Sally Nolan

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Sally Nolan, maintains a workshop in New England. Sally is a former teacher, Air Force Veteran stationed in Florida, and Texas, a N.H. Blueberry farmer, mother and grandmother.

Sally creates scenes reflecting a "Young America" of the 18th & 19th Century, which are used to decorate walls, doors, entryways, and mantels.

Her fun themes are usually painted on barrel staves and other antique objects. She continues in the tradition of her mother, noted folk artist, Elizabeth Dean (E. Dean).

ABOUT STAVES

Wood barrels were the plastic storage containers of early America. Hoops of wood or metal bound them in a circle, and with-end caps, completing the barrels. Sally uses White Oak staves, which is the preferred wood for whiskey, beer and wine aging. Distillers like to use this wood because of the direction and tightness of the grain. These barrels are fired (burnt) inside, to provide the traditional liquor flavoring. Sally recycles these staves into folk art.

She acquires wood barrels from many places. One was acquired from a local supermarket, where it was use to display pickles. A barrel acquired in Maine, was used originally for liquor, and with an application of paraffin, used to distill vinegar.

Sally acquired a substantial inventory from a N.H. winery, which distilled many flavors of Apple wine.

STAVE PREPARATION

The barrels are carefully disassembled and the individual stave is cleaned of residues. The burnt inside of the staves are cleaned, washed and sealed with a coat of lacquer. The outside of the stave is then inspected and sanded, holes, cracks or scratches filled, sanded again, given a base paint coat, and then hand sanded to a fine finish.
 

DESIGN

The design start with a free-hand painted background of land, water, and sky/clouds. A scene of the sea, sailing ships, family, or farm, is imagined, outlined, and painted. This scene is then clear coated, and hardware installed for your decorating pleasure.

OTHER ITEMS

Special items are also fun for Sally to decorate. These items include wood ironing boards, metal watering cans, sap buckets, table & chair sets, skis, cross-saws and dance shoes (see her Collection, below).

A NOTE FROM SALLY

“It is a pleasure to create my interpretation of life in a Young America in unique, fun, colorful, and patriotic presentations. I hope you continue to enjoying my work.”      S. Nolan