Painting

Feb 02 2014

Second Helpings: Painted Lady, Woodstock, IL

By melissasasichambers Holidaze, Second Helpings

Today for Second Helpings, it’s Deja vu all over again!

I mentioned a few posts back that we lived in Woodstock, IL and that I had had the pleasure of transforming a humdrum Victorian into a standout Painted Lady. That house is today’s secondhand transformation.

This is what the house looked like from the side before we made the dramatic changes to the color scheme:

And here’s a view of the same side after I boldly chose to go where no one had gone for one hundred years!

So you’re thinking OK, you’ll allow as how an old house can be considered secondhand (I think we were actually it’s third owners) and since I do “paint everything” it qualifies as one of my art projects. But even taking into account my love of word play and visual puns — February second, secondhand, second hand on the clock…. What the heck does my Painted Lady have to do with Groundhog Day?

Well here’s the thing. The movie starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, which actually happened to be one of Mike’s and my favorites long before we ever moved there, was made in Woodstock, IL. True story.

And even cooler than that, the street that the “Bed & Breakfast” that Bill Murray stays in was three houses down from our house:

The movie filmed in 1993 and we didn’t move there until 10 years later, but there were still annual tours on February 2nd through town and once I looked out my window to see Stephen Tobolowsky (“Needle-nose Ned”) leading a small group past our house to the “B & B” at the end of the block.

Here’s a picture taken probably sometime in February. See icicles, and the snow on the hedge?

I think the groundhog must have seen his shadow every February 2nd because winter always lasted a very long time in Woodstock, IL.

In spite of the cold, Woodstock was a wonderful village to live in. Our house was only four blocks from the town square and I made many friends in the too short time we called it home. They’ve probably forgiven me by now for shaking up tradition with my more colorful approach!

So for February 2nd, my Second Helpings how-to advice is Shake it Up, and Make it Colorful, and do it TODAY. Because as Bill Murray says in the the movie: “Well what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.”

Happy Groundhog Day everybody!

Dec 29 2013

Second Helpings: Painted Cigar Boxes

By melissasasichambers Second Helpings

These may really qualify as “one man’s trash” as opposed to secondhand castoffs finding new life as objet d’art, but either way they start out ordinary, end up special, and that’s enough for me.

I’m talking about painted cigar boxes:

You should have no problem finding a variety of boxes at smoke shops, or if you have a grandpa or an uncle, or even an interesting aunt who relishes a fragrant Cuban now and then (well who wouldn’t?) you may be lucky enough to find these boxes closer to home.

Once you’ve got the box then all you need is paint. I use that same acrylic paint I’ve been painting everything else in creation with…

and when I paint I let little bits of the original cigar brand artwork peek through. I like to pick out words or phrases like “ART” or “CAN DO.”

My patterns lean toward the geometric and often look like quilts. Not much of a stretch for me I guess.

Sometimes I play with the original images on the box and add more of my own to create a little story.

So if your recycling is more likely to end up in your studio than in the blue bin out back, and you would never refer to a raw material as trash — consider the humble cigar box.

And if you run across any fragrant Cubans let me know. I’m working on my Interesting Aunt credential.

Dec 27 2013

An Ordinary…Friday?

By melissasasichambers Ordinary Days

I’m so thrown off schedule by the Holidaze I had to check to see what day of the week it is! (It’s Friday, in case you too are discombobulated.) And being without any annoyingly prioritized “to do” list filling up my head, I decided to do what any other “artist who paints everything” with time on her hands would do… I painted my boots.

No sooner were those boots painted than my feet began to itch for a little adventure. So I put them on, photographed my feet and posted my #fromwhereistand Instagram photo on my Facebook Artist’s page because I am now living in the 21st Century and that’s what I’m supposed to do.

Right?

Anybody?

Then Mike and I went where any other self respecting former US Military Dependents go with time on their hands…to the Army Navy store.

Seriously. If you have never been, you must go. Not only is it a great place to find hats, gloves,

and crash-test dummy face masks,

but you will also find every thickness and color of rope, cord and twine you can ever imagine needing…

for art projects, tying things up, or down, or quickly rappelling down the sides of tall buildings to escape from zombies.

Or perhaps from another former US Military Dependent trying on hats.

Maybe it wasn’t such an Ordinary day after all. But it was Friday.

I’m pretty sure.

Dec 12 2013

TVAA’s Third Annual Foray Exhibition + Opening Update

By melissasasichambers Exhibitions

The show is hung and it looks great. The staff at Boise State Public Radio are happy to have art back on the walls, and it always feels wonderful to have them tell us things like “I know I say this every time, but this is the best show yet!”

Sue Latta and I spent an entire day getting it up on the walls. No surprise there, 67 pieces is the biggest show we’ve hung so far.

Sue is great to work with because she brings that fresh perspective I was talking about on the 11th to the process.

She’ll tweak what I’ve laid out just enough to tighten things up. She’s like that pinch of salt or splash of lemon juice that you didn’t know you needed in the soup, but once it’s added it makes all the difference. Plus she can do ridiculous math. In her head.

Mike’s and my pieces ended up side by side. I had not placed them together being wary of the “Mike and Melissa Show” accusations, but Sue didn’t give a rip about that, and I agree that wall is better for her rearrangement.

Next up, the Opening on the 13th. It should be quite the crowd with 67 artists and their entourages. Oh, and it’s supposed to snow!

December 14, 2013

It did NOT snow fortunately, and we had a great turnout. As often happens, I totally forgot to take pictures at the Opening itself, but luckily Mike took a few and here are two including one of me with my new haircut. Yes, it’s true. I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Pun intended.

Nov 27 2013

Dining Room Painted Rug, Part 2

By melissasasichambers My Artist Home

Gaaaaahhh! Caught not quite finished with my project. I really only have one or two more colors to go and then the sealer, but for now I’ve got to call it a day. Here’s today’s progress sequence:

We’ll see how dedicated to this paint job I am tomorrow. NOT! It’s Thanksgiving and I am getting excited about that. I got my pies and the cranberry sauce made today and the only brush I intend to pick up tomorrow is the basting brush! Gobble Gobble!!