Ceiling Design with Tania Seabock
I recently interviewed Tania Seabock, an artist from California who uses the Krylon® Leafing Pens in her work. Tania is best known for her intricate ceiling patterns of gold mosaics and geometric patterns. She does all of her work by hand, and the projects take a great deal of time to complete. As you can see from the photos, her artwork is quite beautiful.
While living in San Francisco, Tania learned the arts of mold-making and casting, which led her to a career in decorative painting, gilding, and restoration. She completed her art education at the Nadai-Verdon School of decorative painting in France where she studied wood grain and marble.
What inspires you to create the ceiling designs?
My love for patterns and designs inspires me. I love creating intricate pieces involving fine lines. I also like making them in gold colours, which is when I use the Krylon® Gold Leafing pens. I enjoy the work that I do. I also prefer taking more time when I am working as opposed to rushing through a piece.
What artists or cultures have influenced you in your work and how?
Of course, Leonardo Da Vinci. Also, I have become very inspired by Middle Eastern patterns. I love the Moroccan and Persian patterns in their art. I also enjoy Italian architecture. I do not get inspired so much by a single artist as I do by entire regions.
How would you define your work?
In a word…intricate.
When did you first decide to pursue being an artist?
When I was just a kid. My parents always told me that I couldn’t make a living by being an artist. Then when it came time for me to go to college, my parents said that they would pay for me to go, as long as I did not major in art. So I majored in math at the American University. Geometry has helped me in my art now.
What are the different techniques and materials that you use in your work?
I use the Krylon® Gold Leafing Pens in most of my work. I use the Silver Leafing Pen as well. I will use oil paints when I am working with larger areas. Occasionally I will use Acrylic as well but I use latex much more. In fact, in all of my ceiling work, I have used latex. I am able to use it to get different looks, for example giving it a glazed look. I also like using translucent more than opaque in my work.
What buildings feature your artwork?
U.S. Treasury Building, Trump Tower, retail stores, and some private homes to name a few.
How long does an averaged sized project take? Longest project?
The longest project took about 5 ½ months; and that is working everyday for between 6-8 hours a day. Another project that I worked on that was most challenging took 4 ½ months. That one had 55,000 mosaics on the ceiling. It was very difficult because everything had to be straight so I had to use a ton of rulers and T-squares. I was really going for a challenge on that one. About mid way through however, I couldn’t believe I decided to do it. That project was more difficult than the one that took 5 ½ months because on the longer project I was able to do all of my mosaics in a free form and did not have to worry about them being straight.
Why do you feel most comfortable with the leafing pens? How many leafing pens does an average project take?
I like the leafing pens because I can be very exact with them. My work is very intricate and the pens are great for that. I used 45 pens on the project that took 4 ½ months and 25 on the one that took 5 ½ months.
Tips for amateurs that what to do the type of work that you do?
Wear a neck brace!!! That is my number one tip. I take Advil and stretch before I start each day but the neck brace is a must.
What projects are you working on now?
The project that I am working on now is in a retail store where I am using some Moroccan patterns. There will even be a Moroccan lantern to add to the feel. I get to go over the top with this and really be creative. This is definitely my most over the top piece.
One of my other pieces that I am working on is in a gentleman’s home, where I am using translucent pens to create wings on a wall.
Throughout her career, Tania has been heavily involved in teaching others about her craft. Tania teaches a number of different classes and also has three how-to DVD’s where she teaches the intricacies of her craft. To learn more about Tania, visit www.ceilingdesigners.com.
If you or someone you know use Krylon in a unique way, we’d like to feature you in a future column of You Did It! Please click here to email a little about yourself and how you use Krylon. You just might see yourself in an upcoming column.
