Hi all Letterheads out there

[Jes Troelsen]

I would like to introduce my self...

First of all, I really admire the craftmanship and beautyfull work you post on the forum. I find it truly inspiring, and thank for sharing it all with the rest of us.
I’m a 47 years old Danish painter.
I was painting vice brought up the traditional way, my teaching master was a painter of Copenhagen who him self was taught the trade by one of the old Danish masters of decorative painting .
Trough 10 years of working with him I learned painting the traditional ways, using linseed oil paint, lime, distemper and so on.
I was taught the traditional decoration techniques: marbling, wood graining, trompe l'oeil, sign writing, gilding and so on.. Not to say that I’m a master of it all, but I tried a lot of things...
His web page : http://www.raadvadmaleren.dk

We worked on churches, manors, castles, historical houses and monuments, private homes and museums mostly restoring or recreating historical decorations. Besides we also did a lot of ordinary paint jobs but always trying to maintain quality in workmanship.
In 1997-98 I was educated in “Advanced Building Restoration” at “Rådvad Center of Building Restoration” http://www.bygningsbevaring.dk and did a paper on gilding, gilding was my focus point.

Gilding has always been my favorite techniques, I guess its because I enjoy the beauty good craftsmanship can create, and I posses the drive for perfection and the patience that it requires to gild.
In 1994 I founded my company Akantus, and since 1999 I have been full time self employed, only a few times did I have employees, but I'm a member of a loose structured group of other self employed painters, helping each others on larger jobs.
In 2002 my wife and I moved to the countryside, one hour away from Copenhagen, we soon got kids, and a lot to do restoring our old farm, guess its a old story... I had to take care of my family so I had to focus on local work, mostly straight painting jobs, that paid the bills, and still being able to get home in time to spend some time with my family.

I still do some gilding and restoring, but I have an urge to concentrate more on decoration and gilding. And I want to be able to work more from my home, to be closer to my to girls (7 and 10 years old) as they grow up.
By chance, this summer on vacation, I got interested in sandblasting decorations on glass (I’m always trying to explore new techniques), I bought a small sandblasting cabinet and made myself a small workshop.
But then something amazing happened to me..
I was exploring the possibilities of decorating with a sandblaster when I came along Davis Smith's website and watched the videos, such beauty and superb craftsmanship, I was stunned, this was what I wanted to do.....

I looked further into the world of sign writing and glass gilding and found a treasure chest of information from devoted craftsmen all over the world.
And i stumbled upon this forum, I really enjoy reading the posts and looking at the photos, there is a lot to learn here..
My signwriter/glassgilder test workshop is almost ready and i got a few test jobs coming up soon.
I'll be posting some photos of my work, both older and new ones, when i find some good ones...

Thanks to all of you for sharing your work..

Jes

[Tyler Tim]

Welcome aboard... Jes

Yes David Smith's work is something to look at and aspire to. Looking forward to seeing some of your work.

Tim

[Roderick Treece]

Hi Jes,
I enjoyed your web site very much. After years of being in the sign business I ventured off into to the decorative arts as well when it became very fashionable here in the US. That trend has died down and I am back to sign making full time. With your experience I know you will really enjoy the world of signs. Good luck !

www.studiozerosigns.com
www.customglasssigns.com