Murals
After many years working in the fine art field, painting, exhibiting
and teaching, Joyce Ortner began her career as a muralist by completing
a two-year project, which was the creation of a fantasy hotel. Ortner
painted six different theme rooms: Gypsy Forest, a 1950s Drive-in Theatre,
an Egyptian room, Roman room, the stern Castle of a 17th century ship
and an 18th century French artist's loft. The artwork received rave reviews
when the hotel opened in 1988 and was featured in a one-and-a-half page
article on the front page of The Los Angeles Times Travel Section. The
front page of the Santa Barbara News Press had a full half page of color
photos. The murals were featured in the centerfold of Country Inns Magazine
and in Pacific Coast Magazine as well as many other national and foreign
publications. This launched her successful decorative arts business "Artistic
Atmospheres". Being represented in the Pacific Design Center on
Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles gave Ortner national and international exposure.
Ortner's client list has included Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank,
CA; Corporate offices of Johnson, Fain, Periera Associates-architects
of the Trans America building in San Francisco, as well as Scott Johnson's
personal residence, which was published in Architectural Digest ,and
featured on HGTV's Extreme homes. Ortner's other projects include corporate
offices
of the Princess Cruise Lines in Valencia, California, the flagship of
the Shangri-la Hotel chain; the Far Eastern Plaza in Taipei; as well
as the Contempo Casual Store in Chicago, IL, and the Walking Stores
in Sacramento, San Jose and Corte Madera, California.
Painting murals; doing custom plaster finishes; metal leafing in gold,
copper and silver; antiquing; faux marble; faux bois; original wall finishes;
glazing; ragging and sponging are techniques Ortner uses to turn a room
into a work of art. Her versatility as an artist and skill in utilizing
these techniques to create a rich patina of age bring elegance and luxury
to pillars, fireplaces, walls and floors in homes, mansions, hotels,
restaurants and businesses across
the country. Hand-painted friezes, borders, ceiling-sky murals, cement
and wood floors, and even furniture are all part of Joyce's repertoire.
Joyce creates fantastic environments in Children's rooms. She loves
knowing her art is something a child can grow up with in the beautiful,
safe place of their imagination, giving them fond memories of their childhood.
She has probably painted a hundred childrens' rooms with as many different
themes. Clients feel much freer to do incredible fabulous things in a
child's room.
Three Design Showcase houses in Santa Barbara have had extensive mural
work by Joyce Ortner. She has taught several mural and tromp l'oeil classes
for the University of California at Santa Barbara for their decorative
arts program. Ortner has designed and executed two murals in the lobby
of the Historical Granada Theater for the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera,
and a 15' x 61' outdoor mural "Humpback Whale and Baby" in
Isla Vista, California.
Many years and many thousands of square feet of murals, painting and
finishing ceilings, floors, walls and furniture have given Ortner first-hand
experience of the techniques, tools and secrets of the decorative arts
as well as insight in how to build a successful decorative arts business.
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