On the job with Dee Lenehan

A painting of a weathered vintage Chevrolet truck's front end showcases rusted patches and faded yellow paint, capturing the essence of timeworn charm.

Jodi Heinz kindly asked me to share about my work and business, and I’m happy to do so.

I am the owner of Lenehan Studios LLC, located in Baltimore, Maryland, specializing in decorative painting, with murals being my true passion.

I’ve been in business since 2001, though I officially started paying taxes in 2006. Art has always been a part of my life, thanks to my grandmother, an art teacher who introduced me to painting and drawing during our summer visits. Encouraged by my family, I pursued art, eventually earning a degree in Art Education from Towson University. After teaching high school for eight years, I decided to go full-time with my art in 2008, right before the recession hit. Going back to teaching was never an option, and I’ve been fortunate to make a living as an artist ever since.

I began my career in earnest by participating in local designer show houses, including the 2007 Ellicott City Decorator Show House, where I met designers who helped build my clientele. This led to more opportunities, including work for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Decorator Show Houses. My business grew from there, mainly through word-of-mouth referrals. In my first decorator show house, I painted a mural in a hallway of a girl peeking behind a cracked door. To avoid being in the busy hallway, I elected to complete it in the studio on canvas, then installed it onsite. That experience sparked my preference for painting murals in the studio whenever possible.

My first major commissioned canvas mural project was in 2011, creating a mural for the Maryland State Police training facility. They wanted artwork representing Maryland, and it being in the cafeteria, I decided that painting it in the studio was the best approach. I researched canvas substrates and consulted my local paint store for paper hanger recommendations, which led me to Shelly Wilkins. We've been working together ever since, and I’m grateful for the ongoing collaboration.

Whenever possible, I prefer to paint murals on canvas because it offers several benefits. First, I can work in the comfort of my studio at my own pace, without a client watching over my shoulder. This allows me to enjoy listening to music or podcasts while I work. Another advantage is that I can complete the mural while the space it's meant for is still under construction, which helps speed up the overall timeline. Additionally, canvas murals can be removed and re-hung if necessary, which is especially useful if a client is moving, or for children's rooms where the decor may change more frequently. And the best part is that I can create a mural and ship it anywhere in the world.

I've been asked many times about how I approach creating murals on canvas, so I’ve written

an e-book where I share my process, along with valuable tips and tricks. I’ve just updated it and have included more useful and detailed information as well as updated resources. As a special offer for IDAL members, I’m providing a 10% discount. Simply enter the code LenehanIDAL at checkout to receive the discount. After purchasing, feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have—I’m happy to help! (Offer is good from April 1-30, 2025).

The Art of Creating Murals on Canvas

Along with decorative painting, I also love to paint for myself, create beaded embroidery jewelry, and I’ve recently started learning how to sew. During my breast cancer treatment, I wanted to learn how to make a zipper pouch and since then, I’ve been up-cycling thrifted finds. I’m a huge fan of YouTube because there’s a tutorial for literally anything you want to learn. To keep my personal projects separate from my business, I started a new Instagram account, @thestudiobydeelenehan, where I showcase my other creative work so my clients won’t be confused about the different things I do. 

Back to marketing. In addition to word of mouth, I use social media to share my work, with Instagram, @lenehanstudios, being especially helpful in promoting my art beyond my local area. Thanks to it, I’ve landed projects in locations like Los Angeles, Nashville, New Jersey, and Manhattan. However, since I don’t fully control these platforms (having unfortunately experienced a hacked account), I encourage clients to sign up for my newsletter to stay connected. I send out a quarterly email blast, ensuring I don’t overwhelm anyone with too many messages. (You can sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/9301efac0100/lenehan-studios) I also write a blog, mostly on a monthly basis, where I share updates on my projects and activities. 

Essentially, having a successful business boils down to personal relationships. Your name and reputation is your best marketing tool, and showing consistency and reliability will make you stand out. Your reputation will always precede you, so it's important to treat everyone with kindness and professionalism, regardless of who they are. People will remember how you made them feel. My journey as an artist and business owner has been driven by passion, perseverance, and the importance of building strong personal relationships. Through dedication to my craft and professionalism, I've been able to grow my business and succeed in a competitive field even with personal setbacks. The trust and connections I've formed with clients have been essential, and I continue to prioritize kindness and reliability in everything I do.

Dee Lenehan

Lenehan Studios

linktr.ee/LenehanStudios