Getting Inspiration From Your Surroundings

     I've gone through a rather stagnant period lately. A series of medical set-backs has made me anything but creative. At the same time though,  I noticed I became more and more irritable and it just wasn't being ill either. The pity party began when my partner left in early January, then one body system after another failed and my time, a quarter of each day, I realized, was spent on the phone with medical issues (that's a topic for another day).

     The studio, my second bedroom, became filled with stuff as I brought in more new birdhouses from my storeroom. We looked at each other and I closed the door. The desert air sucked water from my brush basins and more dust accumulated.

KLM Delft Freebie collection

     One day my daughter sent me a photo of someone's KLM's Dutch delft collection. Once upon a time flying was MUCH classier than today. No brawls, drunks slept and meals were served with china and silverware. Today that sounds like a fantasy in huge crowded flights to anywhere. You were often given kitschy mementos of your flight.

     When I left for Peace Corps Liberia in 1967 our PanAm flight from NYC to Amsterdam had only about 20 of us on a Boeing 707. The stewardesses served us first class food with bottles of champayne. My last flight to China the only seats open were in the restroom and not often at that!

     I looked at that photo on my phone as I walked into the studio. Sitting there were one, three and four hole birdhouses. And you know what? I could see how easily you could recreate Delft and Amsterdam houses on an actual birdhouse. It was time consuming and the single birdhouse became a running disaster as all the ink ran when I tried to set the ink with too much spray. I cried but rather than throwing it away put it down and left the room for another day.

    The next day, I stared at the running mess and wondered if I could save it. Carefully using blue and white Sharpie pens I was able to recreate the birdhouse so that it mirrored many small Delft pieces I had seen at tourist traps in Amsterdam over the years.

It started with a shirt!

     I tried a four-holed Delft version but looking at pictures of actual street scenes I realized the many canal houses were far more interesting and colorful. This led to three-hole and four holed versions.

     They were fun but very time consuming. More importantly, I noticed my mood was better and things I'd put off for months were getting done.

      My journey wasn't over however. Palm Springs is probably the Mid-Century Architectural capital of the world. The Annual Mid-Century Modern week, held here every year brings thousands from around the world. Besides many famous movie stars from the past coming here, Palm Springs was the place to go from the 1930's through the 60's. $10,000 to say $20,000 winter cabins built then sell for millions today and are everywhere  A fantastic gas station has become a tourist info attraction and many hotels keep themselves looking as new as when they were built.

     Going to a party recently I wore a 50's themed shirt everyone commented on. Looking through my unfinished birdhouses I discovered one that looked mid-century enough and another adventure began.

     I am also finally watching MAD MEN and the era it portrays was a great time for breaking old rules and creating new ones. Rather than bland designs and bland color, LOTS of color was used everywhere. What fun!

     I began to realize how important the things you see around you influence you whether it's something to paint, an event you write about if you're observant enough, how music is inspired by the sounds of nature.

     But another adventure awaited me as again at a party I saw a paper napkin that intrigued me. Years ago, I became intrigued with a new kind of art called Zentangle that was created with intricate lines using black ink pens of various thicknesses. These designs were fantastic. It seemed new patterns and designs were being created every day. At first it was 2D art and the occasional coaster and pin was created. I was involved with birdhouses and never really got into it much.

A paper 2D napkin.

    However, the napkin this time made me wonder, could you use it 3D? I couldn't see a reason why not. Since I paint all sides of my birdhouse, all sides plus tops and bottoms, carrying a pattern could be a real challenge.

     The challenge was first tested on a small mini $1.00 birdhouse. I painted the sides teal, the roof and base black and used a black Sharpie of several thicknesses to fill the design on the sides. The design was then picked up on the roof with white ink. I was surprised at how attractive it was. Surely there weren't any other products

First attempt!

like this. I was amazed. As small as it was it took a great deal of time. You couldn't watch TV for sure so I went through about half of an audio book instead. It's a great way to catch up on your reading, surely!

     I did another in rust and black then tried a small box. When I felt I had learned to deal with paint and pens, I painted a much larger birdhouse white, leaving the roof black and sketched the pattern with pencil on the white sides and white pencil for the roof. I added a perch and painted it red for contrast.

     Once the design is on all sides, including top, botton and back the inking is done. I am learning the wood needs to be sanded to a paper like surface. Shading is harder but that's a challenge I will address. Setting the ink before a varnish is extremely

The first large completed piece!

important before you can varnish the piece. Several light coats one side at a time are crucial or all your work and time risks a big heartbreaking run destroying all your time and effort. Finished correctly though brings great satisfaction!

     My recommendation for those starting a project like this is to start small and simple. Learn from mistakes before going large. The reward is a beautiful and unique object!

Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed! 

Be sure to check my ETSY store ... KrugsStudio.etsy.com. I am adding many new and exciting, collectible birdhouses and craft items. Many of the items talked about here will be for sale there!

WHEN Did Car Cars Get So Boring?

For awhile now, I've noticed that cars today in general are boring, inside AND out. I mean look inside a Tesla EV and there is little more to look at than a Model T. You pick an interior of stark white or black that are quite firm. Sure, I'll be told that the center mounted tablet controls the car. It can do all kinds of wiz bang things so appearances aren't everything. I prefer buttons not numerous screens to make it move.

BYD Seal Sedan, one of their best sellers

Clearly after riding in about 12 Chinese EV's last year in China, YOU can have it both ways ... a center
mounted tablet that is truly amazing and information shown in front of you as cars have done for a 100 years. Their insides are roomier, quieter with every accessory you would ever need front and back. The Tesla we rode it truly felt like a Model T in comparison. Only Buick makes a nice EV station wagon they don't sell here. There's a reason we ban Chinese EV's, they would wipe out the American car industry!

1934 Auburn

I've gone to several McCormick Auctions held in Palm Springs in February and November since moving here. A three day event, people bring their old and recent cars to be auctioned. Fridays are free to the public while Saturday and Sunday are reserved for auctioning. There's something for everyone, believe me. I relive growing up in the 50's amidst cars, sedans, convertibles grandma drove that were  bigger than my 2003 GMC extended cab pickup. I stand in awe looking at cars family and friends drove while looking at British and Italian cars sold at the same time. They'd fit in the bed of the truck.

The bigger surprise is color, inside and out! Yellow, turquoise, pink and blue and white Buicks, Chevy's, Fords, Mercury's and even Cadillacs in pink! Or pink, white and black Dodge Coronets. Who can ever forget Vermillion and white Oldsmobile's with matching interiors?

1959 Ford Thunderbird

Today all you see are white, silver, battleship grey ( I guess that's the compromise between black and white) and black. In fact the most popular car colors of 2024 were: 1. White; 2. Black, 3. Grey, 4. Silver with equally boring black, grey or beige interiors.

There are arguments that Gray, Silver and Tan/Beige hide dust and dirt. I can agree with that. I could go a long time before needing to wash my tan 1971 BMW 1600. It came with a saddle interior that contrasted nicely. But when my forest green pickup with a dead grey flesh color fabric was stolen shortly after moving to Palm Springs I bought a Soul Red Mazda CX-5 that glitters in the sun. However, that doesn't seem to deter seniors from trying to hit me. It has a black interior that hid the black hair of my Lab when she was alive. I really wanted the dove gray, the only other option but I had to be reasonable.

Corvette Interior. Maybe not as safe but
what color and function!

Ironically the colors that show dirt the most are black, charcoal gray dark blue, burgundy, dark green and WHITE. Since this is the desert white is by far the favorite color. But, gray is catching up with a plethora of grays that range from pleasant to ugly. If I didn't love Mazda's reds, tans would be best here. Windy just about all the time, tan hides the ever present dust.

From the Mid-Century capital of the world however, these colors are a cop out. I'm finally in the 7th season of MAD MEN and am constantly amazed at how colorful we once were. They depict Palm Springs, Los Angeles and NYC from the late 50's to mid 70's and it
was certainly a lot more colorful than it is now. So, the question remains, "when did we become so boring about color?"

A plethoraof white, black and grey

Anyone familiar with my ETSY store knows I am not shy about color!!!

 Thank you for reading my blog. I invite you to take the time to read earlier blogs where my emphasis is to explore the ways art and design affects our daily lives ... and always has. I share with you what inspires me with the hope that it will inspire you as well. Comments are always welcomed!    

Be sure to visit my ETSY store ... KrugsStudio.etsy.com. I am adding many new and exciting, collectible birdhouses and craft items. Many of the items talked about here will be for sale there!