Blog Post for The Masters Studio

Larry Bullington commissioned the following blog post for his art studio.

My art studio has filled my home with friends.

Some knock at the door and some hang on the wall.

Read on to find out which kind is which...

Written by Marsha Whitman for Larry Bullington February 21, 2023

If you walk into my house, you’ll be hard-pressed to guess the wall color in each room. Nearly every inch is covered by one of my art pieces. The inches that aren’t seem desolate. Creating art was never a choice; it is like speaking. It is how I relate to the world and communicate who I am. I’m a lovely person, and people need to know. When people ask me how I am, I say, “I’m interesting.” And I mean it. Just ask my third wife.

No one can know how weirdly wonderful I truly am until they see what I create. You can see it in my studio—also lovingly known as my house. The place is full of voices, music, color, texture, busyness, and discovery. Add the snacks in the snack room and the scent of the wax melts, and all the senses are engaged. It is a warm and beautiful chaos. Life is chaos, so why not make it warm and beautiful?

My works are like pages in the journal…of someone tripping on acid. Isn’t that is the best kind of journal to read? Each page tells a story, and collectively they reveal me to myself and everyone who steps through the looking glass. One page of that journal is full of bold color and movement, while the one next to it is soft and graceful. The one across the room is three-dimensional and full of straight lines and right angles. The wood on it is smooth, and right next to it is a round mirror framed in a sunburst of rough twigs. There is a page from this journal that watches you with questionable intentions, and another one that combines marble and metal, joined by thickly applied acrylic strokes. One page lights up the room with jewel-toned, sharp-edged glass. There are several pages that whisper tenderly, and some that lure you in with sensuality. What do they all have in common?

They all came from me. You’re going to have to pay better attention if this relationship is going to work.

People can tell what kind of person you are by who and what you surround yourself with. I am surrounded by oddities, and I’m not talking about my art this time.

My friends mean everything to me, even more than my current wife and dog. Don’t tell them I said that. My art introduced me to my friends. Like my works, some have stuck around and some have moved on. But they have all added something to my life because they are attracted to the kaleidoscope. That is a form of love. They came for art lessons. They brought their kids for art lessons. They saw my art on display somewhere. They wanted to be a part of it. They wanted to be a part of my universe, and they trusted me. Since my studio is in my house, my work is not just my job. Students are invited into my home and instantly feel welcome. No barriers. If I don’t like you, you do not get a ticket to the Chocolate Factory. Period. If you find yourself in my house, it’s because I like you. Well, at first it might be because you’re offering money, but if you stick around, it’s because I like you. And because, I assume, you like the lights of the carousel that is my home, myself, and the love I offer you in return in the form of art lessons. How much more meaningful could any gift be—even one that you’re paying full price for.