Home portraits, not just a painting.

One day a few months ago, I heard

Jemma tell one of her friends,

"See that lady? She is my Mumsie and she is a famous artist"

It made me laugh as famous I am not,

but it was in hearing that statement that had me realize

I am an artist.

I am a mixed media artist.

After having now, over the last two and a half years,

painted over 150 homes I still love what I do.

It is a passion and every new project, every new client

excites me. The people I meet, the stories I hear,

the lifetime friends I have met are part of the bonus for me.

Some question what a mixed media artist is,

in knowing this let me explain a few things.

One client expressed, "Working with you is not just a painting,

it's an experience" I could not have said it better.

From the time an order comes up, my thoughts and prayers 

while painting is for that family. Slate is my canvas, old music

part of my media. I begin to scan through all the old music I have

to find the perfect title to go with the history and stories 

that the client tells me about. I ask lots of questions during the sketching phase.

I know when I have found the perfect music sheets.

I just feel it somewhere in my soul and have had many encounters

that have me believing there is more to life than what we live on this Earth.

There is also a special paper I choose to add to every painting even if it

is just a small piece. Here is the story behind that:

A few years ago, Randy and I went to an estate sale and I found a 

gallon ziplock filled with old papers and a pad of ecru paper that looked as

though it was embossed with braille. I bought it for two dollars and took it

home knowing somehow, that what I had purchased had far greater worth

than the price tag said. when I returned home I found a newspaper article

explaining how A musician had a blind son and wanted that son to play

his music. He had his pieces set into musical braille and that was the tablet

that was in the bag!

What a wonderful find for a mixed media artist!

Once I lay my papers onto slate, the painting process begins.

I always get so excited when adding that first brush stroke

and have never tired from any painting.

After the painting is done, having shared many text conversations

with my client it is time for the "extra's"

Finding the pieces I will use to tell the story of the home.

Last names, what letters to use, what extra pieces to add,

it's all part of the process. I always like to add an "established" date.

Sometime I will use the year the home was built, other times,

the year the home was purchased. My favorite date to use

when I am painting for a family is the year they were married.

As I explain, when a family begins, it is not the year they

bought a particular home but the year they said "I do" to each other.

This date is one they naively began a life together, finding that

being a family starts on that day. This date is to remember all the good times

along with the hard times that have found them still together,

with children and pets added along the years.

I love using this date to show the hard work of a marriage/relationship.

Sometimes I use all three as in the case of my last painting done for

Charley and Keith.

I find ephemera in my vast collection that tells an individual story

of who these clients are.

Lastly, behind each painting I add my logo as well as a "love note"

from myself to that client/ friend from Mumsie.

This is a brief explanation of what a mixed media artist is.

I use many textures and pieces to make each painting unique,

telling a story of memories for that family.

Only once did I forget to add a love note and in doing so, realized

just how important this touch is.

When Jill, a returning client, got her family piece she expressed she and

her family's joy over it but that her husband was looking forward to 

the  "love note". I could not believe I had forgotten that important piece

of my work. I mailed a handwritten love not to them so they could

add it to the back of their slate. Jill texted me when receiving it,

explaining how they did not expect it and how happy it made her 

dear Hubby, Matt. they have added it to the back of their slate.

Although, I could not believe I had forgotten this touch

it was necessary for me to see just how important it was.

This is my explanation of what a mixed media artist is.

I hope each client, after receiving their piece has this feeling,

"IT'S NOT JUST A PAINTING, ITS AN EXPERIENCE"