Friday

before and after - mirror

The other day, I found a mirror in a local thrift shop. It had classical lines so all that was really needed was a little paint and a few subtle embellishments.


Here it is 'before'

 The first step was to gather ingenuity...
and some Inspiration  was called for.

These mirrors (shown above) were on 1stdibs.com found under the subject 'Trumeau Mirrors'

The Definition of a Trumeau Mirror:  According to Mary Gilliatt's Dictionary of Architecture and Interior Design: A late 18th-century and 19th-century mirror set into an overmatel. Often a painted scene or carved panel was set above it.


 I looked through some books and searched online for the decorative embellishment.  The images in the above photo were found at The Graphics Fairy, a wonderful source for free graphic designs. 

After choosing the image, I used transfer paper and transferred the image onto the panel in the small niche above the mirror. Then I painted the design in a monochromatic color scheme using flake white and burnt umber oil paint. In a grisaille style.

Below is the finished mirror!

After

Detail


Have a great weekend!

15 comments:

flwrjane said...

Beautifully done.

Your blog is lovely.

xo Jane

Terri said...

You have the eye for transformation! What a gorgeous mirror you have created, the layers of paints and the image transfer all fabulous!
Hugs,
Terri
(you have inspired me to pop by my local thrift store this morning...yay!)

Nan said...

Thank you for your kind comment! I just found a mirror TODAY at Goodwill, that is VERY similar to yours! Thanks for the great idea in finishing it! You have a great blog! I hope you stop back to see my mirror. I found several other items at Goodwill so it'll be a bit before I get them all posted on the blog.

Nan @ youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com

Kathy C. said...

Wow, that's beautiful! I am addicted to thrift stores too, and I would have snapped up that mirror in a flash! You did an amazing job of making it your own.

Shelly @Crafty Creative Studio said...

I love it! Absolutely beautiful! Which I had thought of it. :)

Share my Garden said...

What a transformation! Very skillful and worth all the hard work.

a peony princess said...

What a gorgeous find! Looks amazing afterwards.

artful cottage said...

I really enjoyed reading all your lovely comments!

Thank you for taking the time to say hello and for sharing your thoughts--they're very much appreciated.

xo Donna

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Oh my goodness your mirror
came out absolutely gorgeous!!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us :)

xoxo
Lori

Tania van der Merwe said...

it is stunning - congrats on being featurde on Graphics Fairy!

Sue@creativetryals.blogspot.com said...

This is beautiful! At first I thought the cherubs were carved wood. Awesome job! Visiting you from Graphics Fairy.

Brenda Watts said...

I popped over from The Graphic Fairy's site..stunning job on the mirror..I just love it !!

Donna said...

Hi from another Donna:)! Your mirror is just stunning! You really do have vision, as I think most people would have walked right past that mirror in the thrift shop! I wish that I was good at hand painting, you are so very talented, and I love it!!

Cindy Adkins said...

This is totally stunning--AND brilliant!! I love it!! I think it should be on the cover of a magazine...I'm here from the Graphics Fairy.
XO
Cindy

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

WOW! That was one ugly mirror that I would have walked right past. What a showstopper you have created! I hope you have a comfy spot to sit where you can gaze at your lovely work of art.

I will do a double take the next time I come across a similar piece. Thank you for sharing.