Painted Furniture Beginnings... more is still to come

In HS the art club got the privilege of painting the stools used in the art classroom. I painted mine like Edvard Munch's Scream painting. I thought I did a good job replicating it. It even survived my art teacher sitting on it before it was completely dry. The school stool inspired me and when I went home I found a stool there I could paint. This lovely metal stool was in my dad's workroom. I loved painting on it and always keep my eye open for more of these. I was unfortunately broke when a bunch of them were being auctioned off a few years back. I just love the colors in this stool. It had planted a seed inside of me, a love for the application of beauty/art to practical, functional things. Not everyone appreciates wall art, but if you have an odd piece of furniture that needs some TLC, consider creating a work of art. I have found that when I do this, those pieces that are lucky enough to have me paint them become favorites.

Pen and Ink

All are 6" x 6", Pen and Ink, on Bristol

I'm back again... lol

Okay, so since I've re-emerged I have also been getting really busy in the studio. Here is some updates of what I've been up to:

I have rolled out my dot-com... www.emilyhoutz.com is now the go-to place for everything I do and all I am connected to online and in the art world. I really had fun designing it this week and after a little frustration getting it live online, it's it there and ready.

I am marbleizing paper with some help from my daughter, Allison who is 8. It is quite the process and I have converted my entire studio to this project until I'm done, maybe about a week. I am taking pics as I go. What will I do with the marbleized paper? 1. I will use it in my stamped art (see below). 2. I will make origami boxes with them just like when I was a kid. :)

I am also back to beading fairly regularly. I make glass beads using a torch and this is really fun. I am waiting for some bins I ordered to arrive that are just the right size for glass rods. I am all for a nicely organized studio. I was lucky enough to introduce someone new to the art of making glass beads. It really is fun to know other people who also make beads in my same town.

Stamped art? Well I have made a few stamps recently that are about 4" x 6". These will serve as focal points for some art that might be called collage but barely. I will layer paper, like marbleized paper, behind a stamped image as sort of a frame/mat before matting and framing. My mom was lovely enough to pick up some more stamp blocks for me to carve on her recent trip back to Omaha. They have a Dick Blick and I am jealous. Thanks Mom!


I also redesigned the Wichita Handmade website (www.wichitahandmade.com) and am pleased with the more custom look than we had before.

I think that's everything that I've been up to lately.