Y’all! I am SO EXCITED that I can finally tell you about my part in this year’s Southern Living Idea House!! (Ok, that “y’all” was a nod to Nashville, but hey!) So now that its officially open for tours, I can take you behind the scenes of how this mural came to be.

How it began

Last year about late fall, Laura Hodges of Laura Hodges Studio reached out to me to create a hand painted mural for the Southern Living Idea House in Nashville, Tennessee. I was honored but hesitant because that’s a big deal. I thought long and hard about it and decided that I would do it. Why not!?

I’ve been lucky enough to work for Laura on several of her projects and to be able to call her a friend. We often have a good chat when together and I’ve always admired her work.

Some of my projects for LHS -

The Inspiration

Laura’s inspiration came from the beautiful countryside of Tennessee where the hills of western Appalachia roll green and lush.

Laura wanted to bring the outdoors into the breakfast nook and create a soft backdrop to the space, tying in the subtle tones of green, beige, and taupe. I created a mock up for my own practice to get a feel of what the style of the mural would look like and then planned my trip for the end of April, right before I was scheduled to go in for my partial mastectomy. Of course we didn’t anticipate the cancer thing but I was determined to make this happen before I began treatment.

Muralist takes a Road Trip

I drove to Nashville from Baltimore so that I could bring everything I needed. It was a long 13 hour drive but it was beautiful to see the Smoky Mountains and the hills of Virginia and Tennessee. Staying in Franklin was convenient because I was only about fifteen minutes from the house in Thompson Station. People are so friendly, too!

The Process Of Painting the mural

The walls were given a base-coat of a soft white, which was completed by the painting crew, and then I layered in a subtle blue glaze for the sky. I then sketched in the foliage, trees, and landscape in general, using a sepia toned glaze to create a mid-tone to set the value and enable me to work both into the lights and darks. Sherwin Williams graciously provided the paints to use.

I worked around the room, composing and adjusting as I went, working wet into wet to create subtle transitions, all while being inspired by the surrounding landscape. The Tennessee hills are so peaceful and beautiful, I really loved working literally inside the inspiration.

With the sage green trim and natural finishes, I feel that this room is so relaxing. You could have your morning coffee or a spot of Tennessee whiskey at the end of the day to relax ;)

Thank you

A HUGE thank you to Mary and Pat Hatcliff and Hatcliff Construction. I have never experienced a jobsite so welcoming and friendly. All of the trades were working all around each other and we all made it work. If you are in the area, please go visit, the house is open through Christmas. More information can be found here.

And if you are interested in contact me about a mural, please don’t hesitate. Though I am currently working my way through cancer treatment, I am always open to talk about new projects and get started on ideas with you!