Painting and life

For years and years and years I lived in rentals and had junky furniture because I couldn't justify getting "nice" things for myself. I figured I would never live in a place long enough or have these things long enough to warrant the investment.


Even after buying our home, I didn't have the urge. But then it started. First a picnic table set from IKEA, then some built-ins in the family room. I had no idea about painting. Didn't know you had to prime anything, (although I did clean off the surface), didn't wait long enough between coats. I got it done and if you don't look very closely, the end result looks fine.

Then I started on rooms and noticed the trim didn't look good. So they had to be painted as well. Eventually the kitchen and the cabinets, the foyer, a study, and the dining room have all been painted.

Most of this done in the early morning hours or on weekends. Each time I learned something.

1. The fumes won't kill you, but the oil based stuff will make you feel lousy. Don't be a dummy and know what you are working with, how to keep yourself healthy, and why.

2. Preparation is key. Clean everything with TSP, prime and caulk the trim, then paint the walls with a roller. Do an entire area (edges and walls at once). Anticipate what are known problems first. It makes the big job go easier because you are not interrupting your workflow to deal with issues.

3. When you are careful, you don't need painter's tape. Taping becomes a big waste of time if you pay attention to what you are doing.

4. You do need a drop cloth. Rollers splatter.

5. Keep the paintbrushes and rollers in a plastic bag when you pause overnight during a project. Don't forget to clean the brushes when you are done!

6. Don't lay it on thick to finish faster. Drip marks and bristle marks show you don't care. Light coats don't take that long to dry and you can look at your product with pride.

7.Try new things. You can paint over if you don't like it.

8. Don't obsess about little things. Nobody really cares if your lines aren't perfect.

9. It's therapeutic. When life's tough, the very act of moving and changing my world makes me feel better.


10. Life needs color.

11. Don't paint in the dark. I still make this mistake because I think I can see just fine. Then the sun comes up and I see my mistakes. See # 6.

12. You don't have to be original to be happy. Creating your vision, however unoriginal as it may seem, is what is beautiful.

13. Write your lessons down.

14. You can't keep waiting to learn more. Start already.


These lessons started in painting, but they apply in everything I do. Now my home is one big never ending project, a constant source of inspiration. Now for the rest of my life.