Blice Edwards is a multi-faceted decorative art and design studio, whose work includes color consultations, faux finishes, ceiling murals, polished plaster, trompe l'oeil, (French for "Fool the eye") wood graining, kids' rooms, painted canvas applications for walls and ceilings and any custom art project for home or business.

Chris Blice and Jon Edwards described their artistic beginnings. Chris said, "In 1992, during the faux painting boom, I was a waiter at Friday's restaurant downtown and quit my job to focus on decorative painting. Jon explained, "I went to school for graphic design at the Columbus College of Art and Design before moving to New York, where I worked for two years at a package design firm. Everything I learned was the old fashioned way with pre-computer ruling pens, brushes and erasers like my grandfather had done. I didn't want to sit behind a computer all of the time, so I did something a little fine art related." He was painting backdrops for an Indianapolis company in 1993 when he met Chris.

Combining their creative skills has left their signature brushstroke seen throughout Central Indiana and beyond.

"We have painted multi-rooms, ceilings, floors, interior and exteriors in private homes across the country, including Pittsburgh, Naples and Orlando, Scottsdale, San Francisco and Chicago, but we've primarily worked in and around Indianapolis for the past 20 years," Chris mentioned. Samples of their work are at: bliceedwards.com/portfoli.

One of their current projects, Titus Bakery, located at 820 West South Street in Lebanon, celebrated its Grand Opening on Friday, November 8th. Festivities included a ribbon cutting ceremony with local officials attending. "We painted the exterior of the building. It was a gray cinderblock building. Some people didn't know it existed as a bakery. We painted the exterior with colorful and enormous doughnuts and signature pastries," Chris mentioned. A link can be seen at: on.fb.me/1cDVkV0

Another recent project is at a nearby historic college campus. "Inside Robertson Hall, we painted a 2,400 square foot panoramic mural with buildings of Butler University's campus, including the Holcomb Observatory, Clowes Hall and five other iconic structures," Chris described.

They also redid all of the walls and ceiling in the parlor room at the Morris-Butler House at 1204 North Park Avenue.

A local landmark is a vintage Quaker Oats advertisement from the early 1900s they painted that appears on Angie's List building in the 700 block of East Washington Street. Several other ghost signs were also recreated on the same alley wall.

Recently restored, the Duesenberg Motors Company sign appears on the IndyGo facility at Harding and West Washington Street. The Indiana Automotive Historical Society and IndyGo's unveiling of the Duesenberg ghost sign restoration occurred on Tuesday, November 19th. This was IAHS' kick-off event for their program that recognizes Indiana automotive heritage sites. Their events are at: www.facebook.com/IndAutoHisSoc

Blice Edwards art studio changed addresses a few times before they found their current location.

"We started out in business in the 1100 block of East 56th street in a garage and then from there, we moved to the Stutz Building. In 2000, we moved our studio to a home in Meridian Hills in the large RV garage that was previously attached. In 2011, we needed to get out of the house and into south Broad Ripple, where we previously created two more landmark projects, Good Morning Mama's restaurant and Posh Petals flower shop," Jon mentioned. These projects create an artistic gateway to their studio, located at 1101 East 54th Street, Suite F., next to Reese Kitchens, formerly Thorpe Awnings Co.

Chris said, "I went to pastry school and was initially going to open a bakery, but we decided to move our business here instead. It took about a year and a half to clean out and rebuild the interior."

Techniques they have mastered include "Trompe l'oeil." Murals painted in this style are a French tradition that use illusion to create a three-dimensional look on a flat surface. "Marouflage" is another French term meaning to apply a painted canvas to a wall or other surface. "Murals and Specialty finishes can dramatically change the personality of a space," Jon described.

"Blice Edwards Art Experience at Studio 54" is a program that Chris and Jon started at their studio about six months ago. It provides opportunities for various groups to gather, drink, eat and create your own masterpiece under the direction of the studio. You bring your own wine or beverage and snack, the studio provides everything else, equipped with a kitchen, "home" -like, feel.

Their Facebook page: on.fb.me/I3aDNK explains more.

Blice Edwards at Studio 54 is open by appointment only and, beginning in the spring, will open for First Friday gallery nights. Please call (317) 259-4308 for more information. You can also visit their website, www.bliceedwards.com to learn more.

They mentioned some additional recently completed projects. "We've just finished a job for the Indiana History Center. The You Are There exhibit recreates settings of old photographs. This particular exhibit is a recreation of a photographic studio from 1905 Fort Wayne. We helped with the black and white photo backdrops for the exhibit," Jon noted.

They also created a "welcome" mural at Two Cookin' Sisters, located in Brookston, Indiana, located at the only stoplight in town at 210 Prairie Street.

For the 50th anniversary of Clowes Memorial Hall on Butler University's campus, Chris and Jon created two paintings of George and Edith Whitehall Clowes inspired by Spanish painter Salvador Dali's image of Abraham Lincoln. They were pixelated images printed on canvas as a "Giclee," then a gel medium that was brushed on to deepen the textures and values of the image, which can be seen more clearly from a distance.

things I hear the most from our clients is 'You guys have exceeded our expectations'. Painting the exterior mural on Titus Bakery has increased the bakery's business threefold. They have added a drive-up service to purchase doughnuts which remains busy throughout the day." The moral of this story, according to Chris: "Hiring an artist can have a real emotional impact on your customers, resulting in the impact of your bottom line!"