Painting It

Painted Bed Frame

2008-07-03T20:19:00.004-04:00

This is a wooden bed frame in several parts...its pretty interesting and lends itself to a lot of interesting colour work..it is developing a slightly folkloric look....Here is the head piece before painting. The chalk mark is unfortunately where the mattress will reach to. It's one of those super high matresses... Oh well, I will paint it for a shorter mattress too, in case there is a change some day.

In the foreground you can see work being done on the foot board part of the bed.

Here are the finials. These were VERY fun to paint...and luckily they stand up, because if they didnt, painting them lying down on their sides, or leaning against something would have been very tedious.....

P.S. - Pillows Delivered

2008-07-03T20:10:00.005-04:00

Here are the ''seaside pillows'' in the living room of their new home... they will go out on the porch later, after remodeling is complete.
more pictures then!!!

They certainly look very nice in this living room, anyhow!

And look at this beautiful dog lying on the pillows!!!! What a great model!

Deco Style Curio Cabinet Completed

2008-06-26T13:22:00.002-04:00

Here is the finished piece...it will eventually be placed in the very pretty Master Bedroom; I will be able to take a picture of it in its correct location and context, to post here later.

Antique Curio Cabinet

2008-06-21T19:56:00.005-04:00

Here is quite a change from many weeks of fabric painted with shells and birds! On the day I started this piece, in some ones's home, I forgot my camera, so I don't have a "before" picture...however, it was sort of dark olive, with generic pastoral scenes on the sides.
Not any more!!!

The inside is lined in gold/bronze velvet...and its old, and looks very cool with the metallic tones being painted on the outside.
The plan is to make it look sort of "Art Deco"...but not in an historical reproduction way, since its not an Art Deco piece of furniture.
I am having a great time working with the metallic (as ever!) and with the textures.

Pillow Backs

2008-06-21T19:50:00.003-04:00

Here are the backs for the group of pillows depicting shells and underwater shore life. (See previous post!)

Underwater Seashell Pillows

2008-06-09T20:45:00.005-04:00

Here is the next batch of fabric for the next batch of pillows....

The theme is seashells, and based on the colours in floor and cushion fabric, ''underwater'' seemed a good place to put them....
Here you can see the tile and fabric sample I have to work from. (Actually, the fabric isn't really as brown as it looks in this picture...)

See the ''eyes" inside the clam??

These pillows are going to go on an outdoor, covered, screened in porch.

Yardage Time

2008-06-08T10:15:00.006-04:00

Three different pieces are shown here, completed, on the table.....

This one is bright, but with darker areas in the background....

This one is bright all over, with less dark areas.....

This is bluer, in over all tone....

Tile Project Revisited

2008-06-08T10:10:00.003-04:00

As promised, January 31 2008, here are some pictures of that tile job with the kitchen completed.

What a great kitchen!

Bird Pillows Made Up

2008-06-08T09:41:00.009-04:00

Twentyone pillows all sewn up and ready for delivery! A satisfying accomplishment.Well, there they all are, lots of them!

Click on this, and the pictures below, to see larger.

Many of the geometric patterns I had intended for backs of bird pillows turned out so well, I made them into fronts too, and painted subsequent simpler backs for them. These geometric pillows make very good complimentary, or accessory pillows for the more elaborate feature pillows. (ie: birds, in this case.)

For now......Bye Bye Birdie. Next project? A few pieces of fabric yardage to replenish my inventory.....

Bird Pillows Finished!

2008-05-19T20:11:00.015-04:00

Now all the Bird Fronts are completed, and below you can see the rest of the Backs of the pillows.
I will post pictures of the finished (sewn up and stuffed) pillows when they are done. I think there are 15 of them!

Remember: Click on the pictures to see them larger.

Bird Pillow Fabric

2008-05-11T23:29:00.006-04:00

Here are some more water birds :

These are the fronts for fabric pillows, the backs can be seen 2 post earlier than this one.

Remember, click on the photos to see them larger!

I am very happy with these birds! I am particularly pleased with their eyes and expressions. I like the way the water is looking too.

The whole project ia making me feel like I am on vacation at the beach.

Bird Pillows

2008-05-07T22:38:00.016-04:00

Here are the first three of the water bird pillow fronts I am working on right now.

Click on the photos to see larger.

To start off, I draw in the basic outlines of the figure in chalk. It's easy to correct, with a wet sponge, and when the fabric is done, residual chalk washes away when I wash the fabric after heat setting.

In winter time, Sarasota is a stopping off point for the European White Pelican.

New Pillow Project

2008-05-02T18:04:00.007-04:00

I am starting these new pillows with what will be the backs....
this way I can establish my colours and get a feel for the palette...The fronts will feature a variety of sea birds.....one bird per pillow, about 5-8 pillows...

Here are a couple of pillow backs in an earlier stage, and then finished..you can see the process a little.

Cherub Cribs Finished!

2008-03-30T13:24:00.008-04:00

Here is the final, fourth, piece being completed.

Remember: Click on the photos to see them larger!

These crib head and footboards are delightful, romantic. I am very pleased with the results!

Cherubs on Cribs

2008-03-29T00:41:00.005-04:00

Here you can see the results of a few days of work on the cribs; I have been working as fast as I can, until late at night to get this work done in time for their immediate use!
So far so good, I am not behind shedule yet...!

Baby Cribs with Cherubs And Roses

2008-03-29T00:14:00.002-04:00

I have been comissioned to paint the outer end pieces for two baby cribs, for two baby girls yet to arrive, although they are expected quite soon....We are all hoping they wait to get here until after the cribs are all painted. I am working as fast as I can...

I can fit three of the four pieces on my work table....as soon as I complete one, I can get the fourth one going too.

Clock Painting

2008-03-20T21:37:00.007-04:00

I painted the frame around this clock to match the fabric you see below.....
This is something I was able to fit in, while making good progress on the floorcloth. I also had a lot of the same shade of blue paint available from the floorcloth painting!
Perfect timing!! (haha!)(Get it?)

The result is charming, and reminiscent of enamel, batik or French Provincial fabric.

Compass Rose Floorcloth

2008-03-20T00:59:00.003-04:00

This floorcloth is almost done...I got a lot of work done today....

After dinner I fooled around with it a little, and I know that tomorrow I will be able to tweak it a few times and start varnishing it.

It looks really good,; I think the ''starry sky'' part is pretty cool!

Back To Compass Rose Floorcloth

2008-03-19T19:59:00.005-04:00

Here you can see a few pictures during the not yet completed process of painting this latest floorcloth...

Adding the silver makes a big difference...

When the floorcloth is in place on the floor, in an rather low light entrance foyer, the silver is going to really pick up the light that is available and shine!

Small Peony Floorcloth

2008-03-13T20:29:00.003-04:00

This is a MINI floorcloth! A mere 18''x 24'' , it will be a sort of "Door Mat" just inside patio doors.

More Pictures From Restaurant Project

2008-03-12T10:56:00.008-04:00

Here are images of the completed wall painting .

Its really cheerful and smart looking...and it looks very nice at night. The lighting in this are is great to show off the saturated colours...its very inviting.

There is one more phase in this project: This metal screen is going to be covered with my painted fabric.

(Some of the solid walls,door and window reveals, and the trellis you can see partially painted, will also be finished up, later this week, by the house painter.)

So keep checking in to see the fabric being painted, and how it all looks together!

Latest Work In Restaurant

2008-03-08T00:11:00.001-05:00

Cool stripes today!

Restaurant Painting Project

2008-03-06T20:11:00.008-05:00

Here is some fun! Look at these great colours!
This is a back patio type ''room'', in a very nice local restaurant, in Sarasota. The smart Mid Century Modern feel and colour of the exisiting decor elsewhere in the building was the starting point for this look.

This wonderful vermillion exterior wall was already painted: and some inspiration for the new colour scheme.

This wall is still in progress:
more tomorrow!!!

Here is the same wall before I painted it, with the design drawn in chalk.

Here is how the room was before I started; certainly rather restrained, most would agree.

Fish Artwork

2008-03-04T11:59:00.009-05:00

Another project I was working on some weeks ago was to produce a body of artwork on paper or canvas for wall display. Regular old art to hang on the wall. A novel concept for me. This is an ongoing project, and I look forward to getting back to it in a few weeks when I have time. I made some nice pieces, I think. They are mostly on paper. It was hard to stop!

I first stretch the paper, with water, on my work table, to keep it flat when it gets wet while I work.

Click on the images to see them bigger!

These two matching pieces are on canvas.

Wooden Stool

2008-03-04T11:50:00.005-05:00

During the busy last few weeks, I also painted this small wooden stool. In the backround you can see the ver beginning of the Fruit Floorcloth (3 posts ago!)
The theme is modern, and with lots of rich chocolate brown colours. There is a little metalic detail to give it sparkle and sophistication.
Very nice!