Presley Design Studio’s artist, Hope Casmer, recently tied the knot and we had so much fun designing her wedding invitations. Hope’s wedding & invitation was recently featured on the wonderful blog, Southern Weddings. Click here to view the full feature.
Belton, Texas - Presley Design Studio, LC was honored on April 24, 2009 with our first district wide Silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation. Our district consists of advertising providers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Northwest Louisiana. Visit www.hatcreekburgers.com to see the award-winning project! Thanks, Hat Creek!
In January 2009, Presley Design Studio, LC submitted eight entries from our 2008 project list to the Central Texas Ad League ADDY Award competition. On February 21st, the Presley Design Studio, LC team attended the 80s prom-themed award banquet and was honored with the following awards:
The GOLD and BEST IN SHOW entries will move on to the district competition in April.
The ADDY Awards bring in over 60,000 entries annually and are considered the largest and toughest advertising competition. With 200 member advertising clubs and fifteen districts, The American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association, conducts the ADDY Awards on an annual basis.
Presley Design Studio has moved! We’re the proud new owners of a beautiful two-story building on Water St. on the square in downtown Belton. Rich with history, the new space faces an amazing view of both the Belton Courthouse and Nolan creek. Our building is over 100 years old, and at one time was a buggie shop, and later held regular boxing matches in the sprawling 3,000 sq ft upstairs space. Our sleeves are rolled up, and the ideas are churning, so be ready for more news on our upcoming adventures.
By Desiree Johnson
Killeen Daily Herald
When you walk into the lobby of Kidz Therapeze in Killeen, a center offering pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy, the first thing you’ll notice is a giant tree painted on the wall. Swirling with browns and yellows, the tree stretches from the baseboard to the ceiling, accented by striking butterflies that seem to float away. On a nearby wall, a similar tree is accented with a flowing river in multiple blue hues.
The murals are the result of one local artist who’s making a difference in the way people decorate, one wall at a time.
Five schools and eight years after Hope Casmer first realized she wanted to be an artist, she graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a degree in studio art. She began searching for a way to utilize her major without becoming a “starving artist.” Working as a live-in nanny in Dallas, her first gig fell into her lap when the mother asked her to paint the four kids’ rooms.
After discovering there was serious business in painting walls, Casmer teamed up with her older sister, Heather, who was working as a Web designer.
“We hated each other growing up, but things changed over time,” Casmer said. “She’s a little more structured and logical but still has an artsy side. She has all the business skills. She taught me how to go from art major to businesswoman.”
The two merged to become Presley Design Studio, a company that has made its artistic mark on Central Texas. Heather takes care of the Web services and marketing material, while Casmer concentrates on doing what she loves most: being artistic.
“We really support each other a lot and always fall back on the ethics and morals we were raised on,” Casmer said. “We always work together and go above and beyond what people might expect.”
The scenes Casmer creates are a testament to the family business success. From Tuscan villas to faux finishes, playful Christian scenes to landscapes, it’s apparent Casmer is just plain having fun.
“I’m a total hippie; I’m a big nature lover,” Casmer said. “God has given us all this stuff to work with. It’s great.”
From beginning to end, having a wall painted by Casmer is a personal experience. After getting an idea of what a customer wants, she returns to the drawing board to merge ideas with palette colors.
“I start with an outline or a scribble and go from there,” Casmer said. “I take note of the art around a person’s home and just piece everything together.”
While she’s able to bring a specific idea into fruition, Casmer says she does her best work when customers have no idea what they want.
“A concept is fine, but it’s great if someone has no idea what they want and I get free reign,” Casmer said. “I’m a big fan of the process, I try to get on the wall as soon as possible.”
The result is a piece of artwork that is eye-catching and worth every penny.
“I looked at three different muralists, and she was my favorite. She has such a fun and bubbly personality,” said Kelly Barr, owner and director of Kidz Therapeze. “Her personality came out in her work and shows that she loves what she does.”
Barr was searching for a scene that made her therapy clients feel comfortable, no matter the age.
“I didn’t want the kids to feel like they were walking into a nursery and as soon as they walk through the doors, they are comfortable immediately,” Barr said. “It was a good investment, she definitely made the place.”
Casmer’s work has even taken her to Africa, where she painted a giant Noah’s Ark mural as part of a mission trip.
“We were refurbishing these buildings from the 1940s that were falling apart,” Casmer said. “I ended up doing an entire African-inspired gospel track and Noah’s Ark scene. It was awesome.”
Africa is only one of her destinations. Since her business began in Dallas, Casmer often finds herself traveling back and forth between the Metroplex as well as hitting other destinations.
“I’m single, and I don’t have any kids, so traveling is definitely not a problem for me,” Casmer said. “I will go absolutely anywhere to paint, no problem.”
So why should anyone trust their precious wall space to Casmer? The answer can be found in her well-stocked portfolio.
“It’s all about building up a portfolio,” she said. “Once people can see the work I’ve done, they can trust me enough to put me on their wall.”
And her work is everywhere. Besides private residences, she’s also completed a subway scene just off U.S. Highway 190 and multiple murals in bright colors for schools and businesses such as Kid Therapeze.
For more information, call (254) 773-3770; visit 3320 Pecan Valley Drive, Ste. A in Temple; or check out presleydesignstudio.com.