Contributor post by Lisa Congdon
I am so happy today on Collecting Collections to share an interview I did with one of my favorite people, artists and collectors in the world: Trish Grantham. Trish not only collects really unique and interesting objects and art, she also displays them with incredible beauty and grace in her Portland home. I hope very much you enjoy this interview!
Lisa: Hi Trish! We are close friends and I've been to your house a million times, so I know all about your amazing collections. But I was wondering if you could tell our readers about the kinds of things you collect. What are some of your favorite or most interesting collections?
Trish: Yes, as you know, I have loads of collections, and I add to them all the time. I collect squirrels, owls, ships in a bottle, 1950's landscape paintings, small vintage bowls, 30's 40's and 50's bird books, and vintage photos of the sea. My two largest collections are deer and my wall of small art.
Lisa: Wow! You have so many unique and specific collections. When did you start collecting things? How did you start out as a collector?
Trish: I liked putting same things together when I was young, but I didn't start collecting things until I was in my mid-twenties, starting with typewriters. I had 20 or so! I pared that collection down, so now I have 3. That was a heavy collection!
Lisa: What is it that you enjoy about collecting?
Trish: I love vintage things so much. I love the history and energy they hold from hanging out on the earth longer than I have and living in the periods of time I would like to visit. And It is hard to have just one of something! They seem lonely when there is only one.
Lisa: Yes! That is so true. And I love what you said about the energy of old things. I feel it too. So, I've always wondered: Are most of your collections on display in your house? Or do you have any collections that are tucked away somewhere for safe keeping?
Trish: All of my collections are out on display except for my photos by the sea. They are in my medicine cabinet.
Lisa: Where do you find most of the things you collect?
Trish: Lots of them were gifts. About 90% of my deer collection have been gifts from two of my friends. One of my friends started it for me about 11 years ago. But most of my collections have found me. I have been collecting everything at in my house a pretty slow pace. Most of my collections have taken 10-15 years to accumulate. I am in no hurry. And it's nice to add one every few years.
Lisa: I agree! It's fun to take your time and look for just the right pieces. Do you have any tips for beginning collectors?
Lisa: I am with you. I like to see and touch things and I love the challenge of riffling through stuff to find the little gems. So, if money were no object, what would you start collecting tomorrow?
Trish: Art! Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Jean-Michael Basquiat, and Mark Rothko.(50-'s-60's) I would have a billion dollar art collection. Then I would buy paintings from all decades. But those would be the first. Wow how fun would that be!
Lisa: Thank you Trish for sharing your collections with us!
Artist, illustrator
Author, A Collection a Day
Website: www.lisacongdon.com
Blog: www.lisacongdon.com/blog
A Collection a Day: www.collectionaday.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisacongdon
I am so happy today on Collecting Collections to share an interview I did with one of my favorite people, artists and collectors in the world: Trish Grantham. Trish not only collects really unique and interesting objects and art, she also displays them with incredible beauty and grace in her Portland home. I hope very much you enjoy this interview!
Lisa: Hi Trish! We are close friends and I've been to your house a million times, so I know all about your amazing collections. But I was wondering if you could tell our readers about the kinds of things you collect. What are some of your favorite or most interesting collections?
Trish: Yes, as you know, I have loads of collections, and I add to them all the time. I collect squirrels, owls, ships in a bottle, 1950's landscape paintings, small vintage bowls, 30's 40's and 50's bird books, and vintage photos of the sea. My two largest collections are deer and my wall of small art.
Lisa: Wow! You have so many unique and specific collections. When did you start collecting things? How did you start out as a collector?
Trish: I liked putting same things together when I was young, but I didn't start collecting things until I was in my mid-twenties, starting with typewriters. I had 20 or so! I pared that collection down, so now I have 3. That was a heavy collection!
Lisa: What is it that you enjoy about collecting?
Trish: I love vintage things so much. I love the history and energy they hold from hanging out on the earth longer than I have and living in the periods of time I would like to visit. And It is hard to have just one of something! They seem lonely when there is only one.
Lisa: Yes! That is so true. And I love what you said about the energy of old things. I feel it too. So, I've always wondered: Are most of your collections on display in your house? Or do you have any collections that are tucked away somewhere for safe keeping?
Trish: All of my collections are out on display except for my photos by the sea. They are in my medicine cabinet.
Lisa: Where do you find most of the things you collect?
Trish: Lots of them were gifts. About 90% of my deer collection have been gifts from two of my friends. One of my friends started it for me about 11 years ago. But most of my collections have found me. I have been collecting everything at in my house a pretty slow pace. Most of my collections have taken 10-15 years to accumulate. I am in no hurry. And it's nice to add one every few years.
Lisa: I agree! It's fun to take your time and look for just the right pieces. Do you have any tips for beginning collectors?
Trish: I didn't seek out being a collector. It just evolved. If you truly love old things there are a million to collect! Lisa, you have shown that! ! I haven't gone about it this way but I know Etsy and Ebay have it all if you are looking to start somewhere. I'm more the estate sale type.
Lisa: I am with you. I like to see and touch things and I love the challenge of riffling through stuff to find the little gems. So, if money were no object, what would you start collecting tomorrow?
Trish: Art! Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Jean-Michael Basquiat, and Mark Rothko.(50-'s-60's) I would have a billion dollar art collection. Then I would buy paintings from all decades. But those would be the first. Wow how fun would that be!
Lisa: Thank you Trish for sharing your collections with us!
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Lisa CongdonArtist, illustrator
Author, A Collection a Day
Website: www.lisacongdon.com
Blog: www.lisacongdon.com/blog
A Collection a Day: www.collectionaday.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisacongdon
