Most artists find they need to work at other ways to earn their ‘keep’ so to speak. One way several years ago, I chose was to capitalize on a current interior design fashion - floorcloths.

Floorcloths are not a new idea. When poorer households wanted some protection and color for their wood or stone flooring old canvas sails were painted then repurposed as floor coverings. An early form of linoleum called oilcloth.

After showing these at a trade show I was commissioned to paint wall art for a restaurant in Newton MA. Below are 2 floorcloths (left 2) and two of the restaurant’s paintings (right 2).

These were designed in response to the clients’ style requests and remained up until the restaurant closed. The stylistic elements are quite different from my usual fluid painterly one, but I found the challenge rewarding and exciting too.

Again, I found the new way of doing something propelled me onwards even as I returned to my expressionism. Several years later I found this visual experience helped me as I started my mixed media and collaged series Psalms/Songs.

Peace

Gay