Backyard – The Painted House

On By ResaIn The Painted House

It’s a tiny backyard, green & overgrown. Whoever lived there loved their yard.

At the back end of the yard was the side of the garage. One enters the garage from the alley.

This face& upper torso was painted on the garage’s side wall, decorated with old tools.

I think she’s holding an albatross, albeit with a straight beak. How cool would that be, to have an albatross of my very own?

Objects from inside the house & garage were brought into the yard and painted. This triptych made from 3 doors is really cool.

Below is a slideshow of some of the painted objects, and a full pic of the backyard.

  • Glass paned door
  • Piece of a car & chicken
  • Organ
  • Drawers
  • Log? cupboard and fence
  • I didn’t see any grass
  • Most of the backyard

Pics taken by Resa, August 11, 2024

Toronto, Canada

Girl with Albatross (?) artist:

Now, a diptych.

118 thoughts on “Backyard – The Painted House”

    1. I think you’re right that there had to be music to inspire that art! The portrait of the young woman is stunning, but I’ll pass on the albatross. Bad omen . . .

      1. There probably was music. When the artists came and painted the wall on the east side of my home there was music, beer and pizza.

        Why did albatrosses get such a bad rap?

          1. Hahaha! The Rap of the Ancient Mariner…
            I do know that saga poem.
            One poem… and your bad luck unto eternity.
            Now I feel sorry for the albatrosses.

    2. The artists took several days to paint the house, inside and out. I wasn’t there, but I have been to “Paint Parties” where a bunch of artists gather to paint an alley.

      There is always music, and often beer and pizza.

      Thanks Jay!

  2. And maybe some haze and a nice smell…nice post, should be a nice backyard where to sit and enjoy the Art, maybe a good beer or wine to go with or just plain coffee…depending of the moment I guess..:)

    1. Yes, the artists have a great time when they gather to paint. I’ve been lucky to attend a few “Paint Parties”.

      It would have been nice if the painted house had been around a bit longer than 2 weekends, but at least I got to see it.

      Thank you, Jean Marc! xx

  3. I agree! It would be fun to sit there and enjoy the art while sipping on coffee or wine. The woman with the bird reminds me of something, but I can’t think what. I really like the painted door.

    1. Thanks Merril!

      Ohh, the woman with the bird? I was wondering. Maybe you’ll think of it. I googled a few tries, but mostly got bird woman-harpy. Still I did learn some mythology there.

      I would have sat around the yard a bit, but neighbourhood was parading through.

      The door with the glass panes and painted vines? It’s beautiful.

      The 3 door triptych is a gas. I’d like that in my yard.

  4. Omg, Resa, this is amazing. Kinda good use of scrapper… especially the woman with a bird. Plus, old tools hanged, that’s really art there! You kinda feel different by looking at it.

    1. It’s great use of scrapper, even if they tore the house down later.

      I loved the time I spent in that house. I love street art. It makes me feel alive and happy.

      Thank you, Festo_Sanjo!

    1. Those old tools would be terrific companions for your treadle and mangle.

      I wonder if someone took them before the house was torn down? I would have take the 3 door triptych.

    1. True.
      Maybe that’s why I’m not hungry?
      It went from my brain to my stomach.
      Perhaps I should start “The Art Diet”?
      If grapefruits caught on, why not art? 🤔

  10. Very fun and creative. The woman and bird are well done but a little too intense for me. I wouldn’t want to walk by them into the garage every day! Feels like entering a Hitchcock or Poe scene!

    1. Thanks Brad!

      Hahaha! True, very Hitchcock/Poe(ish)

      In theatres for Halloween –

      The Giant Pin-Striped Sparrow

      What did she feed him? Who wears pin-striped suits…… anymore…. anymore?

    1. Thanks Robbie!
      Owl House? You must have done a post?
      I’m loving the book!
      I have an idea how to present it in a post, with some appropriate street art.
      Believe it or not, I have a wall painting of a woman dancing tarantella.
      Will write when I’m finished reading it!

    1. So happy you like the Painted House series. More to come!
      Lol… “Crow Girl” At least the story was half baked, and not a crow.
      Take care! ❦

    1. I wish world problems could be solved, dear John! Perhaps a setting like this would be conducive to that. 🤔X
      Still, there seems to be so much hate, some would rather destroy art. 😱X
      We saw that when Isis destroyed so much art/artifacts in Iraq.😫X
      💋💋

      You are welcome. I adore sharing art!

  15. Those eyes are beautiful, and the baby doll lips , this is a masterpiece.The Albatross generally represents a psychological burden associated with guilt or shame and is an allusion in The Rime of the Ancient mariner. I wonder why they have affixed this to the girl with the rather sad huge eyes. This mural has drawn a lot of attention and I don’t wonder why! Love it.
    xoxoxo

    1. Yes, agree, she’s lovely.
      It’s a terrific mural, and I like the bird.
      Who knows why the girls is holding the bird, but I think albatrosses have a bad rap.
      I do know the Rime… it’s not a fun tale.
      Still, the poor albatross.

      Anyway, I’m also loving the 3 door triptych. That is so cool!
      Okay, I sent in mail my 3 pics of rock stars to draw.
      Send me your 3, before you look at mine!!!
      Let’s see what happens.
      I do have a surprise pick.
      xoxoxoxoxox

        1. Lol!
          Yes.. all are fab!
          So far …in terms of drawing Tyler and Mitchell were intriguing me most.
          But now Ronnie Spector is alluring to draw. The 60’s hair would be cool.
          I need to look at some pics.
          xoxoxoxo

  16. More and more delights from the Painted House.. Love the Garage artwork… I thought A Raven.. for the bird? .
    The three doors another stunning piece..
    But the Glass painted panelled door caught my attention… I thought that was beautiful…

    Sending Love Resa… and thank you for more art discoveries..

    Much love to you xx ❤

    1. Sue!
      It could be a raven.
      Someone did say very Poe or Hitchcock like.

      Many have pointed out the glass panelled door. I think that’s because we can actually see it in out homes, or as a door to the deck.

      You are most welcome, Sue and more art is coming!
      Love back to you! xoxox❦🌹

  17. Awwww this is a delightful post!! The yard may be small but the owner sure made the most of it and made it so pretty! LOVE the glass paned door and that organ, wow! Great find and photos, dear Resa!!

    1. Yeah, it sure was nice in that yard.
      The weather has cooled so I’ve been able to go for more walks, and have found more neat art.

      Okay, busy week ahead for me, and I’m sure for you.
      Be well! 💓❦🌹

    1. The house is torn down now, but I do want to paint something…somewhere.
      Perhaps on the black door, again?
      Anyway, I’m not adept with a spray can, and have been looking at other possible paint options.
      xoxoxo

  20. I’d have been in there with a van taking the lot…. I have old garden tools hanging on trellises on our fence. And some propped up against the wall. I’ve also got some old molder’s tools that were my dads, my grandad’s tailoring iron and an ancient plane tool in the dining room by the fireplace.

    1. That is so cool!
      I love that you see the art value in all that stuff.
      It’s like my Art Gowns… all old stuff.
      Wait til you see the new one! 70% done now.

      1. Cannae wait. Tapping the fingers already. Yeah we have two high fences and a very old high stone Victorian wall. So I put a few trellis on the fence and strung the old tools up there. The wall I did daft things, like cement on old drawer fronts, hang a few pictures and old frames and old brass taps in amongst the ivy. Daft but hey…

  23. This is such fascinating and beautiful artwork, my dear friend. Thank you. I love those beautiful and sad eyes. It looks like there are some “feeling-free experiments” at work!?🤔🤗
    Great post, Resa.🤙🥰🙏

    And I would take the shield “keep off the grass” metaphorically!😉😅💖

  24. Another amazing find and I would really love to play that painted organ…I could see myself playing Emmerson, Lake and Palmer’s version of “Fanfare for the Common Man” on that! Thanks for sharing.

  26. That is an amazing house. A surrealistic house. Did I miss something or what is the story of the house? I saw your previous post, but didn’t catch the story.

    1. There are 5 posts now. I just added a pic with The Painted House as the title, second pic on my side bar. Click on the pic, and it will take you to all of the posts, so far.

        1. No worries! Never worry about blogging.
          I get notices, but sometimes they stop. Then come back.
          OR never come back.
          Sometimes I get ones I didn’t want…

          I just do my best to keep up. xx
          Oh well!

  27. Mmmmm, this scratches my itch, Resa. I love the idea of having an albatross. But I love repurposed stuff even more than that, and this spot is filled with them.

  29. A small tiny house made visible with the beautiful albatross so amazing, Resa.
    Awesome captures and angles with that great face.. so well captured! what’s not to love with these vivid images 💓

    1. Visiting this house was a fun and thrilling day, Cindy. It’s unfortunate it had to be demolished, but at least the artists got to have their way with it, and it was open to the public for 2 weeks viewing. 💓🌟

  30. It still makes me sad that this place doesn’t exist anymore. But so glad that you captured the wonderful artwork. Beautiful woman and bird, Resa, and I love the way the tools became part of the artwork. Thanks for the slide show too. What amazing creativity.

  33. Pingback: Backyard – The Painted House – ADVERTISING OPERATIONS

  34. I am not sure how I missed that you did another painted house post. Anyway, some cool stuff outside. Of course I need a painted (musical instrument) organ like that. Well, maybe like that particular one, but… I do like the garage girl and her grackle. I think that is what it is -the bird is the size of an albatross, but I think looks more like a grackle. Oh well, a real birder would no better than I do. Perhaps the artist is trying to through us all off by painting a figurative albatross…

  36. Dear Resa
    We really admired the fantastic graffiti you found. We wish we could paint as well as that, as we would love to have our fence looking just as fancy.
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    1. Thank you Klausbernd.
      Hunting for street art and special graffiti is a joy in my life.
      Maybe you know some artist who would paint your fence, for the joy of it. You buy the paint. They paint the fence.
      🌹🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        1. Yes, still, I’m happy they let the artists go crazy for a week, and then made it available to the public for 2 weeks.

          It was already scheduled for tear down prior to the artists painting it.
          Anyway, I have it all recorded!

            1. Yeah… agree!
              However, the city doesn’t own that house. It is privately owned.
              Still, it was cool of the people who own the house that is being torn down to let the artists paint it; then to let the public roam through for 2 weekends.
              I’m happy about that.

Comments are closed.