Certification Results

Here is my first board in an attempt to educate myself and earn my CDA
I got a 60 on the board and am darn pleased to have it.. a 75 is passing and those 75's look very "perfect" I knew some of my flawed areas going in and
had some misconceptions which got me a lower score but for the most part I can agree with the judges opinions and it shows me where I can grow..

The entire point of this to me is not to worry about letters after my name but to Streeeeetch myself and challenge myself to GROW.. My one complaint is.. the two choices.. still life or Stroke.. I really wish they had a "folk art category" That is where I live at as an artist.. But the lessons learned from any test can be applied to all ART in one format or other.. I proud of myself for my efforts and if you read the post below this you can see a direct result of my taking the time to study and learn..

Why I decided to streeeetch my self with certification

Last year I experienced alot of frustration with color and decided that the only way I would improve my designing would be to give myself a deadline..
So I embarked on the Society of Decorative Painters Certification program..
It came with a deadline and it was waaay out of my comfort zone..

I finished my board and sent it in.. but.. a week before I find out the results..
I repainted a design from my pre-color-study era.. and I think the difference speaks VOLUMES..

The first picture was the best I could do at the time.. and the second one is todays piece..
I have always liked this project.. the idea of it.. but always felt it fell short of what it "could be"

Ahhh.. that was a year of studying well spent.. and now no matter if I pass or fail .. I truly
can see the results for myself!

I passed.. These were my goals.. at least I have become a better artists and designer..

Inspiration

From Robert Genns newsletter http://www.painterskeys.com

Esoterica: Poverty of excitement and weakness of creative
opportunism can develop from a poverty of observation.
Opportunities appear meager to those who are not habitually
open. Part of our job as creators is to develop the faculty of
being impressed with our environment. "Motivation is in the
world around us. We have an infinite amount of material at our
disposal, in the lives of those we meet, in what we see, feel
and discuss." (Pablo Picasso)

I loved this phrase poverty of excitement...

When asked about my perpetual optimism... and creativity.. I realize that I am always open to ???? life...
recently I was cresting a hill in my little purple PT cruiser.. The "Patty Wagon"
and the road was washed out.. as the brakes went on.. and the car was skidding on gravel I saw two things.. the water looming and a ditch.. in slow motion.. the car stopped in front of the 3 feet of water and went"plop" into the ditch the passenger side wheels.. embedded in muck!

My future daughter in law was with me.. we were returning from a family ski trip and had been on the road for 5 hours.. We were within a mile of home and I was leaving on a trip to Omaha the following day.. I needed my car I needed to do laundry and I needed to be home..
but here I was.... two choices? mad??? or happy? I choose to see the humor.. after we called AAA ( bonus, it paid for this years fees) we took silly pictures of the stuck car.. and then realized we had the leftover provisions from the ski trip... hmm.. any Corona left? by golly.. there was..
we even had some bar stools that a restaurant at the ski resort was giving away.. the sun was shining..it was so pretty watching the birds finding food in the very flooded river... and we took time to chat and giggle.. an hour and a half later we got home.. relaxed.. and ready to tackle the delayed chores...

By staying open to the positive.. this circumstance became a good memory and funny story..
if I had stressed and fumed.. it would have been preserved as a nightmare.. I wouldn't trade the memory of that time shared with Jules for anything...

What would happen if you kept your mind open and played "pollyanna" or the glad game... with everything ? How many opportunities would arise? How much more creative would you BE?



Keeping your mind open in the face of uncertainty is the single most powerful secret of unleashing your creative potential. (Michael J. Gelb)

Hop aboard the creativity Express!

Patty

Class with Kingslan and Gibilisco

I just returned from a class in Omaha NE> with Ann Kingslan and her daughter Mary Gibilisco..
It was a design and color theory type class..
and what a brain stretcher it was for me..

The idea is they send you a line drawing.. and you can make color decisions before you come to class. This is all fine.. except my brain.. does a one hundred percent shut down.. when looking at someone elses drawing.. so I came to class without any ideas.. probably smart for me..

Then we were to bring oil paints.. either regular oils or Genesis .. not being a fan of oils.. I wanted to work in an acrylic,, but I wanted to bring paints along that would work like oils.. and offered an equivalent for mixing.. I wanted to really focus on the color side of a project.. So I converted my Traditions basic colors.. about 6-8 colors plus the grey scale.. to Globals..

The picture that is posted was the result of alot of learning and some really great teaching..
I realized I cannot begin a composition without a customer.. ie.. I have to have inspiration..
so I chose a place to hang this artwork.. a guest bedroom.. and used the colors from the room to dictate the pallet.. Once I had this.. it was easier..

I also realized.. I NEVER paint still lifes.. I never ever cast shadows.. and if I shade I do it as a folk artist.. for effect not realism... when I paint flowers they are part of the surface.. never in a vase.. this week really showed me the spaces in my education.. I really learned an immense amount... even though I know realize I AM A FOLKARTIST.. I will be able to use all that I learned in the art that I do..

One last note.. the Traditions paints were DELIGHTFUL to use.. I mixed up the entire bottles of the colors I was to bring as globals.. .. and shipped them via UPS ahead of class..
so I wouldn't have to worry about the airlines.. I also put them into zip lock bags in the box I sent.. just incase they opened or whatever.. they were perfect..

Off to apply what I learned..

Patty

Senator Clinton visits our tiny town!

Some days start rather anonymously, mundane things,
same old same old.. and then a call comes in, and suddenly
you find yourself shaking the hand of a Presidential
candidate Hillary Clinton, interviewing her , serving breakfast to the secret service, chatting with Chelsea Clinton and meeting the Governor of our State and for Amanda she got to see herself on CNN later that evening !

Amazing when one of our wonder gals has this happen but for both of them to have this experience it was pretty amazing! They were both brought to this circumstance via different events. and both took a completely different view on the events.
They have both written a short overview of the experience to share..


Amanda's Story:
Thursday started out as another mundane go-to-school-go-to-work day......AND THEN.........as I was sitting my Communication Law class (day dreaming about tole painting, of course)....my professor got a call from someone at the police department that Senator Hillary Clinton was on her way to Bob Evans. My professor offered me the opportunity to meet and interview Senator Hillary Clinton and write an article about it. Being a PR major, I thought it was the ultimate "big deal story" for my news portfolio....writing stuff....resume...and so on. I rushed out of class and to the restaurant. It was so exciting! There were media people from everywhere!! CNN, Newsweek, NBC, CBS, local channels, newspaper....and some I didn't know. It was quite the adrenaline rush. The place was PACKED!!! And talk about those secret service agents?? I want to run for president. {Laugh out Loud, wink, wink} Honestly, though, it was a great experience and I got to talk to Senator Clinton about some interesting topics. I also gained some very valuable insight into the media world. Hands-on is so much better than reading about it in a text book. To sum it up and top it off.....I made it onto CNN and made a few great memories.....AND.....I got my news story for my portfolio. It made for a very exciting and successful day!


Glenna's Story:
Wow! Hillary Clinton at Bob Evans in Rio Grande Ohio. She was the first Presidential candidate to ever stop at a little town like this. It was really exciting even though I have no intention of voting for her. She had her daughter Chelsea with her. It was exciting to see all the people that turned out to see her. She brought her own press in on a charter bus and she had 2 vehicles that had her security people in them. Not everyone gets a chance to meet someone like this and I can say I saw Hillary Clinton. Pretty exciting wouldn't you say? Hope you get the chance to do the same.

Painting from the Heart!

I spend alot of time painting projects.. but they may not always be the ones I "want" to be working on..

When you paint for Magazines.. there may be a need for a grapes project.. but not room for a clever easter project.. you can't really dictate to the editors what and when.. you have to follow their lead! I love all my projects.. and I still love painting it .. but there may be something else I'm dying to work on!

So my resolution is to PAINT WHAT I WANT.... 2 projects per month.. they will still become Packets and DVD's but I get to call the shots.. I don't care if anyone else likes it.. or if there is space for it in a publication.. This may be where I finally find a "me" style.. I have so many styles.... I have denied this for a looong time.. and the frustration has been burning.. So over Christmas while the shop was closed down.. and the family was playing with gifts.. I stole away.. like a kid with a candy bar and worked on the first one...
It has been inside fighting to come out for about one year.. since I did the Gingerbread Express for Painting Magazine..


I may not be the best Judge but I think Halloween Express won the fight.. and I am thrilled with this new creation..

My Paints are Global

WEll it took my paints about one week to turn Global..
That is for the extender to replace the water so that the paints stay open .

I have made my paint chips for the traditions line..
Now I am going to begin working thru mixing the colors for value and Intensity.
I will post as I get them done..

Wish me luck..

Patty

Journey thru color

I am such a procrastinator..
I own sets of
David Jansen DVD's on Color ..
Jo Sonja's Color Theory Book
and Kingslans book on Color Theory
BUT.......

Have I worked thru these.. nope... ((cringe))

Okay.. today is the first day of the rest of my life.. I will never master this unless I start..
How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time ..
Intentional living .. right.. walk your walk.. Ya right..
well, A girl has to try at least .. so lets see how I do..

Part of mt struggle has been most color theory books start with "pure" pigments.. and I am a
card carrying Bottle Baby.. Delta, Deco Art and I used to adore the Country Colors line..

Oils.. shmoils.. way too complicated.. It has to wash well with water or I ain't touch'in it

So along comes The Traditions line of acrylics..
all available in pure pigments.. and you can convert them to "global" paint (acts like oils ) just by replacing the water with Extender .. A great video is available free online at Jansens site
So I took out my paints some of which I have owned for 2 years..
and began to created my limited palette. Using the colors called out in
The JansenArt Traditions , Artist's Technical Guide on page 56


I am going to document my Journey thru this or however far I get ..
I squirted out the paints trying to lay them out in color wheel fashion..
I screwed this up by putting one of my yellows in the wrong place.. but after you have it in there how ya gonna take it out? ewwww.. Messsy
so I left it and went to plan "B" labels..
All the books that I have on theory call things by slighly different names.. the Traditions book has a conversion.. so I will know which colors to use.. once I get the paints switched to global.

David calls for 30% extender mixed into these paints.. so I estimated.. mixed them with the back of a brush

It is 10 AM I will see how long this process takes for me here in SO Ohio..

The idea being to evaporate out the water in the paint and replace it with extender
Watch the video it's cool..
One note.. The paints that I bought before I moved, so well over a year ago.. have been sitting around.. in boxes etc.. I haven't touched them.. but guess what? I did NOT need to shake any of them at all..
The next few days will be stirring in extender and watching All of the Jansen DVD"s and reading Kingslans Book.. so when I have paints ready I will be ready for action.. I just ordered the Kingslan Video as well.. I promised myself I have to watch all of the other stuff I have before the new gets here.. and I can't order the Lillidahl set I want until I work thru the Kingslan Book..
WE'll see how my stamina holds up..

Oh by the way the process of mixing the extender pulling the paints etc only took a few minutes
so not a big time investment.. at this point..

Ohhhhh and it was very pleasing looking into the pretty colors while mixing them.. so PURE and VIBRANT! I do love color!

Patty

MY Life..My Clubhouse!

My Bible study this morning took me to Hebrews..
I am on my 5th trip more or less thru the Bible.. and I don't remember being impressed with Hebrews before..
Hebrews 12:1
"let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross"

I take such a calm from this passage.. Fear melts away.. because I know that I do have a race that I "myself" am meant to run.. Not some happenstance.. flibbertigibbet..
Almost like being given a club house as a kid.. we didn't bemoan what kind of clubhouse we got.. we set about decorating it.. or making keepout signs.. etc.. IT was "MY CLUBHOUSE"
Perfect for me.. I remember being perfectly satisified that it was the coolest..
So.. taking the clubhouse metaphor and applying it to life..
This is my life.. the "coolest" life there is..
because it is ALL MINE!
now.. that being said.. it is up to me to make the most out of this perfect fit life of mine.. being given the perfect set of tools to handle everything I am dealt within this life.. Keeping my eyes on the lord for advice and a roadmap..
Wow.. all mine.. I better get busy.. making signs.. or decorating..
I guess I can't make a "no Boys allowed sign".. since I have 5 sons! ((wink))

Chicken Littles

These are the latest additions to our Home.. Aren't they adorable!
25 little feathered friends!

I can just about taste the fresh eggs already..
Yum!!

Bad Dog!

Our Latest Family member.. Ace a Border Collie,, water baby..

This is him after he decided the decorative pond is a doggie bath...
His normal routine after he is done with the bath is to slide under the stairs in the dirt.. which makes his name "MUD" in my book!

If he wasn't so cute.. I'd scream...

The Writing is on my Wall

Writing on the walls with meaningful sayings is a such a fun way to personalize your home..

These words embody my philosophy in life.. I know that God has a firm hand on my life and I give him full credit..

I think the Kitchen needs some quote like..
"Time Flies like an Arrow
Fruit flies like a banana"

The veiw from my Front porch looking Out!

From The new house

Well we made it!
This is the veiw from our front yard.. and it is as pretty from every angle!
We are still organizing , but mostly have the boxes empty.. Yeah!

My first international Magazine article

It is very exciting to get the mail some days....
Last summer I came up with a sweet design on a little watering can and since the lettering was done in French I thought I would go ahead and submit it to the French painting magazine
Coup de Pinceau, they are distributed thru France and Quebec, Canada.. does that mean I went double International in one article???
get two countries with one publication?

Yippeee! Skippy! You can bet that this artist is walking on fluffy French clouds today!

The process was interesting, thank fully the editor speaks English pretty well.. and could answer questions..

• I sent for the editorial guidelines and when I received them I had a few questions.
  
• After I got the answers I sent emailed picture submissions to the editor. She sent back almost immediately that she thought the project suited her summer issue..
• I worked up the instructions and packed up the piece
• I sent the instructions to gal who does translations for me
• After I got them back I forwarded them to the editor..
  

Pretty simple.. then it is the same old waiting game.. do the artwork and sit and wait for the article to come out so you can get paid and feel the satisfaction of doing your job! Seeing the work come out in print is pretty cool...

So tonight I think I must celebrate with French bistro music, candles... and French Wine..
Oui! Oui!

Bon Nuit!
Patty

My First Painted Project

My friend kathy told me we were going to learn to "Tole" paint... I asked her what a "TOLE" was and she took me to my first shop... we bought the book from Marie Cole that this project was in .. and promptly went out and bought both of our husbands.. scroll saws...
This is Ted's first project... notice one of the thumbs is... um... shall we say "deformed"????
(grin) I think he has come a long way baby... we won't even talk the painting, OKAY??!!

I cracks me up... Kathy gave me the book and told me to give it a try... please understand that I failed ART in high school... and yes I attended classes... I stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG.. to do this project and in the morning I was so excited about how GREAT?? it was that I hopped on my bike and peddled over to Kathy's and showed her... she was so delighted .. that we right there on the spot decided to go into business.. LOL! We made 100 of these snowmen candycane holders... and hundreds of other items.. I will tell you, it will help you learn to paint when you paint 100 of each thing... Although even with the repetition it took me two years to learn floating... I had young children and the DH worked 80 hours per week.. so no classes for me... One of the reasons I am so passionate about having free lessons online is because of this experience..
I hope this embarrassing moment helps others to be brave and keep on painting!

My Front Porch and a welcome sign

Moving! Uhg!
But...... I have to say my front porch looks nice!
We have our house listed now and are showing it every day, I hope this process won't take too long..

I painted the Welcome sign today.. I wanted to keep busy.. tap.. tap... tap.... waiting for the house to sell...
I love geraniums and wanted to have a welcome sign that went with the "new do" colors and flowers etc..
Click on the title to see a close-up of the welcome sign

Star Spangled Lazy Susan

This is what happens when you cross a veteran/ Army Brat/ wife of a retired CMSGT with a need for a 4th of July lazy susan panel!
An over the top star spangled horn blowing Flag waving tribute to all that is good in our country !
The words around the center compass read: Liberty, Justice, Equality and America.. I am proud to be an American!
This surface is our 4 season Lazy susan.. the panels stack on the black square Uncle Sam is standing on..
The center pieces can be interchanged, the square post has a super strong magnet on it.. so you simply make sure to use a screw in the bottom of your new centerpiece...

Curly Floorcloths

Whew fiasco avoided! When I applied the Two step crackle to this floorcloth, imagine my terror when I came to check out the cracking process... All CURLY!!
I waited for it to dry completly.. and got out my trusty Steam Iron.. ( that I never use) (wink)
I laid it upside down in a large self healing "quilt" cutting mat. and steamed those Curls away!
Whew... catastrophe averted! by an Iron no less...
If you don't own an Iron it might be time to pick one up used at a garage sale.. to keep on hand for painting emergencies!

Sharpening Your Saw

When we get ready to paint or try something new those niggling doubts can come clammoring in...

• How do I know if I am ready for a harder project?


• Am I ready for that class?


• Sharpen your saw....???
  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do I know that "I CAN?"
1. Desire..
(None of us were ready to be parents, but we had the desire so we figured it out!)
2. Begin
Figure out a way to begin , that isn't threatening to you, paint on cardboard, paint in secret if you are embarrased, take a class and have someone hold your hand..
3. Finish it or throw it away...
I know this sounds severe... but we all know what happens if we start something and then loose steam? or it is too hard...We are riddled with guilt right? Out of site out of mind.. either complete it so the guilt doesn't get you.. or toss it.. Goodwill whatever..
Curiously .. I know we have all burned eggs in our lives.. or my personal favorite.. They don't flip right and look really ugly.. or I pop the yolk... Do we keep the evidence? Nope.. we feed the dog... or toss it... The same should apply with projects who's yolk has popped! Then since the men folk are still hungry you begin again or take out the Oatmeal right?

Am I ready for that Class?
Yes!!!

Being ready for class is a mind set, if you know your skills are not quite up to par, but are certain you want to take the class.. Take it! (period) Opportunities do not appear everyday that inspire us.. take the class!

The key is... Don't be a WHINER!
if your not ready or the class is uncomfortable... put your brushes down and take notes. Quietly.
I am taking a three day class from David Jansen March 17, 18 and 19 here in Portland
I am certain that I am not ready for the third day of Zhostovo but I am equally certain that I will learn alot on that day that I didn't know before.

Sharpen Your Saw

a man was trying to chop down a tree with a dull saw, he was at it for hours... another man passing by suggested he stop and sharpen the saw... But the man said.. I can't stop to sharpen my saw because I am busy trying to cut down this tree..

Dull saws come in all shapes and sizes...

• Bad brushes will never make good art! Buy good ones.. ask a teacher what she recommends
  
• Isolation won't get you excited like sharing your passion, Take a class, go to convention, teach a friend, surf e-bay, join a painting list
  
• Skills will never improve if you don't try something new

So we have Permision to begin ~~ We have desire~~Are we women or Wimps?

Sing with me ladies...
I can bring home the bacon..

Let my husband fry it up in the pan..
I've painting to do! and now I know I can!!

GRIN!
Have a great day!

Patty

Taking away by adding (New Math?)

I have always been resistant to the word NO. Maybe because it is so negative...
I am not really clear why, maybe I was told this many times as a child, or I am a spoiled brat used to getting my own way? Could be I guess... who knew? (grin)

I have finally lived long enough to realize that "To thine own self be true" should be a mantra that we all live by.. which simply means work with what you've got...
I have been dealt a personality that cannot will not accept the word NO.. so I have learned that you can remove ( say NO) to things in my life by adding the yes's.
I call this "subtraction by addition"..

When I remove things from my life I tend to be all or nothing which creates a Vaccuum that always seems to get filled with stuff I didn't mean to add..
For example if I diet..I will reduce what I eat, good and bad, but when I get hungry, (the vacuum) then I will add stuff like candy Which I don't really even like..
But if I diet by adding.. 8 Glasses of water a day.. or bonus extra Salads, plus what I normally eat I seem to fair much better... I try to add only extra good stuff.. because Good stuff is a reward right? I fill up with good stuff my body is quite happy and the extra water will only benifit me.

When painting if I tell myself NO more "until" I will resist.... Instead I add the "Until" before I paint which means I am very motivated to get done, and ultimately have more time to paint! Bonus!

I know, I Know...... mind games... But I have learned when you share these things you always click with others who are discovering the same things... We are all sisters and brothers struggling with our human spirit!

My No Block has it's benifits.... I am a determined Mother, Painter, Businesswomen,
Friend, and Child of God..

Have a happy YES Day!
Patty

~~Root'in~~ Toot'in ~~Hoot'in~~

Some jobs are just like a party!
I just returned from Hoot: Heart of Ohio Tole' annual Convention.
All I have to say is "Oh What FUN!!"
I arrived on Sunday with the early arrivals, and even standing in line to register at the hotel is FUN... The whole line is filled with other painters who are just as excited to be there as you are .
We spent the 30 or 40 minutes catching up and learning what was exciting to other painters in different parts of the country.
.
I personally could talk Tole with others for ever I think...
To be surrounded by others as excited and passionate about painting as you are is a great joy.
After registration it was up to the room to meet the new Room mates.. this is another exciting adventure, Roni and Carol and I had never met each other, turns out we all teach painting and all like wine, which made for some very late nights and some very funny moments!!
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I taught my first class on monday eve. and it was a very nice way to begin the week,
The class began at 6:30 at night which meant that those staying in the Drury had imbibed in happy hour ...Um... Happiness? before arriving.. ( the Drury serves three free cocktails each night in their lobby/ meal room) Those who indulged recieved happy stickers as they sat down.( which they continued to wear like badges of courage the rest of the show) With a threat to take away their Stickers if they got out of hand, they were truly well behaved. (grin) The hero brush of the class was the Loew- Cornell 7040 series round #2, alot of the students had never done stroke work before and all were able to successfully make strokes in the class, I had lots of feedback that the floating lesson was a great success as well. ( You can find that in the Folk Art Village archives on the web site)
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Tuesday began booth set up, which was the UN-FUN part of the show for me... Normally I drive out with family helpers, this year the van just gave up the ghost and without a new replacement it seem like folly to do more than just fly out alone and ship the goods.. No help and a recovering ankle ( surgery) made all of the walking, dragging and back and forth trips seem like torture... Sandy LeFlore was my hero and saved me by transporting a pile of boxes on her secretly stashed dolly oh what a woman! Then she honored us by buying the first official copy of our new book "Christmas from the Northwest" Christmas From the Northwest. The Lace ornament class that day went terrific though and was more like play time for me... I really enjoy teaching that class and the results are always so great for every one. The class format closely follows the format of the Lace E-Packets on my web site so if you missed out on this class they are a good substitution with lots of great pictures and step by steps.
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Wednesday the final booth tweaking happens the atmosphere on the trade floor on this day of set up is always so light and good hearted... The attitude of other vendors is wonderful and everyone helps each other out, Painters are great people! I always run into old friends and get a few moments of catch-up, Gretchen Cagle always looks so calm and serene and her booth is always as gracefull as she is.. Rebecca Baer and her family were saints and donate some unused parts to make everything come together in my booth ( Thanks so much guys!) Karen Jonston and her husband Sam were in the booth across from me and fairly adopted me as a lost cause trying to be super duper woman ... Hmmm some one hide my cape okay?!
Wednesday night the registered painters get to come in and it all becomes worth it.. as the work you have done for months flys out the doors in packages and rolling carts...

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As the end of the week arrived the friday afternoon ornament class was quite funny, Did you know that when women have spent a week torture testing their stamina and not getting any sleep and trying to learn everything thay can, that they begin acting like 5 year olds? We had it all, and began to laugh as we identified the behaviors... Rollllling eyes..... STAMPING feet.... Whining..... Begging..... By the end we were all laughing and I think the levity helped alot..
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Saturday morning and the Gossamer Wings on coasters was great time with a full class of tired but brave women determined to finish and they did! They were little trains that could! As we tore down the booth on Saturday I can honestly say I have never ever been as tired as I was then... But oh... What fun!
My friend Sharon Woolsey gave me a pain pill and took me out for some wine...

Ah I love a happy ending! ( ps.. I even came home to a clean house, how's that for happy endings?)

I hope to see you next year at the Root'in-est Toot'in-est HOOT! in Town!

Every Painting has a Journey...

Yesterday, as I sat and began my latest assignment... I was very restless...I got the base colors on, but..I couldn't seem to settle into the task.

I have a deadline for this piece though so I forced myself to sit and focus....then the process began...It is really amazing how a piece of inanimate tin can become a journey... A journey of discovery..what does the piece want to say?..What do I as the artsist feel inspired by today?...
As I meandered the paths of this design, coaxing out the look of a Nostalgic Christmas...Add a little stripe here, "Oh.. I know.. I know..some lettering, oh but what font?" hmmm .. When I allowed myself to engage in the journey of that piece a marvelous thing happened...My restlessness left, I was fully involved, and I enjoyed myself...

The piece is finished but it's journey will continue. It will fly off to New Jersey it will appear in a magazine and who knows maybe someone else will be inspired by my afternoon of discovery and paint one of their own, maybe their journey will be one of skill building and they will give it as a gift to develop a journey of friendship.

It occurs to me that every single thing that I do involves a journey.. A journey of Developement.. Discovery...Joy...Pain... and that I hold the power in my hands to "ENGAGE" in the journey and be involved or stand on the sidelines as a disinterested bystander...

Tin Surfaces at An Artful Touch 

An Artful Touch

An Artful Touch is open and up and running!

Sharon Woolsey, the Owner of An Artful Touch, has done a wonderful job of stocking the shop with amazing product and surfaces! I hope that every Decorative Painter within driving distance makes it a point to visit Sharon at An Artful Touch.
She has stocked the entire Line of Delta, JoSonja and DecoArt . She has So Much Tin and Wood in stock that it puts Artist Club in it's Prime to Shame. And she has Ordered her wood from Woodworkers here in the US. Which means you are getting the best quality there is..
She has all of the Dec Painting Magazines... Paint works, Quick and Easy, Decorative Artists WorkBook, Holiday Painting, Tole World. There are So many Packets I don't even know where to begin! Sharon has only had here shop open for 1 month and has created a masterpiece already!

She is offering Seminars, Ronnie Bringle is coming soon! Please visit her web site to See all that she has to Offer... And Please to help our industry Sread the news about Sharons shop with absolutly everyone you know of that has an interest in painting!

The best part I have saved for last... Sharon is one of the nicest ladies you will meet, truly commited to this shop and to decorative Painting. IT doesn't get any better than this ladies!
Grab those Car Keys and Go see what is Happening!
Happy Painting
Patty

Oh Yeah Sharons Adress and Web site...
(I got too excited!)

An Artful Touch
Sharon Woolsey
12437 116th AVE NE
Kirkland WA 98034
425-823-2336
www.artfultouchpainting.com

Will - Power

Isn't it funny how some days thoughts wander into your head and suddenly your whole world get turned on it's end?
This mornings thought was ...Do I want to shower? Then came a long stream of mental arguing about the pro-s and cons, will I be going somewhere later... I showered last night is that enough...What does my hair look like...????? Finally I stopped my-self and refraised the question .. Will I shower today? What an amazing difference! The answer ..Yes. and I did.... Of course then comes the philosphy question and answer session (while I am in the shower of course, I do the most profound thinking while standing under a warm blast of water) I began to ponder on other questions that Will I ..would simplify ... God does not ask us if we want to have faith ..He say Will you? Then there are no arguments..You answer yes or No...

This is about painting too....When we face a difficult line or stroke our attitude is everything. A confidant "Yes I will!" make a nice stroke, looks alot better than a questioning "Can I?" stroke! And a "yes I will" gives us the determination to wipe off a mistake and try again.

I think "Will I? " has the power to effect great changes.. Let's look at it for a moment. When you ask yourself Will I? ... you answer and there is no guilt or questioning.. or blame...What a relief.. No I won't! is a very powerfull statement. I am not suggesting that there is no thinking involved. But the process becomes a positive process.

I believe that "I Will?" leads to "I did" and that leads to..."I am"

All positive statements? Think of the profound change this could have in your life.

Identify your desired outcome or goal and the question gets easier to answer:
As a fledgling designer it can be easy to ask" Should I have a booth at this or that conference" That is asking the question in the excuse form. Ask instead "Will I have a booth at the conference" This is where knowing your goals is good... If that conference is the next step to obtaining your goals then the answer is easy..if you feel you are not ready for that step yet the answer is still a resounding yes I will.. in 2005

What a powerful tool...


the saying "Where there is a Will there is a way".. also means "Where there is an I will! there is a way!
all of the sayings that have to do with will are amazing

God Willing
Will -Power
Willing it to happen
Willingness
My last Will and testament
Strong-willed

Saying it will happen is really the knowledge that it is so or will be so.
and that leads to the confidance to take the steps
that lead you where you will.....

What "Will" you do today to make it a good day?
"I did" take a shower and now "I am" clean :o)

I will
I do
I am
Patty

Furniture Fiasco's and Fixes!

As a painter who paints alot of furniture, it is inevitable that I should run up against chemical reactions and unexpected Oooops's. This weekends painting featured such an event, Read on for the terrible saga... ( don't worry there is a happy ending) >wink<

On a bright sunny day (a happy thing already because we live in Oregon) Let's build the drama with a better begining...

One terribly dark and dreary day (see....more drama) Patty painter is faced with a dealine for finishing some commissioned furniture, Her assignment is to paint an heirloom desk that has been in the family for two generations, However she is to leave most of the stain showing, and mearly trim the piece out with added decor. The painting goes mainly as planned, and by early evening she is ready to varnish...Now it is almost dark out and there is real rain in the air and it is about 55 degrees out... Patty uses a wipe on Varnish by Min wax for most of her furniture because it is so easy to use, Wiping it on the top she notices that a half an hour later the exposed stain area is not cured yet... Yikes.... It feels even a little sticky... Most of the rest of the piece is only the old stain with added detailing, risking the wipe on Varnish on the rest of the piece could be disasterous. Having been here before she gets out her Craft Varnish that generally works but takes longer to apply..as she starts applying the varnish ..Shock...Horror... The paint and pinstriping and spattering begins to smear all over the place.... This is Dreadful..

As the bad language subsides , the paint is patched , Patty painter pulls out one of her favorite tricks... When smearing ink or paint happens Mist the piece with Krylon 1311, then apply Varnish... ( I don't know whats in that stuff but it seems to work) Now the new problem? The desk is on top of the game table inside the house and no big men are home to move it around... So on the dark and dreary evening , Pouring rain she opens all of the windows and doors, sprays the Krylon inside her house and goes and hides in the laundry room until the toxic chemicals subside. Finishing the job with several coats of Craft Varnish, Patty is able to deliver the piece to her customer....
Ahh I love happy endings.
The moral of the story is...when you leave any of the old varnish exposed you need to expect problems. Misting with Krylon 1311 is one of the fixes I have discovered , but ussually the craft Varnish does work I have never run up againgst the paint smearing and wiping off before....
Always do a test before you commit to the varnish you have selected! (a lesson to myself) :o)

Happy Painting!
Patty

Magnetic Personalities!

As we get ready to go join the rest of the HOOTERS! at HOOT. We have been finishing up some great projects. One of them had a very Magnetic Personality.It was a Childrens art Center.We used Magnetic Chalk Board Paint for the whole background and mounted a pad of paper for grandkids to fingerpaint at and plate shelves for Grandma to display her favorite nicknacks up and out of reach.
There has been alot of talk about the ads for this Magnetic Chalkboard paint. But where do you find it, is it dangerous for kids? How does it work? Hmmm...well now I know the answers...Come a little closer and I'll share the nitty griities....First of all you find it at Michaels or other craft stores Not at the regular paint shops. Buy the primer and the top coat when you get it. The paint is not harmful because it is really just iron filings mixed into a medium...ie paint. I do wonder if it will rust in our goofy rainy weather here in Oregon. And This stuff Works!!!! the magnets actually stick! My Husband applied this to the Chalkboard surface , his report is they recommend a sponge brush for applying But said two of his broke right off and he had a large area to cover! He got some cheap rollers and applied it that way, I think it was a little bumpy although in test chalking it erased fine. Maybe a sponge roller instead? hmmm It is an oil based product so dry times were longer and it needed to cure before it was okay to Chalk on. All in all a very Cool product. Ted swears he is going to make his own next time by mixing Iron filings into black oil paint. That should make for an intersting article too...Why , you may ask would you make your own? Well at a cool $30 for a pint of the primer and base it is very spendy!
Well off to HOOT and I hope and pray I don't have any interesting Travel stories to tell....
Happy Painting!
Patty

New Beginings!

Strange title you ask? Nope! I was consulting with a woman who was moving into a new house. She is in the enviable position of keeping both houses so she can live in one while the other gets a paint job etc.. This also puts her in the position of descision making....
When you have all of the choices in the world available and can make a fresh start how do you choose? My advice... Let something else decide! If you have a new couch you love and will be keeping pick a pallet to go with it.. A fine china set from grandma that you want to spotlight??
A wonderful woman once told me "Start with what you know". You can eliminate your clients pain or your own if you will follow this simple advice. My client knows she has to have a soft Blue Dining room, Okay this shows in the living room and the kitchen so we can use this to spring from...

The same thing goes with any painting project. Begin by seeing it in the room it will go in..and get the color out that will look great there...then grab your color wheel...If you do not own a color wheel go down to the local quilt shop and pick up theirs it is a lot nicer that the ARTISTES wheel.
Now you have sooo many choices, just follow the simple lines on the wheel. soft blue can go with orange of pink or even Brown etc..there are so many choices you would not believe it! The other point to remember is it is only PAINT! You can always paint over it!

Find your color wheel and experiment with some new combinations
Color your Day Beautiful!
Patty

Are you a Painting Gourmet?

I was making coffee for my husband today and was laughing at myself grinding the beans...Was it very long ago that we paid extra for "already ground beans" Now we go to the market and shell out big time for Beans... So we can grind them ourselves?
I am by nature a pondering kind of person...
When did we become a society that appreciates Homemade products? When did we change the mind set about paying extra for custom made items...What about convienience?
I think our NAFTA world of cookie cutter volume Mega stores is coming to it's senses.

I don't think we want it ALL...
I think we want it right..
Our way..

remember the Burger King song? "hold the pickles hold the lettuce...? Or who sang "I did it my way?" for decorative painters this is an exciting time to paint... Especially if you paint for gifts or for customers.

My clients want to match their decor..Their colors...It is very very important to them and the only people that can give it to them is... US! we can teach how to paint or provide custom painting services for walls or furniture, we can paint for Bazzars and offer choices in colors... or personalize with a name, NAFTA may have muscled out alot of our market but I think it did away with those who were painting cookie cutter already. Those who are left are going to be the painting gourmets, have you ever savored the taste of Artisan Bread? Or freshly ground coffee... Thats right...YUMMY! when was the last time you made real pudding for your family? (Have you tasted the stuff they call pudding? eck..)

I am so thrilled that we are coming to our senses... It's time to wake up and smell the.....freshly ground coffee...MMmmmmmm

Gratitude Attitude

Do you ever get into one of those moods? You know the one where an unexpected job (work) lands on your platter...and you go "DARN!" I was over here doing thus and such, I can't stop... Well I found myself achieving this mood quite well. Sniveling and whining.... Then I looked up and got a different perspective... These "interruptions" are actually opportunities. So many of the interruptions in our lives can be viewed as opportunities. Sitting in traffic can be the chance to Breathe or have a quick conversation with God about interruptions (wink)

So I have my gratitude attitude on and will try to remember to put it on first thing every day. A day with opportunities is certainly a great day. Where as one with interruptions...well....sigh... Where did I put my Martyr Cape anyway?

Have a great Day!
Patty

Ah, Sweet Success!

When you create for a client or anyone really, that moment comes when you deliver the piece ...Eeeekk... I always wonder and worry about how it will be recieved. Today was delivery day for the Dining Set with the Pain Stain. drum rolll... She loved it! Yes ya ya ya!! Oh the sheer relief I feel. A quick Snoopy dance...cha cha chaa..I guess it must be very much like opening night for actors. The unveiling and anticipation...


There are really so many things to consider when you refurbish a piece for a client..
#1 Where will the piece go?
#2 How will it be used?
#3 What is the clients pallete?
#4 What is the subject matter?


These considerations go for anything you give as a gift or create for a clinet. How many times do we recieve things that don't really fit with our style or decor? Or maybe purple looks great on your friend but maybe you look best in red?
It just boils down to detective work and observation.

Recently while painting for convention I painted some pieces that really feel flat. I deduced (like a clever detective) Got my best Nancy Drew going here...:o) That the pieces had no customer... What I mean is the love that goes into selecting the best gift for a close friend or creating a piece thoughtfully for a paying customer was absent I was painting outside of my own pallete and really had no

Matching Stain ~ What a Pain!

If you have checked in on this journal before you will notice a different look. I blew up the other program yesterday. I had to call the Web Master and confess, get forgiveness, and was instructed to get this alternate updated quickly! So I saluted smartly and here you go! Enjoy!

The job of the week is a very fine set of 6 chairs and a table. Very solid and well made. However years of letting plants sit on the chairs and 3 or 4 kids and any dining set will take a beating. The Table had been partially redone before but had some kind of chemical reaction and was perpetually sticky.

Step 1: Strip the table top so there isn't a sticky issue anymore. Sand the chairs to remove loose paint. Reglue any loose joints.

Step 2: Base the chairs Black except the seats.

Step 3: Attempt to match the stain. This is the pain. :o) The seats and the table are two kinds of wood. One soft one hard. So I began using glazes of paint. The colors I kept getting were very flat. After fighting and fighting I ran up to the dresser full of mediums in The Loft and dragged out Delta's Brown Antiquing Gel. WOW! This is great stuff. It evened out the tones warmed everyone up and gave the look of stain to both. I added a little yellow paint for the oak table top. Wonderful.
Step 4: Matched the colors from the clients house and painted the top of the chairs a lovely soft green and painted some vines and flowers.

Step 5: This is a cool step. The chairs are quite busy with turnings and spindles so I was really dreading the Varnish stage. I went shopping at the Depot and found wipe on Polyurethane. I was pretty skeptical, But man oh man it works like a charm. I simple saturated an old t-shirt with the goop and wipes it on. No drips no runs. Presto!

Making a living as a painter always presents challenges. But just think of what you learn in the process. Brown Antiquing Gel is gonna be my new best friend! Which should scare most of you!

Have a great painting Day!
Patty

A pile of Junk and pixie dust

I am commissioned to paint a pile of of old furniture. 7 pieces of stuff that I am sure even the most optimistic "Junque Queen" would wrinkle her nose at. This Furniture was peeling and chipping and had been re painted solid colors a dozen times. The one thing it was though was SOLID. When you play the lets re-paint furniture game it has to be solid.

The First step is to sand then sand then sand some more. I am fortunate that I have my husband to do this. He uses a Makita power palm sander. It is unnecessary to remove the old paint you just want to take off the big chipped areas and provide "tooth" Paint will not adhere to a smooth surface, there is nothing for it to grab. The sanding gives the paint something to which it can bite.

Next everything gets to be based. Get rid of the old chipped, paint cover it up. Even if you change the color later. It is depressing to paint something which cannot be made pretty and a couple of coats of paint will give your creative side a "full steam ahead message".

While you are basing the pieces you will be bonding with them. Thinking of them even if it is subconscious. When the paint has dried a soapstone or a piece of chalk will put the design on so you can see how it will look. Try to think of the room where the pieces will go and compliment what is there. Pull out magazines or Tole painting books or fabric that inspires you.

A novice can paint furniture. We have so many tools today, stencils, decougage and stamps. Pretty papers etc. can all used. Trace designs from the wall paper in the room. Remember you can always repaint. Oh Yeah!

I have found that when I need to escape into my creative brain if I put on music I know by heart I can slip easily into my "zone" and the painting seems to Happen all by itself. hmmm... I never quite realized that till I wrote this.. Wow is that how I do that? Good to know.
Next week I am painting 5" pears. quite exciting.

Painting Sono-Tubes


Painting today has had it's adventures. I am working on Sono Tubes, these are the tubes that they pour concrete into. They are made of super heavy cardboard and can be primed and used as Faux columns for a variety of fun painting and theatrical type effects. However if you have never seen (I hadn't) them they come with a surprise: A spiral design that is part of the function (they are waxed inside, after the concrete is poured you peel the tube off) This can make the tube look exactly like a giant empty paper towel roll. A difficult thing to disguise with paint alone.

The answer? Drywall topping. I donned a pair of latex gloves and dug right in and smeared the paste onto the tube to resemble stucco or rough stone. I built it up more on the grooved area. Let it cure over night and began the paint job today. I rolled a light grey color over the tube let it dry about an hour and then smear great gobbs of darker grey and white here and there and streaked and pounced it with a plastic grocery sack. (turn the sack inside out or the writing comes off)

It looks pretty cool! So much of design or pay types of jobs are part knowledge and skill and part screw-ups and what you do with them!