Saturday, January 18, 2014

Found: North American Slides

Another tiny, red-toned drawing;
5"x7" ink, acrylic, pastel on paper. 
Based on slide below:
Whose slides?
In 2010 I used to go to the American Corner/Federalsburg, MD auctions. This is deep into Maryland's Eastern Shore.  One night I took three slide packs from a completely discarded table where everything was free, after the winning bidder took only what they were gunning for. They are labeled Alaska 1965, Plane trip to Slippery Rock, Some beautiful mountain landscapesCabin Caliadonia [meaning Caledonia?] *Special oneMary & Walter, and Beach scenes. They are all very gorgeous slide photos. This particular one is a runway in Canada, of which there were several. Out of 90 slides, there is only one with people, (two people standing on a beach). There has to be some universal old photo lost and found. The ones I saw online seem junky. So if you read this and take interest, pass it along. 
Key info: slides, Alaska, Maryland, A. Curtis Andrew Auction, 1965, Canada, Caledonia, Walter & Mary.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Black Walnut, Classics, and Cold


Happy New Year. This is a photo from 1948 of my grandmother giving my grandfather (not married until 1950) Japanese silk pajamas. My mom stated that it was probably a smoking suit. Dreamy AND fun. In the vein of curious gifts, my parents gave my brother tap shoes for Christmas this year. 
Black walnut tree cross sections from the Anderson Farm in Ohio, made into lovely hangables:

Proof that the new-old 1977 F150 still looks so beautiful even in the snow.
Eventually I hung a white artificial tree from the ceiling by guitar rack, (not realizing the ceiling-tree's sudden popularity) but because it's so logical with annoying pets. This wood ornament was a gift from Collodi, Italy, the town where Pinocchio was from! 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Queen Mother Mary

18"x24" oil on canvas. Portrait of my mom and her cat. I started painting this pink years ago, and realized it was silly not to finish it, especially since I just used it as a birthday gift. 
Detail

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Paper 21

I found a lot of new but old tiny-piece-of-paper memoirs while rifling through a box yesterday, this one seasonally appropriate. Happy post-Thanksgiving; I've realized I'm thankful for literally everything! This M. Cromwell card is at least from 2009 if not earlier. Neither of us won that contest, but Forrest and I did spend ten hours baking 3 pies and a cake this year with our homemade mixing innovation. 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Alexander Peters

A new merch display case for my friend and Annapolis musician Alex Peters. A relief carving of his existing symbol, with several stain coats poured in.  A light distressing all over and a heavy sanding (on parts raised), to darken up that rooster. Where it fell short on stain, I used a little gunpowder to fill in light areas. The current album is exceptional, it was my ipod alarm clock setting for months. Buy a copy here!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Regal Roosts

This is the small [incredible] woodshop I worked with for over a year.  Still taking your custom orders, Regal Roosts is undergoing a slow but steady transition to Arizona. Here is their sparkling new website (via Seven Set Studios).  Specializing in handbuilt, Victorian style, meticulously hand-painted, beautifully distressed, seriously fine crafted birdhouses with ornate, aged copper roofs. These pieces last for years, indoors AND outdoors, (so as to be used properly by birds). Gorgeous garden additions, we also produced extraneous furniture pieces and garden items by request. There's even a shop dog.
Read about the Hursts in the Baltimore Sun, like their fb page, pass this info on to collectors, and remember what spectacular gifts these gems make.
We spent over a year fulfilling high volume orders of several styles for the Frontgate company; find only limited lines through Frontgate right now, but place an order directly through the Hursts, at regalroosts.com for endless color and style possibilities.

Cottage Collection (hanging) and the Diamond Lady series, front
Copper, detail
Hand-painted game table
Series of bottoms, and my all time favorite bottom
Everyone's favorite watermelon house
Faux rust
The Palermo, one of the first Frontgate orders
Custom painted and refinished antique garden cart
Hand-painted chest, turned urn
Doolittle

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Ground Mural at the AVAM

The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore is in the middle of an extended summer to fall ground mural, mostly commemorating the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner, but told through little known war stories, historical oddities, and cheeky anecdotes. I've been painting since May alongside several others, including mural designer, DC sculptor Lee Wheeler. 
A picture of me starting the USN tattoo segment while my friend Kristin tackles the pub. It's fantastic to work with [fantastic] people and painters.
Originally 500+ feet, this was to wrap around Key Highway and has recently been abbreviated to just the main side of the Museum. The entire piece is "temporary", so see it while you can; projected to last through fall 2014.
Conveniently under the "o say can you see" neons, and some stellar sunflowers.
Little known (and questionably true) war fact: something involving England sending a wheel of impertinent cheese to The White House.
Sometimes you get stuck doing what you start;  a few solo afternoons spent with this bomb laden water, and Uncle Sam above.

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.