Shop Talk! with Portland Artist Dietlind Vander Schaaf
We are excited to introduce you to one of Portland’s talented artists and educators, Dietlind Vander Schaaf. We love Dietlind’s art and overall aesthetic. Her workshops happen in various dreamy locations around the world and one day we hope to see you at one of them.
AA: What initially attracted you to angela adams for your project?
DVS: I’ve owned angela adams rugs for 15 years. I think this was my fourth purchase, but definitely my largest. I love the thickness and the bold patterns. They feel excellent underfoot and wear well.
For our living room we were looking for a rug that would work with our existing furniture color-wise, but add some energy to the space. I grew up in Maine and our family spent many summers sailing. My work often explores water as a subject matter and I made a painting years ago that reminded me of this particular rug. When I saw it online, it spoke to me immediately.
AA: As an artist, known for gorgeous encaustic paintings I’m curious if you approach creating your home spaces in a similar way as you paint? What is your process?
DVS: I am very intuitive in the studio and that’s probably true at home as well. Our furniture is almost entirely locally made and our art collection features paintings by primarily Maine-based artists and friends, as well as my partner Kelly, along with a few pieces I’ve picked up during my travels. I am always trying to strike a balance between practicality and visual aesthetics while leaving out whatever isn’t necessary. Lots of neutrals with subtle pops of color and pattern predominate.
In the studio, I try to create paintings that invoke in the viewer that feeling of calm centeredness one might experience after a yoga class. Beauty drives me, but negative space is important so that there is room for the mind to wander.
These days I find myself wanting to work scale up and that can be tricky with encaustic (a beeswax-based paint that requires a heated palette). I’m working on two paintings for my show this summer at Portland Art Gallery that will be my largest to date.
AA: Your model, Shea looks very cozy on our “Spike Pool” rug! You also have a couple cats sharing your space. Tell us about your experience living with animals and angela adams rugs?
DVS: I’ve tried other rugs over the years, but they tend to fall apart. I have found that angela adams rugs are so well made they can take the wear and tear of having four pets. Periodically I take a pair of scissors and snip the sections where some of the wool has been scratched and honestly, it looks as good as new.
Funny story – when I was picking out this particular rug, I brought home two sample squares and placed them on top of our existing rug to see how they would change the look of the room. Our cats immediately made a beeline for the samples, curled up on top of them and fell asleep. They love the thickness of the rugs and the texture. I couldn’t keep them off of them.
AA: What tips would you like to share with others contemplating a new rug for their home?
DVS: I was once in a beautiful home in Friendship, Maine with minimal Scandinavian-inspired furniture. There was very little on the walls and everything was painted in soft neutrals, but in each room was a gorgeous brightly patterned plush area rug. It was as if the floor had become a wall and the rug was a painting. It completely changed the way I thought about rugs. I realized they could go beyond complementing what already was, to activating a space.
For someone contemplating a purchase, I would recommend thinking about what type of emotional tone you are trying to create – are you seeking a calm, quiet vibe like I have in my home office or do you want something that really energizes your living space?
Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with any angela adams rug. They feel delicious under your feet, they hold up over time, and the patterns are classic and elegant.
AA: Thank you, Dietlind for sharing your experience and inspiration with us. Cheers to creative camaraderie!
See more of Dietlind’s work on her website, and on Instagram.