Last Sunday, just after watching back to back episodes of my two favorite shows: Rock of Love Bus and Tool Academy, I was ripped from the comfort of my bed by a prior obligation. I had promised a few of my favorite ladies that I would join them for drinks. Of course, I made said promise at 11 a.m., and was remiss to fulfill said promise at 11 p.m.. Yes, 11 p.m., on a Sunday. What had I been thinking? Well, anyway, I’m quite glad that I pulled myself together and scooted out the door because, not only did I have a great time with the favorite ladies, but I also met Michelle Marchesseault of Redstart Design.
Michelle and her business partner, Rachel Shannon are notorious in Austin for their Op Art commercial and residential murals. Using nothing but tape (only sometimes) hand painting, and a lot of math, these ladies put together the freshest non-wallpapered backdrops in town.
The residential mural above was achieved using silver leaf. Do any of you know how tedious that is? The painting I did in my living room (by hand-cut stencil and latex paint) took a week and a half, I can’t even imagine how long this takes the ladies:
Perhaps if I had conducted an interview (per our Sunday discussion) I would have learned the answer. But I was busy working so you dudes get pretty pictures and lots of unanswered questions.
This photo of former partner, Jason, does provide some insight on what a bitch this job must be. But I have to say, that finished ceiling is out-of-control amazing, and totally worth the effort.
Clearly, these ladies like ceilings. Writing this post is only heightening my ever-present craving to scrape all of the popcorn off my ceiling so that I, too, can have the Redstart treatment.
The Vivid Walls of Austin’s Viva Salon
One of the many bedrooms for, ahem, the Real World Austin set
I love when artists and designers post pictures of their process. Same with set building on DVD extras. I could probably skip most of the movies I watch and just enjoy all the behind-the-scenes design goodness alone. Ok, actually, I have done that before, it was pretty damn awesome.
This freeform latex and GOLD LEAF(!!!!!!!!!) residential mural Speaks directly to my heart. Shhhh… can you hear it?
And I know that I was just getting all mad at Elle Decor the other day about their piss-poor butterfly trend prediction, but I really like the space above. I’m 100% sure it’s the palette, and the fact that the butterflies aren’t all lame and colorful.
Speaking of animals I love:
This lovely horse is snugly nestled in at one of my favorite bars in town, the Red House. There are plastic and painted horse heads everywhere, and that, my friends, is a motif I can get behind.
The mural at Frou Frou always caught my eye when I lived a couple of blocks away. Somehow taking things I don’t generally like on their own: red and pink, and putting them together, really does it for me.
The ladies of Redstart don’t just sit around contemplating repeating pattern and huffing paint all day, they also get their exercise on by participating in Austin’s own synchronized swimming troupe, The H2Hos.
So, looking back on my Sunday night on the town, I have to admit, it wasn’t so bad after all, almost as good as Rock of Love Bus, almost.
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Wow, this makes me want to get crazy with some masking tape.
Firstly – well done on keeping an obligation at 11pm. I don’t think I could – maybe on New Year’s eve?
Secondly – I agree about the behind the scenes stuff. It is more interesting than the real thing. I guess it is the real thing
Is it something in the spring water? How is it that so much creative talent has collected in Austin?
As if I couldn’t be any more impressed with these women, you wait until the end to tell us their hobby is synchronized swimming. Makes me proud to have ovaries.
Every single mural is AMAZING. Obviously, I need to get out more!
“Last Sunday, just after watching back to back episodes of my two favorite shows: Rock of Love Bus and Tool Academy” = YES, and now I will read the rest of this opus
Incredible! Love the green, silver leaf, trellis room. Oy vey, such talent!
I love love love their swimming troupe’s name. I might be persuaded to dust off my swimsuit and bathing cap if they were around here and had room for a woman of a certain age who used to be good at that stuff.
Isn’t the troupe name the BEST? Connie, I totally think you could rock the synchro-swimming, I’ve seen you in a pool… you could swim laps around ladies half your age.
So glad everyone liked this post! I think I might start a redstart fan club!
Wow, how amazing! (I don’t think I could have gone out at 11pm on a Sunday, you are brave!)
These guys are totally awesome AND prolific too! I love that they do both residential AND commercial spaces. Especially loving the hair salon murals—I’d totally want to be a patron at a salon that cool!
Oh hooray!! Michelle is super nice, and unfortunately I’d never seen her work. Thank you for featuring it. Wow – Michelle, if you read this, I’m in love love love with it!
the rock of love is so grotesquely fascinating!!
I have nothing but respect for people who can hand-paint something like that! I’d be tearing my hair out after an hour. Also, I have nothing but respect for people who go out of the house at 11:00 on Sunday night.
Ah this amazes me. The patience required is waaaaayyy beyond my capabilities and my neck hurts in sympathy for them. Awesome!
Oh, and yes – FABULOUS name!! Love their sass!
I am serious love with the first two ceilings. Wow. Incredible work.
H2HO!!! Brilliance!
I love a project that contains a lot of math… artful geekiness!
Awesome….incredible….delicious….outstanding….courageous….
talented….brave…..artictically sensational…..Wonderful….bright…brilliant….fablous….intriging….WOW!!!!!!!!!!
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