The Story Of How My Wall Came to Be

I have had my shop for four years now and that, in itself, is a story. But today I want to tell you about a wall that is in my shop. 

My wall is in the very back of my shop, and it is pretty big: it is about 18 feet, or more, high. When I first took over this shop, the walls were a creamy color and, to me, the creamy color was not eye-catching. And, frankly, it was to me at least a dull space: there was nothing to excite you about being there. Of course, something had to change--and quick. I had ideas and plans for my shop and I would do the best I could with what I had to work with.

At the time I had just signed the lease for the space I am in, and I remember going to the landlord to ask permission to paint the walls. I explained to him how they were dirty and drab looking. And, really, they were: the creamy colored walls were darkened by years of things hanging on theme. And they were riddled with nail holes. The landlord said it was find to paint the walls...As long as I didn't do anything crazy. 

"You're not going to paint them pink or anything like that, right?" Is what the landlord said.

"No. No way. I don't even like that color." I told him. Pink! What was he thinking?

Ok, so now that I got the green light, I couldn't wait to get started! We had to put up staging because of the height of the walls, and started off painting with a beautiful grey on top of the walls and an off-white down at the bottom of the walls. Those walls, and those colors, were chosen so that objects in the shop would be displayed better.

But, now it was time to do the Huge Wall. The Huge Wall is the wall at the very back of the shop, the wall. that one would see the minute one walked in. It was just me and The Huge Wall at this point. I knew this wall had to be different. The humungous piece that I keep my paint in was already up against The Huge Wall. No way to move it. I had to work around it. I didn't want the wall to be "crazy," as I promised it wouldn't be...But maybe just a little bit of color would be nice. I started with a just a few colors, and then, well, drippy paint looked like what was needed. But what if I made part of the wall look like it had deteriorating bricks? 

Additionally...did I have rollers? Yes, I had patterned rollers. Bright colors ended up on the wall: gold, boho blue, yellows, pink. Pink! 

It's Okay. I told myself. It's not like the whole wall is pink. But I really need to tone it down.

That's what I kept thinking. But then I stepped away from the wall and noticed what I had done--the horror! Both because I had promised my landlord, and because I? LOVED it. There before me on The Huge Wall were a pair of huge, red lips with teeth! I think I got so lost in what I am painting sometimes that I only see what I've created once I have finished. 

I hung a huge frame around the lips--maybe it wouldn't look like the lips were on the wall. And maybe the landlord wouldn't send me packing. The funny thing about the wall is that everyone who sees it, loves it. They tell me that the wall reminds them of a wall they have seen somewhere else in their travels. Of course, that makes me happy! People always ask, "How much for that painting with the lips?" and that makes me giggle every time. When I tell them the whole wall comes with it, I lose the sale!  But there is always chuckles all around. I love my wall! I think it is a part of who I am. It's how I create. I have even been commissioned to replicate it in someone's home! 

So. Has the landlord seen the wall? Yes, but that is a story for another time.