Art of my Beat

There is an air of adventure to Richard Dunbrack’s dynamic sculptures that makes me feel bright and happy. Okay, so that sounds a little corny, but it’s true. I can’t stop smiling as I look at his art. It takes a true creative soul to bring forth the story that a long discarded object has hidden inside.

Looking at the cupboards and armoires fashioned out of salvaged wood, cast iron fragments and lost carvings, I feel compelled to wish that a Narnia-like world will spring forth once I open those doors. What else could an armoire which goes by the name of “Pepperoni’s Time Piece” do but make me dream of whimsy and fun?

But reusing and repurposing found objects isn’t Richard’s only contribution to the worlds of art and environmentalism. The rich colors found in his pieces are the product of skillfully applied milk paint. Yes, that’s right–I told you it was coming yesterday–a modern day artist applying a decades old medium.

The milk paint samples that I had googled seemed to have a chalky, tired appearance that didn’t exactly inspire me to take a closer look. However, upon finding Mr. Dunbrack’s sculptures, I realized that this medium is only as good as the artisan who applies it.

His restored pieces don’t just look painted over; they are revitalized with a new identity–a new purpose–that pays respect to their storied pasts. Per Richard’s bio on milkpaint.com: “The Milk Paint has given me the versatility to create textures from smooth to more abrasive. This versatility combined with the varied range of colors has given my work depth and the desired aesthetic appearance of aged beauty.”

Whether the joy of his art is found in fanciful carvings, the blending of unexpected shapes, or the surprise wink of a mischievous doll’s eye, you simply can’t go wrong. Just ask the Vineyardhaven Vixen.

I would love to have a few of these pieces to hold my art supplies in my future dream studio. Artful and “green”–they embody artistic recycling perfectly.

So if you’re feeling a little blue about the state of recycling in today’s world, head on over to Richard’s website The Thieving Magpie. It will inspire you to dream.