Trompe L'oeil "A Trick" of Beauty
Decorative Wall Painting To Trick The Eye
Trompe L'oeil is by far one of the most impressive forms of decorative wall painting. Why, you ask? Because trompe l'oeil effectively imitates reality. The results of my first home decorating experience illustrates the trick in trompe l'oeil.
My wife had just successfully completed her first wall mural in our front bedroom and a new decorative painting idea struck us both. Why not open up the entry way hallway by painting a trompe l'oeil stone window. We could tie the front bedroom into the entry way by painting a wall mural scene in the tromp l'oeil window. The mural scene would be similar to the mural scene in the bedroom. What a great decorative painting idea!!
With the trompe l'oeil mural completed, we both were astonished to find the effect the new window had on guests. As guests entered the house they immediately noticed the trompe l'oeil mural. They were impressed by the beauty of the scene in the stone window and commented on how it enhanced the hallway's overall decor. As we proceeded deeper into the house, I could not help but probe a little deeper.
The Trick in Trompe L'oeil
I would innocently ask what they thought about the stone framing of the scene. They would comment that the decorative stone frame had to be expensive or difficult to provide for the decorative painting. To extend the trick I would ask what they meant and make them continue their observations on the "real" stone window. Finally, when my chuckling got the best of me I told them that the "real" stone window was in fact a Trompe L'oeil window. Many a mouth dropped as the reality of the illusion was made clear.
The Trick in Trompe L'oeil Revealed
So how did the trompe l'oeil decorative painting trick our friends? The trick is in the painting technique behind trompe l'oeil. There are a few points to the technique of trompe l'oeil we'd like to mention:
- Perspective: Like so many other painting techniques, one of the first tricks in trompe l'oeil is realistic perspective. Does the mural stone window look the size a real window would look?
- Dimension: The third dimension must be added. This is done in trompe l'oeil thru effective shading. Shadows will make the architectural elements, in our case the stone window mural, jump from the wall. Without shadows the trompe l'oeil is trickless.
- Material Properties: Often this aspect is overlooked, but it is critical. For the trompe l'oeil wall mural to look authentic the material, in our example stone, must take on the properties of its realworld counterpart. In other words when the observer looks at the trompe l'oeil stone window wall mural they should see real stone! Some properties of stone we need to copy would be:
- color
- cracking(if aged stone is desired)
- texture
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Wall Painting Decorating Ideas
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #1
Add a window to a large open wall. In the trompe l'oeil window create a dream scene that you'll enjoy looking at every day.
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #2
Trompe L'oeil the fireplace mantel. Have you ever wanted a stone fireplace mantel? How about dark, mahogony wood or even marble. All are possible using trompe l'oeil. Don't forget the candles around the mantle!
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Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #3
Do you want a kitchen back splash? What about utilizing the techniques of trompe l'oeil to create a tile backsplash without installing tile.
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #4
Do you have columns in your home? Why not use trompe l'oeil to convert the columns to Greek columns or marble columns? Trompe l'oeil can do it!
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #5
Does your whirlpool bathtub look onto a bare wall? Why not create a stone arched window overlooking the mountains. Paint the walls a color to highlight the window. Again don't forget the candles.
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Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #6
Add an addition to your home for a fraction of the price. By creating a trompe l'oeil doorway and painting additional rooms in the scene. Suddenly you have added hundreds of square feet without a hammer or nail! Isn't trompe l'oeil amazing.
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #7
Do you have a wine celler. Why not give the cellar a view of the vineyard thru the trompe l'oeil arched stone window. The scene could be a tuscan wall mural.
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #8
Add a concession stand to your home theater room. The trompe l'oeil stand may cause hunger pains so be sure to have a real popcorn maker on hand!
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #9
Do you want to "trick" the neighbors into thinking you are home. Trompe l'oeil the garage door to make it appear like the garage door is up. However, be careful you are not tricked! Trompe l'oeil artists cannot be resposible for owners driving thru their garage doors.
Trompe L'oeil Decorative Painting Idea #10
Create the beach you've always wanted by your pool. Just make sure to include a couple of the cool drinks with the umbrellas!
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