Life & time
Lauri Seghetti’s license plate reads MAKTIME, and that’s just what this talented interior designer does. Seghetti creates hand-painted limited edition works of art, which also function as timepieces. Each clock is signed and dated.
The self-taught artist says creating these clocks requires her to step out of her comfort zone. Not only has she never had any formal art training, but the math component of calibrated clock movement was daunting.
“I’ve learned to embrace the imperfection and let go of what’s not perfect,” she said. Seghetti runs the company from her home office north of Spokane. Using red as a base color, she faux painted taupe and tan paint on the office walls, giving them a leathery look. The warm cranberry color makes an intentional statement. “I decided that walking into my office every day would remind me to be strong and determined to face the day’s situations,” she said. An unfinished mural arching above the entry to the office reminds Seghetti that there’s always more to do.
Seghetti chose mahogany office furniture to complement the strong color of the room, and angled her desk to the door to get the best use of the square footage.
“It’s important to me to have a comfortable space to work in that is also warm, interesting and inviting as I meet with people,” she said.
Seghetti hand paints her designs on a thin wood board, similar to plywood, using acrylic paints.
“I map it all out in my mind,” she said.
Once the original is finished she uses a unique process to create the reproduction similar to giclee printing. The print is applied to canvas, rather than paper. The precision of the process is so detailed it’s difficult to determine which is the original and which is a reproduction.
Seghitti’s company currently offers 14 clock designs in a wide variety of sizes. Her most popular design is the Tree of Life.
Commissioned by a couple who owned a Christian bookstore and coffeehouse, the three-dimensional timepiece took two years to create. Water seems to glisten from the tree, which grows out of a stone foundation. Seghetti used Sheetrock mud to create the rocks. Green leaves spring from most branches, but some are barren. Small bunches of fruit peek between the leaves.
“This clock is bigger than me,” she says. “It’s truly a God thing. It was his hand on my hand. I feel I was a vehicle. It’s not about me at all.”
As she painted, Seghetti was inspired to include seven hidden messages within the tree’s branches. The clock was hung in a California coffeehouse and Seghetti has heard that customers have found as many as 21 messages. It seems to speak to people in ways the artist never imagined.
She plans to write a book about the creation of the Tree of Life clock. In the future, she’ll be introducing a series of framed clocks as well as two-dimensional paintings. Seghetti balances the clock business, work as an interior designer for Artios Home and motherhood.
“Time efficiency became a big deal,” she said.
In 2001 that struggle inspired her son, Damiano to come up with the perfect name for his mother’s new business: Never Enough Time.