Rara-Avis Ramblings

Commissioned Seaside Painting for Gina (made with Glass beads and Real Sand)

2011-04-28T21:52:00.001-05:00

Paper Mache Glittery Spring Rat and Flowers Light Enough To Hang

2011-04-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

Pearl Lady Box Painting

2011-04-28T21:45:00.003-05:00

Vintage Looking Snoopy and Woodstock Paper Mache

2011-04-28T21:44:00.000-05:00

Grinch Painting

2011-04-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Mint Metallic Distressed Cabinet

2011-04-28T21:26:00.000-05:00

Before and After pics of an older cabinet re-done to better match the contemporary decor:

Kids Rudolph Jeans

2011-04-28T21:13:00.000-05:00

Kids Grinch Jeans

2011-04-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

Kids Christmas Jack Jeans and simple Elf Skirt

2011-04-28T21:11:00.000-05:00

Paper Mache Black Glitter with Glow-in-the Dark Stem Pumpkin

2011-04-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

Blacklight Reflective Paper Mache Pumpkins Painted with Pearlescent Paints

2011-04-28T21:08:00.001-05:00

Club Dead Blacklight Reflective Sign

2011-04-28T21:05:00.002-05:00

Tall Blacklight Reflective Jack

2011-04-28T21:02:00.003-05:00

Paper Mache Blacklight Reflective Oogie Boogie

2011-04-28T20:58:00.002-05:00

Paper Mache Jack Skellington Bust

2011-04-28T20:56:00.001-05:00

Paper Mache Blacklight Reflective Killer Ducky

2011-04-28T20:22:00.001-05:00

Glow-in-the-Dark Paper Mache Zero

2011-04-28T20:19:00.001-05:00

Blacklight Reflective Caricature

2011-04-28T20:16:00.001-05:00

Etsy Commissioned Black Cat Fall Jean Jacket

2011-04-28T20:11:00.003-05:00

Oogie Boogie Canvas and Sign

2011-04-28T20:08:00.000-05:00

...and of course both are black light reflective. The canvas also has high-quality glow-in-the-dark paint and glow-in-the-dark glitter.

Tim Burton Inspired Girls Skirt

2011-04-28T20:06:00.001-05:00

Halloween Jack Skellington Jeans for Kids

2011-04-28T20:06:00.000-05:00

A kids version of my adult Halloween Jack Jeans. The bottom inside cuff is painted to allow for growth.

Blacklight Paper Mache Poison Ivy Mask

2011-04-28T20:02:00.001-05:00

For Halloween this year I decided to go as my own version of Poison Ivy. I always make Halloween costumes difficult on myself, so I figured I would do 2 things I had never attempted before to ensure inevitable disaster. The first was to create my costume out of colored duct tape. I've had a fondness for duct tape since I was a little. I mean if MacGyver can escape the clutches of evil with just a bit of bubble gum and duct tape, why can't I make a super hot costume.
The super hot part turned out to be a given, since duct tape has absolutely no breathability. After spending hours and hours creating a "leaf" skirt from just duct tape and pipe cleaners, it was finally ready to try on. AND I ripped it-right down the zipper I had so cleverly installed. Please keep in mind, I do not sew.
Anyhoo, I decided to not steam cook my entire body and abandoned the idea of doing a bustier to match. Dying a white wife-beater in neon green sounded much more reasonable.
Ok, so on to the mask: I had been wanting to do a paper mache mask for awhile, so I got to vaseline-ing my forehead and slathering my face in plaster gauze. I kept adding and adding to the base, because I really just don't know when to quit and didn't figure into how heavy this would weigh on the bridge of my nose. Ya, it got pretty frickin heavy.
I also knew that I would be going to a party that I had already equipped with blacklights and I LOOOOVEE blacklight paint...so I did it up. Plus, I had ordered some blacklight reflective contact lenses. I need to get the pro-pics from that, because it was freaking people out.
OK, so here are the crappy pictures of the results (first one is with my buddy Albert the pimp):

Leather Painted Monarch Cuffs

2011-04-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

One of 2 leather monarch cuffs I designed, patterned and painted for my good friend Shanna to wear with her Monarch themed Halloween costume. I will try to get better pictures of them both together soon. They turned out pretty sweet.

Saved

New Website!!

2010-06-24T19:54:00.001-05:00

Did I mention my super amazing friend Shanna took new photos and made me a new website??? Maybe I did already, but I'll say it again:
http://www.raraavisart.com/

For those of you that can't handle change and don't know how to spell or pronounce Rara Avis, I will soon be mirroring it to my old site name:

http://www.rarebirdart.net/

It may take a few days, so just be patient.

Dancing on Golden Eggshells in the Rain...Especially Created for Shanna

2010-06-24T19:45:00.001-05:00

"My painting!! Finally!" Shanna exclaimed as I lugged the 50 inch long, 2 years overdue painting into her Morrocan inspired home. She had tried to stuff it into her teeny tiny VW convertible the night before...fearful I would say I wasn't finished for another year, but it just wouldn't fit. It may actually be 3 years overdue, but I'm trying to keep that hush hush. I wanted this painting to be so personal yet so perfect for her home that I gave myself paralysis. I have known all along what I wanted to paint, but I have issues with small decisions and completion. I am overcoming these issues and fears with the invaluable help of my dear friend, Shanna. I truly cannot thank her enough. Her support and belief in me has gone above and beyond. I am so very blessed to have her friendship. This past year hasn't been easy on either of us and has surely tested us down to our souls.

I won't go into every personal meaning of this painting, but the intentionally long title should say quite a bit. I tried to push myself again with more texture and material experimentation....so, I just have to say, those are real eggshells people! I also used tiny metal and glass spheres and various mediums. Several of my usual motifs are there: nature and growth, movement and freedom, awakening and light. Shanna especially loves butterflies, so we've got those fluttering about.. And, when you turn off the lights, you'll see the fireflies.

Shanna broke into my home and took these wonderful pictures as well as many new better ones! They turned out so great....you can see more by checking out my new website Shanna created for me: http://www.raraavisart.com/

Anne's Tree

2010-06-11T14:55:00.007-05:00

My dear Aunt Anne passed away this past Saturday of lung cancer. She was both extremely talented and stubbornly ornery. Her art quilts were a sight to behold, if you did indeed get a chance to see them. She hid them away as fast as she worked on them. Like me, her artwork was "not quite finished, not yet good enough." We shared a type of fear of showing things off. But she believed in me. Whenever I showed her a piece I had been working on, she'd always say something in a feisty possesive tone like, "That one is miiine!". Well, the painting above truly was hers. It hangs above the mantle in my aunt and uncle's living room and I'd like to think this first of my tree ladies watched over her and kept her at peace during my aunt's last days...at least I hope it did.

My aunt had quit smoking many years ago, but I guess it just wasn't soon enough. I have a love/hate relationship with smoking. I dearly love so many of my friends and family that smoke...but I truly hate it. I don't judge anyone that smokes (I have my own bad habits)...but I do wish they would take a moment to reconsider.
Aunt Anne, you will be remembered fondly.

Labor of Luh...uhh...Labor Powder Room

2010-05-20T13:29:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I am pretty happy with the results, but I put a pantsload of work into this seemingly teeny tiny powder bath....and I only spread it out over like 9 months. Yay me.
Month 1: Fret over how and what and when and how much to spend and how and what and when....( You'll notice a turquoise and brown glazed piece of pottery in some of the pictures. This was my "inspiration", but I also wanted it to resemble both tiger's eye and copper without being too coppery and glammy)
Month 2: Purchase supplies, fret over purchase because sample boards looked like chalky poo...not exactly my vision.
Month 3: Sand down existing texture, begin smoothing and prepping...stand and stare and fret.
Month 4 and 5 and maybe 6: Ignore uneasiness in the pit of my tum tum and ignore the bathroom itself...close the door and work on Halloween projects.
Month 7: Bite the bullet and just go at it. Sanding, texturing, taping, priming, base-ing, blending....panicking.
Month 8: Begin venetian plaster...troweling and burnishing and hating.
Month 9: At some point I got my "Aha!" moment and realized what I needed to do to transform chalky poo into rad gorgeousness. *Ahem* So I put on like 3 more layers of Venetian and Highlights, hand burnished and then stained over it, waxed and buffed and buffed to a high polish with my friend the electric buffer...and then troweled on a wax mixture of real mica flakes at the midline and drizzled down into plaster and polished again.
Baby revealed.

(Big D bought and hung the super neato edison squirrel cage bulb pendant from this company out of Seattle called Rejuvenation http://www.rejuvenation.com/ ...they still use people to put together all the parts and make your order to spec...lots of cool reproduction and vintage inspired lighting and hardware.)

Morning To Evening

2010-05-18T17:03:00.000-05:00

I know I know...I can't believe it either, I finally "finished" a painting. I have a supply hoarding problem, but I'm making myself get over it and push more texture and quit letting my ideas get all crusty and gather dust. I used glass and metal beads and a good bit of resin and slickies. You can hang it in all four directions and allow it to mean all kinds of things. For me, its the morning, the day and the evening of your life. Its your connections to family, to nature, to the earth and sky...the sun and moon. Embrace it all and celebrate before and until the sun finally sets for good.

You want it, don't you?? Well, too bad...it's already sold:).

Tree Jeans

2010-05-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

My favorite neighbor of all time asked me to paint up a special pair of art jeans, Elaine (and Bill too!) (they just left us in Soco for a peacful retirement in New Mexico...I literally cried after saying goodbye:(...)

I knew she loved my tree obsessed art, so I came up with these. I miss you guys!!

Another Rodent!

2010-05-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

This paper sculpted sweetie won't be fitting into any tiny nooks and crannies of the house. She stands at like 14 inches and was maybe 30 or so in diameter (I forgot to measure, so she may have been bigger) She has a removable glittered up flower and a spring forward heart. I made her with lots of detail and care...looking forward to doing some more mache soon.
Click on the pics for a closer look.

Leather! Ya, I'll paint on that too.

2010-05-18T16:58:00.000-05:00

Gots me some leather paints in the mail...can't wait to do more projects. Here's a vintage purse with a variation of my birdie logo and a thriftstore belt with my beloved lizards to start. Throw some moo-lah down here: http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/ I sure do love beggin' for cash.

Jack and Roses

2010-05-18T16:56:00.000-05:00

Not the booze kinda Jack, but I'd take that too. My Canadian cutey commisioned a special pair representing a Jack and Sally kinda luuurrve...lotsa extra painted roses were a must.

Mice and Rats and Rats and Mice

2010-05-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

More hand-painted mice and rats. A Skirt, a dress...and patches for pillows...or whatever.

Cave Painting

2010-05-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

Just was messing around with textures and the idea of primitive forms. Buy the sucker here: http://www.rarebirdart.etsy.com/

Sealife jeans

2010-05-18T16:52:00.000-05:00

I had a request on my etsy shop http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/ for sealife creatures with that same sweet, playful demeanor as the mice characters using bright turquoises, blues, sea green, orange, iris, and orchid pinks and purples. She was overjoyed with the result:).

Yoga Blocks

2010-05-18T16:50:00.000-05:00

12x12 self standing, stacking or hanging wood panel boxes featuring my favorite form of torture. I hock my wares of enlightenment here: http://www.rarebirdart.etsy.com/

HIppy Peace Jeans

2010-05-18T16:49:00.000-05:00

Groovy.

Christmas Jack

2010-05-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

More hand-painted jack jean goodness. Jack lovers can order their own custom painted pair here: http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/

Christmas Grinch featuring Betty Lou Who!

2010-05-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have an adorable fan of my painted jeans in Canada and she asked me to do a pair of Christmas Grinch jeans, making sure her favorite character Betty Lou Who was front and center.

I sell custom hand-painted designs on my ScatterBirdie shop: http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/

Quiet or not so quiet as a mouse...(Christmas jeans)

2010-05-18T16:33:00.001-05:00

Painted Glassware

2010-05-18T16:32:00.000-05:00

Awhile back my lovely mom requested a pair of hand-painted wine glasses that she put into a raffle/auction out at the ranch. Blue sage thrives all over Tierra Linda Ranch, so I figured a version of this pretty little wildflower would be fitting. They were a hit and other painted glassware soon followed. They turned out to be the perfect personal gifts for my family at Christmas.

You can find them on my ScatterBirdie shop: http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/

bookmarks

2010-05-18T16:29:00.001-05:00

Just some paper bookmarks I made with variations of my logo by hand-stamping, hand-drawing, hand-printing, hand-embellishing...my tiny little rebellion against mass production and the computer. Notice how each one is slightly different. It's not that I think computer and digitally produced or enhanced images are not an artform...they most definitely are! But I am a sucker for tradition, the old fashioned, the charm of a few flaws, the reality of imperfection and that personal connection that is made and received from something that is made completely individual...even if it is a "copy".
In an age where so many things are done and made at lightning speed and with no transferrence of another's sweat, thoughts, emotions or soul...I find myself seeking the opposite.
I'm the person that would rather wait in line (maybe even impatiently) with my one or two items for a register with a person than save myself 2 or 5 or 10 extra minutes by zipping through the automated line. I refuse to have a human face...a personal exchange...a breathing soul replaced by some impersonal, condescending computer voice telling me to "re-scan item". I want to choke that snide little witch.

Glitter Bottles

2010-05-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

Glitter, glitter everywhere..how I love thee. Get your glam on: http://www.scatterbirdie.etsy.com/

Some more Halloweenie Yard stuff...

2009-11-01T21:53:00.006-06:00

A green cat that glows, pun-kins that glitter and glow in blacklight, burton style crosses, and some cute, glittery, glowy-in-the-darky ghosts...

There you have it.

(Some more painted clothing to be posted this week...but I'm gettin' droopy-eyed)

More Tombstones

2009-11-01T21:37:00.006-06:00

Umm, you just can never have too many tombstones...I'm sure I will be painting some more next year;)

The Kids Tombstones

2009-11-01T21:21:00.007-06:00

These were just to be funny for all the kiddos. I painted them all with blacklight reflective paint...oooh. K pasted goofy photos onto them.

I don't know how many tombstones I ended up doing in all...I don't think I can deal with posting every single one, but here's a sampling;)

The Cheezmeister

2009-11-01T21:12:00.004-06:00

My second attempt at paper mache sculpting. This guy barely fit in my oven! I made him some extra glittery mache cheeze to munch on too...and about 20 mini cheeses that hung from the chandelier.
I'm hoping to get to do some more paper mache soon:)

Tori's Room of Pink Witches and Rats

2009-11-01T20:38:00.008-06:00

I drew like 7 of these kooky fun witches to go with Tori's all pink and black boudoir.

There is also a glimpse of the rat patch pillows too.

Ah, the pinkness.

Beastie Jeans

2009-11-01T20:20:00.005-06:00

BEASTIES! Purple-people eaters! Ghoulies! Uh, yes!

Skull jeans for the Kiddos

2009-11-01T20:13:00.003-06:00

Yup, more Halloween jeans and clothing...whee.

Another pair-o-Jack-jeans

2009-11-01T19:42:00.004-06:00

I guess one can never have enough...these are brighter and lighter with a slightly different layout.

Jack Witchy Shoes

2009-11-01T19:29:00.004-06:00

I painted these to go with Tori's rad little black and white Skellington dress. I'll post some picks of her in costume at the kids party on my scatter-birdie blog later this week:)

Halloween Patches

2009-11-01T19:16:00.004-06:00

I made several glittery, fun Halloween patches to be mostly used for pillows, but some to tack onto costumes and other clothing. Karen cut them out and sewed them on...one of these days I'll sit down and finish teaching myself how to sew:

What's cool about these patches is that they can just be lightly tacked on so that they are easily removed and replaced with something new for another holiday...that's as practical as it gets around here;)

(I'll add some more to this post later...)

Blacklight Spooky Eyes Shower Curtain

2009-11-01T19:10:00.004-06:00

I painted this with glow-in-the dark paint and highly reflective blacklight paint. The kids bathroom was decked out with eyeball string lights, glass vials with blacklight reflective colored water and my blacklight reflective paper mache eyeballs!

Silly Vamps

2009-11-01T19:03:00.006-06:00

I actually drew these for Jarod's room last year, but antiqued them to go with his vintage sports room look this year. The eyes and teeth glow-in-the-dark:)

Um, more bottles...

2009-11-01T15:28:00.006-06:00

Here is Tori's special pink and black tree. The hot pink stripe, polka-dot and swirlies are also blacklight reflective. I of course don't have a picture of this glowing goodness, but I used the same type of paint for some of the tombstones that I did get pics of.

Bottles, bottles, and more BOTTLES

2009-10-29T19:31:00.009-05:00

I've always been a big fan of dumpster diving, but I took it to a new level with this project. Big thanks to my aunt and uncle for being winos and saving the evidence and to my mom for introducing me to the booze recycle motherload at Tierra Linda!

I literally washed, delabeled and painted like 100+ glass bottles and jars. Some were for the house and many were for the bottle trees we had made from my metal guy, Freddy. Please contact me if you want his info for any kind of metal welding/sculpture. Great guy to work with! More pictures of his bottle trees will be posted.

Here is just a small sampling of the glory. This was also a great way to involve the kids in the decorating too...we had a day of bottle painting/glittering and they got to display their handiwork as well. Fun stuff!

*Some were glittered, sprayed with various paints, painted with glow-in-the dark paints, blacklight reflective paints, paper collaged, stickered, google-eyed...all kinds of techniques.

Sign Close-ups

2009-10-29T19:28:00.010-05:00

*Note: The Little Spooks sign glows in the dark. Gawd, how I love glow and glitter!

Halloween Canvases and Signs

2009-10-29T19:27:00.005-05:00

Just a few of the canvases and halloween signs I paint. Trick or treat!

HALLOWEEN TiZZY

2009-10-28T14:24:00.012-05:00

My last post was err, in July....Halloween starts for me in July, so I pretty much go into a tombstone-making, skull-painting, bat-glittering, rat-mache-ing and all things spooky-creating frenzy. Please enjoy the next several posts.

Below are 2 you tube videos my client put together on the yard and inside her totally decked out Halloween house. The following posts will break down what I had a hand in.

Check 'em:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Z-pJgdqxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGBumjZJmss

Pretty Much Done Gate

2009-07-07T14:25:00.008-05:00

I'll need to clean this up a bit and then wait for mother nature to rust it up more. I'll be allowing it to oxidize underneath and where I haven't painted, then will seal over to hopefully stop oxidation where I like it best. More pictures to come when that happens. There are also more pics and info on the process on www.scatter-birdie.blogspot.com

Final Silver Tree Lady Tripdych

2009-07-07T14:05:00.006-05:00

My first official etsy commission...complete! More photos of the progress on www.scatter-birdie.blogspot.com As always, click on pics for more detail:)

Album Artwork Submission

2009-07-07T13:44:00.008-05:00

I submitted album artwork for this band "Black Cock".

"Austin TX band Black Cock has released their debut album, Robot Child with a God Complex, and they’re ready to celebrate. On July 9, 2009 there will be a private RSVP-only bad-ass party and art show happening at the Mohawk to do just that. Party includes Real Ale Beer, catered snacks, and other fun stuff like DJs in the private party room upstairs at The Mohawk on Red River.
Black Cock is seeking submissions of artwork that will be on display for the event. One piece will be selected for a $500 cash prize and will be featured on the band’s next album cover, due out Fall of 2009. Please e-mail rsvp@blackcockrock.com to get on the list! And have your friends and family rsvp too!"

Come see me...8PM at the Mohawk. Don't forget to RSVP. These guys are super nice cats. They play loud punk-like electronic.

Costa Rica-Belize Playroom Mural

2009-06-12T01:36:00.006-05:00

A few more older photos of a playroom I did years ago...also lower budget, but the parents said their children learned the names of these animals before anything else. They enjoy taking trips to Belize and Costa Rica for the exotic flora and fauna so they wanted their children to have those images all around them.

Scuba-Diving Nursery Mural

2009-06-12T01:28:00.008-05:00

Some old photos of a nursery I did a few years back. Its not on my website, so I figured I'd post it here. It was fairly low budget, so I couldn't spend a ton of time on it, but it did the trick and the new parents loved it. The couple shares a love for scuba diving:)

Ancestry: Revamped

2009-06-12T01:21:00.006-05:00

Here's the official revamp of my painting called "Ancestry" (at least for now;) I'll be taking it down to Kerrville this weekend to put into their KACC member show. Click on the pics for a larger view and/or go to: http://www.scatter-birdie.blogspot.com/ for more pics and info:)

PS...I've just added a few new posts to the scatter-birdie blog as well.

Rusted Steel Bar

2009-04-25T17:37:00.008-05:00

I hand-troweled this bar, knicking, pitting and scuffing and smoothing it to look aged and beaten. Then I painted it with a silver metallic paint and layered it with my rusting/aging techniques and glazing. It goes so well with our industrial dining table..luckily I finished it all up 3 hrs before people started showing up:)

Art Showing

2009-04-25T17:08:00.013-05:00

Recently, I had a few people over to the house to drink a little wine, eat a little cheese and give a little feedback on some new projects/artwork I am doing as well as some old works. I didn't take any pictures until everyone had gone, but here's a taste of what was there, minus the booze and brie.

Hot and Cold Women Jeans

2009-04-25T16:50:00.004-05:00

I painted this pair for myself...not sure if I'm completely done with them, but I've had fun wearing them around and getting asked where to find a pair:)

Birthday Mice Crops

2009-04-25T16:40:00.006-05:00

Tori's special birthday outfit, hand-painted with the mice she screams wildly about:)

St. Patty's Day Jeans

2009-04-25T16:34:00.005-05:00

Simple Irish-luck-infused painted jeans. Shamrocks + Green + Glitter= No Pinches.

More Mice

2009-04-25T16:14:00.007-05:00

...adding to the "Pink Floor Saga", bugs and flowers and rats and bunnies and snails weren't enough. About 15 or so more mice were added by request. Here they are:

Funky Hummingbird Jacket

2009-04-24T18:35:00.007-05:00

My mom gave me this jean jacket to spruce up for her. She loves hummingbirds and wears lots of these cheerful fresh colors. I used various textile paints, slickies and a bit of glitter on the chest lapels and back. I gave it a little extra by giving the cuff, lapel and pockets a painted "thread" trim. I'll edit this post when I get a picture of my cutie mom modeling, because it fits her so well!

Orchid Jeans

2009-04-24T18:28:00.006-05:00

I was commisioned by my ever-thoughtful uncle to paint these jeans special for my Aunt Anne. She loves orchids (also my favorite flower breed;) and luscious bright colors. She wore them this New Year's eve and looked adorable! My aunt is also an artist...she makes gorgeous art quilts that she should show-off more often!

Stuccolux, Lusterstone, Venetian, Hand-trowels, etc.

2009-04-24T18:19:00.014-05:00

Just a few random samples for perusal.... Lusterstone, Venetian plasters and stuccolux are pricier products so I don't get to play around with them as often as I like. Below are also examples of some hand-troweled finishes, "color-washes" and lime paint applications.

The pictures of the carved tree board is a rough-draft of what I hope to do in our bedroom soon:)

Travertine-Like Master Bedroom

2009-04-24T14:26:00.010-05:00

I hand-troweled these walls with the help of my friend Karen to look like a slightly pitted, rough veined "chocolate" travertine. The photos aren't the greatest, but it turned out looking pretty darn cool. Some people really like their rooms to be a bit darker, almost cave-like...this finish pulled that off. The ceiling was hand-troweled slightly smooth and then painted with a iron rusted finish. All vents, lights, fixtures were also done in a rust finish to complete the look. I haven't been able to capture how it really looks in photos.

The frames in the photo were originally a bright white, I re-aged and stained them to go better with the room.

Vintage Sports Room

2009-04-24T14:12:00.012-05:00

The room that goes with the previously posted aged lockers...as promised forever ago;) I re-plastered the walls to look aged and a bit beaten up...complete with large crackled paint. The "chair railing" colorful fence was also done in a aged crackled finish with bedroom, bathroom and closet doors to match. All handles, signs, fixtures were re-vamped in the rusted finish. Top trim was also redone to look more aged as well as the ceiling. I also salvaged a cheap boring fan to look rusted but colorful...can't seem to find pictures for that. I suppose this will be another edited post when I get to that;)

Custom Aged Lockers

2009-02-27T11:47:00.003-06:00

These lockers were originally pristine white lockers from The Bombay company...I dutifully banged, hammered, scuffed, repainted and rusted them to go into a sports fanatic boys room. I also replastered and painted the walls and ceiling...custom painted and rusted a fan and a trunk, trash can and magazine holders...and...crackle aged and repainted all the trimwork and doors. I will pull more pictures in another post.

Misty Hills Dining Room

2009-02-27T11:34:00.003-06:00

I painted this dining room awhile back, but it is still a favorite of the rooms I have done. I hope to get some better pictures of it because it really is a gorgeous space with a touch of both elegance and organic rustic-ness. To me, it looks like misted over rolling hills with a bit of lavender and a soft diffused gold that barely catches the light.

Jack Skellington V-day Jeans

2009-02-12T18:57:00.004-06:00

Love and skulls...how fitting. Katherine is totally Jack crazy, so these were made special for her to wear Valentines Day or any day she chooses.

Happy Early Valentines Day to all you lovers out there and all you non-lovers too! I have a soap-box I can get on about how everyday should be special in a relationship, but I'm all out of steam. I've decided I'm going to go buy myself a box of chocolates and eat the whole darn thing myself...so there;)

Treeeezzz

2009-02-12T18:26:00.003-06:00

I love TREES!

I want them all around me.

I would paint them on everything.

Trees make me happy, happy, happy!

My bedroom and bathroom are on their way to becoming a sanctuary of trees.

I have plans to do an embedded tree beneath venetian plaster on this rounded wall in the bathroom, but until then I have these "etched" looking glass ones that I designed. They came out pretty close to the way I drew them.

At night they shine the image of the trees onto the walls, its pretty rad...I'll try to take pictures soon.

The people at Sunsational Solutions did a great job (Jonathon is your guy-www.sunsationalsolutions.com)...they also did a hardly noticeable tint on our west facing sun windows...it keeps the electric bill way down:)

More Christmas, More Snoopy, More Jeans!

2009-02-12T17:58:00.003-06:00

Snoopy and Christmas, they go hand-in-hand I suppose. I custom made a total of 5 pairs (1 adult and 4 for the girls) The girls jeans are all slightly different, but with the same glittery snoopy lights around the bottom and up the legs....too bad I failed to photograph them all.

You'll get the idea.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!

2009-02-12T17:44:00.001-06:00

More hand-painted jeans....

Fox canvas

2009-02-12T17:22:00.002-06:00

I painted this canvas in rememberance of my client's godparents. Their last name is French for fox. Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for the design...it is from a children's book that is special to them. I can only take credit for my magnificent copying skills:

Petshop Jeans

2009-02-12T16:52:00.004-06:00

Another pair for Tori...she tells me The Littlest Petshop "is the bommmbb!!!". She likes to decorate these tiny plastic choke-hazards with rhinestones and then drown them in a jar of pudding. She's a kooky little monster...I adore her all the more for that!

Tori's Mice Jeans

2009-02-12T16:31:00.003-06:00

Tori, much like her mom, is obsessed with rats (mice). She got these for Christmas along with another pair I painted for her (Littlest Pet Shop). I am told she wears them like every other day...little girlfriend has more clothes than Paris Hilton, so I am flattered.

They have a light sheen of glitter all over that make them even more girly.

Limestone-like Walls in a Master Bath

2009-02-12T15:27:00.007-06:00

Lots-o-work on this masterbath:

1.) Strip gunky painted over wallpaper. (I loathe wallpaper. If you ever ask me to help you strip wallpaper, I will hate you forever...you've been warned)

2.) Hand-trowel and rustically pit plaster over all the walls INCLUDING the arch and ceiling (I have a love/hate relationship with ceilings...they are murder, but I can't stand for them to be left unaddressed.

3.)Prime, prime, prime...paint, paint, paint.

4.) Use various colors and stains in about 3 passes to make it look all limestoney;)

That's simplifying it.

I also hand-stained the entire travertine floor and travertine backplashes, shower, niche arch, etc. I used a wet-look sealant over the floor that turned out super cool. The tile guys had mismatched the grout...it looked wretched...I fixed it.

The Pink Floor Saga

2009-02-12T14:39:00.005-06:00

I don't want to go into all the details, but here's a condensed dialog:

"Can you paint my office floor pink?"

"Uhh, sure...are you sure?"

"Bright pink."

"Ok."

I did a few samples of pink. One was chosen and I painted the floor pink.

"I hate it. Can you put some brown into or something?"

"I can tone it down."

After aging it with some brown stain:

"I want it brighter...more fun...or something."

"Chocolate sprinkles?"

She liked that. I changed the color from light pink to a hot pink, stained over that a bit and splattered bright colors over the finish.

"I'd like it to go better with the walls...can you put some flowers on it."

"Sure."

"And bugs?"

"No problem!"

(Note: there was a cute brown and pink flowered rug that I had originally worked off of for the rest of the room)

"I LOVE IT!"

"Yay."

"I really want something representing all of the kids."

"I can have them do their hand-prints." (I proceeded to dip their digits, one at a time)

"I'm also going to take the rug out so I can see the floor better...can you paint some more bugs?"

"Of course, but I don't want it to get too busy."

3 weeks later:

"I want rats all over." (my client has pet rats...like 6 of them...they have a custom-made house, are allowed to roam the house freely and enjoy weekly spa visits.)

I don't judge-I have lizards.

I will post pictures of the rat version at a later date. I added like 20 just the other day.

Patina Bathroom

2009-02-12T14:21:00.005-06:00

I adore metals...especially aged metals. Since I don't know how to weld (yet!), I fake it. I did this modern take on a copper patina finish in the upstairs bathroom. It is a really small space, but funky:)

My favorite thing about this bathroom is the tiny side-mounted sink I chose for it. I patted my own back for awhile on this because it made a huge difference.

The ceiling was done in a light turquoise lime paint...I haven't taken pictures if it yet apparently.

Aged Steel Venthood

2009-02-12T13:33:00.006-06:00

I thought I'd take a break from the jeans and post some of my plaster and faux work.

This here venthood is something I am pretty darn proud of...mainly, because I stuck to my guns about what I thought would look best in the space. When I did a sample board, everyone looked at me like I was crazy...well, they're probably right, but that is beside the point. I got my way by promising to redo it for free if it looked horrid. (I was confident I wouldn't have to.)

I can only take credit for the finish though...the amazing Shawn Chapman of Chapman Woodworks (http://chapmanwoodworks.com/) built the venthood and everything else in the kitchen. I highly recommend him for anything woodwork related! He is quick, precise, professional and creative.

Hippie Snoopy for SALE

2009-02-10T16:31:00.003-06:00

So I painted these hippy snoopy jeans custom for Katherine and she loved them, but I made the mistake of saying they should have been done on bell bottoms....so she is going to have me paint another pair. This pair is up for sale on ebay. They are super cute and I think may have only been worn once. A TON of work was put into these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-Painted-Boutique-Snoopy-Hippie-Jeans_W0QQitemZ130287082777QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_CSA_WC_Jeans?hash=item130287082777&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Princess Tiny Feet

2009-02-10T15:36:00.001-06:00

I painted these super special for my purty little friend, Stephanie (aka Princess Tiny Feet).

The designs on these are quite similar to the works I do on canvas...I'm really wanting to do more of these that are completely my own original designs...I don't mind doing Disney characters and whatnot because I come up with new ways to represent them and design the layout, but I feel a bit guilty:

Sidenote: Steph's getting married to Chris in April...CONGRATS!!

Sunflowers for my MOM

2009-02-10T15:21:00.000-06:00

I did this pair for my mom. Thank goodness she loves me, I took my sweet time getting these to her. She is such a cutie!

I love you, mom...your jacket is in progress;)

Halloween Jeans

2009-02-10T15:03:00.000-06:00

Another pair of Halloween hand-painted jeans. These are pretty remedial, utilizing paint splatters and whatnot. I used glow-in the dark paint to make 'em a little extra jazzy and fun.

On to the images...

2009-02-10T14:46:00.000-06:00

My business is basically custom interior finishes, frescoes, murals, and various plaster techniques, but lately I have found myself doing quite a few custom hand-painted jeans.
I am opening up an etsy shop that will sell these little wonders along with the possibility of various other items such as my personal artwork and whatnot.
Here is the link: http://www.rarebirdart.etsy.com/
I’m still figuring it out, but I hope to get it up and running soon.

Now, to add some pics….here goes, I hope I don’t flub it up.

The picture above is actually the first pair I ever did. My client and good friend, Katherine adores Jack Skellington. You may notice a skull trend;) These aren't as my bright as my more recent jeans. I changed the type of paint I was using for the most part.

MY FIRST

2009-02-10T14:28:00.000-06:00

Eeek!! I am totally nervous about this first entry. A tiny part of me is hoping no one will read it, but then…what is the point of this blog??
Well, I’ll get straight to the point and tell you the point: My poor website (recently changed to http://www.rarebirdart.net/) has been completely neglected for like 4 years. It is SHAMEFUL…but I’m unable to change it myself right now, so until then (and most likely after then) I will be putting up new and not-so-new projects of mine right here on my little bloggy-blog. Hip-hip hooray, let’s get this party started.

Oh, Vera!

2009-02-10T14:00:00.003-06:00

Jeans inspired by the Vera Bradley bags...no, I don't own any.

(These designs just go all the way around the bottom of the jeans..I don't think I ever took pics of the final product, oops!)