Artist Notebook: AMusinGlass commissions
For an artist, getting commissioned work can be a lot of fun, because the artist is able to collaborate with a client about what the finished piece will look like. Today, we’re talking to Pilisa and Terry about their commission for the lighting at a new restaurant that will be opening in Flagstaff in the late summer.
First steps
Cafe Paleo Brio Sedona decor
This new commission for the Cafe Paleo Brio is an interesting one, since the decor in the new restaurant is nothing like the decor in the Sedona Cafe Paleo Brio. The new restaurant in Flagstaff will have a cleaner, lighter and younger look than the restaurant in Sedona. The color scheme is going to be a blend of quite a bit of modern gray: steel bar stools, concrete floors, stainless steel appliances, stone countertop, and painted walls, plus some warm brown: bamboo wall treatments, wood paneling and rusty steel exterior, and a few accents in lemon yellow painted surfaces, green plants and white ceramic tile thrown in for interest.
That gives us an interesting challenge for the light sconces on the walls and pendant lights at the bar that we’re going to be creating for the restaurant. Since our light sconces will be for sale to the public, they need to blend in enough to be able to fit with the restaurant decor, but still interesting and different enough for a customer to want to take one home. The pendant lights are a little easier, since they will be a permanent feature.
Cafe Paleo Brio Flagstaff decor
In fulfilling this commission, we need to make a few samples that we submit to the architects and owners for approval before ramping up to be able to provide the full compliment of lights that we will make for the restaurant. We’ve been in consultation with the architects and owners on the style and size of the fixtures, as well as throwing out ideas on how the glass components could look.
Planning and designing
We’ve gotten approval from the architects on our light sconce fixtures that we’ve been creating for a long while, but we’re still working out the pendant light fixture and what the glass will look like. There are a few options for the final style of the glass, whether it will be a handkerchief drape or a bowl style, as well as what the color mix will be. We enjoy the collaborative style of working with the architects and the owners to see what direction they prefer, as well as getting feedback on the various options we present.
Once we get all of the details worked out, then we’ll go into production mode. That will involve making multiples of the pendant lights (5 to 7 at last count) and approximately eleven wall sconces. Luckily, we still have two and a half months to deliver all of those, so we have plenty of time. We’re looking forward to attending the grand opening of the new restaurant to see how our lighting works!
See us at work
We’ll be hard at work producing light fixtures for the next few months, so we’d love to have you stop by and see how they are turning out. We would enjoy meeting you and chatting with you about custom lighting for your home after we’re done with the restaurant’s lighting.
