I’ve been painting to earn a living for more than 25 years. You’d think I’d be starting to figure it out. Well, maybe I’m starting to, but sometimes it feels like I’m such a newbie at this “art” stuff! When I first started creating floorcloths I was fresh off a stint in Children’s Book Illustration. I had created several picture books that were my own ideas. My imagination has always been very active, and I had a blast developing stories and making paintings to go with them. The only problem was that I wasn’t good at the selling part. I wasn’t a known writer (or folk singer) or an established illustrator, so I had trouble getting my foot in the door at publishing companies. When I started making floorcloths, they tended to be quite whimsical and fun.
Gardening Angels Floorcloth
As I began showing my work and offering my services to do customized pieces, my designs evolved into more traditional geometric patterns and basic historic layouts. Slowly, my free-spirited paintings became reproductions of historical floorcloths and variations of my own previous work. This tends to happen when your primary way of showcasing your work is to display images of previous projects. My customers would see one I had made a few years prior, they liked it and would ask me to make a similar piece for them, in a different size and a couple of different colors.
Fast forward 20 years. I began feeling like I was painting the same thing over and over again. My schedule was so full I had little time to practice “real” painting, or even drawing. I felt stuck painting diamonds and compasses. Then one of my customers asked if I could paint a mural for her dining room. A door was opening and I happily pushed it and stepped right through. I didn’t know how I was going to make that mural, but where there’s a will there’s way. Right?
This is me, being very happy having completed my first successful mural!
Painting large, geometric floorcloths for 20+ years taught me a lot that I eventually applied to the mural-painting process: how to handle paint; how to handle canvas (the murals are painted on canvas and then mounted with wallpaper paste on the walls); and how to logistically handle pieces of canvas up to 16 feet long.
The mural painting has fired up the creative side of me that wants to PAINT again. I mean really PAINT. Hunt scenes, horses, landscapes, trees, dogs, oceans, color, light and textures. I could go on and on. I feel like a kid in grade school. I know now what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be an ARTIST! There’s so much to learn, and every time I walk outside, I see more things I want to paint.
That said, I am not shutting down the floorcloth business. I have custom floorcloth orders to complete taking me into July of next year. But I’m being fussier about the projects I take on. This latest floorcloth, called “Morris Tiles”, was very interesting for me. I used a lot of textural techniques, and let it “paint itself” a bit. What I mean by that is that I didn’t let myself get caught up in the details. I trusted that the pattern would work itself out. When this happens, I want to keep going so I can see what it wants to become. The end becomes a surprise!
Bay Horse with Three Socks
I have a question (or two) for you now. If I start just painting things because it’s what I want to do on a given day, would you be interested in having a chance to purchase it? At the top of this post maybe you noticed the painting of a horse in the background. If I were to offer that for sale, would you be interested? It’s 27″ X 27″ and it’s unframed. What would you consider a fair price? Also, if I were to start painting floorcloths with looser, more “artistic” or painterly things going on, would you be interested in those? There would be no customization on these. The size would be whatever I make it to be! You can send me an email to respond or just drop a comment in the box below. Thank you!
Yes, I’d be interested in bidding on your stuff from time to time. I missed the saddle because I wasn’t watching the deadline. Maybe send an email monthly (or weekly) of what’s available. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Girl, you have a gift from God! Enjoy it. It blesses many others. Reminds me of a line from an old rock and roll song: “Watch me work! Hey!”
Lisa,
You are a true artist. Your murals are incredible and the scenes you paint are magnificent. So, definitely follow your dream and have a blast! Most people would purchase your paintings.
Gayle Lorden
Are you kidding? Of course I would be interested! I would love if you did commissions, but everything you do is so beautiful I’m sure I would snap up an original as well. What exciting news!
Lisa,
Art is art! Whatever style or path you take to get there, your end product is always amazing! I have three unfinished floor cloths on my art table, I would eventually like to complete them,but who knows when I’ll have the time. Whatever you decide to paint will always be something that people will be excited about and purchase!
Hi, Lisa
I love everything that you create and completely understand why you want to branch out, but I do hope that you will still paint the traditional floorcloths that so many of us love and want for our homes.
I wish you the very best. Your artistic talent is beyond compare.
I would love a rug runner for a hall way with anything you would do. I love the idea of having something I use and love to look at everyday that is not the same old same old.
Good luck! When things settle down here I would like to send you a picture of my hallway and just have you give me a price and send me something unique.
There comes a time when the stress of customizing art work of any kind is unsatisfying. You sound extremely happy in this new’ loosey goosey’ floor cloth painting approach. I get it!! It is good for the soul, this new freedom…Marketing is so very hard. Any connections in NY or a big city. ? A show in a gallery with your new line..They will figure out how to price..You rarely get what your art is worth, but at least have fun with it and I believe everything will follow. Good Luck to you. My only regret , I never got in one of your classes. I understand that stress also…..Best to you,Already voted..Good Luck to us all!! Peg Allen
Lisa,
Great musings! I congratulate you on your artistic gamble. Yes, I would be interested in seeing a more whimsical side to your work.
Best to you,
Hi Lisa – I think that anything you do will be successful; you have incredible talent and it shows with every piece you create. And it’s exciting to branch off into new things…keeps the brain engaged and interested, don’t you think?
So I wish you much success – just make sure you keep us in the loop with your new projects!
Best wishes 🙂