Ralph Home is our second book project with artist Cindy Owings. What you see below are prepublication layouts. Our first book project is The Purple Blanket, which tells the tale of Cindy's 23-year journey as a Bozeman-based wool coat and home goods designer (link).
Our contribution: We are designing the book cover and interior, and collaborating with the author on the book description (below) and publisher submissions.
Coffee Table Book Layout & Description
Book Description (a sample of our writing)
Cindy Owings, the legendary Bozeman textile designer and author of The Purple Blanket, is developing her third book, Ralph Home. In Ralph Home, Cindy invites the viewer to consider the deeper essence of objects as her still-life paintings hum the tune of culture, the craftsman, and her love for the antique dealer that kept these heritage stories alive. So what inherent essence might a piece of hand-crafted furniture or a decorative object carry?
Usefulness. Comfort. Whimsy. Care. Beauty. Sorrow. Traditions. Wonder. Love.
Ralph Home features bright watercolor paintings and cherished anecdotes of the objects Cindy purchased from Ralph McHenry at his Four Corners Antiques shop and later his Montana Expressions showroom in Bozeman, Montana. Cindy collected items from Ralph for over 40 years. Through this patronage, they developed a deep friendship founded on a shared aesthetic. Upon hearing of Ralph’s passing in 2022, Cindy walked around her home and touched every piece that spoke to her of him. Inspired to honor Ralph and to keep his shared stories alive, Cindy painted these objects as they live in her home today. As always, Cindy weaves her vast understanding of old-world craft traditions and rural cultures into her art in a modern way.