When we moved into our house, one of the items left behind by the 3-generation family that lived here before us was an old Briggs piano. It was left in the back of the garage and has acquired quite a few years of dust & leaves as well as being the home to at least a few critters.  Some of the keys stuck and no one on Craigslist was interested in reviving it so we set out to find an artist that would give it a new life.  After almost 6 years of searching, I found an artist! Being a friend of several friends, I connected with Lousie Philbrick, who makes beautiful work out of piano pieces. She gladly drove up from Portland with tools in tow and disassembled it. She also catalogues and researches the history of each piano and often takes the wooden pieces with serial numbers on it to make the frames for her work. I know it's a long process but I can't wait to see what she creates out of it all!!  I'll keep you posted but, for now, check out her website and like her Facebook page!

Meter, 2013, mixed media with grand piano parts on painted plywood, 14.75" x 14.75 by Louise Philbrick

Farm Utopia
9" x 9"
Watercolor, india ink pen, drawing ink, and thread on handmade rag watercolor paper
by Lauren Simone

As I work, I'm always thinking about other artists and their work that sticks in my head.  When I get stuck and can't think I usually will turn to an art book.  I have a nice collection of monographs and my favorite one is of Nathan Oliveira.  He's one of my favorite painters and someone that I look to often.  When I was doing figurative work, it was his movements and compositions that really turned me on.  As I studied his paintings and got to see some in person, I began to look at the broader picture.  I was really attracted to the paint itself and the layering of colors.  The simplicity and intricacy of his color palette really astounds me and heavily influences my work.

Studio
3.5' x 2.5' x 3'
Resin, clay bricks, tin
by Adam Junior