The "June 20" are Finally Complete!

"Scratch", 8"x8", collaged paper, black ballpoint ink and white Prismacolor pencil on cradled hardboard, $250.

Well hi there! How are you? Did you miss me?

I'm sorry I've left this blog inactive for such a long time. I just haven't had the time or the will to write.  The bug to blog finally hit again, so here I am!

I'm proud to report that I have finally met my goal of crafting 20 new pieces in the month of June! Well, actually, I made 19 new pieces in June and just got around to #20 (pictured here) this week. Better late than never right? You can see all 20 pieces here.

This new piece is based on a photo I shot out at Scratch Brewery, in Ava, Illinois. Scratch has quickly become one of our favorite places in Southern Illinois.  Out in the middle of nowhere, the Scratch team has built a charming indoor/outdoor tasting room where they brew and serve incredibly tasty beers. Yum! Scratch is filled with all sorts of interesting chairs, so you'll be seeing more pieces based on photos I've shot there.

So let's talk about this new piece. I was immediately drawn to the contrast of the mismatched wooden chairs against the rusty red siding. I had actually photographed this spot on several different trips to Scratch, but finally captured the perfect shot/lighting on our last visit. As my followers know, I'm very drawn to cast shadows, and I liked the shadows these chairs cast onto the siding.

This piece is indeed for sale! I don't tend to list these larger originals on Etsy as they don't sell there, so if you are interested in this one, do shoot me an email.

Do let me know what you think of this new piece! Hope all is well in your world. Ta-Ta!

We Bought a Fixer - The Built-in got Bigger!

Hi again. How are you?

I had a really productive day in my studio, pumping out some new work. 

I just couldn't tear myself away to write my Wednesday post until now! 

A few weeks back, Matt added a little extension to our built-in.

He constructed a desk to span the space between the bookcase and the entertainment center.

Pretty smart use of space if I do say so myself! 

Despite the fact that there are "his and hers" chairs here, Matt has claimed this as his domain. 

I'm totally OK with that....as I have my "secret room" studio.

(I promise to show you my studio when I get it fully decorated!)

We recently picked up this sharp looking desk chair at a yard sale for $5. What a steal!

We love its warm, worn look, and clean lines. 

I've had this chair in my personal collection for years.

I love the way it plays against the dark, heavy desk chair. 

Well, that's all I've got to say about that. 

What you you think about our newest DIY? Do tell!

 

P.S. Be on the look out for new listings in my Etsy shoppe any day now!

2013 Calendars Now Available!

Hi! How are you?

I'm happy to report that my 2013 wall calendars are printed and ready to go!

Each calendar page measures 8.5" x 11" and features one of my chair illustrations. The pages are left loose so you can hang them all together or just one at a time. A small binder clip is included for easy hanging on a hook or nail.

You can buy a 2013 calendar right now in my Etsy shoppe! 
In the very near future, you can pick one up at my holiday shows in Southern Illinois and at the Rockford Art Museum Gift Shop.

Have a great day my friends. Ta-Ta! 

Chairs beget chairs

Hey there art fans? How are you today?

A friend of mine, Tabatha Dougherty challenged herself to create a drawing a day for 100 days, and she's just one day away from finishing. What an accomplishment!

I was flattered to find out that drawing #96 (seen here) was inspired by my own chair drawings.  So cool! There's a quirky personality in each of these chair drawings that I find so appealing. They remind me of David Hockney's work (one of my personal art heros).  Well done Tabatha!

You probably won't hear much out of me for the next few days. Matt, Jack and I are getting in the car bright and early Friday morning to head up to the Chicago suburbs for a family wedding. Then we get back in the car Saturday morning and drive back to Carbondale (a six hour trip) for another wedding. A ton of driving, but hopefully for much fun.

Ta-Ta for now!