Decorating for the Holidays

Many magazines will show you ways to decorate, but when they do the before and after, the photograph is never taken from the same angle. As an artist and a photographer that bothers me. The perception of some people is to recreate what they see and that perspective is important.

Here is a step by step to creating a dining table for the holidays.

 The inspiration is from Classic Hollywood. I've been watching a lot of old black and white films thanks to MoviestvNetwork. The color scheme is black and silver. A table cloth is used to match the chairs.

 A mirror is placed in the center of the table for illumination, reflection and ambience in the room.

The table runner was one I had picked up at IKEA, but since I could never find what I was looking for I decided to embellish it with mirrors.

 Then the other items for display are added. A sculpture candle libra and two candle holders. Clear and crackled glass adds to the classic look.

You can add placements before or wait until your guests arrive and are ready to eat. Adding the placements doesn't allow the mirror to show through. Then add the plates I used black and white with alternating napkins and silver napkin rings. Salt and pepper shakers are clear plastic, but you can use glass as well.

 This is a different variation of the finished table without the placemats. I also did a variation without the table runner since I wanted the mirror to act as the focal point. It only takes about an hour to pull this look together and you can use what you have on hand instead of going out and spending money.

The Art of Decluttering

There is an art to everything: Sex, cooking, leadership, relationships, etc. Not everyone understands how it works and then there are those that do things their way.

Getting rid of clutter is no different. There are some people who can just throw stuff away without even thinking about it. Then there are those who have an attachment to things.

For me it started at a young age. Someone gave me something and it meant a lot that they thought of me. Then there are those things that I started collecting on my own.
I held on to that Disneyland poster until the edges frayed and it was no longer holding up. Of course its possible I still have some of it in a file somewhere and I just haven’t run across it.

When I began traveling I began picking up little things because that seemed to be the thing that you did when you traveled. For me it started at the age of 12. I went to Houston Texas with my dad and some friends. We did Astroworld and attended a baseball game at the Astrodome. It was quite exciting and it was the first time my dad and I had ever taken a trip just the two of us.

There are a few items I have from that particular trip. My map of Astroworld and the miniature baseball bat that I picked up at the Astrodome. I had also collected a pendant, but I don’t know if its still hanging over a doorway in my home in NOLA or not. I’m still dealing with that situation as well.

I bring stuff back and then there isn’t a place for it so it gets put aside and before you know it you have created clutter. It’s easy to find a place for the small things, but the larger items are difficult to store.

Still there are the memories and I like running across things when I’m looking for something else and reliving that moment for a while.
I have thousands of photographs, but that adds another dimension to it all. They are tucked away in a binder and you don’t always look at them. I must admit that I do take time out to look at the stuff that I have collected.

I must admit there are some things in which I’ve gone overboard. My art supplies, there are so many I could open my own store. I’m trying to paint canvas and work on other things, but I know the minute I throw certain things away will be the minute I will be looking for it.

There are things that hold family history and its my story that I feel I must hold on too.
I am getting to the point where something must be done, but I hate to just throw something in the trash. I’d rather pass it along to someone who can make use of it.
One man’s trash…

Many experts have ways of getting rid of clutter. Certain items you can scan into your computer or take a picture to keep the memory alive. You can create a sort of recycling system. Stuff to keep, stuff to donate and stuff to sell, etc. Deciding what to keep is really easy, but we tend to let our emotions get in the way. We hold on to that item that we may never where or an invent that has long been gone and all that is remembered is that item that is hanging in the closet.
You know its bad when you look in the closet and there are still things with the price tag on it. If you can research the receipt its even worse to find out you’ve had the item for several years and never worn it.

If we create a sentimental pile and then move on to create a pile of not sure why we are keeping it and a pile of stuff we can actually sell and maybe even a pile of stuff to just give away we make some progress.

Usually when I look at certain items and I think of someone that might be able to use it or if someone gave it to me, I always call that person to see if they would like to have it back before I pass it along to someone else. I think its proper etiquette.

Sometimes we become oblivious to the things we’ve collected. Then one day we look around and we see we’ve got a museum of candles, vases, flowers, art, DVDs, video games, CDs, and the list goes on.
Sometimes I can go through and just toss it and then there are times when I stop with each item and reflect.
Working on one room at a time is the best way to do things because you won’t become too overwhelmed.

Sometimes just opening the door to that closet or room can be overwhelming if you have really let things get out of control.

It’s like a credit card with a high balance and you’re only paying the minimum. It doesn’t seem as if you’re doing anything, it keeps building and building.
You’ve got to try harder and don’t be afraid to throw it out if it serves no purpose at all. If its tucked away and you don’t know its there, you really won’t miss it when its gone.

Thanks for stopping by; do come again. Keep an open mind.

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Dryer Sheets

In this age of recycling and finding uses for items and saving money. Dryer sheets can have a new life. They can be used more than once in the dryer. You can use them to make stuffing for animals for children or if you save enough you can stuff pillows. They can be used to dust furniture and they can be used as small pieces of canvas. You can also use them to wrap small gifts that might break. Everything that we use can have a second or third life. Get in touch with your inner artist.

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Addicted 2 Art

The drawing to the far right is a drawing from my archives of something I did back in the early 80’s.

That’s when my art started to take off. This was before I became a professional photographer.

I had begun doing designs for business cards and letter heads. I was designing posters and had even done a few shows. It’s just one of the many doors I have opened in my life and walked through to see what adventure was waiting. Now I wait for a door or window to open for a new adventure.

I question my abilities and whether or not I am good at what I do. As an artist I’m always pushing that button and trying something new. Many times I’ll go into a store and I’ll see art and I’ll think about purchasing it and then I get a wake up call. That little voice says, “You’re an artist and you can create that yourself.” I just have to push myself every now and then. Of course anything I create these days I have to sell or give away because I don’t want to clutter up the walls. I do have an area set up for work that is for sale, but most of the pieces are not finished. I want to work on a catalog and price the items. One of the hardest things for an artist is to put a price on the work. If your selling your work yourself it’s a little easier than if you have an agent. You have to include the cut for the agent and you want to make sure the price you’re asking includes your time. Sometimes works can take months even years and you just have to ask yourself what is your time worth?

My latest project is butterflies. I created my own stencil and I made the butterflies out of foam sheets and cut them out. Then I scanned them and used the hues to create colors. Now I can print them on canvas sheets, put them in a frame and voile its ready for sale. I can also take the original foam butter flies and frame them in a box style frame individually or together.

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Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

The Holidays

The above image is something I did back in the early 90's. There was a time when Michael Jackson was obsessed with Disney, which is how he came to have his own amusement park. In any event, I thought wouldn't it be interesting to have Mickey imitating Michael. I created a tee shirt and later used it in a photo shoot with a guy striking the same pose.
Now the image is a cut out framed in a collage of tee shirt images that I created.


The thing about decorating for the holidays is that you have to move furniture around in most cases. Most people like the tree to be near a window so that the outside world can see it. As an adult, I’ve never lived in a place where the window was visible by people walking or driving by. Even now, the living space windows are toward the backyard. The people passing by would have to look over the high fence and who wants to go through that kind of trouble. Unless of course they are looking for trouble. Earlier in the year I made it easy so that the larger furniture pieces wouldn’t get moved. I could turn them slightly, but they wouldn’t have to exchange places. The small items would move for the Christmas tree and it all seems to have fallen into place. I’ll just put together my Christmas soundtrack and watch a movie and enjoy myself. Life is good despite everything that is going on.





Thanks for stopping by; do come back again.