Toad.: Toad is the flightiest and pettiest character in The Wind in the Willows, due to a combination of immaturity and unrestrained wealth.
Things have opened up a bit in New Jersey, and Bill and I have braved the pandemic for a few outings. With the beautiful weather, we took our bikes on the ferry to Lewes Delaware, rode the bike path, and had a delicious lunch. We have also taken advantage of dining alfresco in a few local restaurants. We are cautious, wear our mask, and keep a reasonable distance from others. I admit I have mixed feelings about our State opening up. I am sick of cooking, planning menus, ordering groceries online. My grocery orders are not always what I would pick. But, I am patient as the people doing these jobs are putting their health on the line. The other side of the quarantining is sort of nice. I am fortunate that quarantined life is not that much different than any other day for an artist. We like working alone, hate doing errands, and some of the best work comes from solitude. The gift here was that the noise of the world was completely shut off. Stillness allowed me to go deeper inside, see what I was capable of. Without going anywhere, I had time to paint, read, reflect, and review just how I spent my days. I really have a different mindset than before. I learned to slow down a bit. Yes, there is time to do yoga and meditate in the mornings. Yes, it's ok to take that long bike ride. Yes, it's ok to stop fretting about accomplishing everything on your to-do list. Good has come from this extraordinary time we are in.
Summer at our home on the River is always busy with visitors, and this year is no different. My daughter, son in law, and two granddaughters came for a week. Both families were careful to quarantine 14 days before arriving. I was so happy to have them and wanted to make it very special for the girls. They were also suffering from not being in school, not seeing friends, and all activities canceled. We were all excited to be together. I decided to turn their bedroom into a magical place to dream, read, and encourage imagination.
We all know I love the story Wind in the Willows. The room already had this story as the theme, so I decided it needed a mural of Ratty and Mole getting in Rats boat and going on a picnic. I filled the room with tiny furniture, dolls, tea sets, and plenty of books to spark young imaginations. I hope this will create special memories of times they visit Mo and Poppy's house. Oh, and there is always a little present waiting on their beds.
I started with a detailed drawing, just using a 2B pencil. when the mural is dry any remaining pencil lines come off easy with fantastic cleaner.
I use artist oils to paint my murals. I love that you can blend and soften the colors. Mistakes easily wipe off and drying time is not bad with the addition of Winsor & Newton Liquin. One secret is never try this on flat paint. The walls must have an eggshell, semi-gloss, or Matte finish.
Paper plates work great and are easy to hold when working. In the ’90s and early 2000 I think I must have painted hundreds of murals in children’s rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, halls, it was very popular. My murals had a dreamier look than an artist that was using acrylic paints. Surprisingly, you use very little oil paint. It’s almost like a glazing of color. With this process, I could often do a full room mural in several days.
I was pretty pleased with the finished mural, and so were the girls. Having grown up with a Father who loved boats and later a husband ( my Mother warned me) I completely agree with Ratty saying to Mole.
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing... about in boats — or with boats. In or out of ’em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you getaway, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not.”
I love to read, my Mother was director of a library so books were plentiful and important in my home growing up. I wanted to instill this love of books and quest for knowledge to my Granddaughters. On a Sunday afternoon I papered one wall with book wallpaper from Brunschwick and Fils. It was a long time since I had papered a room but I took my time, thought it out and it was really easy. I think it sets the mood.
There are boat style bookshelves over each bed filled with Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twin, and other books from my youth. The girls are a little young for these but they will grow into them all to fast. New adjustable reading lights are over each bed, an Ikea find. There is a desk filled with paper and crayons for a late-night creative inspiration. Both girls have their own drawing table in the studio for more serious art adventures.
The fabric is scenes from the story Wind in the Willows. It was made by an English company Osbourne and Little. Sadly it is no longer available.
If you peak out the South East window you can just see the river where Ratty and Mole live.
The wall are Pumpkin color because of course Fall is my favorite time and orange my favorite color!
“When Mole first met Ratty he said:
“So - This - is - a- River !” THE RIVER, corrected Rat. “And you really live by the river? What a jolly life!””