Not What You Expected, Is It?

So... here we go. As if I didn't have enough things in my life to never complete, here is one more. It's my never ending obsession with designing mid-century styled furniture. It's just too sad for me that I'm broke and not very good at making it. I have, however, made a couple of things that I will show in the future. At this moment, I also have a list of about 5 more pieces I have to make. No, really... we have no place to put our underwear. It just lays out and about because we have very little furniture. Don't worry though...it's clean at least. That's how it goes sometimes. 

I really do feel bad for my wife. I mean... well... I have good intentions. We go to a store and we look at some cheap made furniture and it costs too much right? So, what do I say? Oh Hunny... don't worry about it. I can make it cheaper than that. You know the rest. Half a year later with 50 half finished projects and, you got it. No place for the underwear. I mean! Poor lady, huh?! I guess that's just part of living with an artist, right?

So, the piece above is just a design. No real intent on building it or redesigning it. It is just a thought that popped into my warped mind one day. More than likely I threw everything my wife needed me to do to the side to create it and, for what? Well... I guess if I didn't have it, you kind folks wouldn't be reading about it, huh. Then, I guess I should say thank you Hunny.

Yes... yes... yes... I know that Hunny is spelled wrong. That's just because honey has no comparison to my wife and therefore, she deserves a spelling all her own. 

amidstmod@yahoo.com

Check out my stuff on FLICKR

It Begins with Furniture

Furniture is really more than just furniture to me. It in itself is art. I guess that's not unusual for many designers and enthusiasts of mid-century modern art and design. With that in mind, I want to share a piece of furniture that we once owned (now sold) and how it influenced me creatively. 

One fine spring, or maybe summer day.... I don't know, that's not really important, my wife and I went into this store that was called "My Century Modern" down the street from our loft in Atlanta. The store looked a little run down and it was only for the name that we even went in. Once in, however, we found probably the best MCM furniture store I have ever seen. At least for the price. It was really reasonably priced, and after speaking to the owner we found that many of the items were imported directly from Sweden.

We ended up visiting that store a couple of times, looking at things here and there, but nothing really seemed to fit our loft. That is until the day we found our buffet. That's right. The buffet ended up doing more than just looking good. It also brightened up the whole apartment. Many of the people who had visited our all concrete and white leather apartment (It's not as bad as it may sound.

 See below.) said the place was too cold, and was not homey. Even though after we got the piece some still said the same, all who had seen the before and after agreed that the buffet really softened the whole feel. 

Softening up the apartment wasn't all that it helped, either. We also found that it was perfect, and I mean perfect, for all of our little things in the house with nowhere to go. Things like my brushes and art supplies, as well as folders full of drawings and designs. This one piece seemed to help in so many ways. Including my art.

With that piece being much of my inspiration, I found angles and also used it to launch many inspirations. It seemed in general that I painted a lot while I was in that loft. Also, I really miss that crazy buffet. 

We found that when we opened the buffet someone had tiled the inside and the outside was just so soft and solid. It really added a texture to that apartment.  I really miss those hey-days of painting. I just haven't been as inspired since.

Thanks for listening to me recount good times.

amidstmod@yahoo.com

I'm on FLICKR

No No... Wi Wi

So, my wife and I were speaking about my next post and the question came up as to what I would write about next. After looking thru some of my art we noticed a painting that I had done some years back on a very odd shaped aluminum panel. It worked out quite nice (by accident), though. This painting was born from one of those I'm inspired to paint and have very little materials and no subject situations. 

The subject ended up being a photo that we had taken in Chile (where we now live). This is the photo of the street that I used as source material. It's well understood that this image is much different than my painting. I grant that.  That, however, is out of pure choice. See... I have this thing about paintings. Here goes one of my Mr. Douglas speeches. Fife and all. If you don't know what I'm talking about, well... you need to watch more Green Acres. No, really, if you watch Green Acres you will see what it is like to live in a small Pueblito in Chile. All the way down to the having to keep track of how many things are plugged in at once, so as not to blow the fuse.

Where was I...? Oh yes... So, about paintings. I have tremendous respect for people that can paint portraits and realism. I do mean Tremendous. However, as much as I like to look at the realism and portraits of a great and talented artist, I, myself, have no interest in trying to replicate real things exactly. I mean, I bought a camera for that reason. Please don't hate me, like I said, I do have GREAT respect for those who can and choose to paint portraits and realism. I just simply choose not to try. 

The other interesting thing is that while I was painting this piece I did two things as an experiment. First, I painted acrylics thick and concentrated. Second, I painted with acrylics that were so watered down that they acted as water colors. My result? I now have a painting that comes to life even more than normal when an accent light is used. The Aluminum just shimmers from behind the paint and amplifies everything. 

So all in all, I hope you enjoy it! For general photos and art that may not be in one of my post check me out on Flickr

amidstmod@yahoo.com