"The Winter Doldrums"

My Husband and Best Friend is a beautiful communicator/Writer. He's truly the man behind this Artist and I could not do what I do without him. Here's a little wisdom from my guy.

The Winter Doldrums

Throughout my life I had heard about the winter doldrums but have never experienced it… until this year. I have had a time of sadness and general lack of energy. It was only recently that I was fully aware that I was even experiencing this issue. Tina feels everything I do and pointed out to me that I was sad. I said, “No I am just tired.” Liar! Why do we try and feel what we don’t really feel? Is it so that everyone around us can feel better? Or is it just me? No? It is ok to be down, even as a Christian we can allow ourselves to be sad. The trick is to not just settle into that feeling and nurture it. We must take a look at why we are feeling so tired and run down and sad then work in conjunction with the creator to fight the sadness with the opposite of sadness, which is gratitude.

There is always something to be thankful for. I am thankful for a wife who loves me, kids who love me, a warm place to land every day and friends and extended family with whom I get to share my life. I am sure you have little things in your life to be thankful for, that when put into a pile, become a big thing to be thankful for. Throw in a good three or four days of sunshine and you have a good recipe for getting over the winter doldrums.

I do not want to just gloss over something. We have all gone through a year that has pointed us all right toward sadness. A lot of us have experienced loss, all have experienced isolation and add to that, the fringe people of this world telling us that a lot of the things that we have loved are wrong in their eyes.

Do not listen to the fringe. Find a true north and listen to it. I have found there is one truth and He is Jesus. I know that some of you will feel preached at right now. Please know that I am no preacher. I am simply a guy who wants the best for everyone he knows, and I want the best for all of you. I just know that knowing Jesus makes life better.

Ted

A Beautiful Collaboration ...and a brick wall

I'm so excited to FINALLY get to share this awesome project with you and the sweet collaboration that I got to be involved in with my friend and client, Carol!

So, those brick walls..Right?!!! Those dreamy ones that fit equally into those Farmhouse, Warehouse, NY Loft, and Old World looks that have us swooning and also flummoxed because ...alas, we don't have a brick wall or one to expose.

Well, hold onto your knickers 'cause this is a doozy of a result from just a few supplies that you may even have lying around in the basement corner, but even if you don't have them on hand, they are el cheapo to invest in. Trust me, this tactile and beautifully pleasing to the eye project is so do able and you may want to ask a friend over, put on some good music and chat away while working on this organic piece of art that is sure to become a unique focal point for your space as it did here.

GATHER THE SUPPLIES...

*Any lightweight drywall compound. Lightweight is a great consistency for spreading.

*Blue Painter's tape

*Plastic putty knives of one or two small and smaller sizes works great

*A variety of paint brushes....from round, flat edge, and 2" brushes work well

*Choose 3-5 Coordinating colors...We chose a variety of grays for this project

These were color samples (from lowes under $4) we had these on hand.

We added black and white for grounding and highlight

You can even use leftover samples from around your home. You know you love em

because you already live with them.

*a paint roller handle with a foam roller

*a tarp/plastic to protect the floor

This project was so exciting because of the story of a friend who's whole mission is to create a space for serving others and making memories for her family for years to come.

I came in ready to go, jazzed about the project, spending time with Carol, and especially about Carol's why.

Step #1

MEASURE AND TAPE Horizontal Lines

A brick is about 8" long and 3" high so that is what we went with. I had the most narrow painter's tape I could find and we began to measure from the top of the wall down (a line of blue tape at the top of the wall, measure down 3", mark the line with a level and go from there)

Note: We tried to use a laser level. Didn't work because the wall was just a tad bowed and the wall, being so long...if you are a fraction off on one end, the laser was a foot off at the other so we scrapped it and truly measured, eye balled it and used a long level to mark lines and taped the wall horizontally.

*REMEMBER, YOUR TAPE LINES ARE YOUR GROUT LINES...YOU CAN PAINT THE WALL THE GROUT COLOR AHEAD OF TIME, BUT WHY BOTHER...WE GOT MESSY AND HAD TO CLEAN UP THOSE LINES ANYWAY SO...DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT EXTRA STEP IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Step #2

Measure the length of the brick and mark your vertical lines and tape

ALTERNATE EACH ROW OF BRICK SO IT HAS A STAGGERED LOOK

Step#3

Visual Check

Just like a good piece of art in process, it's good to stand back, take a good look and see what stands out, where something feels too off. Squint your eyes and look at the shapes in the whole piece. I promise you, little adjustments will pop out and become obvious , but don't go for perfection.

It was lookin' good so forge ahead, we did. (Carol was a good picture taker, she gets all the credit for these process photos)

Step #4

Make Your Bricks!

Grab that plastic putty knife (plastic because it is flexible and can help you be creative)

*Tips

We are creating texture

*Spread it like icing and use the corner to create shallow and built up spots . You can even keep a real brick close for inspiration.

*I know it's a lot of bricks and it's kind of like creating 500 little abstracts, but it is so worth it in the end

Carol got in on the action and we had great talks and got to know each other better and each day, I left a better soul than I was the day before. Added bonus!

Step #5

Pull off the Tape

Once the wall is covered in drywall compound, begin to carefully remove the tape.

*Don't wait for it to dry

*Start at the top and work your way to the bottom

and Eureka! It kinda resembles a brick wall!

It's a messy deal but the drywall compound washes off your hands easily

Step #6

Paint the Bricks!

Ok, I know...this is the one thing that, depending on the size of your wall, could get a bit tedious, but once you do a few, you will develop a rhythm. Here are a few tips that may help.

*Gather your samples and place dollops of all of them on your pallet (paper plate works great)

*Use different brush sizes and create depth by scrubbing the darker color into those deep spots and middle tone colors on the raised places. Don't make them uniform, just paint them in.

We stood back and looked and decided that we'd do more detail on the bricks at eye level and throw darker ones in here and there as well as a few lighter ones.

Variety!!!

See How messy and into the grout we got? It's ok,

Step #7

Dry Brush

Because we created depth both in texture and with paint, now we get a clean brush and Dry Brush

What is Dry Brushing?

*Dip clean 2" brush into White or light paint you are using

*Clean off most of the paint on a paper towel until the brush is pretty dry

(I know, why dip it in the paint and wipe it off? well, because enough paint stays in the brush to do the needed effect)

*lightly, with very little

pressure, swipe the brush across the brick texture leaving just a bit of white paint to highlight the most raised spots revealing the relief of your brick. Now you'll have another layer of depth.

Step #8

Paint in the Grout lines

Simply take a brush ( a flat edge brush works great) and use a grout color from your colors to use as your grout color and simply paint in and clean up those lines.

*You can add sand to your grout paint (we did) and it'll give you more of a realistic texture but you don't have to to love the look.

Once the grout lines are done

Step back again and take a look

One thing we noticed and that Carol desired was more of a realistic look so we did add some staining with some watered down paint in the a few spots in the grout here and there.

That's just a feel and an organic decision that really made a difference.

All in all, what a blessing it is to create with someone who wanted an artist collaboration. Carol had a vision of the feel she wanted and I was able to freely explore options with her and create and even navigate course corrections as inspiration struck.

This is truly my preferred way to design a space and I want to thank my sweet friend, Carol, for allowing me the opportunity to do this with her as I know this will be the background for memories made for years to come.

What a privilege.

Blessings, Tina

I will have a follow up blog to talk about why this room works. COMING SOON

Please feel free to ask questions.

Tina@TinaLawver.com

Adonai El Roi (the God Who Sees Me)

What a year it has been...

What a minimal statement that is considering the maximum heaviness that the circumstances of this year has brought about.

No matter what your own personal experiences have been, I believe we can all say that we've had some shared emotions, cares, and burdens.

To name a few, we've experienced loss, isolation, fear of a new thing, unexpected challenge, strife, uncertainty and many are grieving...Grieving everything from the "normal" life they once had to grieving the loss of loved ones.

2020 had us plunge into new depths of emotions and dig into deeper depths of faith.

Though there is a shared experience, my heart aches for those who feel utterly and completely alone.

I must admit that I, often times, have experienced true loneliness in this past year. Loneliness, not in the sense that I didn't have others in my presence or that I haven't truly felt the presence of a loving God, but real and authentic moments, alone, with intense grief and sadness that I could not express nor explain believing the effort to do so would be futile for surely no other human could understand this inner sadness. There seemed to be no descriptive words to accurately express what was being felt and, in comparison to what I know others are going through, it didn't measure up.

I realize that, Yes, the world is moving through a dark time collectively, but also this dark time is very personal and it's unique to each soul traveling through it.

As an Artist, I've come to realize that some pieces of art that manifest are just created in the Spirit at that moment for a future time.

I had this revelation about this piece as I sat on the sofa last night texting back and forth with my daughter. For her Christmas gift, she chose a pillow with this image printed on it and I wonder if she knew the story and how it was her story in this past year. It was, personally, a rough one for her.

The original painting, created at the end of last year, hangs on my wall waiting for it's forever home.

I was reminded of the process of creating this piece, entitled "LONELY SONG", and the message of hope behind her.....

....No matter what our feelings are telling us, no matter the circumstance, even though we may feel like we are moving through a season like a shadow, all alone, that no one sees because no one knows the personal struggle, the truth is that there is beauty still growing around us and a loving God is using it to grow beauty through us.

It's not for nothing and we are seen...we really are.

No explanation is needed

Adonai El Roi is my Lonely Song...........The God Who Sees Me

The beauty being created around us, in us, and through us is fruit for the year to come. I believe it!

No matter how we are feeling and dealing in this season, we are strong and growing stronger.

In this and every season, there is growth and beauty and you are seen and you are part of the beauty.

Blessings, Tina