Doggie Daycare Mural

Hi everyone, 

First off, big thank you to my close friends in real life who might be reading this (hey guys!) and reached out to support me through the thing that was/is going on in my life (see my last post). It's been a rough one, and I'm lucky to have my friends and family, who I know I can lean on, always. 

This is the mural I mentioned that I was working on in my last post. This mural came about when I donated my services to an annual fundraising auction that's held at my work. I donated an 8'x10' mural, and the highest bidder ended up being the owner of a small chain of doggie daycares around my area. I was super stoked to do this because it sounded like a really fun project (dogs, non-realistic/whimsical style....dogs) and it would mean more of my work in public places. I always like that :) The wall ended up being double the size that I had donated, so I did end up making some cash while also raising some for my workplace. Win-win, I tell you! Now let me tell you the warm/fuzzy part of this whole deal. The largest dog on the right hand side (not the 2 playing in the distance, but next to them), was the deceased dog of the owner. The manager of this place was the person I was working closely with on the design, and so she surprised the owner by having me paint his pup (R.I.P.). Super sweet. The rest of the dogs are inspired by pictures that she gave me of other employee's own dogs. Love that what started as just a way to brighten up a boring wall of their business, turned into something so personal for all the people who work there. Was really happy to be a part of this one. :)

Before dogs!

Dogs watching me....always watching...and barking...

Perspective

Well, I wasn't feeling like blogging this week, but we are at 12:01am and I can't sleep. It's been a really heavy week. I found out that one of my best friends and roomate in college passed away under terribly tragic and mysterious circumstances. This isn't the place for sharing her, or our, full stories. But after the numbness and shock wore off, her death has brought up so many emotions. I took a day to read old notes, look through pictures, obsess over the news, and just feel what I needed to feel. I wrote her a letter, and went into nature. Then, what I knew I needed to do, was get a brush into my hands. I guess I'll bring it back around to what this blog is supposed to be about: my art-y adventures. 

I was painting this mural today, listening to some music that she loved when I knew her: The Postal Service, Nine Inch Nails, and that one Against Me song that she knew every word to, and sang it enough times that eventually so did I. I was thinking about her life cut short before she could do, and be, so many things. Tragedies always make people recognize what they have and should be grateful for. I am grateful to live somewhere that I can be free. I am living a life that makes me happy. I have this crazy art habit that feels like popping happy pills. Or, at least brings me inner peace when I'm going through something hard. That is what I am grateful for today. For this confusing, wonderful, complex, colorful, beautiful but sometimes tragic, life. 

Operation "Nighty Night"

Happy weekend everyone!

Today I'm taking a day off, but tomorrow I'll start a new mural project. More about that later. For now though, let me catch you up on what I did LAST weekend!

My client for my last project was significantly shorter and cuter than most. This first picture is our initial consultation and brainstorm. It involved lots of mention of rainbows and fairies. Let me give you the backstory: 

Cutie sees house fire...... gets scared of fires...... associates smoke alarm in her room with fire and "scary"...... fear-of-fire fueled insomnia and general bad-dreaminess occurs...... parents need solution!

So her parents had her sign an agreement that if she could have good sleeping behavior for each day leading up to Chanukah, they would hire me to come paint her ceiling as a Chanukah present! My job was to turn that general smoke alarm area into a happy thing to look at, rather than scary. Hence, "Operation Nighty Night" was born. I die from cute. 

What I really appreciated about this job, was that the parents let their daughter make the decisions about her ceiling mural. It was all about what was going to help her sleep, and make her room a safe and happy place to be in. Kids have beautifully wild and uninhibited imaginations. When adults can recognize and embrace that, rather than stifle it, amazing adult/child collaborations can happen. Take a look at how we made ours:

Client Meeting! The kiddo and I talking over her ideas and making a concept sketch!

Concept sketch presented to me: That bullseye to the lower right? The smoke detector - soon to be surrounded in rainbow!

My interpretation of her sketch: A little photoshop and it's ready to present back to my client! She approves. 

Going for it! Ouch, my neck. 

End result!

Happy client right there. Happy Muralist too :)

We even got her into the action: Brother, sister, and their friend all got to paint the silver raindrops!

That was probably the cutest thing to happen to Talking Walls Murals, maybe ever. :)

Yet another "cute" owl

Hey guys! It's been awhile since I've blogged... my computer was broken (ouch, my wallet hurts) so I've been slacking. But here's my latest!... as in, 2.5-hours-ago-I-had-a-brush-in-my-hand latest. Getting right back on the blogging horse!

Can I just say that this is the 3rd nursery that I've painted this year where the couple asked me for a tree with an owl in it?! Popular theme! Not a "scary owl" though mind you, a "cute one".  Everyone made sure to note that. This family was the sweetest. And the kid's dimples were KILLING ME.  It was one of those times where I was in the zone and just busted it out, 9am-3pm and done. It's always the filling in the initial big shapes that I paint super fast so I can get to the fun part of laying in the last few layers of my brightest and lightest colors. When I get to that point, I slow down and I'm in this stupid-happy trance. 

Anyone else ever feel guilty for taking people's money for doing stuff you would totally be doing anyways? Like when I got home and was unpacking my stuff and my roomate says "Did you work today?" And I'm instinctively like, "Nah, I was painting!" But I did work. It's weird. Anyways, happy Saturday, people. Go get you some of whatever makes you feel stupid-happy! 

Corie

It was super weird painting on this ceiling slantiness! 

One satisfied Client and mini-client!

The funest moments!

WHY do I always end up looking like this? I don't understand the artists who can keep paint off their hands and clothes, and out of their hair for that matter. Don't worry, drop cloths protecting carpeting!

If the Thunder don't get you....

Happy Sunday, people!

I realized I forgot to share this little project with you all. If you follow me on my facebook page (which if you don't, I'd really appreciate the support! click here), then you may recognize this from the 2 minutes it was actually posted on that page before I took it down. I'll get to that in a minute...

The request for this project was sent less than a week before they wanted it done, and I actually was able to make it happen for them, so that was kind of great :) This is in the brand-spanking-new bar in the Alphabet District of downtown Portland, called "Lightning Will". Check them out if you're ever in the area! A sports-bar-meets-old-school arcade-meets-biker-bar. It's pretty great. They are located at: 305 NW 21 Ave, Portland. The whole place is based off of some Grateful Dead lyrics...the ones I painted over the lighting bolt. This was a fun little project. And challenging too.... freehanding Old English typeface....not the easiest choice. 

And now, my embarrassing story: When I painted this, I actually left out the first "g" in "Lightning". Like, completely left it out. I even showed the bartender who commissioned this, and we both stared at it for awhile, and he gushed. Then, I got home, even posted this on my facebook page, all excited. And then 5 minutes later, my mother called me to tell me the horrible news. OOPS. I immediately set up a time to fix it...which I did. Cannot believe I did that, but I guess I was too focused on how the letters were looking, to think about painting them in the correct order ;) They were totally cool about it though. :)

Go check out Lightning Will and have a great week everyone!

The Cutest Funnest Mural (picture-heavy!)

So this happened this weekend... I don't even know what to say about this mural... I loved making it sooooo much! It's somewhat rare that someone would ask me to paint something that I would absolutely 100% paint inside my own (fictitious, future) house. The couple who commissioned it was so incredibly sweet too. P.s. is it totally awkward and unprofessional to hug your clients who are strangers? If so, then my bad. They were so NICE and appreciative :) Painting this brought me a lot of joy this weekend after a particularly long and tough week. Nothing like making someone else happy, to make yourself happy. And nothing cures an emotional hangover like painting. (for me, anyway.) 

I was glad to help these parents-to-be get their sweet little owl-themed room ready for their new son. I think this is totally something he can grow into for years to come (not totally baby-ish). Here's the wall before critters, and then after critters. You can't really tell, but the grey-ish trees in the background are a super-shiny metallic silver. Can someone else please commission me to paint in metallics? Or neons.... or glitters.... Gaudy is my middle name. 

xoxox Corie

Coming soon to a wall near you!

That was the cheesiest post title ever... sorry not sorry. How are you guys? I'm super sad that October is over. It's been an awesome month. I got to go to New Orleans for vacation and it was a total blast! Also, it contains my favorite holiday (duh), lots of pumpkin food items, and gorgeous colors in nature everywhere you go. I love love love this month. But, alas, the holiday season is now upon us, and parents-to-be are busy busy nesting. And I am happy to help them. :)

Here's what I'm gonna do:

Which one of those do you like better, cartoony or realistic? Obviously I'm just photoshopping stuff over a picture of their wall, but you get the idea. This is is gonna be soooooo much fun! The grey trees represent metallic silver, by the way. How much fun is that?!?! Can't wait!

More trees for a different nursery. Interesting that this will be my 4th tree-themed nursery. I guess that's a thing. Super cute.

Excited about these ideas, and even more excited to get off my computer, and get some paint on my hands (and let's be honest, in my hair and on my pants, too)! Can't wait for all the upcoming projects. These, plus some other light mural touch ups and sign work in a retirement community, and some graphic design freelance, will take me at least through January. Stoked. Stay tuned, and thanks so much everyone for reading, and for your support. Stay warm!

xo Corie