...the September Studio

Signing..

2010-03-29T10:21:00.004-04:00

I like doing "artistic" signs with images.
Here is the sign for my studio and gallery. It's a 4 x 8 ft sign with a border of crown molding that I added myself.

Here's the latest decorative painting...

2010-03-12T22:33:00.011-05:00

I received a call from the sweetest lady who said she'd seen my work at a local eatery and had been trying to find me for quite a while!! Here are the results of two days of embellishing her kitchen and dining area.

This was one of the most pleasant painting jobs I've ever had. Providing coffee and sweet rolls and being the most pleasant of hostesses

Details from the kitchen -

The client wanted cheerful florals and whimsical scenes from nature.

For the dining room irises highlight ornamental filigree.

Recent work - decorative painting in an alcove

2010-03-11T14:25:00.007-05:00

This is a detail of the wall below which is half of this decorative painting job. The rather deep green background color allowed me to work in both lighter and darker green values and I worked for a soft but not completely subdued effect.
It looked a bit better sans blue tape - and I'll re-photograph it with the furnishings back in place when I go back. The client has a comfy chaise lounge that sits with the headrest in this corner, thus the cold air vent is not visible normally.

New work!! (finally)

2010-03-08T10:44:00.007-05:00

I've been ill with a bad headcold/flu-ish thing, that has finally subsided into "just a cough." I apologize for not posting, but it seemed I'd just have no energy left after doing those things that absolutely had to be done - even when sick...

Below is a series of animal portraits done for a wonderful couple up in the Lake Burton area of NE Georgia. I met them a couple of years ago when I painted a "canine cabinet" for them. A while back their kitties were added to the cabinet and we talked of doing these small paintings. They chose a 12 x 12 format so that the portraits could be displayed as a group - or moved about and interchanged in small spaces. The couple has a lot of art and thus - not that much remaining wall space.

Brodie - a rescue Weimeraner...

Simon - He's his own cat...

Maddie - The grande matriarch...

And the lovely Fiona - a pink and white princess, and the most recent rescue...

An equine portrait...

2010-01-29T23:05:00.004-05:00

"We Three" acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48
Private Commission

Rustic style ... a Bison for fun...

2009-11-17T15:30:00.002-05:00

American Bison, 24 x 32, acrylic on old drawing board, "framed" with weathered wood - $185.

This is something I did for fun and for sale. I 've always had a longing to live in a rustic cabin in the wilderness. And if I ever end up there, my Bison would fit right in. Sometimes I think I could be content painting horses and western scenes and portraits of Native Americans. Ah, but then I would miss my contemporary work...

Most recent commission: Tippy

2009-11-09T09:11:00.004-05:00

Tippy on the Windowsill, 36 x 48, acrylic on canvas, private collection

An unusual commission...

2009-10-05T18:56:00.007-04:00

I'll be the first to say I'm no portrait painter. Painting portraits on commission (excepting the high, high dollar portrait artists) can be a frustrating task. Add to that the fact that I like expressive portraits rather than "painted photographs" (I mean - if you want an exact likeness with no brushstrokes and no "interpretation" - take a photograph!!) and it is clear why I usually turn down such work.

The small gallery where I am a resident hasn't any artists who do portraits. A couple of weeks ago there was a request from an older gentleman to have a portrait done from a photograph. That in itself was not a problem; although working from life is preferred, circumstances don't always allow for preferences. The problem was that he had a very limited budget and - the only photograph he had was a small snap-shot taken decades ago. The subject is now in her eighties and on life support. He wanted the painting done for the memorial service upon her death.

As one of the few painters there with formal training, I said I'd give it a shot.

The gentleman had had the snapshot enlarged to and 8 x 10 (shown above) - but there was very little detail and the outdoor setting put the woman in harsh sun and shade. Her mouth was open and one could not see the shape of her eyes at all - only that they were deep set. He had asked that I close the mouth and try my best to make her look her best.

After working for a few hours, I realized the eyes were impossible. I would either have to fake them - or leave them as dark blurs. And then it occurred to me to ask if she had children who looked like her! Yes!! I was able to obtain photographs of a son whose eyes were like his mother's. Ironically, the son had died many years before.

The final result is the 18 x 24 painting shown - with the lighting softened to show eye shape, and the lips brought together. It has a rather surreal "forties" quality that I like - though the stiffness of a portrait done from on photograph is rather obvious. I don't mind it much in this case though as it seems to work with the mood/style of the whole.

And best of all - the gentleman was pleased with the resulting portrait.

Before and After: fireplace mantel...

2009-09-06T13:26:00.006-04:00

I should say: After and before... There are diehard fans of woodgrain finishes out there I know. They'll never paint over a wood surface no matter what. But many don't distinguish between fine and beautiful and unique grain - and just plain old cheap looking pine. And others don't pay attention to what works best with the overall color scheme, decoration, and balance to a room.

After

What I have done here is to highlight the panel edges and moldings by distressing or sanding away paint just enough to let some of the warmth of the wood color to show through. Then the entire mantel is sealed with two or three coats of urethane. It's a much more sophisticated look - and works well with the client's dark furniture and artwork.

Before

Most new houses come with the blandest of finishes on woodwork and cabinetry. The orangey finish actually clashes with the brick - and much of the detail of the raised panels is lost due to the similarity of value.

Fauxing, Fauxing... Decorating, Done!

2009-08-21T11:48:00.017-04:00

This a "tween" bedroom for which I have worked on various projects over the past year or so. Helped the client choose colors and painted all the furniture and accessories to work with the bed linens, etc.
Painted the lamp base, and added beaded fringe to the shade - but it still lacked pizazz, so....

I painted designs on the shade fabric as well - and did the three paintings on the left.

Here are two of the custom paintings (her daughter studies ballet).

I love the hot, hot pink !

This is another client's house. Her wall were just boring beige. Carol and I ragged and cross-hatched them with two shades of golden yellow glaze and then fauxed them warm and cool taupe using plastic bags.

Here is her bath before. Very red, very flat.

To lighten it up some, and add interest, I ragged/color washed it with a brighter red first, then added touches of black - and a tiny bit of iridescent gold.

Sorry about the blue tape still being on. It was left so the homeowner could put a sealer coat (they saved $$ by doing it themselves and I just told them what to purchase and how to do it.)

This frosted stripe was added to liven up another bath. Very pretty!

Floor painting (is for the young of joints) Ha!

2009-07-16T09:16:00.004-04:00

My friend Carol and I recently gave a face-lift to a porch. As you can see, paint was flaking and peeling from at least six layers of colors. I actually thought it rather pretty/interesting after sanding and scraping (below), but the homeowner wanted a fresh, clean look for an upcoming party. We gave it a cheery flagstone motif and then sealed it with two coats of an exterior urethane that has ultraviolet resistance.
A floor job like this requires a lot of preparation: scraping, sanding, scraping again - and then using a chemical deglosser to aid in paint adhesion. Special floor paint is used and then the entire floor sealed and allowed to cure. Ideally, no furniture should be place on the floor for at least two weeks, though foot traffic is okay after a couple of days.

The finished commission

2009-04-19T10:50:00.007-04:00

After reviewing my notes from the client, I realized I'd left off one of the elements she mentioned: a red - traditional barn building. To balance the composition, I added a bit of red to each side.

I was unhappy with the trees in the foreground which I originally painted as they were, complete with the angled lower trunks. It appeared they had all started growing on a tilt and then straightened out. It was disconcerting in the painting, however, and I took advantage of my artistic license to straighten up the offending subjects.

The very heavy - and still sharp saw blade was delivered Friday along with a similarly painted cross-cut saw and a farm sign for their driveway.

My next commissioned work is a landscape to be painted on the retaining wall below. Due to wet and still too cold weather, I've had to postpone starting this job for several weeks. I'm eager to see it finished; the purpose of which is to camouflage it into the natural setting. Black bears, tree trucks and large rock outcroppings will be included in the mural.

The house is built into a steep slope above a river used for tubing and kayaking. The challenge for me is access - as the staging area is soft earth with only three or four feet of space for platforms and ladders.

I'll try to post my progress - and problems - as I go.

Finally!! a new commission...

2009-04-14T23:13:00.003-04:00

I've never been much for painting saw blades which seems to be a sort of folk-art fad, but here goes. This sawmill blade is about 30 inches in diameter - and still sharp! I actually cut the upholstery on the sofa being careless.

This is not quite finished, but it's the client's home and a few of their prizewinning Boer goats. I have to work on the trees a bit more and one of the goats seems off-color. It's amazing how much easier it is to find flaws or problems once the photos are posted to the computer.

Screen for Public Library...

2009-03-14T22:49:00.009-04:00

Every time I visit my local library, I get a little boost from seeing my screen adjacent to the entryway. Commissioned by Friends of the Library, its purpose is not just to offer a bit of privacy to the children's librarian, but to set a mood of calm and serenity to all those entering.

It's painted on four hollow-core doors which were then hinged together. The reverse side is finished also - with a crackled surface, striping and floral embellishment.

My favorite thing about where it sits, is the real plant to the right which seems to merge right into the painted Magnolia leaves on the far right panel.

I wanted a dreamlike garden setting with bright and yet - soft colors fading off into the distance.

The "Monet" bridge was added at the specific request of one of the librarians, who had always admired the paintings at Giverny.

The Japanese Bridge by Claude Monet

The Sun Room, Ali-'V's

2009-02-17T17:36:00.000-05:00

Here are the final large elements of the murals at Ali-V's Restaurant in Jefferson, Georgia.

The largest dining room featured large framed "picture" windows down one side. In order to balance the room and add warmth to what turned out to be a rather cool yellow, warm pumpkin/terracotta hues that echoed the color of the ceiling and the wood of the floor were incorporated into three framed landscapes. The soft, cool greens and the deep reds give strong enough values to balance the strong chocolate color of the frames.

As the front two dining rooms were perhaps a bit more on the feminine side, a more neutral to masculine look was emphasized in the SunRoom where many of the fraternal and civic organizations hold luncheons and meetings.

Scenes portray rolling land, ponds, streams and foliage native to, and evocative of, Jackson County and the surrounding area with out being any literal place.
Between each landscape, decorative accents were added to give softer focal points and interest; each retaining the outdoors theme. Potted geraniums , and Clematis and Morning Glory vines add a lively touch, as do the old fashioned wheel barrow, and a birdhouse complete with resident Bluebird.

It's likely a few more details will be added in future as this room could still use a bit more softness at either end. Also planned is a large triptych painting on canvas to help muffle conversation.

The owners are two wonderful ladies; great supporters of the arts and fabulous cooks! Kay Hardy makes the world's best fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and red velvet cake I've ever tasted - and that's just a small sample of the offerings there. She and Helena Dale offer great food, stylish decor and warm hospitality and they will cater almost any size event.

There is also a wonderful gift shop where customers can purchase home decor - and of course, mine and Carol's paintings and painted furniture.

Photo at left shows the room before.

New look for the dining set: A before and after...

2009-02-16T23:27:00.000-05:00

With the new custom pieces in place, it was time to update the oak table and chairs circa 1980's. To reduce the excess of oak finish in the kitchen-dining area, we decided to do a distressed black on the table apron and chair backs, rungs and legs. The black helps anchor this side of the kitchen and offers a contemporary look that works well with the new kitchen/dining area colors and custom finishes.

The table top with its lovely grain and the chair seats were left in the original finish to coordinate with the tops on the custom cabinetry and kitchen cabinets.

Custom painted cabinetry...

2009-01-25T21:54:00.000-05:00

The cabinets and sideboard pictured were custom finished to coordinate with furniture the clients purchased. The builder applied a pale cream base coat and I did the rest - applying paint and glazes
in succession

to build the complex textured and distressed look. It's labor intensive work - and can be a bit stressful while in process. But the results speak for themselves and the pieces are unique to the homeowners.

Commissioned painting: Cain's Tractor

2009-01-23T20:30:00.001-05:00

This very bright painting was done for a small boy's room with (guess what?) : a John Deere tractor theme. All the colors in the room are bright primary colors (with the exception of green... ha ha..) The elements appear to me to be rather stiff as is often the case when a painting or work of art is put together according to a menu.

The tractor was a challenge as I dislike painting "machinery", but it came out okay.

More from Ali'V's

2008-12-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

These are faux finishes... frosted stripe techniques to add interest and/or to soften a stark environment. The celery green is in a small private dining area; the chocolate in the powder room.

Murals for a restaurant...

2008-12-04T12:04:00.001-05:00

These photos are from a recent and ongoing project painted along with my friend Carol with whom I've done many collaborative projects over the years. The restaurant is Ali'V's, southern cooking and catering located in Jefferson, GA. The owners let us choose faux finish techniques and colors and we colorwashed layers of glazes for a softening effect on both the butter yellow walls and the deep crimson walls. We then painted murals and decorative accents over the faux work.

Celestial Mural

2008-11-10T11:08:00.000-05:00

Details from a very large celestial mural of earth's solar system. This was painted for the ceiling of a home-school play and learning room.

2008-11-10T11:05:00.000-05:00

This trompe l'oeil mural was painted for the bedroom of a severely handicapped child whose condition made hard edged furniture a hazard.

2008-11-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

Painted alcove with a contemporary flair. This was placed over the commode in a windowless bath.
approx 30" x 22"

2008-10-08T13:40:00.001-04:00

Pair of custom painted bedside chests.

Each landscape is a view from the client's mountain home.

2008-10-08T13:24:00.001-04:00

Sideboard: painted, distressed and embellished to coordinate with client's dining set.

Prairie Dog: commissioned cabinet

2008-10-01T09:55:00.000-04:00

This was a fun piece to paint - as I was able to meet my subject. He was a tiny and adorable prairie dog named Ingalls who came from a pet shop. I'd no idea there were "pet" prairie dogs before I met this client, but if I wasn't such a cat person, I'd likely have one, too.

Updated Furniture

2008-06-30T11:19:00.001-04:00

Dining room furniture needed an update to a more sophisticated look, and the soft, aged black finishes help to balance a very large room. This dining area is juxtaposed diagonally from the large mural over built-in cabinetry seen in an earlier post (Mimi's mural). Hutch (below in old "pecan" country look), table and chairs, display cabinet and hutch were all redone in a more contemporary satin black with light distressing.

Kitchen cabinets: Mimi; before and after

2008-06-30T10:18:00.000-04:00

Kitchen was bright blinding white... now repainted and glazed to emphasize moldings and panels, and to create a warmer, more intimate setting.

Mimi's master bath.

2008-06-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

This bath had all stock white cabinets. The homeowner loves color and wanted to create a vibrant personal space with the warmth of red-on-red.

Sautee Mural Details

2008-06-30T00:02:00.000-04:00

Sautee Mural

2008-06-29T22:45:00.001-04:00

Mural for a difficult space...

Background is fauxed for a stucco effect so that homeowner can change color of walls without creating any awkward divisions. Mural is painted in acrylics and sealed with a satin finish.

Orchid Cabinet/Pantry

2008-06-21T08:49:00.000-04:00

65"H x 18" D x 38" W. 2 doors, 2 drawers, four stationary shelves.

A contemporary addition to a rustic or elegant country home, this cabinet is one-of-a-kind, designed to coordinate with the owner's decor in shades of soft gray and off-white.

Soft Faux Finish in a natural palette

2007-12-03T22:08:00.002-05:00

Four color glaze treatment in large Timberframe house. Owners wanted a subtle yet dramatic look that would compliment the color of the beams. Note how the color deepens at the edges of each panel.

This helps to soften the walls, giving the illusion of depth of surface and contrasting with the hard angles of the steep roof. The result is comfortable and warm without being overpowering.

Painted "stone" foundation with little embellishments...

2007-12-03T22:08:00.001-05:00

This is a cement foundation which the owners wanted painted to mimic stone blocks. They allowed me to add a few little surprise embellishments from the natural
world to break up the monotony. The tax assessor actually raised their property taxes because he said the painted walls added "unique value" to the house... They couldn't decide if they were pleased with his reasoning or not... ;-) The two upper photos are the before and after.

Painted finish in a small powder room

2007-12-03T21:42:00.001-05:00

This finish began with a deep brown base overlaid with brilliant glazes of red and just a touch of copper (iridescent metallic), and a hint of green to pick up the glaze colors of the custom ceramic sink.

Painted cabinet doors

2007-11-16T21:33:00.001-05:00

Black bears painted in acrylic onto a set of cabinet doors...

Painted finish on new cabinet

2007-11-16T21:26:00.000-05:00

Custom distressed paint finish on reproduction stepback cupboard

I love this color!!

Painted hollowcore door...

2007-11-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

Painting doors is just fun... Why not make it a doorway to another dimension? I paint lots of these for commercial clients who sadly have offices with no windows...

Kitchen, Jefferson

2006-10-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

Here the owners were looking to update very plain cabinets and achieve a country French look.

Hartwell Lake House: Before

2006-10-30T00:27:00.000-05:00

Before:

The original cabinets are dark and cheerless, seeming to absorb light. Made of inexpensive plywood, they are functional and structurally sound but lacking in character and interest.

Hartwell Lake House: After

2006-10-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

After:
Finish is a layered glazed and distressed look with a deep red over golden ochre yellow. Hand painted accents include a topiary adjacent to the pantry and cascading florals over the serving and kitchen windows.

Custom Painted Cabinetry: Porter House

2006-10-29T21:21:00.000-05:00

Cabinets were stark white before, same as pantry door. This is a painted finish that emphasizes the raised panels on cabinet doors. Deeper tones coordinate well with dark wall color for a sophisticated custom look overall. Smaller photo shows built-in china cupboard adjacent to kitchen and finished to match.

Sky Valley mural

2006-10-29T21:18:00.000-05:00

14' x 24' mural depicting the landscape of the north GA mountains (with a little artistic license.) Private home, Sky Valley, GA.

Entertainment Center -

2006-10-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Approx. 72" x 48" - Corner entertainment center, locally built and painted with scenery of the north GA mountains. Available as a custom order: 6 - 8 week delivery, cost: $3,200 - $3,850, depending on particular design/case interior. Price does not include shipping/delivery.

Henfeathers

2006-10-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

Acrylic on canvas - 18" x 24" What can I say? I love to paint chickens.

Few creatures on this earth suffer in greater numbers than do chickens... and they are so naive, so unaware of human indifference.

Fly rod case

2006-10-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Painted in sepia tones, this is an example of trompe l'oeil painting. Even the "wood grain" is paint.

mural, private home

2006-10-29T09:46:00.000-05:00

This detail of a larger mural portrays rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets common to the north GA mountains. Painting this area, with all the layers of undergrowth and the little run-off stream with its' exposed roots, earth and stone was my favorite part of this three month project.

Emissaries

2006-10-25T01:35:00.000-04:00

9" x 12" acrylic on panel

Self portrait. Notice how the girl is unable or unwilling to accept the offering. She looks away; she keeps her troubles, her sadness to herself. She cannot ask for help, she cannot be this fragile.

Desperado

2006-10-25T01:24:00.000-04:00

5" x 7" acrylic on panel..

It's no wonder he looks grouchy... Can you imagine a fate worse than being born a boy chick? Your chances of survival beyond 12 weeks are nearly nil, and if you should survive, you will never be a rooster, as you will be caponized at the earliest opportunity. Born; never to be wild.