Wild Flamingo Lady

Here is a new art table that I just completed for my good friend, Roxanne!  She is wild about flamingos and collects all things flamingo (so long are they are whimsical).  The art table has a painting on the top surface. Then, small pieces of memorabilia are adhered to the surface of the painting. It is edged with trim and the final step is to flood the entire surface with a high gloss resin. This encases the painting and objects and creates a durable surface. The table can be placed into use as a coffee table or end table.  It is okay to place your drinks right on the table -- it wipes clean every time!

Scroll down for more photos.

And there are more photos if you click the Commissions topic to the right

 

Here is the tabletop. You can see the whole painting and the many fun objects.  This flamingo lady is having a wild time with her friends at the tiki bar. She is a fabulous gal!

All dressed up to go out.  And what a great hat! There are little dancing flamingos around the brim. Don't you love the earring?

Close Ups

High Gloss Top

Library Tables

These two tables, just completed, were commissioned by the Algonquin Area Public Library. The tables feature library-themed paintings on the top. Actual pieces of library memorabilia are adhered to the painting and the entire surface is encased in a protective resin. This allows you to put the tables into actual use, as they are today. I would like to thank the Friends of the Library who funded the art project and library officials who spearheaded this project. See below for more photos (or click the Library Tables Topic), close ups and the a step-by-step description of how the tables were created.

Carol's Gift (Motorcycle)

Carol's Gift, acrylic, 11"X14,"© 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

Just before Christmas, Carol contacted me to do this painting of her friend's special motorcycle. Yes, it was a very busy time but I decided if I focused, I could complete it in the tight time frame I had. Sometimes that is the best because you concentrate only on what is really important. You don't get sidetracked by what just isn't going to work. What I really wanted to bring out is the excitement and power that surrounds a fine machine like this and its gleaming look.

The close ups show the powerful brush strokes in the chrome and background.

Antique Tractor

Antique Tractor, 11"x 14", Acrylic on board, © 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

This is a commission I did for a loving wife for her husband who has a large landscaping business. This is his antique tractor that he likes to show off in parades. I enjoyed doing this painting because it allowed me to use a favorite style of mine – fresh, loose strokes with an abstract feel. There is some realism involved because you can certainly tell what it is but it does not get too “tight”—you know it is a painting and meant to be that way. I have always admired this loose style.

The close-ups show the details of the brush stokes.

House in the U.P.

This is a dream house. A friend of mine is planning to move to the upper peninsula of Michigan and she wants to build this house. But it will be a couple of years or so before that happens. So she decided to create her future home on canvas. She provided me with house plans and her dreams. From there, it took on a life its own. This is a gift for her husband on their anniversary. They know they have a lot of work to do before they get their house. In the meantime, they can hold on to this dream painting. It is called, House in the UP, © 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur, 9"x 12", acrylic on board, framed.
Detail showing color and brush strokes.

Chicago Flowers

Chicago Flower II Chicago Flower I
Images © 2007 Barbara Sistak Baur

These two paintings were created to hang in a North Michigan Ave. condo. The owner wanted to grace her bedroom walls with art that complemented her emerging theme. She told me that she liked large abstract shapes and a lot of texture. I visited her residence and viewed the room and existing decorations. We decided the fabric on her bedding would be the inspiration for the artwork. We measured the walls and determined the size. These paintings are 32” tall and 16” wide. They are installed on either side of a window overlooking city rooftops. I think of them as urban-designed flowers and have named them as such.