Singing in the Bathroom

Earlier this week, on her daytime talk show, Ellen Degeneres announced her 'Singing in the Bathroom' contest. She had discovered a couple of young, beautiful women on youtube who sing pop songs in their bathroom and then post the performances.
(you can see their Ellen bathroom performance:
http://www.youtube.com/)
Since then, Ellen has sung in the bathroom with several of her recording artist guests. The prize for this contest is a trip to Hollywood to sing in the bathroom with Ellen.

When she made her announcement I immediately thought about the first time I discovered the art of singing in the bathroom. I was in 4th grade and had been given a solo in the chorus concert at school. I practiced and practiced that song. I'm certain that it sounded better in our downstairs bathroom than anywhere else.
I just had to submit an audition, so I asked my friend Patti to help. This is our video. It is a recreation of me singing that then-contemporary song. Patti sings the chorus part. (no, the chorus was never in my bathroom, but...)

When I hear it now, the song, "One Tin Soldier" seems so serious for a 4th grader. At the time, I'm pretty sure I didn't pay any attention to what I was singing, just that I got to sing a solo.

Hello Ellen, here we come!

Be good,
Scott

Everything old is new again

This past fall as I was cooling down from one of my morning runs, I came across 'free stuff'. You know, the pile of stuff by the side of the road with the handmade sign saying 'FREE'. One of the houses in the neighborhood was being renovated and each day something new, rather old, was put out for the taking. This particular day I found a piece of furniture that had been a built-in desk. I liked it but couldn't really justify taking it. What was I going to do with it?
But, that afternoon I was still thinking about it. So, I got into my car and loaded it into the trunk.
It had sat in the garage for the last 5 months, in pieces.

I finally decided to tackle it. My friend Elynne had sent me an electric fireplace insert, which I ahd used as a heater, but it lacked character. The desk would become the new home for the fireplace insert.

After getting the desk back together, I still had a bit of work to box in the sides, build a 'hearth', make an inner frame and paint it, antique it (there was no way it was going to ever look new and fresh) and wax it.
It turned out beautifully.I used the scalloping of the leg and drawer shapes to dictate the design. I selected a print of one of my paintings that has similar shapes and covered the inset frame with it. I was even able to maintain a working drawer.
Be good,
Scott

Ever Wonder

Today's question comes from the book 'ever wonder' by Kobi Yamada

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Summer in January

Usually, January is a very slow, quiet, grey time for me. This January as shown itself to be full, rich and colorful. For 2009, I have been invited to participate in several different events as the presenting artist. I encourage you to visit the 'news' page on my website for details. I am one with my easel and am continually applying color to canvas.
Just know that I am grateful for the many opportunities and also aware of my blogging negligence. I am hoping to be more attentive.

There has been an unusual, fascinating and fun occurrence at our house this year. It seems that a family of ladybugs has made themselves at home inside our home. Earlier this fall when I saw the little beetles inside, I didn't think much of it. I expected that the cold weather would drive them into dormancy, just like every other bug. Here we are in the middle of January and the ladybugs are still with us. It appears that each day presents a new bug. The variations in color and spotage have me wondering how many there really are and how long they live.

I love that they are here and now find myself actually looking for them each morning. During the day they sit in one spot. In the evening, when I am cooking they will sit on my arm or shoulder and then seem to follow us from room to room. I haven't found 'ladybug-ground-zero' but I haven't looked that hard.

We have decided that they are vying to be my muse. They are holding their ground until I do a painting with a ladybug as the focus. Their threats aren't very threatening, but I am entertaining the thought.

It is a bit of Summer in January.

Be good,
Scott

The Art of Divesting

We all own many 'things'. Maybe too many things? I know, for myself, that I don't always see all of the things with which I have surrounded myself. Every now and then, I stop and take inventory of what I have. It helps that I have moved 4 times in the last 6 years. Each time I pack and move everything I question why I have all this stuff. So I have learned the art of divesting. There is great freedom in divesting. Moving out the old makes room for the new.

It's that time of year

My annual Holiday Open House took place last weekend. It was festive and fun. The weeks before were crazy with preparation.

Part of the preparation was to decorate the house. I love this time of the year when Christmas decorations appear and creativity abounds. I have a few ideas I want to share, things I have done here in our home.
I have a collection of stuffed Santas. Some of them are old, some new. Though I did not have any of them as a child, when I look at them they recall my childhood Christmases. I have them lined up on the back of my sofa in my studio. I love how the red curtain of the painting behind makes the perfect Christmas background.

In the dining room, we have a white feather tree. I have hung a print of my painting "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" next to it. The ornaments I found in many different places and chose them because they look like something I would create. The whole scene seems very personal and colorful. What is behind the tree is as important as what is on it.

On the dining room table I have placed a large glass vase and filled it with glass ornaments. Again some are new and some are old. I have placed evergreen boughs fanning out at the top. It is a little play on the idea of ornaments on boughs or boughs on ornaments.

On the mantle in the living room I have a collection of old glass tree toppers. I have placed them in candlesticks surrounding them with pine branches and a string of 'candle' lights.

These are a few of the Christmas displays I have at my house. I would love to see some of the things you have done. Please send me pictures and descriptions. I think it could be fun to share them.

Be good,
Scott

Art is Personal

I have been working on an interior design project. My friends Nancy and Mike have moved from Boulder to Seattle. They have rented a house and have hired me to help them make it a home. At this point, the furniture is chosen and situated. The rugs, pillows and accessories are carefully placed. All that remains is the art. Nancy really (really) wanted to create art. Though Nancy is a highly creative, beautiful dancer/choreographer the visual arts are still fairly uncharted territory for her.
We began with a trip to the art store where we purchased two canvases. In this case they were 30"x40" each. Then we hit three different paint stores. The goal was to see what was available in the mis-tinted section. It was fantastic, when, at the first store we found 5 different gallons of paint with colors that would work for us. At $3 each it was truly a steal. We rounded out our color palette by having 2 more colors mixed in the quart size. With seven colors, I felt we were ready to procede.
After laying the canvases on a drop cloth, I had Nancy do several quick sketches for me. These were no-thought-initial-reaction drawings. I gave her a word and she drew. I chose words that I knew were important for Nancy and Mike and their home. "Calm.... happy.... life..... growth... love.... celebration... connection.... " She drew and drew and drew.
I took her simple drawings and painted them (much larger) onto the canvases as an outline in the darkest color we had, which happened to be a blue.
It was then her turn to fill in the outlines, very much like in a coloring book. I gave a little direction in color placement, blending and balance, but mostly it was Nancy and her unbridled willingness.
While the paintings dried, I painted a white rectangle on the dining room wall to frame our bold art piece.I think it turned out beautifully. What I loved most about it was Nancy's reaction. She was almost beside herself with how much fun she had had and how lovely the painting is. "That was such a high. It's so beautiful." she told me (again and again and again).
This piece of art is very personal. Not only did she play a part in creating it, but it holds hopes and dreams and ideals in her own expression. Art is personal.
Be good,

Scott