A Mouse in the House

If you come across a little mouse stencilled into a mural or paint effect on a wall, a piece of furniture, possibly even on the side of a bath or bookcase, you have probably stumbled upon a creation by local decorative painter Pam Asanovic. "I started to use my little mouse trademark about ten years ago," says Pam. "As all of my work is bespoke, a client suggested that I sign it as the artist. This seemed a bit pretentious, but I was keen to leave my mark on something I was proud to have painted and which may be around for a long time."

Pam uses a variety of techniques in her work - trompe l'oeil, gilding, broken colour or perhaps a marbled effect. If you look carefully at a beautifully painted piece of furniture or longcase clock, decorated in a specific style, the exquisite brushwork and detail is breathtaking.

It is evident that Pam has created a precious heirloom using skills she has learnt along with her own natural talent. While she enjoys working on a specific item and the fine detail it demands, she thrives on tackling a whole room project - perhaps to fashion an Oriental dining room or Victorian-style hallway. She may colourwash some of the walls while creating a mural on another, stencil and stipple furniture, gild mirrors, marble some woodwork and complement the finished room with a beautifully painted floor canvass, one of her specialities.

"Floor canvasses, or 'floorcloths', were originally cut from old sails and were common in Europe and America towards the end of the 18th century before the widespread use of linoleum and carpet," Pam explains. "The canvasses are prepared with several layers of paint, before being decorated in a particular style and finally protected to produce a hardwearing and practical floor-covering which can be easily cleaned."

Originally trained as a ceramicist at Bath Academy in the 1970s, Pam has worked extensively in the US and Europe, often with specialist furniture restorers. She is keen to promote the traditional techniques that she uses in her work and which she feels could easily be lost to future generations.

Some of the skills Pam has acquired are not formally taught in the UK and she fears that if they were, it would probably be in a technical college rather than at art school which may undervalue their worth. In Europe the techniques are taught under the banner of applied arts and Pam has discovered that the work is highly valued when she has undertaken projects on the Continent.

"It is recognised that a lot of preparation is necessary to ensure the painting is suitable for the design and location of a property. Colours and techniques must be appropriate.

"I was given plenty of freedom on two houses in Portugal and southern Spain recently, where I painted several murals which reflected the surrounding countryside and climate, as well as the owners' tastes and lifestyles."

Pam is currently working on a commission closer to home - creating a Scandinavian-styled room at a farmhouse near Bath. The project includes a large painted floor canvass with beautifully decorated leaves and flowers in muted blues and greens on a pale background. In one corner, though, is an inconspicuous little mouse to let others know that this is one of Pam's works of art.

Pam Asanovic lives in Bathford and can be contacted on 01225 858781.

© Judith Cameron