Dawn Cleaves brings her decorative style to interiors.

Font size:

“I started my company because I wanted to continue doing the artistic work, but I wanted to get out of the long hours the Broadway and film industry works,” noted Cleaves.

Whether or not the hours Cleaves puts in are shorter is still to be seen because Cleaves is busy bringing interiors to life with her decorative style.

Cleaves describes her services as decorative art, which includes painting custom ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, stenciling, creating faux marble and wood, and applying plaster finishes.  She states she really enjoys the freehand work and murals. Mostly it is about technique and making sure that every stroke counts to get the look that her clients desire.

Another benefit of having her own business is the products she selects for her projects compared to the products she used while in New York. “As the owner of my own company, I choose the products that are friendlier to me and my environment.”

Originally wanting to become an architect, she spent a year in college studying architecture. However, she changed her mind once she realized that she enjoyed more hands-on work.

With three years of education in architecture, commercial art and painting specific for theatrical backdrops, Cleaves worked along other professionals where she continued learning her craft.

“A lot of what I know I learned along the way. I started doing movies when I was 21, and I got to work next to guys who had all the formulas in their heads, and they taught me.”

Chad Paulson works with Cleaves at the company. “Chad’s specialty is eco-plasters and clay finishes. He is certified in American Clay Plaster and Texston, which is the product that I am using on my current job. He has worked with decorative artists in other companies in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) area. We have a lot of complimentary skills.”

Additionally, she acknowledges that she really enjoys working collaboratively with designers.

“I feel that when you work with the architect and the designer, the finished product is always 100 percent cohesive with the entire structure and entire design.”


Artisan Finishes provides creative finishes, murals, decorative arts, plaster and decorative arts for clients throughout Texas with a focus on the Dallas area.  Cleaves is an ASID Industry Partner and a member of International Decorative Artists League and also a certified installer for Texston products. –dn

©2012 Construction News, Ltd.