Thursday, July 10, 2008

Not Too Shabby For An Amateur

I have zero artistic talent. Zero. I still draw people the same as I did in the 5th grade. I kid you not. I still have artwork I did in that grade level. I have not improved.

However, I do find myself attempting to be creative for the sake of my children.

And I think I may have found my calling.

I have done various art projects over the past two years for the kids. Little things I have purchased at craft stores to paint and the like.

About a week and a half ago, our neighbors around the corner had their interior doors replaced. I know this because they chucked the old ones out onto the curb.

I took two of them.

Looking like the poster child for National Geographic, I balanced the damned thing on my head and walked through the neighborhood back to my house.

I am sure the neighbors got an eyeful.

One of the doors was a closet door, and I thought it would make the perfect play table.

Hubbie thought I was nuts.

I probably am.

After a quick trip to the local orange hardware store where I raided their odd-lot paint cans, I decided on a pirate scene to go with the Tiki Room theme of the playroom. Here is what seven bucks worth of paint and a couple of hours will get you.

Architect-In-Training

This afternoon, LittleBird helped me plot out the border. And yes, that is a dashboard hula dancer you see. We call him our "Hula Dude". Seriously. When LittleBird wants to play with him she yells "Mom! I wanna play with the Hula Dude!"





Welcome to Elementary School

Then I traced and freehanded some pretty rough-looking sketches.



Filling in the Ocean

Okay, so not only is it tacky enough that I am wearing a wife-beater, but it is on inside out. And pecker-head Hubbie didn't say anything. To add insult to injury, all I can think of when I see this photo is the Mel Brooks classic: Why didn't anybody tell me my ass was so big?



Turning the Corner

Silhouettes start to appear. This might not be so bad after all.


Filling in the Details

I did eventually let Hubbie do a few things, but I was having so much fun it was hard to share.



Almost there.



The Finished Product--For Now

Done for the night



Where it lives in the playroom.


I will be adding in sea animals like dolphins and and octopus or two. I think this is a damn fine piece of art for an evenings worth of work. I could seriously do this on a daily basis, I enjoyed myself so much.

The next thing on the list after adding in the animals is to seal the damn thing so that the kids don't fuck it up with markers and crayons. I want to be able to wipe it off and make it waterproof. Thanks to Krishanna over at AlteredArtist I've gotten some great advice on how to do that.

LittleBird is going to be pissed that I painted without her, but I am pretty damned proud of myself tonight.

So what did we learn today? My kids are going to end up with a kickass table for their playroom. I will never wear those shorts again. And I may have found my second calling.

15 comments:

jayna said...

That's going to be one kick ass play table. It's amazing all the things you can do with doors. I've been keeping an eye out for some to make a sewing table, but nobody tosses them out around here. Instead they sell them for astronomical prices, since they're vintage and all.

RiverPoet said...

I'm right there with you on the artistic talent, but when my daughter was little, I spruced up a second-hand bed by painting it white and decorating it with her name and flowers and swirls. She loved it! Kis appreciate that we try. It doesn't have to be worthy of a gallery.

And? The shorts don't make you look big. You are NOT big. What's the problem, woman??

Peace - D

Molly's Mom said...

That's freaking awesome! I bet when they get older, they'll remember that table...

Kelly said...

Lookin' good! I could use a mural for our playroom, what are your rates?

Mrs. Booms said...

Way to get creative there, mama.

CPA Mom said...

That's amazing! What an ingenious idea for an old door!! Good for you!

Gypsy said...

Color me impressed!

Shelley Jaffe said...

I especially love the directions icon at the top - not creative, min åsna!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm impressed, too! What a great use for a door! And yes, she will remember that table forever!!! How clever you are!

But, honey, if you think your ass is big, I'm never, ever letting you see mine! ROFL!

Not Afraid to Use It said...

@Jayna: These were just one of the crappy brown hollow doors. Nothing vintage about them! You know, you can get an interior door at HD for less than $30, if it is worth your while.

@Momma: That bed sounds like it was adorable! As for the shorts, I just did not find them flattering from the back end. It wasn't quite how I imagined myself to look in them. LOL

@Molly's Mom: They'd better. I'm sending her to college with it.

@K-Mom: If I painted a mural on your wall, your guests would say Oh, you let your kids draw on the walls. How quaint.

@Betsey Booms: Coming from the Cupcake Queen, that's a compliment I love!

@CPA Mom: Thanks! Hubbie finally believes me.

@Gypsy: You are so colored.

@BvB: Well, you can't have a pirate theme without a compass!

@Jay: The nice thing about our asses is that they are always behind us and we never have to look at them! LOL

Anonymous said...

Okay.. I know it is not my M.O. to be anything but snarky and sarcastic BUT...Listen up my dear Chiquitas 'cause I'm only gonna say it ONCE (today).

EVERYONE HAS ARTISTIC TALENT & ABILITY OF SOME KIND!

=)

Now, Natui- that table is too cute. I wanna see it when it is DONE. Now I want to go paint some furniture.... LOL

Anonymous said...

BTW.. that was me.

alteredartist= krishanna

Anonymous said...

Not bad at all - I particularly applaud your scavenging skills!

Mouthy Girl said...

Holy shit, sister! I LOVE that table! The vision of you walking down the street with the door on your head made my hernias hurt! Well done!

There's something about CREATING that just makes ya feel great!

Wife beater:
I had on one the other night and went outside in it...without a bra (holy fuck)...because HG had some damn 'emergency.' As if.

krysta said...

better than anything i could have done. all i do is take a picture.