Stars and Stripes, Part II

When I finished the second part of a pair of end tables, the task was bitter sweet. The tables had been cumbersome and took up a lot of room in my studio. They weren't my normal style and color choices, but honestly, I was sad to see them go. When I'm working on a piece (especially two matching ones) I really develop a connection with it. A lot of hours are spent looking at it, touching it, thinking about it, and creating it. After all, I'm pouring a little bit of myself onto the canvas. Every stroke, every color choice, and every combination of pattern, is me. I'm invested.




Okay, so before you think I've gone off my rocker, let me explain. My studio is a large room, off the back of my house. Every morning after I shower and have breakfast, I head back to "my room" to begin my day. I'm lucky to be able to have a designated space where I can create. My uniform consists of cut offs and a t-shirt (at least it isn't my PJs), each sporting every color under the rainbow. I usually will start with an hour on the computer (answering e-mails, blogging, etc...) than, I crank up the music (loud) and paint. For the most part, I'm with myself (and the furniture) until the kids arrive home (during the school year) around four. With only the mild interruption of my Black Berry (a “crack” berry as my family so lovingly calls it, because I never leave home without it) I am basically in my head. I think about the pieces in front of me, the ones I have to do tomorrow, and the ones I'll need to do for an upcoming show, or even a new piece I just discovered. You can see how the furniture and I really develop a relationship! LOL! When something is as labor intensive as these two pieces have been, it’s really hard not to think about “what” you’re painting.

These two particular pieces have made me think a lot about country, about freedom, and about all the service people, who protect us/me, and allow us the freedoms we have. For me that meant painting, what I want, when I want, and how I want, all in my modest back room. It means I can wear cut-offs and a bad t-shirt. It means I have the freedom to listen to whatever music I choose, or read and write, whatever I want. We owe so much to them.

The customer I did these 2 pieces for was a colonel in the army. She’s retired now, but still loves all that the army symbolizes and she wanted to convey that in these pieces. So, even though these tables were infringing on my small space, I realized if we didn’t have wonderful people like the colonel, then I might not even have a space to have them infringing on. “Stop complaining!” I said to myself, “…and just remember how lucky you are!” Yep, I talk to myself too, now you really think I’m crazy. Perhaps I need to get out more and socialize with people rather than furniture! LOL!



So, that's how I'm feeling today. It was sad to see them go. They provoked a lot of emotion, but I am excited about the next piece (and having my space back)! I have room to move, and moving to do, but it’s nice to know that another little piece of me has been sent out into the universe.

The Little Things

Just a little blurb in between bigger things. I have been swamped with work, but as I say all the time, I AM NOT COMPLAINING!!!! I'm finishing up the second half of a couple of end tables, an extra large storage unit, a large coat rack for a customer in CA, and a telephone stand for a college student in Oklahoma.

In between these large things, are the little things. My friend Deb Mc Master of Sweet Lemonade Boutique (look for her shop on Face Book) or her web site; http://sweetlemonadefashions.webs.com/ has asked me to paint little purses, and matching sneakers, to compliment the dresses she sews. I just finished one that will be paired up with her Sock Monkey dress, and it turned out pretty cute!

I also have finished up 2 signs for a customer who has a friend that is a race car driver. She wanted to make something special for his kids, and loved my "Race Ya" sign. The green is the color of his car, and each child had a different colored star with their name in the center (Thanks, Yvette!).

                                                                                                                                                     

Next was a stool. A lot of the smaller stuff I do have to purchase, but I always use a 1/2 off coupon (I never pay full price!). She wanted it to match the storage box I did for her kitchen. It turned out pretty funky! It’s almost a shame to step on it.

I will be doing the 51st Annual Antiques Show, in Skaneateles, NY, July 9-10th. I have purchased some cute little pieces. I haven't painted them yet...give me some feedback! What colors should I do them in? What would make you stop and go, "WOW! I have to have that!"

Stars and Stripes

There are many times that I get the opportunity to create something for an individual. Instead of someone purchasing something from me, already made, they come to me with a once loved piece of furniture, desperately seeking new life. Recently, I had a customer contact me in regards to this very thing. She had seen my work at a show, loved it, and wanted me to do something for her. She had two end tables that she cherished, but they were outdated and used. She wanted to bring some color into her home, and thought these pieces would be a great way to do it.

My first step, when I design a custom piece, is to talk with the customer. I like to get a feeling for who they are, and what they like. As they talk I just make a huge list of things they say to me, sort of like an idea chart. After I nail down a few key things, I then sit down and draw out a few (3-4) sketches, (various ideas, concepts and colors). Then I pick out color chips to go along with them. I enclose a variety of color chips (of the colors they want, because we all know, red doesn’t just mean red). Colored pencils don’t always convey the vibrancy of the colors I use, so the color chips give them a better visual of the paints they have available to them.

Now, let me just say this, I don’t intimidate easy, but this customers “list” was far away from what I normally do. I know that as an artist you should have the ability to adapt to whatever your customer wants, but for whatever reason this time I felt intimidated. Let me show you why; this was her list;

Retired Coronial in the Army
A lot of “Texas” and patriotic décor
Symmetrical, tailored, and detailed
Loves the leather faux that I had done in other pieces

Wants red, white and blue, as well as, the black and white checks

So, with all that, I sat down to draw. I sat, I sat, and I sat some more. I had a creative block!!!!!! I was panicking! All these different elements sat in front of me. How was I going to make something fantastic out of it? Then I thought of my grandmother.

When I was a little girl I would watch my beautiful, five foot tall, Italian grandmother, cook. Scattered in front of her on the counters would be a mish mash of ingredients, different spices chopped up, a variety of meats and pastas, you name it. She never used measuring cups or spoons, just grabbed different items with her thick little fists, and threw it in a pot. All while Frank Sinatra blared from her 1950’s stereo. Like a small conductor commanding Beethoven’s 5th symphony she commanded those ingredients to play how she saw fight... Soon the house would smell fantastic, and those once scattered ingredients, became a beautifully prepared dish she would serve with pride. To my Nona, food was love, and she loved the process of creating it!

So, as I sat there, trying to figure out what to do with all these different “ingredients” and I thought of Grandma. I put a little country music on, plugged in my I-Pod buds, and started mixing it up. On the other side of the page I wrote this;

Texas, equals cowboys, bandanas, and cow print

Army equals patriotism, stars & stripes

The faux leather, a well worked saddle.

Circles and checks me

Simple design

I decided to keep things a bit more conservative then I usually do, because that was who the customer was, but I did include the circles, as well as, the checks because that is who I am. I took all of these interesting ingredients, hers and mine, and with my hands, threw them all together to make something I (or grandma) would be proud of.

See to me, creating is love; just like grandma, I create something beautiful out of a variety of different ingredients. I hope they love the finished pieces as much as I loved making them!