Gallery: Trompe l'oeil.

I never did a lot of strict trompe-l'oeil, which is French for a style meaning "deceive the eye," because it's a lot of meticulous work. It's easier in theatrical scenery where the audience sits far away from the painting. This example is in the hallway of a private home in Bedford NH, and it works from a few feet away. Everything you see is paint on a flat wall. The subtle shadows on the wall were based on the actual lighting in the hallway, which included ceiling lights and a window admitting daylight. After painting the Red Sox cap and the little vase w/rose, I told the client we needed something else on the shelf. She couldn't decide, so I slapped in the flower pots at the last minute to finish the job and get the check.