Shiny Black Walls

 It's that time of year again when the antique barn that is 

home to the Ridgefield Guild of Artists is transormed into

Festive Home, the Guild's fundraiser that kicks-off

 the holiday season in Ridgefield.   For a third year I have

had the honor of being asked to create a vignette for 

Festive Home in the space of an 8-foot wall.

 Normally, I tend to be all about color.  

So imagine my delight when I discovered that 

this year's theme was to be titled "Color Your Holidays."

Each designer was given a specific color to use for 

their wall.  Guess what color I got??

Black.  

Oh my. 

The black chalkboard thing was the obvious choice, 

but that's been done and done and done again.  

So I went with high-gloss black enamel paint.

Each designer was also asked to pair up with

an artist to highlight in their vignette.  Since

I like to think of myself as an artist, I decided

to create a new painting of my own for the vignette.

To further rise to the challenge of the black theme, 

I decided to create a painting using a limited palette in the extreme:

Ivory Black, Radiant & Titanium Whites and Burnt Umber.

That's it.

(my other paintings scream color, so this was a test of my willpower).

Next add a cool console table.

 This was an old balcony railing I bought in

Buenos Aires.  I had an artist/welder friend make a base

for it and turn it into a table.

At one point a handful of friends and their beverages 

joined in the peanut gallery.

It was a very helpful (?) and much needed diversion to pull it all together.

I'd envisioned rows of flower-filled 

flat vintage bottles attached to the wall.

Couldn't make that work.

So, add black enamel to

some old flea market frames,

center two favorite bottles, add a pop of 

cream and orange-colored flowers.

Add a little burlap and a few twinkly branch lights.

Plus a few pieces of the Guild's merchandise on the table.

Done.

Detail.

Festive Home runs November 16-December 23, 2012.

Hours: Tues-Sun 11AM-5PM (closed November 21 & 22).

The Guild's annual pop-up boutique offers some 

unique and affordable gifts, as well as some beautiful artwork.

32 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield, CT  2-3.438.8863