Ticky Tacky

I turned 30 in March, and this was my gift from my husband.

Rust-oleum paint?

It was the sweetest gift he could have given me, really, and I'll tell you why.

This was my car in high-school.  

(it's parked under my Aunt's oak tree, in case you were wondering about the big tree branch)

It's name was "Little Blue," though in my possession the car didn't exactly remain blue.  I used enamel paint and created a huge face on the hood, swirls down the sides, and some eyes on the back (originally I painted frogs on the back, but after getting about 20 too many frog presents I painted over it with the eyes).  I painted a bright orange and red fire-burst on the top, and I even let my friends paint around the window frames for my 17th birthday.

My Mom wouldn't let me take Little Blue to college with me.  "Not reliable enough," she said.  What!? My 1980 Chevy Citation wasn't reliable enough?  I was heartbroken to have to cover my artistic expressions with solid blue paint and hand over the keys to my brother (who would not be seen driving in a moving art piece... I don't know why! I mean, sure I got honks almost daily, but it was fun!)

Since then, I've mentioned painting "a little something" on our van every now and then, but I mostly figured the car painting days were over.

So, when Justin surprised me with rust-oleum paint for my 30th birthday he said "I figured you'd never paint anything on our van unless I gave you my blessing, so here it is."

Wow!  Take a girl's breath away why don't you!  What a sweetie!

I'd like to share a little about this drive within me to personalize my vehicle.  Inspiration comes from a number of sources.  The Big Orange Splot was one of my favorite childhood books, which tells the story a man who lived in a neighborhood where all the houses were exactly alike.  One day a seagull drops some paint on his roof.  Rather than fix the spot, he seizes the opportunity to break the mold and create an artistic masterpiece out of his home.  Eventually his neighbors follow suit and they end up changing their dull, listless street into one of the most imaginative.

"What would I make my house look like?" I'd think.

So, when I'd drive by streets with my family where all the houses looked all alike and close together, with no yards, with the same mailboxes, and boring sameness, I'd sigh.

My mother shared the song "Little Boxes" with me, and I'm sharing it with you if you'd like to click here to listen.  

"Yes!" I thought, "That's the problem with it all! It's all a lot of ticky-tacky.  It's all just the same!"

And THEN I watch an amazing show at my artist Aunt and Uncle's house about people who personalized their cars, and I was inspired to have an amazing car someday.  One of my favorites was a guy who grew grass all over his car, just like a chia pet!

Here is our van.  A 2007 Kia Sedona.  

I started painting it last week.  

It's not quite as bold as in high school, but it feels really great to slap some paint on there.

I'll share a picture in my next post ;)