INEXPENSIVE family values

I wanted to share an idea that came to me while editing photos on my Mac.  I came across Sophia and Ella, my gorgeous nieces.  I was thinking of a way to make this photo something other than a small framed piece along with the other ok frames down a hallway or something.  (Though that look can be great).  A super brilliant friend of mine Jamie has introduced me to some incredible artists.  Namely Gerhard Richter.  He would occasionally paint over photographs.  Well, as is typical among artists I will use that idea, share it with you and hope that together we come up with something great and uniquely our own.

PHOTO:

Okay, so how good would it be to have this printed in black and white say 18" x 24".  After you pick up the print from a local print shop,  go get an inexpensive set of oil paints or even those wonderful oil sticks.  You could use ink pens or if you want to take a contemporary tack, than use several shades of one color that goes with your living room.  Say just lavender or green.  So good on the black and white.

If you are anything like me you may want to print two copies.  I need warming up time.

Be free, think of this as a coloring book and take the pressure off of yourself.  Invite the people in the photos to help you color.  (Minimal coloring is best, but again NEVER edit yourself).

When you are done there are two ways to go.  Cute poster style with simple push pins or go to a framing shop and have it matted and framed.  There are also some print shops that will simply paste the print on to foam core.  That is also a nice clean contemporary look.

HAVE FUN!

SAVE AND SUPPORT

I admit that not many people have the gumption to stop an art student in the middle of Union Square. Jessica Toney was walking to art class and I from a meeting with a client. I noticed a fantastic crocodile sketched on her notebook.

Before you knew it we were chatting about art and the prospect of her working on a project with me.

Jessica Toney is a brilliant artist and I asked her if she would be willing to sit atop scaffolding 14 feet in the air and draw native SF blue birds on a ceiling. She agreed.

I offered her a generous amount to help her with her tuition (think about $25 dollars an hour) and in return she provided initially shy and later quite fluid help with a part of my interior design for a client that was originally quoted at over 7 thousand dollars. We loved the custom bird wallpaper but budget did not allow for it.

SOLUTION: Sketch artist vs wallpaper.

Though wallpaper has made a massive comeback (see www.trove.com for example), and I love to use it, good wallcoverings can be prohibitively expensive for some. Stencils and sketching and even painting on walls is a great way to achieve something personal and totally unique.

HOW TO: Post a simple note at your local art school or community college soliciting the help of a sketch artist. Be descriptive but not wordy. My note simply said..."Interior Designer pays cash to artist who can sketch birds on a ceiling. Please submit sketches for consideration."

I also connected to the blog of local art schools through Facebook and posted there.

The clients are thrilled with her work and with the opportunity to support a young artist. Good stuff!

Have fun. Never edit yourself. Help a student and most of all...Make Things Pretty.