Since 1995, Avant Palette has been creating extraordinary faux finishes and specialized textures for professional interior designers and discriminating home and business owners. Principal Margarette Johannes, a Midwest native, began private art classes as a young child, focusing on human portraiture and color combination. While studying in Norway as a teenager, she was inspired by Europe's castles, chalets, and churches, including simulated marbles and woods of Versailles. She traveled extensively to study well-known artists as well as various techniques, some of which are 300 years old.

Margarette returned to the U.S. to complete her bachelor of fine arts, summa cum laude, at the University of California, San Diego.. She perfected her talents under renowned Italian artist, Italo Scanga, and studied all levels of painting, drawing, life drawing, and textures in addition to sculpture, metal fabrication, performance art, western and non-western art history, film, graphic art, and museum/gallery exhibition.

Margarette is delighted to make her years of research, study and experience available to clients who wish to add beauty and refinement to their personal lives and work places.