I’m starting a great new series, Tell Us Tuesday! Each week, I’ll have a guest artist answer a few questions and wow, I have a fantastic lineup for you! I’m hoping that by hearing from such a diverse pool of creative people, we will take away interesting and different perspectives. This may help us in our own endeavors, be it painting furniture for fun, working on your own home and creating your own style, or starting your own blog or business for profit. The questions range from the artistic to running a successful creative business.
I consider all of the participants to be my true friends. We may not have met face to face (yet) but I know that we all support and inspire each other.
First up is Robin from RPK Interiors. Robin and I go way back in this furniture rescue journey! She is my go-to gal if I ever have a question on either the provenance of a piece or any technique. I even text Robin from the thrift store if I stumble upon a great find because I know that she will absolutely share my thrill! Robin is an expert in the field and truly loves and respects each of her pieces and it shows in her impeccable work!
Interspersed in the questions are pictures of Robin’s amazing work. Click on the picture for a link back to her original blog post on the piece. Links also at end of post.
Creamy White Vintage Dresser by RPK Interiors
Thank you, Suzanne for allowing me to participate in your new series! As for a little background on who I am…well…wife, mother of two grown children, raised in the furniture business (which eventually closed in 1997) and have lived through the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc! 🙂
When did you begin to paint furniture and/or create projects for the home?
– My first venture into painting for our home started with kitchen cabinets in 1994. We moved from New Jersey to Virginia and the house had builder grade oak cabinets. I painted them white and loved them. We moved a few years later, and I painted another set of kitchen cabinets. Ug! We then moved again, and of course, those cabinets received some paint! Fortunately, we stayed in that home for 16 years, but last year we moved…and if you follow me on Facebook, you should be seeing some more kitchen cabinets get a makeover. I must be crazy, don’t you think? The first piece of furniture I ever painted was a French style buffet. I painted it in black and have loved it for 20 years. I recently changed out my decor, so it, too, will be getting an RPK Relove one of these days and off to a new home.
When and how did you start your website/page/blog?
– In 2009 my corporate job in the financial services industry was eliminated. With time on my hands, I turned my focus to our home and realized I had some very tired vintage pieces of furniture that were too nice to sell, but needed some new life breathed into them. I turned to Pinterest, which led me to some amazing blogs. After several months, I took the plunge and started painting furniture. I made so many mistakes and learned so much. I thought a blog would be a good place to share my discoveries and hopefully help someone else avoid my disasters and benefit from my experiences. I am technically challenged, so my darling daughter got my blog and Facebook page up and running in April, 2013. The headers have never been changed because I wouldn’t know how to change them! Oyvey! On a side note, I sure wish your amazing videos had been available back then! It sure would have helped to speed up my learning curve! 🙂
What would you consider to be your unique style and what inspires you?
– I’m not sure I have a particular style. I love a shabby’d, multi-layered farmhouse French piece as much as mid century modern painted in a bold, bright color. Each piece has a story and my inspirations come from those stories…hoping to find an interpretation that will fully appreciate it’s history and character.
How do you decide which paint or technique to apply?
– A lot of the decision on how to proceed with a plan is based on my experience with the products needed to complete the project. I love and use Annie Sloan Chalk Paints and General Finishes Milk Paints. I’ve tried a few other products over the years, but at the end of the day I know I can depend on these two lines to help me get the job done. If, for example, the plan is for a bold, modern color, then I reach for my favorite milk paints by General Finishes. Experience has taught me that I will achieve the desired look with those paints. If I want to blend, layer or create a washed effect, I reach for ASCP. I understand the personalities of the products, and know what to expect from them.
Beachy Blue Sideboard by RPK Interiors
Do you consider both writing your blog and working on a project to each be a creative process? Which do you prefer?
– Believe it or not, I don’t consider myself to be a creative person. The end result of a project comes about through studying, reading, and experimenting with different products and techniques. For example, many years ago I stumbled upon a picture of a gorgeous piece that had varying layers of color and patina. To recreate the look took a lot of experimenting and playing with paints, watering them down, layering them, feathering out colors, etc. I also started reading articles from other generous bloggers and studied their techniques to develop my own. Voila! I took what I saw, made some mistakes along the way through the process, and eventually found my own technique!
– As for blogging, I only created a blog as a place to share my experiences, so others could benefit from my mistakes and discoveries. I don’t write posts often as my new discoveries of interesting techniques don’t come very frequently. Blogging is not a creative process for me. It’s my way of giving back to those who have so willingly shared with all of us. Kind of corny, eh?
What is your favorite part of the creative process? The initial brainstorming/inspiration, working on the piece, the finishing touches (staging/photography) or writing and publishing the blog post? Least favorite?
– My favorite part of the creative process is helping a client articulate their vision for a project and then fulfilling (and sometimes exceeding!) their expectations. It’s challenging in the beginning, but so rewarding to see the joy in their eyes when what was envisioned has come to life! It’s such a rush!
The staging and photography phase are my least favorite part of the process. Like I mentioned earlier, I am technically challenged so learning the photography triangle (aperture, shutter speed and ISO) has stretched my brain beyond it’s elasticity!
Pink Campaign Style Dresser by RPK Interiors
What do you believe to be the reason for the success of your blog and business?
-Success is a relative term and measured differently by all of us. For me, I am personally satisfied when I have found an old piece, in need of some TLC, breathed new life into it, and sent it to a loving home, ready to serve for another 50 years. On a personal note, losing my job in 2009 was a devastating event in my life, but finding this new found passion of reloving furniture has breathed new life into me! It makes me feel relevant and fulfilled.
What advice do you give other creative people wishing to follow in your footsteps?
-My humble words of advice would be to find your own way….whatever that might be. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others…sort of keeping up with the Jones, but try hard to avoid that trap. We all have special talents, so figure out what yours is. What comes naturally to you? Figure that out and pursue it…test it, develop it and hone it. And most of all, make it your own. Shakespeare had it right when he said “To thine ownself be true”.
As for selecting a few favorite pieces….well, that’s like choosing a favorite child! I get attached to every piece I touch, so the ones I’ve chosen illustrate a cross-section of my styles….
Thanks, again, Suzanne for including me in your series. I look forward to reading about others’ journeys in this fun world of furniture rehab!
French Linen for a French Dresser by RPK Interiors
Link Backs:
http://rpkinteriors.blogspot.com/2014_08_01_archive.html
http://rpkinteriors.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-gorgeous-pink-campaign-styled-dresser.html
http://rpkinteriors.blogspot.com/2015/04/beachy-blue-sideboard.html
https://www.facebook.com/rpkinteriors/photos/a.625759930898719.1073741999.229934487147934/625760750898637/?type=3&theater
Up next week, the lovely Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies! Danielle runs a very successful blog and has just written her first ebook. I am very honored that so many of my amazing blogging friends have agreed to take part in Tell Us Tuesday!
I love Robin’s work. She’s an inspiration to many a great encourager too.:)
Love Robin’s work too and she is also a great writer. Loved the post.
Really enjoyed this post Suzanne! …and Robin…. your work is amazing! x
BEAUTIFUL!
I so enjoyed reading Robin’s answers and learned so much about her life and process. So fun! Thank you for doing this series! xx
Suzanne, I love the new feature. Enjoyed reading about Robin and her painting background. She is obviously much more creative than she gives herself credit for.
I enjoyed reading this post, Suzanne. Robin does beautiful work and it was great learning about her creative process. I remember swooning over her pink campaign dresser. For someone who dislikes the staging and photography process, her pieces are staged and photographed beautifully.
Robin does beautiful work. And she has an aritistic touch in her pieces, staging and photogaphy. This is going to be a very enjoyable series.
Robin, you are one talented lady. I loved these answers and to see how she puts so much heart and soul into each piece. I love this series already, Suzanne, it’s going to be so much fun! Hugs, CoCo