My last mural … Sept. 2008
I’ve written before about my little business called “Snowflakes, Custom Designs”. I started it in the 1990’s to augment my income. Basically it was painting furniture and accessories to match a client’s décor. I had a lot of furniture in my house that I had decoratively hand painted, (as well as murals, floors and faux wall finishes), so I used those as samples.
I decided on the “Snowflakes“ theme based on the fact that all pieces would be one of a kind and “no two were alike”. I have never thought of myself as a "real" artist but I do have a good sense of design and that is about 80% of the finished product in this medium.
My business never brought in a huge amount of money but it’s been fun and has allowed me to travel a bit on the proceeds ... both of those being big pluses.
In September of last year a good friend asked me if I would be interested in painting a mural at her office. I took it as a compliment but I really hesitated before I made my decision. It’s one thing to paint a mural in the privacy of my home. I can take my time, leave a mess if I want to, and just close the door on the whole thing if I’m not in the mood. (These are not endearing attributes when applied to a hired professional !)
I am in fairly good physical condition for a 76 year old but working on a 5 x 6’ wall mural can be back breaking at any age. I finally decided to do it and the result is the mural that you see pictured above. The clients were happy and that’s what matters in the long run.
However, the whole experience has taught me a big lesson and I’ve decided to make it my “swan song” as far as commercial wall murals go. There are times in one’s life when it’s best to give in to our limitations.
Now I am free to concentrate on new outlets ... but one thing is sure ... whatever it is it will include a paint brush !
posted by Ginnie at 7:22 AM
10 Comments:
It may not be your last duchess hanging on the wall, but it's a very fine piece of work. You may not think of yourself as an artist, but I sure do.
Another Michelangelo? I bet your experience gives you renewed appreciation for the physical demands of Michelangelo's painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
I do love your mural.
Ginnie, that mural is lovely - as are you - and I can attest to your good physical shape! Your brain isn't bad either! LOL
Ginny, you are soooo talented!!
How nice! The important thing is everyone is happy! Good for you... but ya wanna bet you get coaxed into doing another one????
Great job on the mural. You have a lot of talent!
WOW! I never knew you did this! I love it. The first place I ever worked as a nurse had this awesome mural on the dining room wall. I would look at it every time I took a resident in for meals. I thought about it alot, and how the artist came to the idea of doing such a lovely design.
Do you have more? Can you link em to them? Just lovely Ginnie :)
It looks great! I understand what the pressure would be to finish it since it is in a public space. Next time someone asks you, you might consider doing the mural at home on un-stretched canvas and then have a wallpaper hanger mount it to the wall. It is really much easier than doing it on site.
It is interesting to paint on walls and furniture. The Canadian primitive artist, Maude Lewis painted all all the surfaces of her shack she she lived in. It has been preserved at a work of art. http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0729/p18s01-altr.html
I know painting faux surfaces on walls is popular. I have a cousin who does it.
Around here there has been an interest in painting on only saw blades from the lumbering industry, both cross cut saws and large circular saws from the mill.
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