West End Studios Art Opening/Pop-Up Gallery

West End Studios Logo

Mark your calendars!!Deelite Design will host the first art opening for artists at the West End. Sculptors Bill Knapp, Barry Sheehan; Woodworker Ewan Tulis; and myself, will have works on display for purchase. Preview Party Friday Evening.

This will be a two day gallery show, Pop-Up style. The show commences Saturday evening so be sure to stop by and bring your art lover friends! Lots of great art for sale! More Information

Preview Party: Friday July 11,  7-10

Show: Saturday July 12, 10-6

About West End Studios:

Technically still Main Street, the West End of Historic Ellicott City is home to several working artists. Currently there are nine artists within the area: blacksmiths Barry Sheehan and Sam Salvati, Sculptor Bill Knapp, Woodworker Ewan Tulis, Painters Dee Cunningham, Laurie Hansen, and Chuck Gamber, and wood turner Dave Calloway.

About the Participating Artists:

Bill Knapp:

bill Knapp 2014

"My intent is to make the viewer wonder. 'Does it work, will it run or maybe what does it do?' Although some pieces may be strong with just their elements, I prefer that the elements relate to each other and and come together to appear to perform a function. That function may appear mechanical, animal, or figurative. My studio includes a small warehouse of parts that talk to me. They come from the internet stores, antique shops, and dumpster dives. Friends often leave things at my studio door that they know I'll recycle."

barry sheehan 2014

Barry Sheehan: "I am a master craftsman with a primary focus in metals and traditional blacksmithing. My artistic philosophy is life is in motion and motion gives art life. I use a minimalistic approach to sculpture in order to create a restless energy that can arrest the attention of any viewer and allow them to interact with the piece. I use familiar imagery such as the human figure caught in motion in order to create an imaginary reality that involves the sculpture and the space around it. My process is difficult but simple: fire, water, impact, and pressure."

Ewan Tulis:

ewan tulis

Ewan is a woodworker by heart. His day job of doing construction and home improvement allows him the pleasure of building sculptural furniture that often includes exotic and reclaimed woods and vintage hardware and metal. His work includes gracefully shaped pieces with curved lines as well as lightly refined rustic pieces that speak of their previous life.

Dee Cunningham:

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Working as a decorative artist my job is to paint for others. Solely commission based up to this point, my work is custom made for the client. I will paint anything from abstract to photo realistic styles in order to achieve my clients' vision.  After much discussion and personal reflection, I hope to complete my first body of work for my own artistic expression in the next year.

Interior Designer Tag Sale!!

Mark your calendars!! Deelite Design will be hosting our first Interior Designer Tag Sale Saturday June 28 from 10-5 with a Preview Sale Friday evening from 5-9pm including wine and light fare! Five designers have decided to clean out their coffers and offer for sale tons of great items at incredible prices! There will be upholstery and drapery fabric remnants, accessories from home staging, and many items are "To-The-Trade" and not usually available to the public.  I will be selling some vintage and antique wood furniture items that I had intentions of painting but don't have time to tackle right now.

Tell a friend! Heck, bring a friend! Hope to see you there!

Location: Deelite Design Studio, 8602 A Frederick Road Ellicott City MD 21043

Call 410-707-9246 or email dee@deelitedesign.com for information.

(Cash and carry, no returns or exchanges. Be prepared to take your items the same day.)

A Portrait Project - Finding my Footing

A few months ago Pam Long of Pam Long Photography approached me about doing a joint project.  Pam is a wonderfully talented photographer with a studio on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City. She does maternity portraits, newborn or children portraits, family portraits and high school seniors' portraits. Pam wanted to offer a new package option for her clients, having their portrait painted. That's where I come in!

We had a photo session back in February. Ill be honest, I didn't know what to expect since its not every day that I have my photo professionally done.  Pam was very welcoming and complimentary, immediately putting me at ease. We had a great time and did a few different set ups. About a week later, I came back to go through the lot and choose a handful that could potentially work for our project. I was surprised at how well they turned out given the subject matter ;) I tend to be goofy and and self conscious when having my picture taken.

With each new painting  there is an element of excitement, anxiety, and sometimes fear. Portraits are not easy, especially when they are for a paying client. Careful attention to detail is a must, and sometimes the client will be choosy in how they are portrayed.  Remember the whole Kate Middleton portrait kerfuffle? I thought the work was stunning and captured her essence, but most people wanted an idealized image that they had conceived in their minds. You can't please everyone, but you must please the client! In this case the client is me. And its super hard!!

I've always painted in acrylic and this time I've been using my usual standard, Proceed Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. I did use a different kind of canvas since I was out of the kind I normally use. Somehow I think the combination isn't working very well. I find it difficult to build layers without cutting through the subsequent layers. I also am finding that for this particular project that the paints are drying to opaquely and flat.

What I've been noticing now that I'm working on this is how in other artists' portrait work the colors of the skin are so varied and deep.  Cerulean blues, cadmium reds, all layered to achieve such a beautiful luminosity. I tend to mix a color, add white and either burnt umber or raw umber to it to get the value correct, and put it down. The results are very opaque. I am struggling to find how to layer the colors to achieve that beautiful depth. I did some thinking and believe that I am going to try out oils. I've never been properly schooled in their use, but I have used them in the past. I'm hoping that by using oils I'll be able to achieve the subtle nuances with the shadows and richness of the skin.

Ill post some more photos when I think its nearing completion. Any advice or constructive critique is welcomed.

Stay tuned!

I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

I've decided to start a new series where we share our work spaces...I hope to post more photos as people share them with me. If you have some you'd like to share, email me at dee@deelitedesign.com I've always loved exploring how other artists organize and use their space for work and inspiration. I've asked some of my artist friends to share photos of their spaces.  What was so surprising is how embarrassed they were about showing their space! As if a messy studio was a sign of failure! I know when Im working, my space blows up.  After each project I have to reset; clean up, put things away, reorganize. When I'm working I am in the moment. As my mom would call it, it looks like a dumping ground! (Keep in mind, both of my parents are neat freaks so having a mess was a n0-no.) Back when I first started working as an artist, my time was split between my basement and my parents' basement. They had tall ceilings where I could do murals. Nothing is better than being able to leave and shut the door without worrying about who's going to care about my mess!

My studio: in current condition...

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Storage underneath tables that roll, paints on metal shelves, and storage above for things used less often. On the mural wall, a work in progress. The wall itself has been used as a practice surface for large scale glazing.

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Ladders and scaffold against the wall, and to the right of the frame, my spray area. Currently being used as storage.

Without further ado, here are some other studios who's owners have graciously allowed us to peer inside. Enjoy!

My neighbors Bill Knapp, billknapparts.com and Barry Sheehan, barrywsheehan.com, who share a space...they are metal sculptors. Each have their own separate businesses but share space.

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Bill

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Bill's area

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Barry working.

My other neighbor, Zach Bowler's studio. He is a ceramic artist. I love what he's done with creating a lounging area in the back.

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My friend Jeanne Shnupp works in Long Island and does decorative painting like me... jeanniesdesigns.com It seems we all have a need for places to store things!

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Arlene McLoughlin's space. She also works in Long Island as a decorative artist. arlenemurals.com

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Thanks for sharing your spaces with us!

Spotlight on Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors

Continuing my Spotlight Series, I've focused this post on one of my designers, Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors. We've done several projects together, many of which have been Decorator Show Houses. What do you do?

I make people cry happy tears and want to hug me.  I am a Decorator and pride myself on “hearing” and respecting my client’s goals and lifestyles.  When a project is complete, it is not uncommon for the tears to flow and for me to get hugs of thanks.

BSO Show House 2013 "Cozy Corner"

  -How did you get started in this field?

Decorating has been a life-long passion of mine.  I decided to take it from casual designing for family and friends to a career after selling another business.

Library/Office, Private Residence

-What is your background?

I was involved in Real Estate management for many years and also owned my own business.  I founded Simply Put Interiors, Inc. in 2006.

BSO Decorator Show House, 2012 (Ritz Carlton Residences)

BSO Decorator Show House, 2012 (Ritz Carlton Residences)

-what does your business offer clients?

Simply Put Interiors is a full service Interior Decorating company.  You can hire us for an hour just to get you started or to design and manage large projects.  We are your one-stop shop for floors, ceilings, window treatments, walls and everything in between!

BSO Decorator Show House 2011

-What is the most challenging part of your job?

Getting my client’s to envision the final design plan from the early stages and convincing them not to get too far ahead of themselves.  Once they learn to trust me and accept my guidance, it is usually a pretty smooth sail.

Private Residence, Ritz Carlton Residences

-What do you enjoy most?

That is hard to say because there is such a range to the services we offer and I enjoy them all.  Re-Designs are probably the most rewarding because I use primarily what my client already owns to create a brand new look.

Private Residence, Ritz Carlton Residences

-What adjustments have you made to your business to keep up with the changing economy?

Honestly, I can’t think of any remarkable adjustments.  I have always been cognizent of budgets and goals.

Paula in her booth at the American Craft Council "Make Room" Exhibit

-What makes a good client?

It is important to have a good working relationship.  I want my clients to feel like I understand them and with that comes trust.  So, a client who trusts me to accomplish their goals.

American Craft Council "Make Room" Exhibit (with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake)

-Do you have a location (store/studio/workshop) where clients can come meet you or do you come to them? (Please provide address if desired)

I normally meet with my client’s in their homes or offices.

-How do we get in touch with you?

phone: 410-252-9911

website: http://simplyputinteriors.com/