COLLABORATION

Collaborate -

Merriam Webster defines it as "to work jointly with others".

 

A few months ago I received a call from a client.

I have done several pieces for her in the past.

When we talked she expressed that this was an odd request.

 

Yes.
It was.

 

She had been shopping in her favorite consignment shop and found a freestanding cupboard.

(Oooh - I began to get excited. I love working on large furniture pieces.)

It was a piece that had originally been unfinished.

(Originally? hmmmm...what does that mean?)

She bought it and had it delivered.

She wondered if I could paint on it.

(Of course!)

She continued . . .

Someone had started to paint on the cupboard.

(What? It's already painted?)

There was some very intricate, detailed artwork.

(So what do you need me for?)

But they evidently gave up before finishing the project and it was only half-done.

(Oh - so I am repainting the cupboard. OK, I get it now...)

She wanted the cupboard painted -

BUT she did not want to paint over the art work that was already there.

(What??? - ok, WHAT?...)

Someone had obviously worked very hard on this and it just didn't seem right to paint over it.

(OK - I can accept that...in fact, as an artist, I respect that - but...WHAT???)

She did not want me to try to copy the artists work or even her style.

But could I finish it in my style, in a way that would compliment the original art.

(I have no way of understanding what I am being asked to do!)

Sure!!!, I say...

But....maybe it would be best for me to come and see the piece before we commit to this.

Oh, she says - I hope you can do this for me. I so love this piece and want to finish it. And I would hate to think I wasted my money on it.

(Well, now I have to do this....)

 

I drive over to look at the piece.

I have no idea what to expect.

What I find is a very basic wooden cupboard.

It stands at counter height.

There are two drawers and three cuboard doors underneath.

The top of the piece is fully painted. The drawers are in various stage of completion.

The rest of the piece is primed with some pencil marks.

This was a huge endeavor that someone undertook and it appears they lost their motivation.

 

The detail was exquisite.

The quality of the paint used ...not so much.

The composition beautiful.

I am fascinated and I look and study and touch and wonder.



A partially completed drawer



A portion of  the "counter" top - or top of the cupbaord.

We spend time talking about who the artist might have been.

Male or female?

Student or professional artist?

What was this for?

A gift? A school project? A special place in their home?

Was the artist of hispanic descent or were they trying to capture a "feeling"? - Perhaps to preserve the memories of a cherished vacation? Or was it to fit a certain decor?

Why did they not finish? Why was it given to the consignment shop?

So many questions - it felt like a great mystery and we so wanted to know the "rest of the story".

 

We arranged for the logistics of the project.

I was only going to work on the cupboard doors and finish the partially completed drawers.

I took the parts I would be painting home.

I brought them into the studio.

I put the undercoat on them.

And then it sat there.

And I stared at it every day.

I was clueless.

What had I gotten myself into???

 

Finally - I picked up the first cupboard board and started to paint. I had no idea where I was going with it.

I was really stumped.

I just started.

I let the brush do the work.

I started with some leaves.

Once I began, the rest began to follow.

 

I deliver it today.

I am anxious to see how it all works together.
New door pulls will be added and it will all be reassembled on the piece.

 

Collaboration...
to work jointly together.
 

An interesting term.

A process of pushing, pulling, negotiating, juxtaposing and coordinating, compromising, creating.

Sometimes easy - but often times rather difficult -
especially at the beginning.

Especially when you don't know who or what you are collaborating with.

But eventually, when you surrender to the process, the collaboration can yield some pretty amazing results.

 

Hmmmm..... 

Once again - ART teaches me about LIFE.

 



Close Your Eyes and Make a Wish...

Wishes...

As a child I made wishes a lot.

I wished on stars.

I wished on the rainbow.

I wished when we drove through tunnels.

I wished when I blew out my birthday candles.

I wished when I threw a penny into a fountain.

But I would panic if I told someone -

because we were always told that if we shared our wish,

it wouldn't come true.

 

Wishes were important and I took them very seriously.

 

I still do -

I believe that in order to achieve anything -

you have to put it out there.

You have to think about it and visualize it and believe that it can happen.

 

As a grown up we call them goals.

I went to classes and heard lectures about goals and goal setting all through my growing up years.
I was instructed in the steps of goal setting.
Think about your goals.
Write them down.
Identify, develop and write down the steps required to achieve the goal.
Give each of the steps a deadline.
Review the list regularly.
Blah, blah, blah...yada, yada, yada.

As a teenager and even as an adult -
I didn't really buy this.
It just seemed like busy work to me.

And then several years ago, I wanted to open a business.
And I was asked for a business plan.
What the heck was that?
I took a class.
I researched.
And then I realized...a business plan was really a series of really big goals.
So I started writing things down.
And as I did it - I began to feel empowered.
Especially when I started to see the checkmarks that started accumulating as I accomplished individual tasks.

Goal setting...or wishes...are a big part of my life now.

There is a little girl inside me who still believes in wishes.

Who still likes to see the magic in things.

Who still believes in magic.

I make wishes for all sorts of things.
Things I want to accomplish, new adventures I want to try, places I want to visit...
I create "vision boards" - usually just a series of pictures and words that I put together on a blank piece of paper.
I tuck them into a sheet protector and tape them to my bathroom mirror and look at them everyday.
And it makes me feel excited and full of purpose.
But I also realize that a magical fairy is not going to come along and make the wish come true.
No genie is going to come out of a bottle.
I have to do the work myself.

And when I accomplish something...
it IS magical!
The big difference is this....
I believe in the magic of wishes - I just don't believe that they are free.
I believe that I have the power to make them come true.
And that...makes the whole process even more magical and special.

 

So embrace your inner child...
Look up at the night sky.
Close your eyes and make a wish.
Just don't forget - the magic is already right inside of you.

 

 

 

UPcycled Table

I met Mary Jane over 2 years ago.

She came to one of my shows and picked up a few items.

She then called to have me help her with a project -

To redo an old chair that had been her mother's.

The idea was to cover the chair with images that reminded her of her mom as a tribute to her.

 

Several months ago,

she called again.

This time to do another chair - but for her sister.

The chair was just like the first one - it had come from the same set that had been their mothers.

We covered it with images that reminded her sister of her children.

 

Then came the table.

The table had been mom's as well.

However, it had been subjected to quite a bit of abuse and didn't look very nice.

The finish was peeling off.

There are a few cracks in the wood.

It had been left out on a porch and exposed to the elements a bit too long.

But it was moms and Mary Jane could not bear to see it tossed out with the trash.

 

So she brought it over.

She wanted it to have the look of the outdoors since it will eventually live in their mountain cabin.

Mountains, a river, fish, a cabin, ferns -

 all of the things that they love about their cabin were to be included on the table.

 

A little sanding.

A little priming.

A lot of color and . . .

Mary Jane's sad and unloved table has been given a new lease on life.

 

 

This little table is still a work in progress.

There is still some detailing left.

And of course - a good finish to protect it for years to come -

But I think I was able to capture the feel of the love and joy that they experience at their mountain retreat!

UpCycled Furniture

                                                       Upcycled Furniture

Upcycling, as defined by Wikipedia, is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

If you follow my blog at all, you know that upcycled furniture or upcycling furniture is one of my favorite things to do.

Who knew I was being so "trendy".

Every one of the pieces of upcycled furniture that I work on have been cast off, headed for the dump and no longer loved.

Once they are completed - they become new Functional pieces of art. 

So not only am I having a great time painting in these bright colors - but I am being environmentally conscious and responsible.

That sounds so very grown up!

And if you know me . . .you know that is not always the case. LOL

 

UPcycled Cat-themed bar stool

Upcycled CREATE library chair

Upcycled Ladybug School-chair

Upcycled Creative Chef - Old wooden box converted to a classy garbage can

Upcycled Corner television cabinet



UPcycled Embrace the Moon Stool

Laundry Rules

A new commission piece . . .

laundry rules.

This order is for a family who regularly hosts Japanese exchange students.

This 12 x 20 custom piece will hang beautifully on the wall of a laundry room.

I smiled when asked to do this piece.

Knowing it was for a home with exchange students, I understood fully.

For several years, our family hosted over 10 year-long exchange students.

Most of our students were japanese,

but we also had students from Korea and Brazil.

I was humbled to think that the parents of these students had sent them a different country.

Many of the students we hosted were only 16.

They came to stay with us for a whole year.

And we were chosed to take care of them, teach them and love them.

And love them we did.

Our family grew and grew as we hosted students.

Each time a new student joined our family,

we had to teach these 16 year olds how to do many basic household chores.

Laurdry was one of those.

We also taught them

How to do the dishes;

How to clean a bathroom;

We worked with them as they learned to appreciate our food.

We taught them how to use our American showers.

We also learned much from them.

We learned how to be comfortable with silence.

We learned to try new foods.

We learned about different cultures and different traditions.

We learned that buddist and christian beliefs have many similarities.

And in the process, we learned that even though many things were different -

we are all still humans with emotions, and hopes and dreams.

All in a days work!! I love my paint Job!!

First of all . . .

Thank you!

I received some wonderful comments about my last post both here and on FB.

I truly was speaking from my heart and obviously it was remembering to stay true to ourselves is

something that we all struggle with from time to time.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and encouragement and journeys.

I know that on a regular basis I feel a great connection to other artists as I jump around and visit different blogs.

What a gift this blogland is!

The last few weeks have been all about finishing up some custom orders.

The first were two saddle stools.

A customer called - she had found 2 black saddle stools on clearance.

Having only paid about $10 each, she decided she wanted them customized.

Could I help with that?

SURE!

Then I was contacked by a lady in Conneticut.

She was searching the internet for a unique wedding gift.

She found my blog and saw the lazy susans.

A version with sunflowers was created for her and shipped out.

I am constantly humbled and grateful when someone asks me to create a piece for them.

Especially when it is to be a gift.

To think that my work is what they are choosing to give someone special as a gift.

It kind of makes me go all gooey inside.

To all of my customers - and to all of you who visit this blog -

Thank You!!!

It really helps make this journey special.

Another special order for someone who loves to share the joy a good message and lots of Color!!

I met Lisa during the holidays.

She bought a few things.

She then ordered a gift.

She then ordered something else.

Now we are decorating her new office.

Filling it with positive messages to help remind her of the importance of life, love and laughter. . .

Once again the power of words combined with color . . .

Lisa - I hope these pieces (meant to be a wall grouping) will add a splash of color to your plain walls

and will also help you keep a positive thought in your heart!