The Chair Auction - My most recent project...

I am sharing this post with Emily P. Freeman's We will make Art


Our local Recreation Department is sponsoring an event called "Take a Seat for the Arts."  Basically it is an auction to raise money for the art programs they run.  They sent out notices asking for donations of chairs, and also for artists who are willing to paint a chair to donate to the auction.

After some hemming and hawing, I decided to try it, and committed to painting.  First, I had to find a chair!  My youngest and I went to a community yard sale, and with all of the chairs there, she spotted a nice one, and not expensive either!

While we were there, I also found some books for mixed media projects, but that is another post...

My mom told me about a type of bonding primer paint (Glidden's Gripper), which she suggested using, because you don't have to sand the finish, you just make sure the surface is clean, and paint!  With the spindles on the chair, and since I don't have a sander, or a space to sand, it was a great idea!

The chair on the right is the one for the auction.  The one on the left is a roadside find that needs a little TLC, but a good solid chair!

I was asked to submit a theme for the chair, and after some thought, and a few different ideas I decided on "Seasons."  A picture formed in my head, and though I know it probably won't be exactly like the picture in my head, I had a direction and I began painting.  Here are some of the "during" shots...

 I painted the night sky on the back and a bright day on the front.

I had a "corner" for each season... The seasons don't have a true beginning and ending, they tend to blend with each other, ebbing and flowing like waves.  They hint at a beginning, then the incumbent season pushes back for a bit...  It is just the way it is.
 

The winter tree stretches its branches...

 The tree in Autumn on fire with its brilliant hues...

 Some small (and blurry...) details on the trunks of the trees...dandelions, butterflies, a watchful owl and snowflakes.

An overview of the four seasons...

 A picnic beneath the shade of a leafy Summer tree...

 These are paper leaves I drew and then painted with watercolors...

The completed chair! 

This has been the main focus for me over the last few weeks, and has been handed off for the silent auction at the Recreation Department's Take a Seat for the Arts.

I have other projects lined up, and if you would like to keep up with what I am working on, follow me on Facebook!