The Couple Making Wallpaper that Doubles as Art

The author recounts her experience trying a trending artistic endeavor: creating a "love art" painting with her partner using their bodies during intimacy. This activity involves a specialized kit, known as the "Love Is Art" kit, which provides the necessary materials for couples to produce a unique piece of art. The author, having chosen a blue kit to complement her home decor, details the contents of the kit, including a canvas, plastic drop sheet, vibrant blue paint, cloth booties, and a loofah for post-activity cleaning. Before embarking on the project, the author and her husband consulted reviews, noting common concerns such as paint spillage and the importance of a suitable surface to prevent the canvas from warping into an undesirable shape. To ensure a successful outcome and protect their rented home, they meticulously prepared their bedroom by clearing a space on the carpet, laying down the plastic drop cloth, and creating a path of towels to the bathroom. They also ensured privacy by choosing a time when they were alone and temporarily relocating their pet. A primary concern was avoiding a uniform blue blob on the canvas, which they attempted to mitigate by strategically placing tape. The process began on their bed for initial intimacy, followed by moving to the prepared canvas to apply the paint. They learned that pouring most of the paint directly onto the canvas, rather than primarily on their bodies, allowed for better coverage and spread. Despite the intention of creating a romantic experience, the author admits the actual painting process was less romantic due to the paint's slippery nature and the discomfort of the carpeted floor, leading to much laughter. After completing the artistic act, they used the provided booties to traverse to the bathroom for cleaning. The paint, which dried quickly, required significant scrubbing, a task the kit suggested partners perform for each other, adding an element of intimacy, though the author found it more amusing than sensual. After allowing the canvas to dry overnight, they purchased wood to stretch the canvas and a clear coat sealant to protect their creation. The author expresses her affection for the finished piece, despite jokingly comparing the framing to a kindergarten-level Basquiat. She highlights that the painting holds personal significance for them, embodying the effort and shared experience, even if its abstract nature means others might not understand its origins. The article concludes with the author's contentment with the unique, laughter-filled memory captured in their personalized artwork. #LoveIsArt #CouplesActivity #DIYArt #HomeDecor #Intimacy #RelationshipGoals #CreativeExpression #AdultFun

Architects Dylan Baker-Rice and his wife, both originally from the US, transformed their 1,700 sq ft, three-bedroom Jardine's Lookout apartment in Hong Kong into a living showcase of their design philosophy and personal style. Having moved to Hong Kong in 2010, the couple embarked on a renovation project that allowed them to meticulously plan an interior space tailored to their needs and possessions, including a significant piece of art. Baker-Rice, whose first job out of university was as an assistant to artist Roxy Paine, brought with him a cherished polyurethane sculpture named 'Scumak.' This black, heavy, and somewhat grotesque piece, created by Paine's assembly-line machine, became a focal point in their design considerations, prompting them to create a designated space for its display within their new home. The apartment's design reflects a blend of practicality and artistic expression, moving beyond conventional Hong Kong interior aesthetics. The couple’s architectural background enabled them to approach the renovation with a deep understanding of spatial dynamics and material use. Their design choices were not merely about aesthetics but also about crafting an environment that resonated with their personal history and professional expertise. This bespoke approach allowed them to experiment with unconventional ideas and materials, turning their apartment into a unique demonstration of their capabilities. The process involved a complete overhaul, ensuring that every element, from the layout to the finishes, served a purpose, either functional or artistic. Beyond accommodating specific art pieces, the renovation aimed to create a comfortable and inspiring living space that defied the typical constraints of urban dwelling. Their design likely incorporates elements that maximize light and space, common challenges in Hong Kong's dense environment, while also reflecting a global perspective influenced by their experiences in London and the US. The transformation of their apartment illustrates how professional designers can leverage their own homes as laboratories for innovative ideas, showcasing how architectural principles can be applied to create a highly personalized and functional domestic environment. The project serves as a practical example of integrating art, personal history, and design expertise into a cohesive living space. #ArchitectCouple #HongKongLiving #InteriorDesign #ApartmentRenovation #SculptureDisplay #BespokeDesign #SpatialDynamics #ArtIntegration

Debra Brienen, an artist from central Illinois, inherited a knack for drawing from her mother and aspired to be an artist from a young age. Her early artistic endeavors focused on detailed realism. She met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Randy Brienen, who, in contrast, created abstract works. They both took oil painting classes together at the YMCA, taught by Lester Chace, a noted presidential portrait artist. Forty-five years into their marriage, Debra still displays her high school oil paintings, showcasing a clear evolution from realism to impressionistic work, exemplified by her award-winning piece "From an Artist’s Eye," which reimagines Monet by his lily pads. Debra's artistic journey was interrupted by motherhood, causing her to set aside her passion for nearly 36 years. However, a cancer diagnosis reignited her artistic drive, prompting her to resume painting during her chemotherapy and radiation treatments. This resurgence led to her participation in LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival and being named a featured artist. Now an eight-year cancer survivor, Debra is a full-time, mostly self-taught acrylics artist. Her travels to Paris have deepened her appreciation for masters like Monet and Renoir, influencing her focus on capturing light and shadow in her work. Her previous wallpapering business, The Paper Doll, kept her informed about design trends, leading her to adopt a current color palette of grays and teals in her art, often chosen by clients to match their home décor. Debra continuously seeks to learn and evolve her artistic style, taking classes and workshops to achieve a looser, more impressionistic approach. She aims to capture the essence of idyllic settings and encourages clients to provide vacation photos for personalized commissions. Her works include a portrait of her grandson's first piano recital and depictions of local historical sites such as the Goodwood Museum & Gardens, Bradley’s Country Store, and the Old Capital Building. Nature, especially gardening, serves as a consistent source of inspiration, with hydrangeas and agapanthus being favorite subjects. Shortly after Debra resumed painting, her husband, Randy, a former college art major and fitness trainer, also began painting full-time. They often travel together, taking photographs of the same scenes, frequently during bike rides. Randy’s style is more impressionistic, and while Debra strives for a similar looseness, she notes an exchange of influences in their artistic approaches. Their joint portfolio features Tallahassee landmarks like St. Mark’s Lighthouse and Lake Ella, as well as scenes from their travels, such as a month-long trip up the New England coast to Prince Edward Island. Their art is sold at local venues including Strauss Gallery, Seaside Art, and Weezie’s Cottage & Home, with a portion of sales benefiting the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Foundation. Despite their stylistic differences in color and canvas size, their works complement each other. In 2010, the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts hosted their first joint exhibition, “Side by Side,” which they are revisiting six years later with “Still Side by Side,” showcasing over 60 new pieces. A highlight of the upcoming exhibition is a pair of portraits where they painted each other—Randy as a French artist and Debra as Monet’s “Woman with a Parasol.” Their workspaces are adjacent, connected by a doorway, allowing them to collaborate and work independently, sometimes using a curtain to maintain creative distance when working on the same piece. They also share their passion with their granddaughters, encouraging artistic exploration. Debra emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning in art, believing that many possess latent talents awaiting discovery, and highlights community resources like the Senior Center for fostering such breakthroughs, affirming that it’s never too late to pursue one's artistic calling, a pursuit she views as both her job and joy, filled with future aspirations, particularly acknowledging her cancer diagnosis as a catalyst for her artistic renaissance. #Painting #ArtExhibition #CoupleArtists #Impressionism #ArtisticJourney #TallahasseeArts #AcrylicsArt #CreativeInspiration