FeedsMuralists among many at Art in the Park
They’ve painted football scenes and waterfalls and turned bedroom walls into castles and racetracks. They have installed faux rain forest scenes in bathrooms and turned staircase walls into works of art.
And that’s when they aren’t busy creating one of a kind original glass and steel works of art.
For the third time this weekend, Plymouth artists Joe and Jennifer Rutherford will display their work at the 29th Annual Art in the Park.
“We’re looking forward to it because it’s a nice show and a lot of people we know come out,” said Jennifer Rutherford.
The Rutherfords have been full time muralists since 1999 and have participated in Art in the Park in 2005 and 2006. They create about 30 hand painted murals every year—both commercial and residential. The couple also donates their time and talent to charities that help children and to Habitat for Humanity.
Their artwork can be seen in several area homes and commercial buildings, and is always unique and individual to the home or business, they said.
“It’s really fun to go to a client and discuss their ideas and they’re always really surprised with the design,” said Rutherford.
They’ve done children’s murals, decorative murals, and murals in stores and businesses. The majority of the decorative murals they do are in homes or restaurants, including the previously mentioned tropical scenes in bathrooms and waterfall scenes in bedrooms and along staircases. They agree that children’s rooms are among their favorite projects, unicorns and all.
“We love doing children’s rooms because they’re really appreciative,” said Rutherford.
The couple also produce original stained glass mosaics, something they started about five years ago.
The pair travels to festivals throughout the year selling their unique home and garden art pieces, a combination of fused glass pieces and hand formed steel designs.
“Glass has always been a passion of mine and steel for Joe,” said Rutherford, who likes painting murals and working with glass equally. “We combined the two mediums and started creating really interesting pieces.”
The glass mosaics can be created in a variety of places. The Rutherfords have created designs on client’s walls in their homes, on the floor, and to outline fireplaces, instead of a traditional mantle.
Joe Rutherford is never without his sketchpad, and claims to find ideas just about everywhere. He sketches ideas until he finds things he likes and creates it out of metal. Jennifer’s ideas come to her as she’s working with the glass.
“We believe the things we create with glass and metal are really unique,” said Rutherford.
