Joni Herman
Learns secret techniques of Italian artists
by Barbara Brill

"True art, true culture, strives to enrich the individual and encourage self expression, while at the same time seeking to reach out, touch, communicate and bring people together. It promotes a spirit where bringing joy and happiness to others takes precedence over fame or wealth."

Those words are a Buddhist quote by Daisaku Ikeda, and they are very meaningful to Joni Herman, an artist whose impressive client list includes Steven Spielberg, Kenny G, Rod Stewart, Lee Steinberg, as well as corporate clients such as the Four Seasons and Downey Savings Bank.

"My Buddhist practice always helps me keep a perspective on what is most important in the work I do. The success seems to just come naturally when I work with this intention," said Herman.

However, Herman's success comes from more than just the Buddhist philosophy that guides her life. This is an artist who knows how to draw deeply from her creativity.

This is an artist who has an unlimited imagination and who is intensely curious.

This is an artist who can paint murals and oils on canvas in both master and impressionist styles.

This is an artist who can work with traditional Venetian plaster and create every type of faux finishes.

This is an artist whose work resonates with a vigor and freshness that makes her clients believe that she must have an angel sitting on her shoulder.

This is an artist who has technical skills that are so solidly ingrained they have become second nature to her.

"I grew up in the studios of master artists in Italy. Artists my parents were studying with or working alongside," said Herman, whom you might say teethed on a paintbrush.

"My mother was one of five apprentices the great Florentine master, Pietro Annigoni, took on in his dynamic career, painting for people such as Pope Paul, John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth.

Her father is also a very accomplished artist, having books published by his collectors.

"I remember painting very early in life. That was all we had. There was no TV at that time in Italy, so our only entertainment and mode of expression was painting. And, we visited museums all the time. Even if we didn't have food, we always had paint," continued Herman, explaining that although she lived mostly in Florence as a child, she also lived in Spain, Malta, Morocco, and New York.

Reflecting back, Herman, who opened Renaissance Studios in Southern California in 1992, admits that as a youngster she did not realize the richness and privilege of the education she was receiving. Those treasured and sometimes secret techniques of the Italian artists that today give her a huge advantage over any competition. Although she received classical training in schools such as UCLA, she says she cannot compare anything to the deep influences she received in her youth.

"There are many painters who have stepped up to do faux finishes, but it is rare to find an accomplished artist who enjoys creating these faux finishes. Faux finishes that can only be created by the hand of a well-trained artist," said Herman, who also loves working on canvas.

Her most popular work for clients is a toss up between Venetian plasters and murals. Murals that often take on a whimsical tone with things like medieval castles in mist-enshrouded hills.

Her murals can be found in homes throughout Southern California. Sometimes she paints nearly every room in a home to create the look of an old European villa. Other times she paints everything from cherubs on ceilings to vines and trellises over arched doorways to old-world balustrades overlooking Tuscan hills to forests with streams in entryways.

"My greatest hope and determination with each new project is to create a work of art that will leave my clients with a sense of inspiration," said Herman, pointing out, for instance, that Kenny G was so pleased with what she did in his 16,000-square-foot home, along with a crew of 15 that worked for six months, that he gave her a wonderful letter of appreciation and recommendation. And, his home, with all her exquisite finishes, was featured in "Architectural Digest."

But, this was not the largest home she has worked on. Her biggest project was for a 26,000-square-foot house in Thousand Oaks; her largest mural, from ceiling to floor, was of an Italian ocean view, which working alone, took three months to complete in a home on the Newport coast. And, her most challenging endeavor was to put marble finishes on 14 columns, some 30-feet high, at an Edwards Cinema. In three days.

One of the most important things for Herman, who is listed in "Who's Who of American Women," is to spend time with her clients so she knows exactly what they want. And, she brings them armloads of books showcasing paintings and European murals, as well as a tint rack.

For designers, Herman is a treasure because she can provide for all their artistic needs, including working on furniture and kitchen cabinets and built-ins. Yes, she can do gold leafing, glazing and distressing. Plus, she's a licensed painting contractor.

"My work is a privilege that provides great joy for me. And, I want to share that joy. I want my clients to have something they will treasure for a lifetime," said Herman.

Renaissance Studios
1038 E. Bastanchury Rd #204
Fullerton, CA 92835
(714)890-3543
www.joniherman.com

(featured in South Coast Magazine Spring 2006)