Wednesday, August 21, 2013

UNLOADING- Old painting surplus for sale!

I have a fair amount of older work in need of new homes. I can't keep them on walls, in halls, or in garages any longer. Some are large, some are not. Some are scholastic looking, some are not. Size and description under each one, all pricing negotiable. I would love to part with them! Contact me, sclairebaker@gmail.com, or pass this link on! Thanks a million.
40"x35" Oil on canvas
35"x30" Oil on canvas. Currently rolled, not on wood stretcher. Can be re-stretched, priced for either.

28"X36" Oil on canvas. Still life from cut vegetables and railroad pieces.
25"x25" Oil on canvas, mixed media (ink.. acrylic.. maybe wax?)
30"x24" Acrylic on canvas, mixed media (textures like coffee beans and string).
18"24" Oil on canvas. Copy of Cézanne's La mer à l'Estaque.
18"x24" Ink on Paper. Framed and currently hanging, but may as well be for sale if someone is interested!
72"x48" Oil on canvas. Larger than life size; it's sister piece has a home in SC. Also I should probably note that this is a reference to the Hooper Straight lighthouse in St. Michaels, MD (see below). This previous post may also be helpful.

And finally
80"x35" Oil on wood. This is actually on a standard size interior door. You can use it in your house! Back is done in black and white graniteware pattern.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Sketchbook Project

The Maryland Federation of Art celebrated their 50th anniversary by putting together a local chapter of the Sketchbook Project (endeavor of Art House Co-op). 100 sketchbooks were on display this summer at The Art Gallery, University of Maryland College Park, before joining the masses in Brooklyn. Mine was there, filled with little fragments and ink.
(Cover [tiny pear with tiny gold leaves, on gloss white])  
("Are you getting enough? [Vitamin A]")
("coffee fox")
(Page 2: "Pear, identical to a new painting of a pear. Except that one looks like this: [arrow]
And then, I agreed to an adventure with an adventurer and a photographer.")
 ("On our way to Centralia, PA in Tucker's green jeep")
They even gave me this odd little sketchbook tattoo!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Hook, Rack, & Holder

I installed my sister's easy gift: the sanded branch with a painted popular aesthetic. Now she can hang her skivvies and earbuds from it. I went with the less dramatic hardware, due to the shells and turquoise hunks wired through the centers, with a few feathers on the end. 
Next was a solution for bracelets. I like a lot of the DIY "movement's" solutions for all things that get tangled and are tiny, and are almost always in a woman's room. This one is pretty obvious. Glued wood (Forrest abandoned our mailbox sign), with knobs on sale from Anthropologie. They can be knobs from the dumpster, it doesn't matter. Let them hang out far if you have a lot of thick bracelets. My cousin Deanna made me the dreamcatcher in 1994, a great artifact. 
Another part of this non-tutorial: The Necklace Frame. There are so many gorgeous frames circulating in the world, but even an ordinarily plain one you can paint or metal leaf. Attach chicken wire or a mesh metal, like window screen. If you don't have chicken wire because it's expensive to buy a bolt when you need only a foot, you can attempt making it (see below).
Side note: I found it much easier to lean than to hang, so I attached a small foam pad to the back upper side.
 And here's an extra Indian print bag in green! I've noticed for some reason this is a popular previous post...

Monday, August 5, 2013

Paper 20


("Go to town")

This may or may not be my handwriting, but it was in the stash, and can mean absolutely anything.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Avocado Update

The original avocado tree is finally developing tree bark, and the leaves are bigger and better than ever! Four pits are in the germination jars ready to go.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Tables: Part 1

I refinished my great aunt's telephone table a few seasons ago, and though it is still serving the purpose of yellow in my life, it was long before the time I've spent in a woodshop. My currently convenient  knowledge of dry times paired with clear coat sanding might have prevented the chipping. Still thinking about coating the pulls with tiny broken abalone shells. Look at my shark!

From old scrap particle board (from an old crappy job) came my new favorite table. I've always been partial to the corner table with rounded front. It may not have been the best move to make an outdoor table with less than real wood (I do know better), but I just wanted to put it to decent use, and employed a generous amount of sealant; at least the legs are real. Needing to fill the space on my porch, I forfeited the learning process of continual legs (through tiers) for time. One summer later it looks naturally distressed, reminds me of the Greek flag, and holds my rubber tree plant perfectly.


This small fold-up is my most recent assignment. A very thrifty find from my new favorite antique shop in Annapolis. Several coats of a light and dark blue mixture, while sanding in between the stages for a galactic, layered result. Now I have to decide if a mosaic of foreign coins will still look good lacquered onto the top, (a few beautiful ones from a friend's African journey pictured).
Pete, following his greatest love The Flower.
And by the way.. notice these strange and lovely little cicada soaps, a gift from my aunt!