This is a small sampling of work I've done from 2006-2010. It has all been done with the intent to sell through Thyme in the Garden, or through the French Board River Garden Club, here in Asheville. The majority of my work has been commissioned, as most of my clients live in WNC and love the plants and animals of the region. I am trained as vegetable gardener, although my love of all things growing has been steadily increasing since my teenaged years. I have been painting my entire life, and owe a lot of gratitude to my parents and teachers for encouraging my artistic abilities from an early age.
At Warren Wilson College, I strengthened my connection to Organic gardening as well as began a path of learning which sought to integrate several interests. I majored in Integrative Studies, with a title 'Creative Learning' and asked questions about how art and science are rooted in the creative experience/exploration of the world.
Looking back, I think it is no wonder that gardening appeals to me so much because it is the perfect activity in which to embrace both art and science. Looking forward, I intend to continue my practice of gardening for food and beauty, as well as creating paintings ( and maybe other art too) that reflect an intimate relationship with the outdoor world.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Friday, September 17, 2010
Background on Floorcloths
Since 2006, I have been painting floorcloths, placemats and more to be used in the home. I had never heard about floorcloths, until a friend and talented artist, Bee Sieburg, introduced them to me. She encouraged me to make them to sell at my family's garden shop, Thyme in the Garden. I learned how to make them by researching all the information I could find, and by trial and error. For more info about the craft, this is a great website featuring a historical perspective: http://canvasworksfloorcloths.com/pages/aboutstory.php
I use a heavy-duty canvas that I buy in a long roll and then cut to size. Each side is primed which is an important step to keep the canvas from buckling. I then hem the edges; I like to use rubber cement for this purpose. The next stage is to paint the design. So far, all of my floorcloths have been one-of-a-kind pieces of art that I put many hours into painting, as I would any painting. This has led to some of my customers deciding to hang the floorcloth as a wall hanging, instead of using it on the floor. I try to assure everyone that the floorcloths are durable because the next step makes it so. After the paint has had plenty of time to dry, I apply several coats of polyurethane to both sides of the floorcloth. I use a clear formula that will not color with age. This protects the painting and creates a product that can take traffic and cleaning. It is easy to clean, just a mild soap, clean cloth and warm water. If regularly cleaned, little to no repairs should be needed for years and years to come. If never to rarely cleaned, a little elbow grease might be needed when cleaning, as well as every couple of years another layer or two of poly to seal up scratches that were made from the grind of dirt.
I use a heavy-duty canvas that I buy in a long roll and then cut to size. Each side is primed which is an important step to keep the canvas from buckling. I then hem the edges; I like to use rubber cement for this purpose. The next stage is to paint the design. So far, all of my floorcloths have been one-of-a-kind pieces of art that I put many hours into painting, as I would any painting. This has led to some of my customers deciding to hang the floorcloth as a wall hanging, instead of using it on the floor. I try to assure everyone that the floorcloths are durable because the next step makes it so. After the paint has had plenty of time to dry, I apply several coats of polyurethane to both sides of the floorcloth. I use a clear formula that will not color with age. This protects the painting and creates a product that can take traffic and cleaning. It is easy to clean, just a mild soap, clean cloth and warm water. If regularly cleaned, little to no repairs should be needed for years and years to come. If never to rarely cleaned, a little elbow grease might be needed when cleaning, as well as every couple of years another layer or two of poly to seal up scratches that were made from the grind of dirt.
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