The Artistic Utilitarian (no longer an oxymoron)

                 util·i·tar·i·an /jʊˌtɪləˈterijən/ adjective

     1: made to be useful rather than to be decorative or comfortable

In the world called "Beautiful", there are some imperfections we love.  They can set things apart; make them unique.  The one odd red chair in a room can suddenly make it feel balanced or bring an inspiration of fun.   

Imperfections can be celebrated.  But, sometimes, they can't.

So often, a room design is implemented and comes together beautifully, until...

the utilitarian comes to play:

outlet covers, heating vents, ironing boards, speaker covers -

the kill-joys of the design world.

Over the years, I have come to the realization that everything can change.  Nothing has to stay the way it is.  Objects may still have to be around us for function, but they do not have to be seen.  Isn't paint a wonderful thing?  Even the most functional object can become artistic and stylistic.

            ¹cam·ou·flage /ˈkæməˌflɑ:ʒ/ noun - 1 [noncount] a : a way of hiding something by painting it or  covering it with  leaves or branches to make it harder to see - "indiscernible from the surrounding environment through deception."

Did you catch that?  Deception!  This is when it is okay to be deceitful...all parents approve.

Look!

                        Generic lumberyard floor vents become deceptive chameleons.

                Electrical covers over new and expensive tile are a design blemish requiring attention.

 









ironing boards...



 



 

speaker covers...

                                ...everything can become a piece of the design element.

    To inspire even more opportunities in the art of disappearing and camoflauge, I suggest looking at the art of Liu BoLin who uses his spectacular ability to "become invisible".  http://www.liubolinart.com/

Electrical covers are silly in comparison to his work, but the people who have watched them disappear are almost more ecstatic about that camoflauge than they are about their new tile. 

It's the little things...



Sports Fans

The sports world has kindly evaded me most of my life.  However, now that I have a young boy, I am experiencing the maternal thrill of watching my child throw himself completely into a game.  I am now admittedly loving the soccer mom experience.

Enter...sports.

Home and work...

My daughter, Sidney, helps me on a regular basis.  She too, was never concerned with team athletics.  But, this month, our creative days have found themselves wrapped around the basketball industry.  The research before a project has always been almost as fun as the project itself.  We now know that "Celtics" is pronounced with a soft 'C', that the NBA's quarters are 12 minutes long and that Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the same height.

This room was envisioned by a 13-year old with a love of the "old-school" players.  There were not the appropriate "Fat Heads" to stick on the wall, so I was hired to apply them...with paint.  Oh, the wonders of paint.

The room has little tiny basketball hoops on each side that get used daily.  When the request was made to have the players around one of the hoops, my response was, "Sure."  But, upon drawing Michael Jordan, Sidney and I quickly realized that the ball was not going to go into that net. Therefore, we expanded the visual size of the board and net so Mr. Jordan could now sink that ball.

The mural then expanded to include a crowd scene.

and then...

...a valance was created to complete the room.  Here, I learned quarter times and that when a green light is on under the "POSS" it is letting me know who has the ball. :)

Oh, but wait...the bathroom!  I suggested adding the signatures of the players in here.  The idea continued to expand from there and the idea was presented to make the whole room into a basketball looking like the signatures were signed on it.  A shower curtain was sewn and I painted it to complete the look.  Sidney was the "forging queen" for this part of the project.  What did I learn in this room?  Sidney used to forge my signature often in high school....  apparently, the practice paid off. 

My "Dream" Project



In my last posting, a full year ago, I can be quoted as saying, "I have yet to be asked to paint a Winterscape."  The quote was made because I have done a large number of beach scenes, but had never been asked for a winter scene.

From May to October this past year, I spent my time working on not only the largest project I have undertaken to date, but was also given the most precious gift of complete creative freedom to accomplish my vision for my client's space.  With the only directive being a specific subject matter chosen by my clients and their designer, I was able to focus on all the specific details that made the end result perfect.

 In this subject matter, I found the "winterscape" commission I've been longing for, as well. 

This wasted attic dormer space provided wonderful angles and spaces with which to play.

Pictured here is a hidden staircase with a dress-up closet underneath.

I was able to pull in all of my favorite carpet layers, wood carvers, furniture makers, seamstresses, decorators, electricians and artists to help with my specific details.

The staircase leads to the highest dormer where we created a treehouse overlooking the rest of the space.

Favorite books were chosen to decorate the stair risers.



Wildlife was added throughout in the paintings.

 


The homeowners found the empty attic space when remodeling their home.  Immediately, they thought of turning this into a playspace for their grandchildren.  It turned into more than any of us could imagine and will be cherished for years.