About Us

Cutting Edge Stencils is the offspring of our professional decorative painting company, Spec Fin Designs.
Greg Swisher started Spec Fin, short for specialty finishes, in the mid 80's. Spec Fin Designs has grown into one of the NY areas top decorative painting company's specializing in high end residential projects. For more about Spec Fin, visit www.specfindesigns.com.

Prior to Spec Fin, Greg had worked as an artistic spiral staircase builder, and ran a guitar design, building and repair studio. Greg is also a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and has worked in some of the finest restaurants in the NY NJ area. Greg credits these experiences for a greater understanding of form, function and balance. Greg also studied extensively with Joanne Day, a master teacher of decorative arts in both NY and San Francisco.

Janna Makaeva, the other half of Cutting Edge Stencils is the real driving force behind Cutting Edge. Janna ran her own decorative art business before joining forces with Greg. Her Masters degree in Zoology and Botany allow her to design incredibly accurate animal and plant stencils. She'll even give you the Latin name! Janna also has a love for pattern and ornament and has studied both graphic design and fine art.

Together, Janna and Greg have a common goal. To produce the best stencils available today to give You the Cutting Edge.