Art Underfoot

Good Morning!I just wanted to share with you some exciting news...Royal Design Studio, the maker of incredibly cool stencils, featured my floorcloth that I created for my studio!! Melanie has an awesome blog that is viewed by tons of people so I am very honored to have my work showcased along many many other super talented decorative artists. A big thank you to Melanie Royals and Regina Garay for the feature.  I am sooo excited!!

Click here to view the feature!

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Also, you can vote for my floorcloth that has been entered in a contest held by Royal Design Studios, I could win a shopping spree!  Maybe a stencil for your next project...?

Royal Design Studio Stencil Contest

Thanks everybody!!

365 sketches

Finally getting up and moving after nursing a throbbing head all day.  I swore that I wasn't going to stay out past 10pm last night and what do I do but stay out till 1 am. I think today should be officially designated "Hangover Day". Luckily I didn't have anything to do today and indulged in a rare activity for myself- doing nothing. I did watch "It Might Get Loud" which was really good. I recommend it. Anyway, I just finished dinner and was perusing my usual websites, one being the Faux Forum. A member, Marge Cameron, posted about something that I've recently been wanting to do. More sketches. She has committed to doing 365 sketches this year. One a day.  Now Im not sure if I could follow that regimen but I've been wanting to get back to my sketching because although I paint every day I don't draw every day. Does that make sense? I loved to draw in my sketchbook growing up.  I did it when I was bored, inspired, whatever.  I was never that good at drawing out of my head. I was always better at observational drawing.

It started this past week when I was bored and decided to dig into a box of radio parts I borrowed from my dad when I was struck with inspiration when Lori was here. I took out a radio tube, sat it on my desk and drew it. It took me about 1 and 1/2 hours to complete it, the layout being the hardest.  I felt really rusty but once I got going it was so much fun. I'm not sure about where this is going but I think for now Ill settle in to doing a pencil drawing of each item and then go from there.

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(the angle makes the tube look lopsided, but its not.)

The next sketch I started was this Acanthus Leaf in one of my Dover books.  I really suck at leaves and frilly things so I figured I would try to tackle it freehand, no tracing or tools like compasses or rulers.  This one has taken two tries and I've worked on it in several short sittings because I get frustrated.  So perhaps instead of doing a sketch per day, Ill resolve to sketch each day and see where that goes. I've also looked at other artists' blogs where they do a painting a day. This one I especially like: Postcards From Detroit. Now that is commitment.

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I may not get any sketching in tonight, still a little woosy from the previous night but maybe tomorrow.

Thanks Marge for the push! Marge Cameron's Blog

Happy New Year!

Update: 1-13-13

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Happy New Year!

I am so thankful for all that has happened to me this past year, the biggest of which is renting my very own studio. (Its mine! All MINE!!) I can leave messes, crank the music, spray paint inside and even drive my car in it. With this space come a ton of ideas that weren't possible before. I hope to offer classes in the new year, maybe teach some faux stuff or even drawing classes.  I may offer a class on perspective drawing too.  Is there something painted related that you would like to learn from me?

I also think I may offer open studio nights where other artists can come and work on things where they would need extra space.  And perhaps even a gallery of new art, or a shop sale of repurposed items. Who knows?! Maybe I need to sit down and plan all this out.

My ideas are running over the brim for 2013. I also want dedicate some time to focus on creating art for arts sake. What moves me.  I am so happy to be in the position I am and couldn't have arrived here without the support of my family, friends, peers, mentors, and clients.

THANK YOU!!

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ps...I may be going to France in March to take a class with two masters of decorative painting. stay tuned!

Deelite Design Grand Opening

Its official, I've set a date for the par-tay! Saturday December 1, 2012 from 5-9pm.  Refreshments and light fare to be served.  Please let me know if you plan to stop by.

8602 A Frederick Rd Ellicott City MD 21043

Even if the place isn't perfectly finished, its high time I celebrate this milestone in my career.  Thanks to everyone who has supported me and helped me get to where I am.

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Old Line State

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So in response to all the Union Jack dressers I've seen lately, I've decided to fly my state's colors (well, sorta.) I found this dresser on craigslist a few months ago.

So on my week off from real painting I transformed it with some custom mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paints.  I decided to keep it tonal so that it would fit in more subtly with its surrounding decor.

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Feel free to contact me with any orders you may require! (Mikey won't let me sell this one cause "we never keep any cool stuff!")

(linked to Miss Mustard Seed and Elizabeth and Co.)