L. Risor

Trash to Treasures

2012-02-01T23:15:00.000-11:00

I enjoy painting the world pretty... as I wish to see it!

~Windows & a bucket or two I've painted~

~Boxes & Drawers & Trunks I've painted~

~Desks, Shelves & Suitcases I've painted~

~Dressers, tables, & cabinets I've painted~

~Benches & Rocks I've painted~

Before and Afters...

2012-01-18T19:55:00.002-11:00

I paint almost all day almost every day, so I sometimes get a little bored, simply painting on canvas, so I throw in things like wood working, sculpting, sewing, furniture decorating, and especially love reupholstering to revive an otherwise trashy piece into a fun treasure. Below are some items I have given new life with fun fabrics, trim, and even some feather edging on an awesome vintage set I found at the flea market and revived with some tiger stripe and even a little vintage purple polka dot for fun!

Junky to spunky Bench redo

this bench I personally liked better above... before I reupholstered it, but to make the customer happy, below... I really revamped it!

This sitting area in a retirement home is much more fun with the eclectic mix of new and old to give the residents a less boring, not so institutional place to sit and visit.

Western Bench

I trimmed the southwestern geometric wood pattern to soften it some and sanded before painting and reupholstering this

Vintage Flea Market

Settee, Love seat, and Chair Up Do

I reupholstered this set with fun fabrics and even some feather boa trim along the edges

I found a great vintage purple polka dot fabric to accent for a little unexpected spice!

Breakfast Nook Bench I built

with chairs and barstools I reupholstered

Fun plain institutional straight chairs I reupholstered and added sassy turquoise ribbon laced eyelet corsets and shimmery fluffy ruffled skirt to fit the clients sassy and flashy taste.

Barstools I recovered and added giant chunky tacks for a touch of ruggedness

I designed and built this bulky bench for the clients breakfast nook...

I covered the bench and used the coordinating fabrics to cover the two smaller chairs and two bar stools above

I used turquoise vinyl the client requested and added the the rough finished faux leather and animal print to coordinate with the rest of the animal print throughout the house, and accented with chunky tacks and the red and gold giant trim for show

These large chairs were actually a part of the dining room suite so the smaller ones I recovered up above ended up in this breakfast nook in the end.

Odd Eye and Swallowtail

2012-01-16T14:34:00.001-11:00

I am a self taught native Texan artist. Since I paint cats O.K., I get lots of commissions to paint purrrry pets. I often incorporate funny hidden meanings, that to me, are significant, tho others may not notice. Painting is my way of silently expressing myself, in hopes of bringing more smiles to the world. I painted this picture of an "Odd Eye"Persian cat... after someone was rude to my son, Matthew, at work... for looking different.(He has a rare birth defect called EA - esophageal atresia, so his neck is scarred, and after eating he often has a bulge in his neck, as big an apple, since food goes down to his stomach very slowly) Sometimes, something may look odd, but that doesn't mean it isn't beautiful as well. My son included!lol Even a beautiful butterfly is odd when it starts out as a worm!

Matthew actually smiles a lot... this is him..

trying to look grown up... and like he isn't a jokster!

Sitting room redo

2012-01-06T12:45:00.004-11:00

I redid this small sitting area at work as a vintage western library, to fit into the Nursing homes western theme, so the nursing home residents would have a fun colorful place to sit and read or write letters to loved ones, and staff could sit to do paperwork or enjoy a quiet break.

For fun I painted the walls pale purple to add some zest in an otherwise

somewhat unzestfilled existance!

I found tall table legs to replace the short coffee table legs,

for a library desk,

for which I built a bookshelf hutch out of old window shutters.

I painted the room freshener to look like a cowboy hat hanging on the wall.

I painted Trompe l oeil books, picture, mail slots, vase, and potted plant as fillers.

On the desktop I painted a dear John letter with a feather quill pen and ink well.

I painted the emergency exit door

to similate the library door, as if inside looking out into the old western town

I built a tall bookshelf with four old shutters

and painted books...

and potted cactus

beside the library desk I painted a fun globe to fill empty space

and I painted a trompe l oeil tuxedo cat on a shelf...

beside the door I painted a faux grandfather clock adjoining the wall clock

and removed the clock face to paint this fun grandfather clock face...

I added faux leather cousion, two leather straps, and four porch post finials for feet,

to make the footstool out of an old vintage samsonite suitcase

L. Risor ~ Gallery - Powered by Doteasy.com

2011-12-22T20:31:00.000-11:00

L. Risor ~ Gallery - Powered by Doteasy.com

Thorns

2011-11-16T15:22:00.000-11:00

Thorns

The thorns of a rose...

like life's not so good points...

is a tiny little bother...

in comparison to the beauty of the rose...

like life's beauty!

Same goes for friendship...

Nothing is perfect...

so enjoy each day...

and every friend...

imperfections and all!

Rose Colored Glasses...

2011-03-30T23:01:00.007-11:00

Sometimes... I tend
to see things and paint them
the way I want them to be...
reality often eludes me!
I LIKE seeing the world
As I wish it could be
So rose colored glasses
Are very well suited for me!

Half full... Half empty...

2011-03-20T19:40:00.001-11:00

I painted this after a little turmoil in my life that made me stop and think... I could see the same situation differently... depending on my attitude... Half full, half empty... but I chose to believe my cup runneth over, my life's been filled with all sorts of stuff, good, bad, sad, funny, scary, tiring, energizing... but in the end... we all eat sleep drink and breath underneath that same old SUPER moon!!! I thank God for ALL!!! This painting was a small picture but for me is a big picture in my life, so this one has personal and deeper meaning for me. This painting reflects my gratitude for ALL things in life no matter how small, big, good, bad, ugly, or even insignificant things may appear. (By the way... Looks like I forgot to add a tiny little detail... poor little kitty... has no wiskers!!! Oh my!)

Ebony and Ivory

2010-12-22T16:34:00.001-11:00

The world is black... The world is white...
Their robes were black, Their heads were white,
The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight,
Nine judges all set down their names,
To end the years and years of shame.

I'm amazed to hear a fellow human being judging others for differences from skin color, religion, to sexual preference when in my heart and mind I fully understand none of us is better than another (or without sin) to justify prejudice or being judgemental for any reason whatsoever!

Ready... Set...Reach... Accomplish!!!

2010-06-19T07:02:00.001-11:00

Goals are Good

Goals are to be set...

reached for...

and accomplished...

it IS Gods will!!!!

"“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us." ~Bri

Walk a mile in my shoes...

2010-06-16T11:02:00.004-11:00

Before stomping my toes...

Before you chose to stomp on my sore tired toes
Try walking for just one day in my shoes
Cause absolutely nobody at all knows
Why it is I do the things that I choose

Do I forget things because I do not care
Or am I tired because my child's been ill for awhile
Next time you wonder how does she dare
Instead please consider how to help me smile

If somehow to you I may seem angry mad or sad
Rather than judge or speak harshly of me
Just remember yourself to be thankful and glad

Cause you very well may not be as bad off as me!

Be happy and never forget

walk in my shoes

before stomping my toes

Two peas in a pod..

2010-05-18T12:00:00.001-11:00

Love and compassion can change the world.

Being loving and compassionate to each other,

makes us wealthier than even the richest on earth.

Enjoy all the incredible experiences life has in store for you.

Our unique existence on this planet is all too short.

Be grateful for all you have every day,

for today might be your last chance.

Take care to not waste time.

~by L. Risor

Oil on mdf board

8"x12"

(sold)

Did you lay dis egg???

2010-05-15T14:18:00.010-11:00

Did you lay dis egg???

~by L. Risor

24"X30"
Oil on Canvas
(not for sale)

Spots of a Different Color

2010-02-20T17:24:00.012-11:00

Spots of a Different Color
~by L. Risor

After noticing butterfly spots

that looked like eyes...

I was reminded...

things are not always as they seem...

so I painted my silly rendition...

of a pussy face flutterbye...

with spots that look like kitty eyes!!!

:)
7"X5"
oil on gallery wrapped canvas
(sold)

Slow Ride ...

2010-02-06T18:42:00.011-11:00

Slow Ride...

~by L. Risor

Sometimes...
Slow down...
Take time...
Try to enjoy...
This wonderful...
Ride of life!

5"X7"

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

(sold)

Love and Friendship

2010-01-26T22:55:00.013-11:00

Love and Friendship

~by L. Risor

I wish

the world

could just get along

peacefully

and

simply forgive each others

mistakes, uniqueness, and differences,

without judgment, jealousy, or resentment.

What a wonderful world it would be!!!

4"X5"

oil on artist canvas board

(sold)