Ever wandered the aisles of an art supply store? Felt the bristles of the brushes, smelled the linseed oil or tested the rainbow of specialty markers? I could be there for hours. It’s such a source of inspiration for me, filled with potential and lots of choices. Whenever I see painterly pieces like these I immediately want to run to the nearest Blick and load up on new brushes and paints. I want to get messy and pronto.

Today the trend for these kinds of goods is in full swing, and I can’t get enough. Perhaps a maturation of the Renegade culture, they bring a handmade quality to our interior spaces that I think is an essential part of any eclectic space, trendy or not.

I’ve also been experimenting with creating some of my own designs. The freedom that I feel when dripping paint on drapery panels along with the unpredictable results of experimentation is just plain ‘ol fun. If you decide to tackle some of your own projects, look for future posts revealing some of my successes and failures. Don’t be afraid to take risks with garish colors and unusual fabrics. You never know what may result. And if you are still unhappy with the outcome, head on back to the art supply store and look for me trawling the aisles.

*sources: anthropologie, jarlath mellett, abc carpet, isaac mizrahi for s. harris.