout this site should be taken as only a rough estimate of the quality of Catherine's work. It is highly recommended that you visit with Catherine and see her work in person. If you like the pictures on the site, just wait until you see it live! Higher resolution pictures are available upon request.

Webmaster: Jim Perry - webguy@artofopenarms.com.