A Still Body, A Not-so-still Mind, and being Thankful

“In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.”― Rollo May

Lake Huron at Port Austin, Michigan, July 2013

Some of you may have known that I had minor knee surgery last Wednesday. I had my left meniscus repaired. Who knows how I tore it but it reminded me that it was there if I stood for too long, climbing a ladder, riding my bike, or twisted wrong. I was supposed to have the surgery this past winter but because I wanted to go to France,  and the doc said not to fly for 6 weeks after surgery for fear of a blood clot, I decided to postpone it and go to France. Wouldn't you?

If you know me, you know I am never still. I'm always trying to squeeze something in to a 5 minute lull. Since I have had my surgery, which I strategically scheduled before Thanksgiving ;) , I have had curtail my activities. Its been a very easy surgery, compared to when I had my sinuses done along with a tonsillectomy. (That was a nightmare where I lost about 12+ pounds and one night passed out cold on the bathroom floor from not eating + oxycodon.)

Unlike the last one, this time I've been able to forgo the meds after the first two days and have been lucid and aware that I am sitting on my rear for 10+ hours each day.  Its been the first time I've been grounded in a long time.  It has given me a lot of time to do things like watch tv and go on facebook and sleep. And time to reflect about this past year as well as look forward to what 2014 has in store for me. Back during my post about not having enough time in a day, I rambled about all of the things I wish I could do. Well, now I have some time to reflect, sit down, and plan those things. Sitting here thinking, its been a really good year for me. I've been in my studio a full year and don't know how I got along without it.  I love my neighbors there and feel part of an artist community.  I love having a space that's mine to do whatever I want artistically.  I am also very fortunate to have great clients who trust me to do some incredible projects. Although I have so much more I want to do and try, I have to count my blessings that I've been able to come this far.

So stay tuned to see what plans I have in store for 2014....!

And, have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

A Cautionary Tale

I am writing this post as cautionary tale to fellow artists. I hope that is serves as a lesson to be learned through me and not one to be experienced in their own work. Every now and again I'm reminded of my lesson when I'm riding down the road and I see a "for sale" sign. Or I'm watching TV and I see the commercial. I try to get over it but each time I see anything related to the mural I did for a very well known local Real Estate Agent, I feel like I've just been slapped in the face.

Here's my story...

Back in 2009 I painted a mural of a map of Maryland with roadways and significant towns and cities for the office of this Real Estate Agent. They wanted something to show clients where their house would be in relation to their work. In designing the mural, I drew out the shape of the state, complete with each county, significant towns, and placed a Maryland flag in the background. I wanted to add something that was unique to the Real Estate Agent's company and take up the "dead" space in the lower left area where West Virginia and Virgina usually are.  I decided to add a compass rose, being it a map and all, I thought it appropriate. I researched different designs and composed a compass rose that would compliment my design.  I placed the Real Estate Agent's initials in the center of the compass rose. I presented my design to the Real Estate Agent's wife and she like it. Just change out the blues (I had originally included blues because their website had the color.)

I installed it with the help of my amazing paper hanger.  I got paid for my work and that was that.

A few months later, I am at a meeting and I see the compass rose on some give-away pint glasses.  Hmm, I thought..not sure how to comprehend. I took a glass and put it in my bag.  Then I started seeing my compass rose, the one I designed for the mural, all over the place...on ads, on signs, on brochures, on commercials, on everything! Needless to say I was dumbfounded.  And angry!

I talked it over with my family and some fellow artists. I did research on copyright law.  I decided to write a letter. It was responded to by his lawyer.  "You can't copyright a compass rose." I then got my lawyer involved.  I didn't want to go there but anyway.  The image was clearly taken from my mural and wasn't in use before the mural's execution.  The composition, colors (well, the initials were black instead of red) were IDENTICAL.  In educating myself about copyright law and art, I learned that ANYTIME an artist touches pencil (or brush) to paper, that work instantly is covered by copyright. Here is a good explanation. But, come to find out, because I had not registered my mural with the copyright office and had a clause in my contract that all of my work is owned by me, I stood little chance in court to come out with any money left in my pocket.  See, even though as an artist I owned the copyright to my work, I didn't bring it up within 3 months of discovering the theft.  If I had, I would have been able to recoup all of my court costs if I were to have won. But because the amount of money it would take to take the Real Estate Agent to court far outweighed the piddly amount of money I had asked for in compensation, it wasn't in my favor. I still could, it would just bankrupt me. I'd be out more money than what I was trying to get.

So...lesson learned. I have put things in place so that I am protected and have learned what my rights are.

Next time you see that compass rose, smile and say "Gee, what nice work, Dee!"

The FIRST Annual Ellicott City Artwalk!

Come be a part of the Art Scene in Historic Ellicott City Maryland!

The First Artwalk will take place on Saturday, September 28th 2013 from 12-5 PM. You can tour artist studios, watch demonstrations, and view local galleries.

Start your tour at the Artwalk Tent located at the Log Cabin on the corner of Main Street and Ellicott Mills Rd.

Grab a Passport at the Artwalk Tent at the Log Cabin and get a stamp at each stop along Artwalk. Completed Passports can be entered in the Artwalk Raffle to win a PRIZE! Prizes donated by Friends of Artwalk  Raffle drawing will take place at the Wine Bin Stage shortly after 5pm. There are some really good prizes!Click on the image and print your own passport now!

Fall Fest and Main Street Music Festival will be taking place also, so there will be lots of fun for the whole family. Enjoy the shuttle service that will take you from the Courthouse Parking lot to lower Main Street all the way to the West End and back! Parking is available on the street (metered) and in lots (some free).

Prizes for the Artwalk Raffle have been generously donated by the following local businesses:

Ellicott City Artwalk website: ellicottcityartwalk.com  And Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellicott-City-Artwalk/224799031005907

More Information on Fall Festival:   http://visitellicottcity.com/

More Information on Main Street Music Festival:  http://mainstreetmusicfest.com/

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An especially huge thank you to Chelsea Maymon of Perspectives Gallery for doing all of the graphic design. Her portfolio is amazing! http://chelseamdesign.com/

Knock on....wood?

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After a two year hiatus from participating in the HEC Decorator Show House, I have had the pleasure to design the grand foyer of this year's house, Mount Ida.  Knock on wood, that all of the efforts of the designers, volunteers, and workers will pay off with a record turn out of visitors! For tickets and more information, click here. My rendering for this year's promotional material.

Mount Ida is located atop the hill next to the Court House in Ellicott City.  Originally built in 1828 by members of the Ellicott Family, Mount Ida was built in the Greek Revival/Italianate style.  Sometime in the 1970's or 80's, the foyer was divided up into three spaces but has now been restored to all 30 feet of its original glory.  In designing the space, I wanted to honor tradition but had to add my own twist.

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The original foyer, as seen in this photograph from the Library of Congress, taken in the 1960's.

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This picture shows what I saw when I did my walkthrough.  These partitions were put in place sometime in the last few decades and the decor was left from when Mount Ida was a decorator showhouse in 1995. This is taken from the same vantage point as the black and white photo above.

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You then passed from the first space into this room. This is the central area of the foyer. The door to the right led to an office.

The first thing that happened was all of these walls, including a wall covering the back doors were taken down.  Repairs, scraping, cleaning, painting, and more painting took place over the course of 8 weeks.

And here are a few images of what my space looks like now just to tease you!

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Knock on...wood? You will have to come see for yourself!! ;)

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Look closely at the chandeliers that Bill Knapp fabricated. Can you tell what they're made from?

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This is Brian, the contractor who HEC hired to do all of the renovations that needed to be done, like fixing the waste stack that exploded in my space the week before I was to start. (I know. gross.)

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I really have to thank several people for making my vision happen.

-Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors for help with the design layout, moral support, and great friendship.

-Bill Knapp, Bill Knapp Arts, for without him we would be in the dark.

-Alison Roy-Harrison of Columbia Interior Finishes for doing all of the basecoating for my space.

-Phil Adams from Floors Etc for my area rugs (all three of them!)

-Amy Alder for her upholstery expertise

-My mom, Carol Lenehan for her immaculate sewing skills on the skirted tables.

-My dad, Kevin Lenehan, for helping me build the skirted tables and wiring the chandeliers (all three of them!)

-Barry Sheehan- Metal in Motion, for helping out with my brainfart that "there should be a sculpture here..."

-The volunteers and members of HEC, Inc.

and Mikey, for his patience.

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We all hope to see you there!

Spotlight on local professionals: Patty Filas of Revisions Remodeling

So waaay back in 2008 when I was working on my first Historic Ellicott City Decorator Showhouse (where I begged to do a space :) ) I met the lovely and talented Patty Filas of Revisions Remodeling.  Since then I've worked with them on some of their projects and had them redo our bathroom.  (Mikey insisted that the 1950's pink and grey tile had to go.) Read more about Patty and what Revisions Remodeling is all about.

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A kitchen hood I painted for one of their clients.

-What is your background?

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I, Patricia Daly Filas, am a Certififed Designer by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as well as an Architectural Designer and a licensed Contractor. I have proudly been working with Revisions Remodeling for over twenty years. We specialize in all areas of remodeling, especially kitchens, baths, and additions. Our focus at Revisions is Kitchens, Baths, Additions, Home Modifications, and Historic properties-How did you get started in this field?

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I got started in this field through education.  My background is art history, architecture and accounting. Dann Cummings, the owner, has a background in engineering.-What do you do?

Our business is Design and Build with an established showroom in Ellicott City, Maryland.  We offer all architectural design capabilities, engineering, planning, material selections in our showroom, estimates and proposals, detailed contracts, construction management along with personalized project management, our own carpentry teams, on staff designers, and of course communications with principals and all staff.

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-What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of our job as designers/remodelers is reminding clients that they hired us as their professionals to guide them through this process rather than listening to comments they heard from television or the internet about products.

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-What do you enjoy most?

What we enjoy most about the remodeling business is making people fall in love with their homes all over again.  A truly functional home, as well as beautiful, will make a huge impact on your daily life.

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-What adjustments have you made to your business to keep up with the changing economy?

The biggest adjustment we have made in our business over its lifetime is reaching people through the internet.  The internet is an interesting animal, you have to choose carefully. On our site we only post pictures of our own jobs (where-as many other sites buy photos) and we only recommend products we use.

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-What makes a good client?

A good client is anyone who is involved in their project, but not so involved that they pull up a chair and watch every move - yes, we have had that happen and it makes us feel just a tad scrutinized, as you can imagine. Fortunately, we found out he was more curious and excited than fearful!  Design and Remodeling is a fairly lengthy process by the time you get to demo and installation. We always encourage new clients to visit former clients to see their projects and talk with them about the process. We also have a pre-construction meeting as well as meetings throughout the project.

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-What is your most interesting/challenging/awesome project so far?

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Our most interesting projects are always the Decorator Showhouses.  We have done many of them for Historic Ellicott City as well as the Baltimore Symphony, and putting 20 plus Designers and crews in one house at the same time is a wonderland of diva personalities.  Not us of course! Well maybe I get a little touchy sometimes about design issues.  Since we do either their Kitchens or Baths, we not only design, but carpentry, etc. is involved. so our guys try and keep their heads down and let our project manager and Dann take most of the beatings for making any dust and dirt. But it's not always us by any means causing trouble, we have heard blood curdling screams over lighting issues from other floors and other horrific events that would scare you even more!2009 Historic Ellicott City Show House

-Do you have a location where clients can come meet you or do you come to them?

For anyone who would like to visit our beautiful Showroom, we are located at:

Revisions Remodeling Showroom

9054 Chevrolet Drive

Ellicott City, Md 21042

www.revisionsremodelingshowroom.com

revisionsremodels@gmail.com

410.313.9393

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