Artist creates hands-on calendar

Tim Lord’s pursuit of art has taken him on unusual journeys, but none quite as unique as his recently completed promotional calendar for Johnston Printing.

Titled “Thumbelina 2007,” the calendar is composed of thumbprints for every day of the year.

Lord set out on a quest to find 365 people willing to have their thumbprints featured on their birth date for this whimsical project. He ended up with 369 thumbprints, including a set of triplets, some twins, and Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession’s and his wife, Jane’s.

“It just came to me,” Lord said of the inspiration for this project. “Thumbprints – birthdays – go get ‘em!”

He and his partner, Mary Gayle Johnson, set up a table at the annual Inland Craft Warnings sale and exhibition in November.

“There was a constant mob at the table,” said Johnson. “People’s reactions have been fun.”

Friends, family and the art show got the project off to a rollicking start, but when the couple got down to the final dozen with the printer’s deadline looming, “We had to get really creative,” said Lord.

From the Blue Spark bar to the Fairwood Retirement Center, they solicited, cajoled and thumbprinted their way to the final birthday, the elusive Nov. 2.

Lord credits graphic designer Carl Heidle with translating his design into a workable computer format.

Persistence isn’t unusual for Lord. He got his start as an artist at a young age in an exotic location.

“I took my first oil painting class in Japan when I was 9 or 10,” he said. His father was stationed there with the military. “I would draw all the time.”

As a young adult, he took art classes at Spokane Falls Community College and graduated with a two-year degree in advertising arts. He established a silk-screen studio at The Crescent department store and worked there until the store closed.

“After The Crescent closed, I moved to Seattle,” he said. “There wasn’t enough art going on in Spokane at the time.”

He made his living doing graphic art and illustrations, but his true passion remained painting.

“I made the best of it,” Lord said, “but it was other people’s stories, and I wanted to paint my own.”

In addition to graphic arts, Lord also worked as an electrician. He painted late into the night and on weekends.

But a birthday milestone became a catalyst for change.

“When I turned 40, I cut off my hair and said, ‘I’m only going to support myself with my art,’ ” Lord recalled.

He moved back to Spokane and was pleased to find an improved art scene.

“There’s a lot of artists showing in a lot of places,” he said. “We still could use more galleries and venues to reflect local interest in the arts.”

Lord’s latest painting perches on an easel in his Peaceful Valley apartment/studio. Its title is taken from a quote by Marianne Williamson: “It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

Three skulls tell the story of past, present and future. Painted in deep color and vibrant tones in acrylic on canvas, the work and its title compel the viewer to explore its meaning.

It will go on display at the Northwest Musueum of Arts and Culture on March 17 as part of the 22nd annual Works from the Heart exhibition and auction. The auction is planned for April 14.

Lord’s apartment/studio is a visual wonderland filled with tramp art boxes, stuffed crows draped with pearls, and urns and wooden boxes that overflow with pennies.

“I never spend a penny,” he says with a grin.

The artist says he finds his inspiration in life and all its situations. He’s constantly imagining and envisioning his next work.

Who knows? Those thumbprints may appear in a new form.

“The stories just come,” he said.