My Dad's friend Dave gave me an old chair that he had in his family for years. It is the most vibrant and stunning shade of red, (I want to eat the paint), and I needed to draw it the minute I saw it. And while it has a few technical issues, cracks, scuffs, and wobbles, this chair has a story. Judging by it's condition it was well used and loved. I picture small children climbing up on it to make cookie dough, or maybe it sat in a corner until a neighbor popped in for tea. How many christmas parties has it seen? Was it ever used to make a blanket fort? Maybe someone of less than average height used it to reach a distant top shelf? How many secrets were shared in confidence in it's presence? How many laughs did it hear, how many tears? Such a range of experiences to go through in one lifetime.
'Welcome and entertain them all!" -rumi
Posted by kerismith at March 11, 2004 09:27 PMI have a chair in my bedroom that is covered in thick white paint, chipped to reveal the layer of sky blue underneath. It always makes me think of the story, The Wishing Chair, which was one of my favourite books as a child.
Posted by: Kathryn on March 22, 2004 10:34 PMVery intriguing thoughts.
I once bought a chair for $5 at an antique store. The owner let it go so cheap because it was covered with several coats of paint. After we had it stripped for $15, it was quoted at $125. I believe it's called a 'Captain's Chair'. Quite the treasure.
For your red chair...
I imagine maybe, a child sat in it while serving pretend tea to her teddy bear and dollies.
Thanx for the smile.
Posted by: sparrow on March 16, 2004 04:51 PMoh! blanket fort! I must go make one right now! :) K
Posted by: Katherine on March 15, 2004 06:31 PMI love the way you always describe objects and people around you.It's a very interesting way of viewing an object.Haha,I bet my study chair would have alot of grumbling to do if it could talk!
Posted by: angie on March 15, 2004 03:29 AMYou should give it a name. When I was a kid we used to have a white chair called "ghost".
Posted by: eliane on March 13, 2004 05:03 PMYour red chair drawings is so lovely, and I am really enjoying all your drawings and thoughts. Did you used to make a paper zine a few years ago? Also, I'm linking to a story about yellow chairs I fell in love with a couple years back...so much of good honest art starts from a fascination with the ordinary...think wallace stevens, or wayne theibaud, or cezanne, or...just look and love and draw!
Posted by: Rachael on March 12, 2004 02:43 PMI have a little red chair that I love too! It has it's own story as well... Mine came from Canton First Mondays flea market in Texas, and has lived happily in my family room ever since, attracting every little person that comes it's way.
Posted by: Jane on March 12, 2004 02:10 PMoh, thank you for the lovely inspiring post. that is why i have grown to love old things. i wish i had a red chair like that too.
Posted by: stef on March 12, 2004 01:59 PMmy nono (grandfather) had a chair just like that. We have it now.. it seems to not only hold those memories but displays them on it's surface.
lovely post.
to me, it looks like the kind of chair that quietly observes its surroundings, and could probably tell you some very good and funny stories, if you asked nicely. and perhaps, if you provided it with some furnishing, it'd do a little jig for you.
Posted by: jo on March 12, 2004 04:51 AMK-
I adore the red chair.
I ADORE the Rumi quote.
I adore YOU.
Keep living out loud.
-Donavan The Paint Eater
Oh, and Lurker...i LOVE that thing about the streetlamps...I may never look at them the same again!
I have the same chair in my cabin! Red, cracked, and forever part of a blanket fort. Thanks.
Posted by: Michelle on March 11, 2004 10:09 PMYou can find such beauty and wonderment in inanimate objects. I always ask such questions about street lamps. They could destroy us all with the secrets they know about us. If only I were a street lamp.
Posted by: Lurker on March 11, 2004 08:45 PM