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After learning that lesson there was no way I would drive that far without more than one appointment. After the first presentation I was hired to paint the Jane Tillery’s showroom, subsequently customers asked if they could have their homes hand painted. This was Indiana and I wasn’t aware of anyone hand painting walls at that time.
The next design firm appointment was even more encouraging. The designer suggested other firms he thought would be open to what I was doing/going to do. He called ahead to a large commercial firm so I could stop by on my way home to make an appointment. It never entered my mind that some firms wouldn’t talk to you without a referral. Another lesson.What kind of lessons have you learned while getting your business off the ground?
My starting point for this project was flowers. My client loves flowers but in particular orchids. In fact, she gave me my first orchid. My personal goal is to have at least one orchid blooming at all times in my home. If I find I have none blooming I begin my search and usually come across a new variety I simply cannot resist. There are now nine elegant orchids in my possession.
This project was relatively simple yet elegant, light and airy. The colors we chose were favorites of my client. Her walls and floor covering were neutral with accents of purple. She had also purchased several of my floral paintings so the colors we chose for the window treatments blended well with her decor.
The Signature Shop is in Broadmoor Main. Items which have a Broadmoor Logo can be found there. When I was asked to design and hand paint an arch for the Signature Shop entrance I thought it would be done in the same color scheme as the arches I had painted in the Golf Clubhouse.
When I went to the site and saw the intense color of the carpet and noticed the bright colors in the Gourmet Shop adjacent to The Signature Shop I knew the colors in the arch would need to be punched up. Below are a few photos of the entrance to the Signature Shop at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs.
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- Side panel of Signature Shop arch
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- Close-up of side panel to Signature Shop
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- Signature Shop Entrance
My thought process in creating the first of four hand painted archways for the Broadmoor was to create continuity between the original artwork in the Main building, which was painted in 1918, and the newly constructed areas. Many of the artists were brought to Colorado by train from New York to work when the hotel was first built, most of whom had come to the United States from Italy.
The Dell Robbia-style arch over the elevator door in the Lobby of Main inspired my design. It incorporated the flavor of the Old West in a whimsical sort of way. There were two cherubs, the right wears an Indian headdress and was brandishing a tomahawk.
My plan was to change out the Indian headdress for a golf tam and the tomahawk for a golf club. After all, this was the Golf Clubhouse. When I discussed my plan with the architect he passed the word on and there was some concern that it would be too “cutsie”. My response was that it would be no more “cutsie” than the original and the plan was a “go”.
This arch was considerably larger than the area above the elevator in Main. The new arch was to be fifteen feet high and thirteen feet wide. The painting was done in my studio and consisted of six sections. Here are a few photos of the work in progress and the finished product.
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- Work in progress, design blocked out and background painted with navy blue faux finish.
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- Installation before final coats of varnish are applied.
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- Close-up of detail
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- Main entrance to Golf Clubhouse Lobby
The Broadmoor Resort has published a beautiful hard-cover book about the history of the Resort written by Elena Bertozzi-Villa. Under a photo of the arch I painted she writes, “The top of one of Mickey Baxter’s arches in the Golf Clubhouse lobby. Her work echoes the original paintings in the Main building while introducing elements from her own fertile imagination.” Thank you, Elena.
Saturday evening after Thanksgiving is a special time at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. This is the evening of the annual White Light Tree Lighting Ceremony and this year was very special in that it is their 90th anniversary. Without the lights the Broadmoor is spectacular but this particular Saturday is magical.
At a Gwen Fox abstract workshop in Taos this past summer I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely artist by the name of Telise Rodelv. She and her husband are new to Colorado Springs and had never been to the Broadmoor. So the three of us made the trek. What a treat to give my new friends a tour on such a special occasion.
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- Gardens in front of Broadmoor Main
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- Looking up at the tower of Broadmoor Main
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- Gingerbread Town at the Broadmoor
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- Mickey, Telise & Charlie
Now, on with Christmas! Christmas is such a treasured time of the year for me. It has been a year since I have been with family. Way too long. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone again.
It is time to reflect on what we have accomplished in 2008 and make plans and set goals for 2009. The week between Christmas and the New Year is when I finalize my goals for the next year. Have you set goals for 2009?
During a renovation at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs I was asked to paint simple designs on porcelain tiles that were to be in stalled on the risers of a newly constructed exterior staircase.
Having taught freehand design on ceramics and porcelain for many years I thought this would be a pleasant change of pace from climbing scaffold and ladders.
Blueprints were sent to me so I would have exact dimensions. I did the layout on the computer to determine the sizes needed. Then the prototypes were created and scanned into the computer, sized and positioned to fit the staircase. A full color computer printout was also a very professional way to show the layout and design to the architect. The tile installers had an exact layout for installation as well. The project included over one thousand tiles.
In retrospect . . . I remember, while working in the Marketing department at Fort Carson, I was sent to Denver for a computer class. On the drive to Denver I was thinking what a waste of time and energy it was for me to learn computer software when all I wanted to do was paint on walls. It turns out that my computer skills have helped me in every aspect of my business, to include this tile project.
Have you found there have been times in your life when you resisted doing something only to find out that it was a blessing in disguise? Please leave a comment about a similar blessing in your life.
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- Broadmoor staircase
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- Broadmoor tile #01
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- Broadmoor tile #55
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- Broadmoor tile #11
As a follow-up to an earlier post entitled “Be Fearless”, I did get the commission for the painting in the Birthing Operating rooms in a local hospital. Still, it amazes me the care they give to assure the comfort of their patients and staff. To learn more about this special hospital and its services read the earlier blog posting.
When approached to paint these rooms I was asked to lie on the operating tables so that I could see the areas the patient would be looking at. After doing this I realized the patient would only see the ceiling and about three feet down the walls. With all the lighting and panels on the ceiling a border on the walls seemed to be the best solution.
The design was a real joy to do because I just marked the lowest level to paint to with a few pieces of tape, decided on centers and then painted what came into my head. What a treat. The colors of the design complimented the wall color and the flowing, freehand design was soothing. Birds, bugs, and butterflies added a bit of whimsey. Click on photos to enlarge.
Ohhh, what next?!?
Halloween has come and gone but I couldn’t help but share these pics of Bella and her new friend, Bailey. Bailey and Bella walk several times a week and Bella finally lets Bailey get within a few inches of her. What an improvement over the way she used to charge at every dog in sight only run behind me if a dog made a move toward her. Bailey is a sweetie who only tries to give her kisses. She still isn’t open to that.
Is this REALLY necessary?
As I was taking this picture a neighbor driving by saw us and put her window down and said, “Mickey, I’m getting a little concerned about you.” (In reference to Bella being dressed as a Princess.) In response I said, “Perhaps you should be!?!” Fortunately for our pets, holidays don’t come more frequently.
Bella and friends
Just so no one thinks I have totally “lost it”. Bailey and Bella dressed for Halloween for neighbor girls who look forward to seeing them each morning while waiting for their school bus.
Autumn and all its splendor is such a glorious time of year. Colors of green, gold, burgundy, warm browns, yellow, orange, and red fill the landscape. The Colorado Aspens, interspersed among the tall pines on the mountainside, have brilliant golden leaves in the fall and with the slightest breeze they seem to glisten in the sunlight. This really is God’s country.
A client called a couple of weeks ago to order Thanksgiving cards. It is so nice that they inquired early in the season. Last year my printer had a press break down in the middle of a run so my order was delayed causing difficulties in my clients getting their cards signed and in the mail on their scheduled date. This year should go much smoother. Here are my two new Thanksgiving cards for 2008.
#306 Thanksgiving Card
#307 Thanksgiving Card
306 (5″x7″) Inside reads:
May this special time of year be a gentle reminder of all the wonderful moments in your life.
Every happiness to you and your family at this Thanksgiving season & always.
307 (5″x7″) Inside reads:
Wishing you beautiful memories and joyful gatherings this Thanksgiving and always.
143 Autumn Leaves
Card #143 is blank inside
Measures 5.5″ x 4.25″
Memorial Hospital for Children, in partnership with The Children’s Hospital is located at Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs and houses a Level IIIb NICU which is able to take care of the most fragile newborns. This hospital has some of the most professional nurses and doctors, men and women, I’ve had the privilage of meeting.
It was an honor to be asked to paint murals in such a beautiful new structure. Because of the severity of the cases in this unit it was decided that a child-like theme would be inappropriate. Flowers indigenous to Colorado would be the preferred theme.
Aspen nurses station Memorial Hospital, Colorado Springs
The nurses’ stations had been named Aspen and Spruce. The floor in the Aspen area had accents of bright orange, red and yellow with a background of tans and medium brown. The walls were neutral. The Spruce station had neutral walls and the floors had accents of subtle blues and greens with shades of tan and medium browns.
Entering into the Aspen area you see an Aspen branch with a chickadee in flight. Upon entering the area with the nurses’ station there were five corridors leading to the areas where the babies were being cared for. My job was to paint four foot tall flowers at each corner of those corridors. The flowers I chose to paint were Woodland Lilies, Poppies, Blackeyed Susans, rust colored columbines and yellow prickly pear cactus.
Woodland Lily, Colorado wild flower
Gentian, native Colorado wild flower
The entrance to the Spruce area had a Spruce bough with finches and a bird nest with eggs. The Spruce nurses’ station was set up the same as the Aspen station. Taking the colors of the area into consideration I chose blue columbines, butterfly bushes, Rocky Mountain Iris’, Lupin, and Gentian.
Entrance into Spruce station
After finishing the Spruce and Aspen areas I was asked to paint a ten foot tall scene in the hall leading to the nurses stations.
Colorado scene near guest hand washing station
The twenty-one areas took about twenty-eight days to complete and I enjoyed every minute. Additional close-up photos of this area can be found on my website. Click on the website link above then click on “Murals” and then “New Work”.
Your questions and comments are always welcome. Just click on comment above or on one of the photos.
Mickey's Murals and Musings 