A Smile in the Making

When I first got this blog assignment, I was told to be "chatty". Well sometimes it is hard to be chatty all the time. So I thought "Hey -- why not let someone else be chatty for me once in a while!"

So here the first interview. It is with muralist Karen Hetzer. I became aquainted with her on one of the mural/faux finishing websites a few years ago.

Why Philadelphia?
I've just come back to Philly after living in So Florida for several years, I've just always considered it home. Philadelphia was my first move out of the nest. I moved here when I was 18, and stayed for nearly 18 yrs. I love the old and the new of the city, its rich history and its hip urban feel, the exposure to different cultures, the ability to go from being in a bustling downtown, to walking a quiet path along a river in moments. And I love how this city embraces all things art.

What is your favorite thing to paint?
Large canvas murals. I like painting for kids rooms, but in a more grown up sort of style, a style they'll be able to grow with, and painting on canvas allows the owner to save it, not destroy it by painting over it.

How would you describe your style?
Well, I taught myself to paint by copying artists like Monet and Degas, so there may be a touch of impressionism mixed with a bit of realism.

When did you sell your first piece of art? What was it?
The very first piece I painted was a copy of a painting my grandfather had done. It was a camping scene, and I copied it onto the front of a chest of drawers. It sold fairly quickly in a little painted furniture shop, and I was hooked.

When did you first call yourself an artist?
I've been painting for 11yrs., probably not til about half way through that time period.

If you weren’t an artist, what occupation would you be in?
Probably still something to do with the creative arts, building furniture maybe? My second love is power tools. I also love furniture placement, I'm constantly moving things around, so maybe a home stager.

What is your next piece of art going to be and what inspired you to do it?
I've recently started creating instructional dvds for beginning artists, so probably another one of those. Not sure of the subject yet. I've been asked a lot of question about my work from muralists just starting out, and I remember how hard it was learning on my own, not being able to afford classes, so I thought this was a good way to help.

Do you sell on line?
I do. I keep a portfolio of my work on my website
www.karenhetzer.com for potential clients to see what I do as far as mural work, and I also sell the instructional dvds there.

Where else can we find your work?
Homes and businesses all over So Florida, particularly in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

Contact info?
Email: karenhetzer@mac.com
Phone: 561-351-9548

What snack food do you always have on hand?
Popcorn, and I love instant mashed potatoes!

I posted my submission for Illustration Friday on my other blog today. The theme is Missing.

On this warm day, some snow might be welcomed. Found this on How About Orange's blog.
Snow Day

Linda Dubin Garfield will be holding a series of workshops making pocketbook portraits.

We Are What We Carry: Pocketbook Portraits, consisting of a series of mixed media pictures of pocketbooks, will be part of the 2007 Philly Fringe Festival from August 31 through September 16, 2007. They will be on exhibit at The Book Trader, 7 N. 2nd Street in Old City Philadelphia. Proceeds from art sale will benefit DARFUR ALERT COALITION. Men and women of all ages are encouraged to participate. Contact Linda for more information.

In my efforts to promote my sites more last week, I came across a place called Trunkt. It is an online portfolio where you can link to your sites. Alot of the sellers on Etsy were quite excited about it and I had been seeing the name on a few design blogs. There is a bit of a jurying process, but you can submit again if you are declined the first time. I made a few changes and got accepted on my second attempt.

Last week one of the art reps at Wilkinsons Studio contacted me about updating my portfolio with some images depicting activity. I dont do alot of "activity" images outside of illustrating. First, what would I do with a painting of grandma peeling potatoes. Second, I really do struggle with drawing people in action. (note to those who are interested in becoming an illustrator -- it helps to be able to draw action! -- How I ever got into illustration, I will never know!) So I was a bit challenged.

I ordered Poser software from Jerry's Artarama last week. I am excited to try it out and see if it helps me with this "activity" block.

I remembered taking some photos of some ballerinas from a dance school at an art fair at the Bergstrom Museum in Neenah when I was in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. I did manage complete three little paintings and got them listed in my etsy shop.

Design*sponge is taking a
vote on where to hold 5 Biz Ladies events .

According to Oh Joy , Philadelphia is in 6th place.

These are two well read design blogs. Having the meet up here would be a great networking opportunity for area business women.

So click on the link and vote for Philly.

This weeks theme for Illustration Friday is Emergency. With Halloween just around the corner, I would imagine this just might happen to someone. I bet many of us buy too much candy for fear of running out when there are hordes of trick or treaters at the door.

I stopped by St. Cornelius' in Chadds Ford, last week to see the progress of the painting workshops organized by the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program.

Kim Senior and her student Cindy Hernder, from Ontario and a member of Muralsplus, were working on the stained glass mural of Pope John Paul.

I also met Cait Whitson, from Scotland and also a member of Muralsplus. Last week the workshop she was conducting did a faux bois wainscotting.

I took a few pictures, but Kim has much better ones on her site. This week she her workshop students will be painting a sheep mural.

Thank you all for voting. We made it onto the list!

Recently I answered an ad on Craigslist from the Wilmington Craft Mafia looking for new members. I met with them the other day. They are a diverse group of young ladies and I thought it would be interesting to find out more about them.

Why the Wilmington Craft Mafia?
The Wilmington Craft Mafia is a sister group of the original Craft Mafia The purpose of the group is to network, support and promote other D.I.Y. business owners in our area and educate the community about the growing indie design movement.

What is your favorite item to make?
Cloth dolls. I like to make pillows too. They are almost-instantly gratifying. I make everything out of vintage finds - I really like recycling.

How would you describe the style of your work?
Whimsicaliscious. Just kidding - but yeah, I would say my style is cute and whimsical.

When did you sell your first piece? What was it?
The first piece I sold was a bunny I made out of vintage linens. The buyer later sent me pictures of her daughter cuddling the bunny - that was an AWESOME feeling.

When did you first think of yourself as a professional crafter?
When people started buying it. It's still hard to think of myself as a "professional" because I feel like professionals should be mature and organized.....I'm so not.

What is your next project going to be? What inspired you to do it?
I would like to make some baby-friendly dolls, inspired by my love for baby's of course! Everything else I make is more for collecting. I would like to make some real toys that parents won't be afraid to let their kids play with.

Do you sell on line? Where else can we find your work? Contact info?
I sell my work on my website, www.jessysdolls.com.

What snack food do you always have on hand?
(giggle) That's a silly/fun question - I am ashamed to say that I usually have potato chips on hand - yum. I also can't get enough of Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream, it always has really good cookie chunkage.

My next artist interview is with Jen Wallace of Tilting Swiftly . She was my contact with the Wilmington Craft Mafia They are still looking for new crafting members to round out the group. Application information can be found here.

Why the Wilmington Craft Mafia?
I wanted to network with other independent crafters and designers for camaraderie and support. I had read about the first Craft Mafia, which was started in Austin, TX, and decided to try one here for Delaware, PA and Maryland crafters. The modus operandi of our group is to network with and support other artsy craftsy business owners. We also want to share the trials and triumphs of our creations and our businesses.

What is your favorite item to make?
Everything! I feel so lucky to have a creative business and I really enjoy creating.

How would you describe the style of your work?
Contemporary and modern in design.

When did you sell your first piece? What was it?
Hmm…I think it was about 5 years ago and I honestly can’t say what it was. I’ve sold a lot of jewelry since then. ;)

When did you first think of yourself as a professional crafter?
Although, I officially started my business in 2004 it wasn’t until after about a year in business when I had a boutique in Georgia buy out almost every piece of jewelry I had for sale that I felt like maybe I was a “real” business.

If you weren't making jewelry, what occupation would you be in?
I’ve actually done a lot of other things besides make jewelry. I worked as a assistant curator in a museum, an archivist and as a reference specialist in a public library before committing to my business full-time, so if I wasn’t making jewelry then I would most likely be working in one of those fields.

What is your next piece of jewelry going to be? What inspired you to do it? I am working on my fall 2008 collection right now, which is inspired by the landscapes of Gustav Klimt, an art nouveau artist who never ceases to inspire me. Lines and patterns also inspire me. I sometimes do an exercise in which I look at the world as if I am looking through a camera lens. I am startled by the designs that I see when I do this and it’s often like seeing things for the first time.

Do you sell on line? Where else can we find your work? Contact info?
I do sell online and my website can be found at tiltingswiftly.com. I also currently sell my work in select retail boutiques nationwide. Locally, my work can be found in the gallery shop at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art. I will also be participating in a trunk show at Bloom on September 28th from 6-9 with the Wilmington Craft Mafia.

What snack food do you always have on hand?
Fruits, nuts, and guacamole and tortilla chips.

Kim Senior held another workshop at St Cornelius' this week. This time she and her student, Christine Smith from Massachusetts were working on a mural of sheep in the field with St Cornelius's in the background.

They used multiple colors of glaze and used a "wipe out" technique with a chiseled rubber tipped brush to get the dimension and texture in all the grasses of the field.

The murals that have been done in these workshops will be installed next week. Campbell Peterson will be hold a workshop on the how to's of hanging a canvas mural. There is more to it than just hanging wallpaper.

Bernadette Forese of The Faux Pro in Kennett Square and the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program along with Linda Self of the School of Italian Plasters, were in the sanctuary applying an Italian venetian plaster (which is gorgeous, I might add) to the columns. Bernie has been instrumental in organizing this project.

There will be an open house at St. Cornelius' on Thursday, September 20 from 6-9 pm. It will be part of the Faux Event being held in Valley Forge Sept 17-22nd. It will be well worth coming out to the open house if you are interested looking at some beautiful faux finishes. Believe me this is not your mother's sponge painting!

Just received the Illustration Friday topic. Captain. Check in a day or two to see what I come up with.

"Ofelia shows Simon a better way to get to the other side of the garden wall".

Here is my Illustration Friday entry. I did this painting a little bit ago and decided that it would fit the theme.

Yes, it is a rather obscure connection to "Captain" -- but those of you old enough may remember Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings from the Captain Kangaroo series. He used to take a ladder and climb over the garden wall to get to the land of chalk drawings. And those of you not familiar with Ofelia from the movie Pan's Labyrinth -- she was able to draw escape doors on any flat surface with a piece of chalk in one of her quests.

Last night I was introduced to I-95 game traffic to Philadelphia. I tried to get to a Philly Etsy Street Meeting but had to give up I was delayed past the meeting time. Man-- I thought Packer traffic was bad!

While you are here, dont forget to check out my posts on the Decorative Painters Apprenticeship Program project at St. Cornelius's Church in Chadds Ford.

My retro chic paintings are taking over my life. Check my etsy shop for the latest.

I have been reading The Foo Logs ever since Dr. John made it his blog of the day. He writes about alot of different things but usually about some new gadget or some interesting find on the internet. I am never disappointed when I go to his site.

The Foo was the first to purchase some of my fish art. And today he posted about my work. I am flattered.

Thanks Mel!

I met Bernie Forese through Kim Senior at the Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program workshops being held at St. Cornelius's Church in Chadds Ford.

Why Kennett Square?
That’s a great question! I started my faux finishing business as an amateur in Chadds Ford, however, when my family moved to Kennett Square I relocated my professional business, too, mainly for convenience purposes to be honest. Kennett is centrally located for my customers whether they’re in Philadelphia, Main Line, Wilmington, Western Chester County, Montgomery County and so forth.

What is your favorite thing to paint?
While the bulk of my work occurs on walls, ceilings and columns, I love to paint kitchen cabinets and fireplaces! For my customers, getting a completely new kitchen can be so expensive and overwhelming but for a fraction of the cost the entire kitchen can be transformed using the existing cabinets and some painting techniques. It’s very gratifying because the homeowners are so happy and excited when the cabinets are reinstalled and it looks like a completely new kitchen. Similarly, painting a fireplace can be a very economical solution for many homeowners who want a transformation but can’t afford to have the entire room redone.

How would you describe your style?
Hmmmm … another great question! I guess I’d describe my style as “adaptive.” I’ve been trained by world-renowned master artisans in a variety of decorative painting styles and techniques so that I can produce styles that range from classic ~ to Tuscan ~ to urban using waterborne products as well as traditional methods and techniques, too. So, it depends on the customer, their desired results and their budget and then I adapt to them!

When did you paint your first wall? Where was it?
I painted my very first wall as an amateur in Phoenixville, PA in 1995. Professionally, I painted my first wall in 2003 in a home in Kennett Square, PA. While I continue to paint residential spaces I also work in many restaurants, churches and other public spaces, too.

When did you first call yourself faux finisher/decorative painter?
After I received my formal training I wasn’t comfortable using the title of “faux finisher/decorative painter.” It wasn’t until I did my first designer show house (shortly after my initial) that I felt comfortable with the title of “faux finisher/decorative painter.” I felt as though I needed on-the-wall experience … not just sample boards created in a studio space. I learned many lessons while working in that designer show house where I worked on 3 spaces. Lots of lessons learned! I networked with many other faux finishers as well as designers and supporting trades people, too. It was a wonderful experience and I felt that when I was finished with that home that I had completed my schooling and I was comfortable with the title of “faux finisher/decorative painter.”

If you weren’t painting, what occupation would you be in?
If I weren’t painting I’d probably be an interior designer/decorator. I love the whole space/design/color concepts and history. Many of my faux finishing customers need guidance in the area of color, especially if they’re not working with a designer.

What is your next project going to be?
My next project is to create a faux wood grained barn door on two existing steel doors at a tractor store in Wilmington, DE.

What inspired you to do it?
A friend who works at the store mentioned the “ugly steel doors” that the customer walk through as the entrance to the shop and I suggested doing something to them to make them look beautiful and to clearly mark the entrance of the space (there are other doors on the outside of the building and customers get confused about what door to use). After that I’m wood graining some painted wainscoting at a restaurant in Honey Brook and after that project my next project is to create a faux trey ceiling in a dining room using trompe l’oeil techniques.

Where else can we see your work?
You can see examples of my work on the internet at www.thefauxpro.net or by appointment to see my portfolio in person. You can also see examples of my work in a project that’s just wrapping up at St. Cornelius church in Chadds Ford, PA. In that church we worked on almost every surface that they have as well as many of their connecting spaces (courtyards, hallways, foyers, etc). This building is open to the public Monday and Friday from 7:30a – 6pm or by appointment. Additionally, there will be a formal open house that marks the completion of that project on Thursday, September 20, 2007 from 6pm-9pm. You can get more information on that project at www.DPAP.org (Decorative Painting Apprenticeship Program).

Contact info?
Bernadette Forese www.thefauxpro.net 610-368-3899.

What snack food do you always have on hand?
Good –n- Plenty candy from Wawa! I can never have too many boxes!

This week's Illustration Friday theme is "Visitors". Which one of us isnt sure this hasnt happened in the middle of the night when we were kids --- especially after watching a scary movie.

Played around with the Wacom tablet again. I left this one kind of rough -- thought it added to the atmosphere.

I did get my Poser Figure Artist software the other day. Totally have to rethink how to use it as it is vector based. Same kind of thinking I have to change over to when using Adobe Illustrator -- and it has been awhile. Not unlike the difference between painting with oils and watercolors.

"Just Down the Way" Acrylic on masonite. 11x14

Donating this piece to the InLiquid Benefit v.7.0 which will be held on Thursday, Sept 27 at the Crane Arts Building at 1400 N. American in Philadelphia. Part of the proceeds will be going to help support the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Foundation, which supports disadvantaged youth through arts education.

Advanced bidding for the donations will be available online starting Sept 10th. More info and tickets can be found at InLiquid's website.

Some of you may recall me posting about this piece earlier in the year. You can see it's progress here and here. and here.

PS. Just saw that this is my 100th post. I suppose I should summarize how my resolution has been working soon.