August was yet another busy, creative month on my artistic voyage. I am so blessed to be working with beautiful people. These were the highlights of last month.

• Finished murals in the lobby of Dr. Tonia Sabo’s offices in Broomfield, Colorado
• Created ideas for signs for The Boutique at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs
• Designed signage for the new Broadmoor “Christmas House”
• Took the time to organize my office
Wall Pocket Mural

You might remember last month I painted a cluster of nine foot tall aspen trees with poppies, daisies and critters adding to the finishing touches of Dr. Sabo’s office. Dr. Sabo worked at the Denver Children’s Hospital and recently started her private practice. She specializes in headache prevention for children and adults. I returned for two more days of painting the first week of August.
Painting wall pockets has been a solution to many a decorating dilemma for clients in the past. I will talk about some of the reasons for this creative solution in a future issue.

Rather than hanging more framed art in her lobby Dr. Sabo chose to add a bit of whimsy by having a hand-painted wall pocket filled with poppies and daisies. The same elements as I painted at the base of the cluster of aspens. The simplicity of the wall pocket itself ensures the flowers will be the focal point. This is the first time I was blessed with a smooth wall for painting a wall pocket full of flowers. Oh, how I love to paint on smooth surfaces. The design measures approximately 30″ x 40″.

As I was finishing up the wall pocket Dr. Sabo asked if I thought a weeping willow tree would work in the area. She felt that it would feel so relaxing, I agreed. I painted the trunk and limbs with a few pliant branches before leaving that evening and finished it up the following morning. As we were leaving the Doctor’s home that morning she was showing me her beautiful flowerbeds. Besides yellow daisies it seems she also loved morning glories. So climbing the willow tree is a vine of glorious over-sized morning glories with a hummingbird delighting in the nectar of one of the blossoms.

Getting Organized

This was huge! My office is always the last place I tidy up. Maybe because, like many creative people, bookwork is the least pleasurable chore I do. Once I start it isn’t bad. I tend to leave files on my desk along with other paperwork, articles and piles of business cards that I accumulate far too long. I don’t know if the full moon had anything to do with it but I started the day before the full moon and continued throughout the following day. I threw out paperwork that no longer served me, filed away folders of completed projects, found places for articles I want for reference materials, organized CDs, unsubscribed to ezines and blogs that no longer held my interest and subscribed to a few new ones that better serve the direction I see my business going. There is nothing as freeing to me as having a clean desk, filing drawers that are up to date AND there will be fewer emails in the morning. YES! As I mention this happened on August 13th, the night of the full moon. Now let’s see what I have made room for in my life.

On a Personal Note

It always seems true that everything happens for a reason. I thought I was just organizing my office, now I know there was more. While sorting through piles of papers and file folders I found a letter from my late husband. I remember when he gave it to me, our first Christmas, he said, “I will write you a letter every Christmas.” Little did we know that would be the only Christmas letter he would write to me. The words on the outside of the lovely card that accompanied my letter were . . .

“The Power of Love . . .transcends distance & time.”

Inside he wrote . . .

Such a Joy To Spend This Life With You!

I doubt the love ever wanes but you learn there is room for another, if that is what you choose. You file that love away in a special place in your heart to be visited whenever you want. The surprising gift I received from this full day of organizing was that I didn’t shed a tear when I read my Christmas letter. I did have a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart the rest of the day and I slept so well that night. How I love beautiful surprises. Here are two of my favorite photos of  Bob and I.

Q & A

This is a new section. I usually answer questions privately unless they are on my blog. It occurred to me that others may gain insight from the question and answer.

Q What is your process for working with clients?
A For me, there is no singular process. Each client is different. Some have specific ideas as to what they are looking for and others want what comes to me, usually in dreams, for the space and feeling they want created. These are the most important things that come to mind right now.

• First and foremost Listen Carefully. It’s important to understand the look your client is wanting to live with. They have put their trust in you and you are working for them.
• Research, if there is any doubt in your mind figure it out before you start. There will always be unexpected things that come up but the more prepared you are up front the more “in-the-flow” you’ll be while working.
• Things come up and clients have new ideas. This can take more time than originally planned. Make sure your client understands up front that if it takes longer because of their changes you will be compensated accordingly.
• Since I don’t repeat anything identically each project makes me stretch. It’s good to get out of your comfort zone.
• Have a contractual agreement in writing explaining your terms, to include terms of payment. Give a short description of what you will be doing with pricing and a time frame.

It’s not fun to be defined by someone else’ terms or put into a box. For me each project is different, that’s what keeps me interested. If you have a question about what I do or how I do it, please ask. I’ve worked a long time at my craft, I would be delighted to share what I have learned.

Bella’s Insights

Hi Everybody! Thought I would introduce you to a couple of my new friends (seeing as how mom made me stay home when she went back to paint in Dr. Sabo’s office last month. Now I can’t tell you more about that adventure, waaaa!)
This little white beauty is Shelby. Doesn’t he look just like the dog in that dog food commercial on TV? Mom called him a Westie. Shelby’s dad told mom and me that he was named after his race car. Mom said that Ford made a model of Mustang called a Shelby in the 60s & 70s and they are making them again or maybe they always have and she hadn’t noticed. I’ve never seen a race car but is sounds exciting.

Now meet my new neighbor, Kimba. She is a gigantic (to me), stunning white German Shephard. I’m not really sure that Kimba is my “friend” YET because she still barks at me when I go out to my grassy area across from her home. Mom doesn’t let me bark back, that’s a tough one, but I still get in a fearsome growl.

One day mom was working in the garage. She was in and out, in and out then she forgot to shut the door to the garage and the garage door was up. Well, I decided it was time to visit my grassy area. I sauntered through the garage with my “tail feathers” swaying back and forth over my back, to my grassy spot. All of a sudden I hear a deep baritone WOLF, WOLF, WOLF. It was Kimba! How startling, I couldn’t help it – I just couldn’t help it – I went into my Big Dog stance and barked back. Boy, did that start some barking on both sides of the street.

Since mom didn’t know I was coming out in the first place, there was no leash to hold me back, watch out Kimba. Mom couldn’t stop me; all seven ponds of me charged across that drive and I peed in the grass under the window Kimba was barking from. Now she knew I wasn’t about to be intimidated and I was ready for anything. Well, about this time, mom came to get me, geeeesh, she picked me up, how tough did that make me look? She kept telling what a bad girl I was. What the heck was she talking about, I didn’t start it.

Mom told my big brother Rich about that little adventure and he said, “Oh yeah, Kimba was watching and thinking . . . you are dog meat little girl.” What do you think he meant by that?!?

Life is an Adventure!
Unrepentantly, Bella

Audio Podcast April 20, 2010

Custom Murals of Nursery Rhymes

Every project I do tugs at my heart, some more than others. The Cheyenne Mountain Library in Colorado Springs inquired about two mural installations above the book shelves in the Childrens section of their library. They didn’t have a budget for two murals but they were willing to research some of the items they were interested in having in their mural so we came to an agreement. The first thing we discussed was copy write infringement. A quest began to find books with illustrations that were no longer under copy write that would be easily recognizable by children. There were several nursery rhymes that fell into this category. Below are a few photos of the nursery rhymes chosen for the project.  Each mural measures approximately two foot tall and eight foot long. Children and adults alike find that these murals stir up pleasant memories. Hope you will enjoy them.

Hey Diddle Diddle the Cat and the Fiddle

Humpty Dumpty

Jack and the Beanstalk

A portion of a poem by Ivy Eastwick was chosen as text for the two murals.  There wasn’t room for the entire poem so the first and last sentences were chosen.

“Look in a Book”

Look in a book and you will see words and magic and mystery.

Look in a book and you will find sense and nonsense of every kind.

Look in a book and you will know all the things that can help you grow.

Do you have a favorite nursery rhyme that evokes special memories of your childhood? I would enjoy hearing about it.

Little Red Riding Hood

Mary had a Little Lamb

The Little People

Custom Mural in the Spa at the Broadmoor Resort

blog-podcast-april-15-2010

For those of you unfamiliar with the Broadmoor Resort it opened in 1918 and to this day is rated a five-star/five diamond resort, very prestigious, one of three hotels in Colorado with this rating. I can’t say enough about this outstanding first-class resort. They offer year-round outdoor activities including fly-fishing, horseback riding, rock climbing, ballooning and more can be arranged through their guest services staff, in addition to fun filled Colorado sightseeing tours. And for entertainment within the hotel they have a live band that plays nearly any kind of music you care to request. The band plays at the Broadmoor Tavern located in Broadmoor Main and has a dance floor for those who want to kick up their heels.

The original artwork which was finished before the hotel opened still can be seen in Broadmoor Main. Another reason this resort is so special is the care taken to preserve their artwork. When asked to create murals for the hotel I wanted to create continuity between the old and the new structures. This floral design is one of over twenty areas I have painted on walls, floors and ceilings at the Broadmoor since 1994.

http://artisticvoyage.com/resort-mural-work.html#images/murals/resorts/nw_broad6a.lg.jpg

This ceiling is on the forth level of the Golf Club House. Painting ceilings are torturous on the body but what a feeling of accomplishment once finished. The inspiration for this design came from the gorgeous drapery fabric hanging at the windows of the Quiet Room where one would go to relax after their soothing massage. Believe me, the Broadmoor massage therapists are very good. This particular room overlooks one of three golf courses with a view of the majestic Rocky Mountains in the background.

One of the fun things about painting is that you can have any flower in any color whether or not nature provides it that way. In addition to any flower painted in any color I often paint what some have referred to as “Mickey flowers” which simply means I kind of make them up as I go. They just seem to slip off of my paint brush and adhere themselves to the surface. Not sure who actually paints them but I’m honored when they decide to work through me.

Roses, Lilacs and "Mickey Flowers"

This may have sounded like an advertisement for the Broadmoor Resort and that’s OK. You truly can have an amazing adventure while spending time their. Don’t forget to check out their extraordinary gift shops. You can find my artwork and cards in five of them as well as on my website. When visiting Colorado I do hope you will stop by the Broadmoor, you won’t be disappointed.

Testimonials:

As the Broadmoor has gone through many updates, renovations and additions over the past decade, Mickey Baxter’s artistic talents have allowed us to apply the kind of thoughtful art detail that existed throughout the original 1918 resort, as part of our newly added facilities. Her work has been superlative and enjoyed, commented on and photographed by so many of our guests. Additionally, she is a joy to work with.

Steve Bartolin,
President and CEO
Broadmoor Hotel
Colorado Springs, CO

I have been associated with Mickey Baxter for the past five years here at the Broadmoor. She has completed art projects for us that include the west tower, west lobby, main hotel guest floors, entry portico ceiling, the hotel bar, pool cabana restaurant and many others. Her creativity, technical expertise and ability to meet fast-paced schedules have made her a valuable asset to all of the projects she has been involved in. Our guests continuously compliment the artwork and our ability to enhance the Broadmoor’s existing collection, while maintaining the high standards set by the original artisans. I have found that Mickey has the ability to match her work to the vernacular of the particular project, from the original 1918 structures to our newly constructed facilities. I highly recommend Mickey as a qualified candidate for any project for which she is being considered.

Terry McHale
Director of Facilities Management
Colorado Springs, CO

Hand painted walls are a treasure and Trompe l’oeil which in french means “to fool the eye” is quite often a nice alternative to framed art when accessorizing a small room. In this case to accessorize a small guest bath with an item that looks three dimensional without that item jutting into the confines of a small area.

This  wall pocket was painted across from the commode in a small guest bath. You could see it’s reflection in the mirror as you entered the room. A faux finish, another french word meaning “fake”, was applied in advance to bring out the texture of the wall. The texture attributed to the three dimensional affect of the hand painted metallic bronze wall pocket itself but the texture didn’t help much when painting the detail of the white petunias cascading from the wall pocket.

Seldom do I have the pleasure of painting on smooth walls, when I do, I treasure each simple brush stroke. It truly is a treat not to contend with the texture when painting intricate detail. The wall pocket itself measured eighteen inches across and the delicate white petunias were slightly larger than life.

Your questions or comments on painting techniques, products or decorating ideas are welcome. Feel free to leave a comment.