Jessica Mayhall It was out of necessity that New Orleans native Jessica Mayhall began painting decorative finishes on furniture. “My husband and I moved to Memphis because of his job. We bought a home but had no furniture since we sold our house in New Orleans with its furnishings included. So, I started thrifting and going to estate sales, and then I began painting the furniture I bought. In doing so, I met a decorative painter, Stephanie Jones, and she took me under her wing and trained me for three years.” While working alongside Stephanie, Mayhall learned to transform furniture, accessories, walls and floors with chalk paint, milk paint, waxes, gold and silver leaf and stencils. When Mayhall and her husband moved back to New Orleans, she had the opportunity to buy Creative Finishes Studio from her friend and fellow finish artisan, Jane Drew. “I jumped at the opportunity, and now we’re going on our fourth year in business.” Creative Finishes Studio offers custom-painted finishes, specialty paint, stencils, Chalk Paint® decorative paints by Annie Sloan, refinished vintage furniture, home accessories, art, gifts and more. Mayhall’s store on Metairie Road has been so successful that she opened a second shop in mid-January of this year, on Josephine Street, just off Magazine. Mayhall explains, “Our Uptown store has a larger studio-workshop space, so I
Debby Gaudet, SAG-AFTRA Debby Gaudet began her career as an actor in early 2000. After becoming a member of SAG-AFTRA, her work in TV and film shifted to behind the scenes. Initially, she was hired by film and television producers to work as on-set acting coach, dialogue coach and child wrangler. Soon the titles of Casting Associate and Casting Director were added to her credits. Over a decade ago, she began teaching TV and film intensives at Celtic Film Studios in Baton Rouge. With her experience in front of and behind the camera, Debby’s reputation quickly spread amongst filmmakers and actors alike. After teaching at Celtic for six years, and growing to a full roster of classes, Debby established her own full-service acting studios in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Today, Debby Gaudet’s Screen Actors Studio services talent from across Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition to television, film and commercial acting classes, both studios host events including casting director workshops, seminars, production meetings, castings, table reads and on-site filming. Debby now has a pool of over 100 students under her tutelage. Her actors
can take bigger custom pieces. And we offer weekly classes in painted-finish
can be seen in popular television shows, major motion pictures, indie projects and
techniques.”
commercials. The studios offer ongoing group and private instruction, professional
The artist has introduced fresh products to her Uptown store, including metallic paints, top-notch brushes, locally crafted jewelry and art, and restored
taping services, public speaking and career consultation. Classes are open to kids (ages 6+), teens and adults—at all levels of talent.
and painted furniture. Mayhall accepts custom commissions, by appointment. “If something is too large and can’t be transported, I’ll go to the client’s home. In addition to furniture, I’ve painted walls, ceilings, moldings … you name it.”
Creative Finishes Studios locations are: 2013 Metairie Rd., Metairie, and 1114 Josephine St., New Orleans. Mayhall’s work is
For more information on Debby check her out on Instagram
featured throughout the book, Upstyle Your
@debbygaudetscreenactors; Facebook at Debby Gaudet’s Screen Actors
Furniture, and you can follow Mayhall on
Studio; and IMDb at imdb.me/debbygaudet. Debby Gaudet’s Screen Actors
Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her blog.
Studio is located on Veterans Blvd. just off Bonnabel in Metairie. To schedule
504-909-9028. creativefinishesstudio.com.
an interview and group class assessment, dgscreenactors@gmail.com. April-May 2018 79