As a freelance artist (painting and sculpting) for the last 25 years, I’ve been privileged to be involved in many wonderful projects; two National Historic Register Theatre restorations: Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Pantages Theatre, both on Hollywood Blvd.
Check out my various murals, backdrops, displays, and museum projects, including the Sesame Street Children’s Museum Exhibit.
If you would like help to restore an old building or add a touch of the classics to a new one, please contact Amy at the email address below. She would be happy to help you scope out your needs, develop an estimate, hire a team, and get the job done.
Contact me: amy.artisan.higgins@gmail.com
Whether being a part of the team or in a leadership role, I continue to pursue challenges in the artistic field, stretching my knowledge of materials and techniques.
Amy Higgins
Building Restoration Artist
Decorative Painting and Plaster Work
www.AmyHiggins.com
Objective: To continue pursuing a creative and challenging career in building and art restoration, utilizing my artistic skills, as well as, combining my business and management skills.
Building Restoration
KC Restoration: Painting and Plaster Restoration, 2006- Current
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, CA.
Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
Warner Grand, San Pedro, CA
Raymond Theatre, Pasadena, CA.
San Bernardino Courthouse, CA
Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, CA
Preservation Arts: Masonry and Plaster Restoration 2004- 2014
Frank Lloyd Wright, La Miniatura, Pasadena CA
UCLA and USC Los Angeles, CA
1984 Olympic Tile Mural, William Granizo, Cal State Fullerton, CA
Sacramento Train Station, CA
One Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles, CA
Subway Terminal Building, Los Angeles, CA
Marion Davies Estate, Santa Monica, CA and St Viviana’s, Los Angeles, CA
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, CA 1927. My responsibility on the job included painting exterior details, mural repair, gold leaf ceiling repairs, and sculpting. Sculpting work included cement repairs on the detailed bas-relief archways and restoring Ming Dynasty marble Heaven Dogs. 2001-2009
The Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, CA. Working primarily on the plaster team, I made molds, casted, and sculpted ornamentation to restore the 1930 Art Deco theatre. With a budget of $1.5 million for the plastering and painting. 2000
Hollywood and Ivar, A 1921 gorgeous, terra cotta, ornate building. As part of a two member team, I directed the faux painting of this building while casting and carving much of the missing elements of this facade. 2001
Wattles Mansion, 1907 Mission Revival home in the Hollywood Hills.
(Los Angeles City Historic Cultural Landmark). 2001-2004
Commercials, Industrials, and Museum Displays:
Hollywood Heritage Museum, Hollywood , CA. Created and maintained database for artifacts using Filemaker Pro. Created safer storage system for the museum archives. 2001-2009
Disney Hotel, Anaheim, CA. Fantasy marble effect on six exterior columns at the entrance to the hotel. 2004
Sesame Street, Strong Museum, Rochester, NY and across the USA. Permanent and touring versions of the thirty-year history of the educational television show told on a recreation of the Children’s Television Network Set. 1999
Time Warner Rochester’s locally produced 24 hour ‘R-News’ cable station background display to mimic MSNBC’s ‘warehouse’ look. 1999
TV Commercials: Kodak, Time Warner, Wegman’s, First National Bank, and Xerox. 1998+
Kodak Advantix Promotional backdrops for conventions from Las Vegas to New Orleans. 1998
Detroit Auto Show Painted exhibits for Subaru and Jeep. 1998, 2000, 2005
Memorial Art Gallery, Four, full sized climb-on sets recreated from the illustrator’s books. 1997
Professional Theatrical Experience:
Geva Theatre, Rochester, NY. LORT B 1994-1999
Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 1997-2001
Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, UT 1994, 1995
Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 1993-1994
Interlochen Fine Arts Camp, Interlochen, MI 1992, 1994
Pennsylvania Center Stage, State College, PA 1990,1991,1993
Education:
Art, Drawing and Painting BFA, Pennsylvania State University 1993
Theatre, Design and Painting BFA, Pennsylvania State University 1993
Additional Skills:
3-D Sculpting, Plasterwork, Molds and Casting, Hot Knife, Woodworking, Color Matching and Consultations, Budgeting and Managing, Faux Finishing, Backdrops and Murals, Spray Equipment (HVLP, Airless, and Airbrush),Computer Skills, Stained Glass.
The Hollywood Palace Theatre, Hollywood, CA. As a team member, painted faux finishes in the mezzanine area, and dramatic colors in the auditorium.
2004
Woolworth Building, Hollywood, CA. First retail space on the boulevard. Glazed white tile and multicolored brick needed repairs and a painted finish to match the surrounding areas. From a photograph, I made a stencil design to match the missing details around doorway.
2001
Wattles Mansion, 1907 Mission Revival home in the Hollywood Hills. Repaired water damage to textured, muslin covered walls, restored lounges using appropriate period colors and materials, as well as exterior stucco repair. (Los Angeles City Historic Cultural Landmark)
2001-2004
Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Collection, Hollywood, CA. Archival research of collection, and project development for the museum.
2001-2003