Back to College

Nick is moving into an apartment @Miami this year and I offered him a painting of his choice. The consensus with his roommates was Dave Matthews hands down.... 

And so, my summer painting for Nick will be taken up next week as he returns to Miami of Ohio for his Junior year. Love painting for my boys...

Off to College

So now its a tradition: You leave for college with a painting of your choice.

Nick's Mural:

This tradition started with Nick going to college, and moving into his fraternity. I offered to do a painting for him...suggesting his favorite musicians. He jumped on the idea, putting together a list of his favorite rappers. After some photo research and working together, we compiled a working composition. He had a choice of a canvas or a mural. We both agreed there is something cool about a mural...and leaving 'something behind' when you move. So, a mural it was. Here is Nick's mural, now on the wall in the Theta Chi house, Miami University. Its about 4' tall x 5.5'. We did it in one day during the summer.

Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 

Kanye, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z.

Cal's Canvas:

So now its Cal's turn...Cal heads to Ohio State in August. Cal decided on a Large Canvas and made a selection of his rappers. Some were the same as Nick's, some were different. What a cool project to work on with your son. Cal would play the music of the rapper as I was painting...educational and fun. I am grateful to have had this time with Cal.

Tupac, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, 
Kanye, Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi

Cal chose some of his favorite lines from the artist's songs to incorporate.

Cal and I worked together...

Baby Nursery

Cherry Blossoms:

This baby will be surrounded by cherry blossoms in his nursery....

Fraternity Furniture:

Theta Chi Beer Cap Table

He needs college furniture for a Fraternity House – a dresser, a desk, and a coffee table (not that it will ever be used for coffee). I know its going to take a beating and needs to be strong...so its off to the local Thrift store to see what I can find. $70 later, I have 3 sturdy pieces. I can't help myself... have to put my touch on them.

The Beer Cap Table: We added a trim piece to frame the inside of the table and I added a coat of paint. I then arranged our collection of beer caps in my desired pattern. After it was all laid out, I poured coats of a liquid varnish over until the caps were completely covered.

A little paint, some distressing, new hardware and 1000 beer caps (give or take a few).... and we are all set for move-in day.

5 canvas wall hangings: acrylic on canvas

my client loves literature and wanted to bring her warm childhood memories of Robert Louis Stevenson into her home for herself and her family. exerpts were carefully chosen from a much loved book read and re-read to her by her mother, "A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor. we decided not to re-create these wonderful whimsical images and exerpts directly on the wall, but to paint them on canvas so they could one day be re-positioned and shared amongst all the children in the family. they were initially chosen and designed to fit into their youngest child's nursery...filling an expansive 5-paneled wall. Each hangs from a crystal knob, ropes and ribbons. i loved working on these pieces, and it was a joy to see them hanging in such a beautiful environment.

panel #1

panel #2

panel #3

panel #4

panel #5

painted circus panels: acrylic on wood

i painted these two panels on inserts to fit into this cabinet/bar for a friend and client who presently lives in "The Circus House", once owned by John Robinson and family, of the John Robinson Circus. their home is filled with much memorabllia and history of the circus and she wanted to add some whimsy to this cabinet with reproductions of the old Robinson Circus Posters...double click for detail

large canvas pencil sketch of my boys...

i wanted a large canvas painting of my boys over our bed but wanted a very subtle painting, a 'tone on tone' piece. this was the initial pencil sketch (after some added detail). i was going to follow up with a sepia wash (and still may) to go with my neutral bedroom, but i really like this and so do my friends. my children however, want to see the next step. we'll see. i like its quiet presence. too many things seem to shout at us these days. this piece sort of whispers...

(you can double click for more detail)

built in bookcase: painted black, distressed and accented

we had a very dated built-in bookcase in our dinning room. by painting it black and distressing it, it gave it presence and the feel of permanance. I accented it at the top with one of my favorites...wheat...its the Kansas in me i guess.

boys fishing room: painted dresser and bunkbed

this was an old dark wood dresser with broken handles. The handles could not be replaced because they were inset handles and an odd size...so I painted fish themed panels to cover the empty insets and relocated new knobs on the dresser.

the dresser was painted green and distressed to fit the fish-themed little boys room.

an inexpensive bunkbed was accented with fly fishing lures on the end rails. Re-consider before you throw out that dated or slightly damaged piece of furniture. You have options!