It’s rare for the stroke of a paintbrush to garner much attention.

But their respective paint jobs have earned local developer Mickey Garcia and contractor Ed Anderson national headlines in the past few months.

Garcia Development’s recent restoration of

a 1909 Brewer Avenue house earned him recognition in the summer 2005 edition of Professional Painting Contractor, a 300,000-circulation trade magazine published and distributed by The Sherwin-Williams Co.

Anderson’s year-long restoration of the Luke House, the former restaurant on North Main Street, put Anderson Restoration and Home Improvement on the pages of the quarterly magazine’s spring 2005 edition.

Having two projects from the same community recognized in consecutive publications is unprecedented, said Mike Starling, editor of the Wisconsin-based publication.

&uot;This is highly unusual,&uot; he said. &uot;To the best of my knowledge, it’s never happened before.&uot;

The magazine typically profiles four customer projects representing company’s regions nationwide, Starling said. The publication picks from hundreds of recommendations sent in monthly by Sherwin-Williams field representatives.

Both Garcia and Anderson were recommended by their sales representatives from the company’s Suffolk store.

&uot;When we pick project profiles, we look for buildings that have some significance to the community and that beautify the area where they are located,&uot; Starling said. &uot;Both of these structures have historical significance.

&uot;Historic renovation is a growing area in the paint business,&uot; he said. &uot;A growing number of people are taking an interest in the field.&uot;

The recognition is Sherwin-Williams’ way of honoring its customers and their projects.

&uot;We make a big deal out of this,&uot; Starling said. &uot;The painters are the unsung heroes in the construction trade.

&uot;You don’t read about their contributions in Architectural Digest.&uot;

Both Anderson and Garcia say they appreciate the attention.

&uot;It’s pretty cool,&uot; said Garcia, who moved to Suffolk three years ago after purchasing and restoring the homes in the historic College Court neighborhood.

Since that time, he’s purchased and overhauled more than a dozen houses and commercial buildings in the Suffolk. Last week, after months of discussion, the Suffolk City Council voted to sell the dilapidated Thomas Jefferson School to Garcia.

&uot;It’s the first time I’ve received national coverage,&uot; he said.

Anderson, who turned his

company into a full-time operation after his 2001 retirement from the Navy, said he was honored to be included in the magazine.

&uot;It was prestigious to even be considered for the recognition,&uot; he said.

Anderson, whose company also specializes in working with older structures, considers the Luke House renovation one to his best projects to date. The company has also built a replica of a 1760 smokehouse behind Gardner’s Store, using wooden pegs for nails.

Professional Painting Contractor is distributed at Sherwin-Williams stores nationwide, Starling said.

And customers are reading it, he said.

In fact, a Seattle homeowner called him last week to find out the color paint that Garcia used on his Brewer Avenue house.

&uot;His wife is demanding that he repaint their house the same color,&uot; Starling said.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com