Cherries & Pears - Painting on Furniture

A number of years ago Jon and I built some tables - I had it in my mind to paint fruit on a couple of the tables. Here is the result. Cherries and Pears.

I didn't have anything to look at while painting the fruit--everything from memory, hence the reality that all the leaves end up looking the same. Nonetheless, I sold the table and enjoyed the experiment. My friend Pam bought the table. It is five ft. long, and 18 inches deep. A nice foyer table.

Vintage Pieces Found

The doilie is from my sister in law Robin's collection--a gift. The tissue box handpainted by my mother Lorraine. The rocks--picked up in our yard by my mother Lorraine--one rock had a perfect thumb print--making a great worry stone, and another rock shaped like a heart. The bell I found at an antiques shop in Poisippi, WI. I think you'll see some of these items in the future (painted in a still life).

Building the Garage - Next: Wiring and Insulation

The windows and passage doors are installed. Waiting for more than a month for overhead doors to be installed (the only thing we contracted-out).

Looking at the north end of the studio, and below a view of the south end of the studio.

DH Jon installed a 6ft. wide balcony off the back of the south end of the studio and installed french doors. The air pulls nicely through the long room. If you can imagine, 8x 8' dormers will be installed on both sides of the long room.

Winter is closing in now, so Jon will wait until spring to add the dormers. In the meantime, we'll set the boxes, pull the wiring, and insulate the walls, up to the areas where the dormers will begin and end.

The balcony isn't huge, but big enough for a couple of chairs and a railing of course. Below is the view from the balcony.

Grandma Eva's Phone

This is my grandmother Eva's telephone. The phone sat on her desk in the hallway between the kitchen and living room. Her phone number was Dickens 35-123.

I remember one afternoon toward the end of her life. I listened while she dialed the Orpheum Theatre and asked for assistance when her car pulled up in front of the theatre in 15 minutes. I was driving her to see "Love Story". I knew there would be a long line, but grandma was way ahead of me--she had it all figured out.

Sure enough when we arrived at the theatre the usher walked up to my car, opened the door, and escorted grandma to her seat. I parked the car and returned to the theatre. Much to my surprise the usher was there waiting for me at the entrance. I had my money ready, and he handed me the ticket stubs. Then, he took me to my seat next to grandma. Wow, what service. The movie was great. We both cried.

P.S. - the beginner's spell book in the photograph is just a spoof, a prop I bought for Halloween decoration.

More Paintings

This painting hangs in my dining room. I painted it in 1988. I remember working on it in my basement studio. Man that was a really small studio, but somehow we managed to squeeze-in 6 to 8 easels for students. My students were the greatest. So far, I guess I've only shown you still life paintings-but at my studio we painted a variety of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, flowers . . . I remember each and everyone of my students and their beautiful work. Golly we had fun!

Looking At My Old Work

I found a photograph of an oil painting I did a million years ago. I have no idea when I painted it. Its called "Old Books" I told DH Jon this morning, I'm really getting excited about opening my art studio. I can't hardly wait until I get an opportunity to sit down again at the easel. That will be next year--as the studio is far from finished.

Its been more than 15 years since I taught oil painting or did any commission work. Nonetheless, I know I can still make the magic happen, and what I learned over the years didn't run out of the end of my toes.

My studio will officially open for classes in the spring of 2011. Won't you join me? If you've never painted but always wanted to learn, you'll have the time of your life at my studio. I guarantee it!

Living Through A Whole House Restoration

We are into our third year of restoration. I've shown you photos of family members who gave a helping hand during our journey. And now, I've decided to include a photo of me, working on the old Victorian. Usually, I'm the camera man. I've taken hundreds of before and after photos of our journey into restoration land. This house and our work is a dream come true.

When we made our first "walk-thru" in the house, I sure didn't think it would take this long to bring this old house around. However, I'm glad it is taking some time. Along the way I've had a chance to research the two families who lived here before us, and the stories are remarkable and inspire us to continue. Each year I proclaim we'll have this wrapped up in one more year, then the year comes and goes. We make progress, but move at a snail's pace on most projects. If you love old houses like we do, you'll understand how we feel. We are the custodians of the Wrolstad-Quien home. It is an honor to work on this house.