CasaSugar

Etsy Find: Janet Hill Studios Paintings

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700

For those of us who daydream over shelter magazine spreads and redecorate in our heads, the paintings of Stratford artist Janet Hill are tempting eye candy. On her Etsy site, she notes, "As a result of living in a cold climate for six months of the year, I've developed a strong interest in the beauty of interiors. My inspiration lies in interior, furniture, and fashion design, as well as films. I love the glamour and beauty of interior surroundings."

Perhaps my favorite print of Janet's is this Zucchini Blossoms Print ($11). The open shelving in the center of this photo features elegant dishes, and the cool, green cabinetry and countertops overflow with a Summer garden's bounty. Janet certainly has a talent for portraying a home's beauty. Check out her Etsy site for more paintings or preview some of my favorites when you read more.

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Artist of the Day: Melissa Moss

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:30:38 -0700

Los Angeles-based painter Melissa Moss makes artwork that seems fit for a children's fairy tale. From her graceful, curtseying trees to her odd little nubbin creatures resting beneath the splayed gills of gigantic mushrooms, these paintings beg for a fanciful storyline. And her use of color? Visually arresting, to say the least. As Melissa writes in her artist's statement,"I use color as my primary artistic element. I’ve studied the meanings and associations of colors and their subtle shades and tones and use this knowledge to convey the mood of each painting."

Melissa's work can be seen in galleries in Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Chicago, among other cities. If, like me, you find Melissa's work enchanting and would like to get a print for yourself, you can pick one up at 2Modern, Indie Fixx, or Little Paper Airplanes.

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Source

Artist of the Day: Yvette Molina

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:30:44 -0800

Oakland, Calif.-based painter Yvette Molina creates lushly layered paintings on sheets of aluminum. These paintings celebrate the beauty of nature while simultaneously exploring its fragility. She is inspired by her observations of flora that she finds in her backyard and her surrounding neighborhood of Oakland.

Yvette's “portraits” of plants and flowers have been garnering steady praise since she began exhibiting in 1997. She has been recognized with an Artist-in-Residence Fellowship at both the Legion of Honor and de Young Art Center in San Francisco, and in the spring of 2005, she was chosen for inclusion in ArtSpan's biennial Selections exhibition.

To read what Yvette has to say about painting on aluminum, and to see a gallery of her stunning paintings, just read more

Yvette explains that:

My paintings are rendered on aluminum for two reasons. The metal surface mounted on an inset wooden frame allows the image to float between the wall and viewer. In this way the panels are an analogue to painting itself as a physical link between the actual world and the perceived world. The metal also has a reflective quality, imbuing the surface with a luminosity. To achieve the desired depth, each painting has 20 to 30 layers of oil paint and tinted glazes. Objects and forms are painted at intervals within the layers, allowing them to occupy various spaces in foreground or background. In making my work, I take inspiration from traditional Chinese landscape paintings and specifically from the reverence expressed in the use of perspective, detail, and compressed range of color. Shrouded layers of cloud, mist, and sky create an indeterminate space in each of my paintings, all of which are open to imagination.

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Source

Artist of the Day: Lisel Jane Ashlock

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 05:15:57 -0700

Lisel Ashlock was born in Northern California and studied Illustration at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. In 2004 she moved to New York City, where she currently resides as a freelance illustrator. Her illustrations have appeared in CosmoGirl, Spin, Sephora ads, and Clamor magazine, among others. She has also illustrated such famous folks as Sofia Coppola, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, and Nico. I love Lisel's dreamy, soft style, but I have to wonder: Why do so many of her animals have a tear in one eye?

To see a gallery of Lisel's work, just read more

After you explore the image gallery, you might want to check Lisel's website to find out more about her art.

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http://www.liseljane.com/

Artist Spotlight: Elloh

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:57:29 -0700

Browsing through the readers' Casa Cravings, I noticed that many of your have bookmarked the clever, pop-cultured inspired artwork of Etsy artist Elloh - particularly her odes to various characters on "The Office." I, too, am delighted by the insanely prolific Elloh, whose real name is Ellen Lohse.

Using TV shows, movies, and music as her muses, Elloh creates paintings on canvas and sells limited-edition prints of the originals. If you're in the market for original art on a budget, her prints are incredibly well priced, ranging from $9 to $20 for the little ready-to-hang works. I really love this playful yet tender Ode to Clementine and Joel inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ($20). Check out some of my other picks by clicking on the photos below.

Casa Quickie: Tips For Spray Painting

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:30:30 -0700

Spray painting is a seriously easy way to update everything from furniture to shelves to candlesticks. Lacquered finishes, a nod to Hollywood Regency style, are all the rage these days, so updating an old furnishing with glossy spray paint is an easy way to get the look on a small budget. But there are a few tips you should keep in mind. First of all, before you paint, clean your piece and sand it lightly to make the paint adhere better.
To prevent paint globs, apply several light coats, letting each dry completely in between. And, when you are painting, keep the can completely upright to keep the flow consistent. Oh and this one might go without saying, but make sure you shake well before spraying!

Source: Flickr User ohad*

How-To: Paint Your Exterior Trim

CasaSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:07 -0700

Hello painters! So far, I've told you how to prep your home's exterior for painting and how to paint your home's exterior. When it comes to painting the exterior trim, you'll need to devote a little extra attention, using more delicate brush strokes with less paint on your brush. To learn the steps to paint your home's siding trim, doors, and windows, read more.

For the siding trim, paint from the top down with the widest brush that will fit the trim. Make sure not to leave drips of paint in the crevices of the door.
For the doors, paint the raised inset panels, if there are any. Then, paint the main surface of the door around those panels.
For the windows, you'll need to mask off the glass first. Then, paint the dividing trim, top to bottom, with a small brush. If they are removable, remove them to paint and let dry, then reinstall. Then, paint the area surrounding the window, and then the trim surrounding the glass with an angled brush.

How-To: Prep Your Home's Exterior For Painting

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:30:28 -0700

I'm sure many of you have painted a room in your home at least once. I've done it countless times. But painting our home's exterior somehow seems more daunting. Granted, there are ladders involved, but it's not really much more difficult. The main difference is that it requires a bit more prep work than painting your bedroom, since nature will take a toll on your siding. To learn how to prep your home's exterior for painting, read more.

First off, you'll need to clean the outside of your house. A good power washing will do, and then let it dry.
There may be holes in your wood siding, so you should fill them with an exterior-grade patching compound. Note: you may need to call in a professional to replace the siding if damage is more extensive.
Next, scrape off loose, peeling paint with a putty knife, and then power wash it once again to get all the flaking paint off.
Use sandpaper to smooth out the edges where you removed old paint.
Now, use paintable exterior caulk to fill in cracks and other gaps.
Like you would with the trim and floors inside your home, mask off areas that shouldn't be painted with painter's tape, and lay down tarps to protect the areas below where you'll be painting - sidewalks and driveways especially.

Stay tuned for the next step in the process: painting. While you wait, sign up for the Glidden National Paint Giveaway before July 2, and you'll get a free quart of Eggshell finish paint within three to four weeks! I heart freebies, don't you?

How-To: Paint Your Home's Exterior

CasaSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:38 -0700

I recently showed you how to prep your home's exterior for painting. Now it's time to bring out the brushes and the paint! Don't be daunted; it doesn't take much more skill than that required to paint a room in your home, just more time. First step, use a six-pack of cold beer to solicit some friends or family members to help you out! To learn the steps, read more.

First off, stir your paint well and continue to do so throughout the day to keep it mixed.
Begin by painting the gables (the portion of walls between the lines of sloping roofs), then move on to the main siding, always painting from top down.
Dip your bristle brush into the can of paint no more than half the length of the brush. Then wipe any drips from the underside off onto the rip of the can.
Before beginning to paint the whole surface of the siding, paint a two or three inch border next to the trim, as well as under the edge of the clapboards.
Now, paint the main surface of the siding. Remember to always paint in the direction of the woodgrain.
When you begin to paint an unpainted area, use a full brush and paint toward the painted areas.
Once the siding is dry, paint the windows, siding trim, and doors, in that order.
Painting the exterior of your home will take a few days, but clean your brushes (soap and water for latex, paint thinner for oil-based) at the end of each day, or freeze 'em.
Keep at it 'til you've finished and then reward yourself when you have!

Cool Idea: Fabric-Painted Curtain Panels

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:00:15 -0700

For an accent that's often merely decorative, curtain panels are expensive. You can buy affordable ones from shops like IKEA, but that means you only get the pick of the rather generic litter - and the same ones as every other penny-pinched decorator in the world.

So I was excited to see how High-Heeled Foot in the Door personalized a set of solid white IKEA panels using fabric spray paint. Inspired by a sunny yellow skirt she'd seen at Kate Spade, this resourceful lady painted 7" wide horizontal stripes on her basic panels. Want to get a peek at the project in action and learn how to do it yourself? Then read more.

She first taped off the stripes before painting, but all the project really requires is paint, tape, a tape measure, construction paper, and scissors. Learn the steps here.