Off the Wall! Art on Furnishings

My Art Comes Off the Wall

and/or

My Art is Off the Wall

Choosing colors, choosing words...it's all a creative challenge.  And if you remember my shoe painting experiment you know I love to find and make art that is not meant to hang on the wall.

I've been in a lot of elevators lately where everyone stares at the floor while traveling...and guess what? my painted shoes always provoke conversation.  Fun.  Moral of the story: surround yourself with lovely things and life gets interesting.

Back to the leather painting saga.  I wanted to fancy up a comfy/up-cycled chair if I found the proper paint.  Selecting Angelus Brand Leather paints I got busy sketching a design on tracing paper. The paper pattern was used on the chair for the first designs but abandoned as I got more comfortable with the composition.  Cleaning the chair (or shoes) first with acetone to remove any dirt or grease.

 

 I put transfer paper under the drawing and went over it again leaving a chalk guide line on chair.

Using throwaway Styrofoam trays for a mixing palette, I discovered that at least two coats of paint was needed if not more.  For large swatches it was critical to keep the first couple coats as smooth as possible.

The vibrant greens here contrast nicely with dark leather.

The original layout suited my first idea of keeping it all simple and sleek.  But as I progressed it began to feel a bit dull and "predictable".  A little too TJ Maxx and not enough "Bohemia" for my taste.  

So tossing the drawings, I began to let the creative muse take over.  Pops of white began to appear and the shapes of the additional flowers changed to circles.

I think it's done!  Maybe...  

My shoes have held up wonderfully but I plan to finish this piece as the Angelus Company recommends: by wiping a satin finisher over the painted areas.  I probably wouldn't bother for myself but as the piece is destined for a show, I want to assure a prospective owner that it will withstand any amount of wear and tear an office chair could expect.  (and p.s. before I began any of the ARTwork I covered up all the leather parts, ventured outside and sprayed the bottom railings to a perfect coat of black.)

And that is just one way I take my art off the walls.

COLORFully Yours,

Cindy

another note: next week I'll recap the wonderful comments shared on your personal criteria for favorite art...any more thoughts please send now.

Product Testing - Painting Shoes

Putting the Best Foot Forward

I am usually guilty of putting the cart before the horse when attempting something new.  In my enthusiasm I rush right in and before I realize it I have made every possible mistake - all avoidable if I slowed down and did a little testing here and there.  So when I decided I wanted to paint a leather chair (or two) I thought I might research a couple of products first.  

Leather painting (vinyl and pleather) is a bit challenging as it tends to move and stretch and you definitely don't want the paint to crack and peel off.  So I selected a couple pair of beat up leather shoes and proceed to google everything I could on paints.

I decided to try the new sharpie oil-based paint pens as sharpie pens have always done a good job and I loved these bright colors.  These are supposed to be available at craft and office supply stores, but hmmm, I had to order mine as I could not find them locally.  These are also supposed to adhere to anything!

I also chose Angelus Leather paint as they are made specifically for leather workers.  Their web site provided info and a way to order directly.

And so I began.... first out of the gate were the sharpie pens:

I immediately realized that the point of the pen was somewhat limiting as it took a lot of strokes to cover much territory.  Also I was disappointed that the color did not show up well on the dark leather (and my chair is also dark) but with patience I realized that at least 3 coats were needed for each color to reach maximum value.

 The gold on the shoe is gesso, not marker (a desperate move when the color was slow to show but also a good test).  The orange, pink and blue colors are from the sharpie paint markers.

Next I decided to try the angelus paints so I gathered up several small tipped, soft brushes. I had inquired as to whether or not the colors could be mixed and with a YES answer I was excited to get started.

The information on-line advised applying several thin coats of paint, letting it dry between each.  I really loved working with these as I could vary the size of my brush and thus get a different line.  They were fairly quick to dry so I did not have to wait overnight to do second, or third coats of color. And, just like the sharpies, the color got more vibrant as each coat went on.  I felt I had more artistic control with a brush than I did with a pen point.

So now the research and development department has to put the paints to the real test: wear and tear!

I'm out wearing these creations now trying to see if they hold up or fade or peel off.  For a complicated project (such as my chair) I will much prefer working with the paints: they can be mixed for new colors, blended more easily and applied with different size brushes.  For a quick craft project (place cards, small wooden or terra cotta pots and the like) I think the felt tip of the sharpies will work just fine, but remember that you may only work with the colors offered by Sharpie.

So I will subject these shoes to water, dirt, crinkles, wrinkles and maybe an occasional coffee spill, all in an effort to be certain that my masterpiece, the purple leather office chair, will hold up and retain its design while in use.  Have any old, comfy shoes in need of a sprucing up?  Have at it...we can compare notes!

Experimentally yours, 

Cindy