I am a working professional artist that has owned and operated PennDragon Studios since January 1990.

After moving to the Atlanta area in 1995, I continued to pursue my passion in Art through PennDragon Studios...

I am now venturing into a new direction with Fauxfilling Interiors as a way to continue to bring a creative concepts to homes, and businesses or anywhere my clients need me...

Along the way I have developed and mastered many skills including:

Painting   (Acrylic, and various Faux-Finish Techniques)

Illustration   (Pencil, Colored Pencil, Charcoal, Pen and Ink, Marker, Watercolor, and Airbrush)

I am now beginning to explore Computer Graphics and Interactive Multi-Media.

I have worked with and apprenticed  under many professional artists during my career, including: Jerry Nissen, John and Sue Dutcher, Nancy Bartush, Ray Shleman, William Alexander, Jr., Paul Michael Alexander, William Harris, Sylvia Long, Roger Sawhill, Stanis Kodman, and Berwin Hung.

I value every bit of knowledge that I have found, been given, and continue to gain on this journey of Life and Art.

As I have always said, " A wish is the foundation of one's goals, attaining those goals are the fullfillment of one's life."

Thank you for taking time to explore my life's works.

Please visit often, as I will continue to grow, add to my collection, and explore as a true student of life...PennDragon

Skills Include:

Painting, Master of Acrylic (Heavy Body) wet and dry brush techniques on various grounds.
Painting, Master of Faux Wood and Stone Techniques including Mahogany, Oak, Marble, and Granite
Painting, Master of Rag Treatments including: Rag on, Rag off, 3+ Color Treatments, Foils and Metallic
Painting, Master of Faux Linen, Denim, and Stenciled Baroque Silks
Painting, Master Venetian Plaster Treatments
Painting, Master of Trompe Loi Garden Scenes using all skills listed above.
Painting, Master Muralist

Illustration, Master Colorist/Hand Techniques
Illustration, Skilled Airbrush Technique (AB Turbo, and VL)

Drawing, Master of Graphite on Vellum
Drawing, Master of Charcoal
Drawing, Master of Pencil
Drawing, Skilled at Colored Pencil
Drawing, Skilled at Ink

Design, Master Interior Finish Treatments, including dimensional treatments (Venetian Plasters).
Design, Master Interior Mural Elements
Design, Master of Color Theory, Interior Design
Design, Skilled at Concept/Layout Production for Print
Design, Skilled at Book Building

Multi-Media, Basic Photoshop/Illustrator, Word, Quark
Multi-Media, Intermediate Print Shop 20

Born and raised in the Midwest, Melissa began a gypsy lifestyle covering Phoenix, AZ, Boston, MA, San Francisco, CA, Lexington, MA, Pasadena, CA, Laguna Hills, CA, San Jose, CA, and Charlotte, NC. Having tired of life on the run, for the past six years she's set down roots and lived happily with her husband, two teenage children, three dogs and two birds in Marietta, GA.

Although Melissa has always been an artist, it is only in the last five years that she began creating art for others. Commissions in pencil led to acrylic and oil and she now enjoys alternating between the sharp point and big brushes.

-Melissa

Skills Include:

Painting, Master of Acrylic (Heavy Body) wet and dry brush techniques on various grounds.
Painting, Master of Oils
Painting, Skilled Watercolor
Painting, Apprentice of Rag Treatments including: Rag on, Rag off, 3+ Color Treatments, Foils and Metallic
Painting, Apprentice of Faux Linen, Denim, and Stenciled Baroque Silks
Painting, Apprentice Venetian Plaster Treatments
Painting, Master of Trompe Loi Garden Scenes using all skills listed above.
Painting, Master Muralist

Illustration, Master Colorist/Hand Techniques

Drawing, Master of Graphite
Drawing, Master of Charcoal
Drawing, Master of Pencil
Drawing, Master of Colored Pencil

Design, Apprentice Interior Finish Treatments, including dimensional treatments (Venetian Plasters).
Design, Master Interior Mural Elements Design, Master of Floor Cloth Techniques and Applications

When I was a child, I would trace the outlines of my coloring pages with the crayons and fill in the colors...never going outside the lines. I always knew I had a creative side and was always encouraged by my art teachers. I took as many art classes as I could and was involved with set design in high school. In 1994, I finished my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I developed my design side as a graphic designer after graduating. I loved making type and images work in a limited space.

In the spring of 2001, my newfound career was motherhood. I had to make the transition from fine painting to finger painting. Still, motherhood challenged my creative side and I started to see things in a new fresh way through the eyes of my children.

From the personal experiences I’ve had, I’m beginning to see it reflect in my work. Each one of us has a creative side and I enjoy helping people make that connection, whether it be a painting that captures a momment or creating a particular mood in a room with a mural.

Skills Include:

Graphic Design:

Senior Designer, proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Indesign, and Photoshop.
Professional experience with product, print, and web design.

Fine Art, Murals, Interior Design Applications:

Having immersed himself in the arts at an early age, Michael has explored portraiture, still life, and landscapes in various mixed media. His style, through years of study and experimentation, have given rise to a unique signature style of texture and color and design that are truly his own.

By constantly moving to new cities, Michael spent the majority of his childhood getting accustomed to new places and faces. As an artist, he used the exposure of varied landscapes, architecture and artwork to his creative advantage. Michael now makes his home in Atlanta living and working on the banks of the Chattahoochee River....to quote Michael, "The river is my soul; it constantly inspires me to see more in life than what's laid out in front of me. I approach my work with the same philosophy, to inspire people to see and to feel more than the obvious."

A successful illustrator, graphic designer, and painter, Michael graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta and has extensive media experience. Michael is most noted for his series of captivating Georgia landscapes and dream-like Neo-Classical paintings. These and other works have expanded Michael's recognition to the national level. The works of Michael Maguire can be found in galleries throughout the USA and are part of numerous private collections, publishing houses, health care facilities, and multi-million dollar corporations.

Skills Include:

Interior Design, Scenic, Master Faux Finish Artist, and Master Fine Artist:

Master Painter all mediums including Oils, Acrylic, Watercolor
Master of Faux Wood and Stone Techniques including Mahogany, Oak, Marble, and Granite
Master Muralist focused on High End Trompe Loi treatments
Master Scenic with specialized skills in Set and Prop Design through Fabrication
Master of Faux Treatments applied to Trompe' Loi in addition to Gold Leafing, and Glazing Techiques
Master Hand Skills, Graphic and Interior Design, including traditional techniques and applications

Graphic Design:

Master Illustrator all mediums/techniques
Master Graphic Designer
Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Pagemaker and InDesign