08/04/2026
Dropped off this piece today at Haywood County Arts Council and it is my most ambitious piece to date. I bought, sanded, and stained a 15" bar stool top. I made the mistake of painting the piece BEFORE cutting and mounting the paper, so I made a panicked trip to the store last night to grab jute wrapped wire to cover the icky edges. I kind of like the result, even if it's not what I envisioned.
I included pictures of most of the steps of the creation process, including the ugly underpainting phase. I forgot to photograph what it looked like after the UV resistant sealant spray dried (kind of horrifying), but I've got some closeups of the shine from the cold wax that went on after. While the sealant spray helps protect from fading in the sun, the wax protects it from water and dust so it's safe without the protection of glass. It also adds just a lovely depth and shine to the piece. I also used archival, acid-free glue to attach the paper and the jute to the wood (the raw, unstained side of the wood) so the integrity of the paper and pigments should be safe over time.
My biggest mistake though? I completely forgot to sign the painting when I finished! I realized that after the wax finished curing. I signed using a permanent marker fine liner, and it rubbed right off the wax. So here's my digital record that this piece is indeed mine, you heard it here first. And probably only here. 😅
The Don't Be Square exhibit opens this Friday, so make sure you go check out all the incredible art celebrating everything BUT right angles!
