There is no one more important in the history of Artistic License than Bruce Nelson. He, along with Jim Gibson, created the concept for the group in 1982 and invited fellow artisans to join in the founding of the guild, and he remained a stalwart member for the entire history of our organization.
Bruce Nelson established San Francisco Local Color Painting in 1974 and quickly became one of the leading painters of the Bay Area’s Victorians, Edwardians and other fine buildings. The long-established team of painters and colorists working with Bruce helped to make San Francisco Local Color a highly recognized and awarded residential painting firm who repeatedly won regional and national honors for their work. As a founding member of Artistic License Bruce Nelson held up the highest standards in restoration and painting work and helped to make San Francisco the colorful city that it is today. Bruce retired in 2019, after over 45 years of dedicated service to the Bay Area’s finest period homes.
Hill Street, San Francisco. These sister Eastlake houses dating from the 1880s have both been brought back to life by Artistic License members. Erik Kramvik restored the façade on the left, which was given a spectacular color scheme by Jill Pilaroscia and painted by San Francisco Local Color Painting. The house on the right had previously been stripped of all its surface ornament, and Skeeter Jones of Clearheart Fine Design and Building, recreated the sister façade, which was also painted by San Francisco Local Color Painting. Photo: Skeeter Jones.
Entry, 543 Hill Street, San Francisco. This house was expertly painted by San Francisco Local Color using a stunning 17 color palette and gold leaf highlights. Photo: John Montgomery.
Queen Anne Tower Home in San Francisco, CA. SF Local Color’s team of 10 skilled painters and designers spent four months restoring the exterior of 550 Page St. The color scheme, inspired by Tibetan Rug designs, included 49 colors of paint.
Entry, Swig mansion: 1834 California St. Full facade restoration including portico and balcony with Skeeter Jones on carpentry. Local Color stripped the majority of the front, repaired masonry, restored ancient windows with epoxy, added gold leaf highlights on trim and Neptune. Photo: John Montgomery.
740 Castro St. Our second restoration for same owner after 15 years. Photo: John Montgomery.
Tower restoration: The tower and roof of this historic landmark house were restored by Chris Yerke / Restoration Workshop. San Francisco Local Color’s painters removed all of the old lead paint down to the bare redwood to restore a smooth surface, and painted new color scheme designed by Lynne Rutter with accents of 23 karat gold leaf. Photo: John Montgomery.
283 Jersey. This was Local Color’s second restoration of this house, but different owner 15 years apart, using a 7 color paint scheme with gold leaf accents designed by Lynne Rutter. Photo: Lynne Rutter.
Swig mansion: 1834 California St. Full facade restoration including portico and balcony with Skeeter Jones on carpentry. Local Color stripped the majority of the front, repaired masonry, restored ancient windows with epoxy, added gold leaf highlights on trim and Neptune. Photo: John Montgomery.
