Fine Art
DOREEN O'CONNOR: Muralist and Decorative Painter
Owner of: Wildflowers Decorative Painting
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Garage Facade Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
Child's Bedroom Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
Bathroom Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
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Child's Room Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
Patriotic Fiberglass Cow
© Doreen O'Connor |
Bear Mountain Zoo: Muskrat Enclosure Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
Hudson River Dining Room Mural
© Doreen O'Connor |
Doreen O'Connor has lived in the Hudson Valley, NY area almost all of her life. The beautiful environment has informed her art from the earliest days. Always eager to draw or paint, Doreen majored in art education in an era that believed there were few opportunities for artists to make a living, unless they went into teaching. It was also an era of abstract art, but Doreen gravitated to realism, much to the dismay of some of her teachers.
While in graduate school, Doreen started working for an historic house museum and found the combination of art, living history and crafts very appealing. After many years in the museum field, Doreen decided to focus on her art. She started a decorative painting business called Wildflowers, offering custom murals, trompe l'oeil (fool the eye), faux finishes and many other interesting projects. She has adopted the slogan: "If it doesn't move, I have probably painted on it". She has painted fiberglass sculptures, concrete columns, garages, floors, ceilings and furniture. Doreen has worked up and down the Hudson Valley region of NY for 26 years.
Recently, Doreen has joined other artists in the area to open their studios for an annual tour (Art East Open Studio Tour) and another group focused on plein air (open air) painting.
Doreen says the following about her journey as a muralist:
When I first started my decorative painting business, I did mostly borders and faux finishes until one client wanted something more striking. We decided on a faux window surrounded by "stone block" above a stairway. This was my first scaffolding job, and once I got over the fear of the height and wobbling scaffold, I really enjoyed the challenge of the larger scale of work. Shortly after that, I entered a designer show house project at the Madame Walker House in Irvington, NY. I created a large mural of wading birds and foliage in the kind of realistic detail that I love. I really enjoyed the process, so murals soon became my favorite type of work.
I have painted Hudson River scenes, wild animals, underwater creatures, and I painted a garage to blend into its background [see above] as well as many other themes. Each project is very much its own adventure.
While in graduate school, Doreen started working for an historic house museum and found the combination of art, living history and crafts very appealing. After many years in the museum field, Doreen decided to focus on her art. She started a decorative painting business called Wildflowers, offering custom murals, trompe l'oeil (fool the eye), faux finishes and many other interesting projects. She has adopted the slogan: "If it doesn't move, I have probably painted on it". She has painted fiberglass sculptures, concrete columns, garages, floors, ceilings and furniture. Doreen has worked up and down the Hudson Valley region of NY for 26 years.
Recently, Doreen has joined other artists in the area to open their studios for an annual tour (Art East Open Studio Tour) and another group focused on plein air (open air) painting.
Doreen says the following about her journey as a muralist:
When I first started my decorative painting business, I did mostly borders and faux finishes until one client wanted something more striking. We decided on a faux window surrounded by "stone block" above a stairway. This was my first scaffolding job, and once I got over the fear of the height and wobbling scaffold, I really enjoyed the challenge of the larger scale of work. Shortly after that, I entered a designer show house project at the Madame Walker House in Irvington, NY. I created a large mural of wading birds and foliage in the kind of realistic detail that I love. I really enjoyed the process, so murals soon became my favorite type of work.
I have painted Hudson River scenes, wild animals, underwater creatures, and I painted a garage to blend into its background [see above] as well as many other themes. Each project is very much its own adventure.
