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
