Let's Get Festive!!!

I am sooooo excited to team up with the inspired Chef Tara Demuth, The Grazing Chick and the amazing Schie Family of Shy Cellars to get into this season of Thanksgiving!

We are kicking off the festive season with a Holiday Sale where there will be offerings filled with goodness and goodies from the Shy Cellars kitchen to art and offerings from my studio for giving, for your home, and for decorating your tree.

Right now, for your Thanksgiving gathering, you can get online ShyCellars.com and order your famous Shy Cellars Cheesecake, Big Chocolate Chip Cookie and/or the yummiest Bread Pudding! All desserts that Shy Cellars became known for. Each one lovingly created by Executive Chef, Tara Demuth!

You will also be invited into the Wine Tasting Room to choose a perfect pairing for that dinner.

While you are there, purchase a glass to sip while you shop original offerings by me!, Artist, Tina Lawver. I'll have a tree filled with ornaments ready to be personalized for you and your family on the spot as well as some gift ideas including upcoming classes, original art, sale items as I'm doing a new thing in 2021!....and beautiful artful gifts as we get a start on the Christmas Giving Season.

There will be an opportunity to enter to win a special Christmas box of goodies while you are there!

I do hope you visit us in Strasburg, OH on Tues, 11/24 from 4-8 p.m. at Shy Cellars, Rt 21 on the North end of Strasburg.

Blessings

Tina

Roar!! Grit, Grace, and how Art is often like Life.

Have you ever set aside all or some of the things, the life things, the things that people count on you for, the things you typically take care of, and move something into those margins that you know is vital for your growth as a human being?

That is what this year and this art mastery journey is for me. I'm only a few weeks on this path and I find myself having moments of discouragement as I'm breaking off old habits, moments of stumbling as what ground I've stood on for decades creatively, has shown itself to be not quite as stable in this new season of stretching.

I'm also experiencing moments of victory and joy and know, in the depths of my soul, that these moments could only be experienced on this unique path.

Many of us, for whatever reason...obvious or not, are in a season of struggle where grit is required.

Grit....Courage and resolve; strength of character.

I know, from the outside, I'm not doing anything courageous like laying my life on the line, but courage comes in all forms and it takes courage to put what you know and have relied on in order to move into a journey of standing on new ground....foreign territory.

I find myself putting my palm to my head as I realize that what I know won't work here and I'm reminded of all the times I prayed for God to increase my territory....Was I thinking that this new territory would be familiar and wouldn't require something new to live in it?

That's where Grace comes in

Grace...the free and unmerited favor of God

This new season, going deeper into this area of communication and stretching the boundaries and trusting the process requires both Grit of a don't quit character developed in the old land and Grace in the process living in this new land.

Trust the Process, be uncomfortable, embrace the unfamiliar, expect that the unknown will challenge you......and know that the process has it's ugly moments.

Grit, Character will get you there...Grace will keep you there and get you through to victory.

All the while....know there is a reason for each step in the journey

and know that the journey is worth it.

Artfully Yours,

Tina

Cohesive (Art and Vintage)

The word, Cohesive, as defined ...

When the parts of the whole work or fit together well.

We all want our vignettes to be cohesive and work together and bring out the best in what has inspired it to begin with.

I recently began an art journey where I've committed a year of my life to completing an art mastery program through the Milan Art Institute. In this most recent study, we were to do quick studies in gesture drawing and work with charcoal and create from live models, photos, and then statues. I literally fell in LOVE with this style.

The romance and movement, even though it could be more refined, I found that the sketchy, in process, pieces were so moving and attractive to me that I stopped, sealed her and ran out on a mission to discover the perfect frame for her.

And, OH MY!, did I ever swoon over this one when I dug it out of the bottom of the pile at the dusty thrift store. Solid wood with the most stunning classic details, I knew immediately, it was meant to surround, "Bringer", the piece that was drying in the studio just waiting for to be surrounded by this lovely border.

When I got back to the studio, removed the sailboat photo that was in it, removed and cleaned the glass, I thought surely I would need to paint this frame, but a good cleaning with a tooth brush and some rubbing alcohol and a quick satin spray sealer did the trick to reveal the beauty that was hidden by the dirt. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's beautiful to just seal in the dirt, but not this time.

So that brought me to the moment of styling her and the subject of this post.

When styling and creating a vignette, I'm a firm believer that it is done when it is pleasing to you...after all, it's your home and your space to enjoy, but I do have a few little guidelines I like to follow.

As an artist, I tend to approach design from an artist's perspective.

What I mean is....

Art often begins with inspiration. What is the inspiration? In this case, it is this piece of art...."Bringer" This romantic and classic image and the beautifully paired found frame. So, I made the decision that this would be the focal point which is also the STARTING POINT.

Whatever the Inspiration is, OBSERVE + EVALUATE the details of the piece.

1. Color

2. Texture / Weight

3. Unique Details

WHERE will this vignette be Displayed?

1. Choose a background and space that makes your inspiration piece shine.

I have walls painted in Sherwin Williams Alabaster as well as SW Tricorn Black. I love the classic look and versatility of Black and White as a backdrop for home design.

You can see, in the photos below, which background brings out the most beauty in the piece. I chose the black and I have a beautiful Alabaster painted mantel on that wall so no brainer.

Also, this helps if you have a specific space no matter the color of the wall, just choose a piece or frame finish that will sing on that color.

COLLECT SUPPORT PIECES

You've observed and evaluated the look and feel of this piece which will help you create a look, now you can shop your home and begin creating your vignette.

In this case, I observed how the warm, golden tones of the frame began to sing so I looked for warmth and I had just acquired these brass round pieces from a friend (Havenberry Vintage) who is one of the most amazing vintage finders and she was kind to offer me pieces she couldn't use (love this community) so I grabbed them.

1.Choose similar tones

2. Look for shapes that are different from the shape of the focal point

3. Choose odd numbers for interest.

I chose three

BALANCE

Create a balance by adding something of similar height to balance the look and begin framing the focal pieces

1. Similar Height

2. Natural element

* The florals have the same warm tones

* The white sticks relate to the paper of the sketch

* The reflection on the glass of the vase and clock pieces creates movement.

3. The Larger version of the clock piece pull the eye up without distracting from the focal point.

Add the ODD THING

In this case, I had these architectural pieces, painted them white, distressed and stained.

1. Contrasts with the wall

2. Relates to the white in the art

3. Brings in height for balance

It is interesting and unique, compliments and doesn't distract from the focal piece.

Ground the design

1. Add visual weight with something chunky and dark.

2. If using a collection of items to fill the space, think of it as a mini vignette within the whole look.

3. choose elements of the focal point.

Here I chose a black, a warm wood piece with similar designs as the frame, and a patina covered brass door knob which has a cool tone.

Trust the process and play

After taking a look and evaluating what's working and what's not, I added a clock face and another dark piece of wood to support the glass vase and ground it a bit.

These pieces all are cohesive with the other elements that we are using in this vignette

All in all,

A vignette is really an art installation and viewed in that way, you can create art within art and make a beautiful statement in your home worthy of a magazine layout.

Artfully Yours,

Tina