DESIGN A SPACE :: MIDWEST PLAIN

vases by Wistera, rug by Layla Grayce, chair at Layla Grayce table by Layla Grayce, lamp at Layla Grayce

painting by Christy Cunningham

I'm craving to see a room designed around one of my pieces. For now, this'll have to do. 

CONSIDER IT AN INVESTMENT

"Consider it an investment." This is a line my friends and I throw around to help each other curb shoppers remorse. Usually it's said about a dress that's timeless or pumps that will end up being a staple to a wardobe. When I think about the almost complete transformation that my closet has undergone in the last few years, I have be honest and realize: those comfort words are not all that true. Clothing is probably not the best investment.

Midwest Plain, Acrylic on Canvas, 2' x 4' (Inquire for Pricing and Availability) 

So, when is it good to splurge? MSN Lifestyle names a number of smart indulgences: 10 Things to Buy Now and Keep Forever . Number three on the list is orignial art. 

PRETTY IN PINK! NURSERY INSPIRATION

My precious neice, Avery is the first grandbaby for our family. My two sisters (seen here) and I had a ball putting her room together. Here's a little glimpse of what we came up with.
My incredibly talented sister, Mindy, took the two photos on the left.

Avery is somehow 6 months old already! As she grows and changes, so should her room, I think. See the sliver of tree mural in the bottom right corner? Soon, we’ll revamp it to a flourishing cherry blossom tree. Keep an eye out for before and after pictures of Avery’s tree mural.

GRACE IS MY FAVORITE WORD

Grace is..., 12" x 28" Oil on Wood

This piece started out offensively ugly. I'm not kidding, it was bright blue with some sort of sky and butterfly scene. Yep. Bad, bad, bad. My art professor called it "hokey" during critique, so I painted over the blue oils while they were still wet. 

The pieces I’m most intrigued by are those that at one point were complete rubbish…really wrecked. I love to see a work revived and remade into something essentially new. With layers of paint beneath it, the piece has more texture, more depth, more story, and I have more love for it.

SQUARE SERIES: MOOSE

You might notice some sort of shiny silhouette in the center of this painting. What you're seeing is a bundle of tiny nail heads that were pounded in one by one. Tedious sounding? You bet. In hindsight, creating an image from nails was a stupid idea, but it somehow was inceptioned into my mind. Really, I couldn't stop thinking about it until I just did it. 

Moose, Acrylic on Canvas 2' x 2' (Inquire for Pricing and Availability

The sunlight reflects differently on the metal nails throughout the day, so the piece looks different at any given hour. Still, I think: was it worth putting in the monotonous effort for such a subtle outcome?

Audrey Hepburn, Acrylic on Vintage Book Cover  (Inquire for Pricing and Availability)

SQUARE SERIES: A FRESH PICK AT SPROUT

One of my top girls, Kari, manages and buys for Sprout Children 's Boutique in Sioux Falls. It's an upmarket children's clothing store that outfits newborns to preteens. The whole shop is kissed with Kari's immpecible taste. It's adorable; I feel like a cuter person just walking in the door. You can find this painting hanging on Sprout's walls, fitting in just right to the store's young and fresh vibe. It's available for purchase, so swing in to Sprout and snatch it up.




Flourish, Acrylic on Canvas, 2' x 2' (Inquire for Pricing and Availability)