Candyland Themed Mural

It has been over 6 months since I have painted because of my maternity leave. I am so excited to be back. And what a great theme to paint! I have always loved the game Candy Land. I picked up the game to use as inspiration for the mural and now my own children are enjoying it. What a classic!

Here is the start of the mural:

I painted this mural in a playroom for 2 sisters (ages 3 & 6). They got a big kick out of watching me paint. Everytime I added something new, the 3 yr old would run out and tell her mother all about it. I get so much happiness and pride out of being able to make children happy when I paint. A mural is something that can last for many years.

I suggested to the mother to only have the background painted and none of the actual Candyland characters, that way the mural could last a lot longer as the girls grow up. I took many different elements from the game such as the castles, the lollipop flowers, and the paths made out of candy. But I created something unique. I try to never do anything exactly the same as a picture that the client gives me. It is so important to me to make it special and to add my own ideas.

My client was very pleased with the outcome. So, for my first painting job in quite a long time....It was a great success!

Design Dazzle - "Artist of the Month"

I know that it has been quite some time since I have posted. It has been a crazy few months since the baby has been born. I have been taking a nice long break from painting in order to spend time at home with my, now, family of 5.

I have also started an Online Virtual Assistant business which I have been working hard to establish. It is something else that I am able to do from home. I am really excited about it. Please check out my website at www.dpk-virtualassistant.com.

I am so happy to announce that I have been recognized by Design Dazzler, a decorating & design inspired site, as their "Artist of the Month". They did a nice little write about me with a picture of one of my murals. Check it out!



The last thing I wanted to mention, is that I started another blog called Painter Mommy. I post there about my life as a busy mom, artist, business owner, blogger, and entrepreneur. It is a place where I will be sharing about anything and everything.

I will be offering several giveaways over the next few months, so be sure to Subscribe via Email!!

Site of the Week on "Your Neighbor's Place"

I always love to get exposure out there in the internet world. Once again Surfaces with Paint has been written about on a great new site called "Your Neighbor's Place".



"I'd like to showcase the website of one of our members ....Dawn..... Surfaces With Paint, where she has shown off her incredible murals. She's done quite a few murals in plenty of categories - nautical, fairy tale, trees, jungles, animals, tropical and more. Take a look if you are thinking about painting a mural for a nursery or any other room in your home."

Click Here to read more.

Taking a Break - New Baby is Here!!

Jaden Cliff Papandea-Khan was born on October 23rd. He was 6lbs. 10ozs.




I know that it has been quite a while since I last posted. But I had to take a break due to my pregnancy and now that the cutie is here, I will be taking a couple more months off from painting.

I have several clients patiently waiting for me, so once we get on a better sleep schedule - I will be back in full swing.

Boy do I miss painting!!

"Talent of a Muralist" by Paint Your Space

I am happy to announce yet another opportunity for Surfaces with Paint to gain exposure on the internet. Check out this post called "Talent of a Muralist"



Paint Your Space offers a simple and affordable approach to choosing paint color in your home or business. Leslie David of Leslie David Designs offers online color consultations to help people choose the perfect paint color combinations for their walls. All you have to do is upload a few pictures and she will do all of the work for you.

Leslie has recently spotlighted me and some of my work, so I also wanted to take this opportunity to share that with you and also say a public thank you to Leslie for what I call "linkin' love".

Click here to see the post.

Vote for my Nursery Murals Blog!

I need your votes!! I just signed my Nursery Murals and More Blog up on DivineCaroline.com. They are offering free prizes to the blogs that get the most votes.

Can you click on the link below and vote for me? I would really appreciate it!!

Painter Mommy Update

As most of you know, I am very pregnant with only a few short weeks to go. I am taking a few months off from painting, though I am missing it terribly.

Here is a picture of my baby belly taken 2 months ago, so you can imagine how much bigger I am now.



I also have 2 little ones at home, so they have been keeping me pretty busy. They can't wait to meet their baby brother.


In the meantime, I have been working hard on keeping my blogs updated. I hope that you will take the time to check them out and subscribe via email so you can get email updates each time I post something new. I have found some great inspirational mural ideas that I am sure you would love.

Here are the links:





I will keep you all updated with pictures once the baby comes. I can't wait to get back to painting again!!

"Eight Great Children's Mural Painters" and I am one of them!!

I am proud to announce that I was recently included in an online article called "Eight Great Children's Mural Painters" on Spire.com, a social resource site which includes everything from Family, Arts & Culture, to Travel and Beauty.



Here is a blurb from their site that better describes who they are:

"We created Spire to provide a unique and much-needed resource for busy people like us—people with refined taste and no time to waste. We listened...and listened, and learned that it was not another social network people wanted, but an upscale, insightful lifestyle resource to live life well."

Here is what they wrote about me:

Surfaces with Paint

Mahopac, New York

"Artist and decorative painter Dawn Papandrea-Khan takes so many things into consideration when planning children's murals—colors, room lighting, furniture and accessories, adjoining rooms, style, taste and budget—it's no surprise she considers herself a perfectionist. A former elementary art and decorative painting teacher, and the mother of two young children, Dawn launched the company in 2001 and works mainly in the tri-state area of NY. She does all the work herself from start to finish, covering every detail from paint type to faux finishes. Prices vary from mural to mural, ranging from $500 to $5,000 and more. Themes cover fairytales, nursery rhymes, animals, marine life, boats and flowers, among many others, and you can work with her to dream up a personalized creation."

www.surfaceswithpaint.com | Phone: +1 845 669 9093

PO Box 575 | Mahopac, NY 10541 United States

Geography: Other, New York

Thank you Spire!!!

Geometric Frottage Finish

My client had the book Decorative Paint & Faux Finishes by Sunset and she loved the finish that was presented in the book. So, we picked colors that matched the walls in the book and we went from there.

This was the same client that I did the Crackle Finish Kitchen for several years ago. She enjoys bold paint finishes that stand out. She likes to take risks and loves to WOW her family and friends. This bathroom frottage finish definitely does the trick.

I chose to have the trim and doors painted with the base color that I used in the faux finish on the walls. It also matches the beige white color in the sink, counter top, tub, and toilet. The walls pop against the warm tones in the tile floor as well as the dark cherry vanity.

I look forward to taking more pictures when the room is complete. They still need to add the plumbing and lighting fixtures as well as put up the shower curtain, towels, and accessories. That will tie it all together nicely.




I recently posted on my Murals and Faux Blog step by step instructions on how to do the Geometric Frottage Finish. Be sure to check it out.