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LISBON — In response to Turner Publishing’s requests to readers to show us what you are doing during COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions, Charles Anthony has shared some of his artwork.
Anthony, a widower, “to pass the winter hours, or the time before I can get into the yard to work” has added some art to his 1812/1888 “I” house. the house is being restored in a manner that could have been how it looked with the coming of the electric light. “An old house looks ‘wrong’ decorated like 2020,” Anthony said. “Thus I began with the ‘Study of the Art & Mystery of Historick 19th Century Wall Stenciling.”
With help from an instructor, who lives in Massachusetts, he took off the plastic wallpaper, the Z-brick “and all the insults to the historic structure.”
He used distemper paint, milk paint and some modern paints for the project.
“There is much to learn of placement of the stencil, design elements, use of color, the setting the stenciling to the use of the room,” he said. “For example; the kitchen — historically this room would have been a light rose color. The stencils would have reflected the ‘bounty of the Earth’ — wheat, pineapples, etc. That theme would not work in a sitting room o parlor, now the living room.
“Thus began a years long project, and its been helped by the ‘current crisis, since I am in the ‘at risk’ category,” he said. “The time and effort have been worth it.”
PHOTOs: Some of Charles Anthony’s stenciling work. (Charles Anthony photo)
