TROMPE L' OEIL by Tampa Bay Artist James Woodfield Spruill

Trompe L' Oeil Wall Murals

This ancient method of mural painting which is used to create an illusion of space in a confined area or to add to an uninteresting wall was perfected by the masters of the Renaissance who discovered the use of precise techniques of rendering perspective. The example on the first page of the ancient Greek cityscape was created for a home in north Tampa. It is a good example of how this method, together with faux marbling techniques (on the columns and wall below), can transform a plain wall into an eye catching work of art.

For a powder room or bathroom an excellent choice is a play on a marine theme. The tones used in an aquascapes are very relaxing colors; shades of blues and greens evoke shallow warm sunny waters and soft shades of blue create a tranquil atmosphere.

Trompe L' Oeil Faux Murals

Because it makes someone entering the space do a 'double take' it is one of the most fun as well as versatile things that can be done with paint. A boring wall in a dining room,an entry foyer or a stairwell can be transformed into a wall with an arched window opening on a vast landscape panorama,an intimate garden or a seascape.Or this method can be used for example in the end of a hallway to create the illusion of a niche holding a flower vase or a bookcase containing a few old volumes and some curios. Small details can be added that increase the sense of depth and realism;a vine sneaking over the sill of the painted window,a forgotten wine glass or a butterfly at rest on the edge.This is another genre with absolutely endless possibilities.

Plants are an easy natural theme to live with Formal balanced arrangements can be used to decorate niches or wall panels or random designs of climbing foliage can give a casual but uniform effect. Images do not have to be painted on a large scale or be really elaborate to be effective and dramatic.