(Jan. 5, 2017) Though there hasn’t been so much as a single fallen flake of snow on the shore yet, Snow Hill’s downtown is teeming with snowmen.
They’re the work of Olga Deshields, who initially was hired by the town to dress up a vacant downtown building’s windows, and then the idea caught on and expanded to just about everywhere downtown.
Deshields, a substitute teacher at Snow Hill Elementary and Snow Hill Middle schools, learned about window painting from a friend, Barbara Dougherty, who used to own the American Art Gallery downtown. Dougherty passed away in early 2015.
“She taught me a lot, and painting windows was just one of them. We discussed doing more in Snow Hill, but it never took off until now,” Deshields said.
Deshields, originally from Russia, said she enjoys the painting itself more than anything.
“For a couple of weeks in the beginning of December, I painted every day — I haven’t done that in a long time. A job is a job but getting money for what you want to do is priceless — if others enjoy it, that’s just icing on the cake,” she said.
Her process is relatively simple. Deshields said she would meet and discuss with the shop owners what they might like painted on their windows first. This step was important, because while the decorations were nice additions that added to the spirit of the town, the shops still needed to use window space to display their wares.
“Everyone’s been very easy to work with, and for the most part, let me do what I wanted. So far, everyone likes it, which I find satisfying, and it brings something different to the town,” Deshields said.
The paintings took between 20 minutes to between two to three hours, she explained, depending on the idea and scope of the work.
“The windows were all freehand, with some images coming from things I’d seen on the Internet or details from different places. I don’t have much professional experience, but I always doodled as a kid,” she said.
Deshields said she hopes she can go on painting the town forever.
“Snowmen aren’t tightly knit with Christmas, so they can stay up for a while. I hope I get to do it again next Christmas but there’s nothing set so far,” she said.
One shop has booked a new painting for Valentine’s Day, and Deshields said she’s happy to help when it comes time to take the paintings down.
“I just want to thank the town and the business owners who allowed me to make this happen.”
They’re the work of Olga Deshields, who initially was hired by the town to dress up a vacant downtown building’s windows, and then the idea caught on and expanded to just about everywhere downtown.
Deshields, a substitute teacher at Snow Hill Elementary and Snow Hill Middle schools, learned about window painting from a friend, Barbara Dougherty, who used to own the American Art Gallery downtown. Dougherty passed away in early 2015.
“She taught me a lot, and painting windows was just one of them. We discussed doing more in Snow Hill, but it never took off until now,” Deshields said.
Deshields, originally from Russia, said she enjoys the painting itself more than anything.
“For a couple of weeks in the beginning of December, I painted every day — I haven’t done that in a long time. A job is a job but getting money for what you want to do is priceless — if others enjoy it, that’s just icing on the cake,” she said.
Her process is relatively simple. Deshields said she would meet and discuss with the shop owners what they might like painted on their windows first. This step was important, because while the decorations were nice additions that added to the spirit of the town, the shops still needed to use window space to display their wares.
“Everyone’s been very easy to work with, and for the most part, let me do what I wanted. So far, everyone likes it, which I find satisfying, and it brings something different to the town,” Deshields said.
The paintings took between 20 minutes to between two to three hours, she explained, depending on the idea and scope of the work.
“The windows were all freehand, with some images coming from things I’d seen on the Internet or details from different places. I don’t have much professional experience, but I always doodled as a kid,” she said.
Deshields said she hopes she can go on painting the town forever.
“Snowmen aren’t tightly knit with Christmas, so they can stay up for a while. I hope I get to do it again next Christmas but there’s nothing set so far,” she said.
One shop has booked a new painting for Valentine’s Day, and Deshields said she’s happy to help when it comes time to take the paintings down.
“I just want to thank the town and the business owners who allowed me to make this happen.”