A Barrel of Fun

As a decorative painter, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time schlepping my ladders and buckets of plaster and I know I’m not alone in wishing I could ease up on the physical labor, yet still keep the creative juices flowing and, of course, pay the bills. The question I found myself asking was: How can I step away from the ladder without stepping away from my career?

Diane showcasing her barrel stave art at the Saint James Court Art Show – the third-largest outdoor art show, in Louisville, Kentucky 2024.

For a while, the solution seemed obvious: transition to a canvas. But if you’ve ever considered this, you know the intimidating reality that comes with the idea of becoming a canvas artist. How many canvas artists can there really be? There are so many, and many of them are incredibly skilled. Because of my understanding of substrates, textures, and techniques, I wondered:

Can I apply my knowledge of surfaces and design to something that doesn’t require a ladder?

The more I thought about it, the clearer the answer became. All I had to do was look around my own house for inspiration. My husband is a beer brewer, so we have several bourbon and wine barrels lying around. I had already seen barrel staves (those long slats from the barrels) on Pinterest painted with fun beer or whiskey sayings, used as wall art. The idea hit me: Why not create something similar but with my own artistic twist?

After dismantling a barrel and experimenting with different designs, I began creating custom barrel staves featuring family names and fun sayings. At first, these were meant as personal gifts for family members, but as I worked, I realized these staves could be more than just a personal hobby. I have a tall, narrow wall in my stairwell, which was calling for something distinctive. Rather than a traditional painting or canvas, I decided to create a striking piece by painting five bourbon barrel staves that coordinated with my vibrant stair runner, combining my love for pattern and color.

Once I had completed the piece, I was thrilled with the result. The staves transformed the space, and I knew I had something special. I decided to test the waters by reaching out to a local gallery to see if they thought the idea would work. To my delight, they were enthusiastic about the concept, and for the last three years, I’ve been a gallery artist, exhibiting and selling my work in both local and out-of-town art shows.

But the real shift came when I began to inform my designer contacts that my focus was changing. I introduced them to my stenciled and hand-painted bourbon and wine barrel staves, showcasing my commitment to studio work and reducing my time spent on ladders. This approach has allowed me to prioritize creating pieces in the studio, working in ways that feel more in line with my roots—those early years when I started my career painting murals on canvas, as well as small furniture pieces, fun lampshades, floorcloths and basically anything that didn't move.

As my practice has evolved, I’ve embraced the flexibility of working from my studio and the joy of creating original pieces that still allow me to use the techniques and skills I honed over the years. I’ve found that it’s entirely possible to step off the ladder without stepping away from my passion for decorative painting. In fact, it’s allowed me to carve out a new niche.

So, for anyone out there wondering if it’s possible to retire from the ladder but continue to thrive in their creative career, the answer is yes. You just have to find the right plan and be willing to think outside the box—or, in my case, outside the barrel!