Author: ezeug

The Year of Glass

So, 2025 was the year I learned to do stained glass. I love it! I have always loved stained glass, but it didn’t even occur to me that it was a thing I could learn to do myself. But for several years, I have walked by a stained glass shop in Pasadena not far from where we live – a couple of years ago I saw people going in and out that looked young and trendy, and I could tell there was a lot going on. I was curious, so I went in – and was surprised by the fun, creative atmosphere. I was expecting a dark little place with one old man working there. Not the case! As far as opposite as could be! (Owned by a young female glass artist, who has a staff of all women, as far as I can tell). At the time that I discovered this place and their classes, the time was not right for me to sign up. This year, there was a time when work was bleak – probably a good time to not spend money, but our neighborhood had just burned down, everything was so depressing, and I HAD to do something! The time I have spent there has been worth every investment. I have loved it so much. It is so satisfying breaking the glass, and it is so satisfying when your piece is done, and you have something so beautiful to show for it! I started just learning to do basic suncatchers, but keep working my way up. So, through the year I have a whole collection of suncatchers, then candle votives, then lamps, then larger window hangings, then finally, a full window. The window that I was prepping to do, came at a time when my husband, Tim, just had surgery, (what a great year 2025 was!), so I had him take a workshop with me and he did the final assemblage, in an attempt to keep him busy, while sitting, and not bust his stitches. Anyway, we have our sunniest windows covered now, and now own a couple of lamps! It is not like I am going to go become a professional now, but I will keep on doing it. It has been the best therapy. IMG_0144 IMG_0037 IMG_0173 IMG_0983 IMG_0660 IMG_0692 IMG_0821 IMG_1629 IMG_1564 IMG_4051 IMG_4056 IMG_4060

The Musical, 2026

My role: Lead Scenic, Scenic Artist Director: Giselle Bonilla The Musical has not been released yet, so I can’t share a lot of photos.  It was a small indie film that I have already seen the trailer for and looks amazing!   I was technically the only painter, and did the whole set by myself – except for “move in day” at the location, and brought in Joey Garcia to help with touch up and the transition.  Violet Zeug was brought on as an art P.A. and helped with set up and touch up – but together they also did a couple of signs, and Violet did most of the spray painted hands. Theater set. School play. Spray painted hands. Spray paint hands Theater set, school play. Painted cityscape and taxi. Painted cab cut out Had assistance from my daughter, Violet! Help from Violet I drew out the cab, did basic coloring – then Joey and Violet finished off the highlights and details.

Outer Worlds 2

Production Designer: Almitra Corey I technically didn’t paint anything on this commercial – but was hired as a scenic.  I mostly did a bunch of vinyls by myself – large wall pieces, and also helped props, covering rental pieces.  (Like the t-shirt gun, which was bright orange, if I remember correctly?) The largest, most complicated wall – which came out perfectly, ended up not on camera!  I think they were originally planning on shooting in the opposite direction.  

FX Series, Yet to be Released

Production Designer: Kate BunchLead Painter: Jesse Siono Will share more when show is released.  But what a fun job! Worked on this hallway from start to finish, from base coat to final aging. Didn't do door. Detail in hallway. Painted tile base, and did aging in sink. Aging. Fake rocks, painted to blend in with rocks at location. Real rock on location that was covered in graffiti.

Pulp Art Surfaces

Things are quiet right now in the film industry, but was happy to do a side job for Pulp Art Surfaces.  They were getting ready for a convention and needed some samples displayed.  I have prepared them for a couple of conventions over the years, with different owners! This time was different, though, since I did it in their shop, so I got to bring my daughter, Violet, along as an assistant.  She’s at CalArts for film, but has helped me paint since she was in middle school! This time was fun, since I got to show her how to do brick and aging techniques.  In the end, it looked great! Come to think of it, she also helped me right before Christmas, hand painting a sign. (So sign painting photos below, are NOT for Pulp Art Surfaces).  I am not even sure what that sign was for?  Check went through, and it looked good, so that was all that matters.  And Violet did a great job helping!

Kill Bill 1 & 2

My job: Set Painter/ Scenic Artist/ Gang BossProduction Designer: David WascoLead Painter: Laurel Pickering Kill Bill was originally supposed to be one film.  But then it went something like 9 months over schedule, and legend has it there was about 24 hours of film.  So, Kill Bill 2 was not another production, it was just a solution to a problem.  With a very happy ending!  As far as two successful movies.  Yes, there are stories to tell.  It was a lot of fun.  I am super bummed that I didn’t get better pictures, and pictures of more work.  While production was in Japan, fellow painter Jen Bolitho and I spent months in Culver City hand-painting fake props for Viveca A. Fox to smash up in her fight scene – things like display plates and Tiffany Lamps, meticulously painted in historical detail.  And then, watching the film, those scenes go by so fast with the scenery instantly getting obliterated.  Oh, well.  It was still a great job to work on.

Lexington Scenery

Me working on mural for Robot Zoo Worked at this industrial set shop for 2 years. Jobs I worked on included the Ontario Mall, the New York, New York casino in Vegas, and Top of the World tourist display in the NY World Trade Center, completed in 2000. Top picture, me putting final touches on a night sky mural for a traveling installation, Robot Zoo. The below photos are from the tourist shop at the top of the twin towers, World Trade Center, NYC, in 2000!  I did not work on the painted curtains or Statue of Liberty, but all the faux stone, brick and copper.  My good camera broke on my last trip, and I was planning on moving to NY the following year, before everything changed.  

Homes – Faux Finishes

My Job: Scenic Artist. Lead painter, Stacy Lande.Faux finishing work with Rodger Woods Visual Scenery, South Bay. (Southern California) Worked for Rodger Woods on and off over several years.  Always great when the studios were quiet or on strike.  The ceiling (Pictured at left) was a bit painful on the neck, but a small group of us got to have a lot of artistic fun.  Rodger had a separate group do the regular house painting.  We were “the artists,” and got to spend time in a lot of really nice homes.

Entourage

HBO TV Series Lead Painter: Robert WarnerMy job: Set Painter