The Mystic Bath

Painted in a guest bathroom off the library, the room below best exemplifies

the technique of trompe l'oeil painting. The paint creates an illusion of a three

dimensional reality. My client wanted the look of an ancient stone temple with

a night sky, along with examples of many astrological and mystical symbols,

objects, books and ideas. The entire room was designed on computer by

retouching a photograph of the room taken before the painting phase began.

This allowed the client to view the room as it could look when it was complete

and to suggest I make changes before painting began. My goal for many

trompe l'oeil paintings is for the observer to be fooled as long as possible. If they

reach for a book in the bookcase, I want them touch wall before they see the illusion!

The technique used here is a combination of conventional

painting, sponging and airbrushing. The paint is artists acrylic

and fluorescent acrylic coated with a sealer. All of the stars

shine using black lights hidden in the beams at the top of the

walls. Other hidden details also become evident when

illuminated with black light as below.

Before