Carrasco Studio

Come and see the Wild Beast Show

 

You might remember the rendering I did for Cathy Connor for her East Indian folk art mural job in Bellevue.  Well, she called me last week and I helped her with the project for a couple of weeks.  It was so much fun.  Cathy is a perfect peach and so skilled.  She invented this wonderful woven burlap feeling out of plaster, and we painted the beasts and flowers and stars on it.  We would start with our own handcut stencils and then draw into them, since Cathy wanted a graphic, textile looking product.  This elephant I drew and cut out is my personal favorite.

The room isn't quite finished....the borders have to be sanded back a bit  and the lights under the soffit have to be finished and glazed, but it looks quite wonderful even at this point.  It will be a yoga studio.  Imagine doing the warrior pose and getting distracted by a cheerful tiger or an apprehensive rabbit.   It's enough to make you tip  over.

To add to the fun, we had Jorge and Martin to help us.  Although it was dusty because of the sanding part (see the motes of dust on my photo!), it was really very pleasant.  The  entire crew was very accomodating (Schultz-Miller Company is the the contracting company) and besides, we had lots of flowers and creatures on the wall to keep us company. Here's Cathy, Cathy and Jorge, and Cathy and Martin. 

and then there's me.

......and the rendering again to show the beginning.   I can't emphasize too much the importance of doing a rendering before you start.  First, it helps sell the project.  It also acts as part of the contract, and it solves a lot of design problems before you start on the walls/canvas.  In the long run it saves time, money, and makes things clear with the client (and yourself).  Many muralists barge in and try to design on the wall before doing a scale rendering.  You can end up with some pretty slapdash products unless you are incredibly talented.  Even Michelangelo did drawings and painted sketches before he started on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel..

East Indian textiles/a watercolor rendering for a mural

I did the rendering for a design where a friend had invited me to paint with her for a client's workout room.  The lady wanted lots of primitive animals derived from East Indian textiles and embroideries.  She liked the rich colors and stylized figures, and so did I...especially Mr. Elephant.

 I liked the Pensive Monkey and the Bouncing Tiger as well.   In fact, I could do this kind of work every day and be blissful. (for a while, at least.)  I turn on my book-on-CD, crank up the heat and paint tiny and small
while the rain beats on my skylights and the wind blows up the skirts of my big sequoia in the corner of the yard. 

I wish I could do this  more often. The murals are fine, but more and more I am drawn to smaller work and the quiet in my own studio. I want to come out to my studio at 9 o'clock sharp, lay out my watercolors and sharpen my pencils like a Bob Cratchit of paint, and paint people's wishes and dreams for the next six hours or so, with time for a good lunch and nap.  I love translating what people have in their minds.  I feel an amazement and power when I get what other people dream of but can't express visually.  I never thought I would like it.  I thought the only way to do art was to express only my visions, but with this kind of work, I can do both.

And I can see, that no matter what I do...animals, plants or samovars.... it still has my mark, and that is a comfort and pleasure for me.It can be somewhat of a drawback for a decorative artist...too much of "me" can get into the way of the pure decoration.... but it also reassures me that my beginnings as an artist have followed me all the way through my life.