Doris Tillis Says How

This artistic Bransonite lends you her expertise and shares a project everyone can do at home.

(page 1 of 2)

After we met Doris Tillis, it didn’t take us long to discover that she is a ball of energy and a wealth of creative ideas. She is a person of motion; it’s easy to get caught up in her enthusiasm and artistic passion. Through the years, she’s taken innumerable art classes as she raised four children, who are now grown up and starting their own families. As a Nashville transplant, Doris has made Branson her home for the past three years. Starting now, in each issue of 417 Home, Doris will walk us through a differ- ent do-it-yourself project. We’ve enjoyed learning how to create things for our homes, and we hope you do too.

Doris says: “In my personal art journey, after years of classes in painting and sculpture, I wanted to make a piece that was both painted and dimensional. I wanted to be able to enjoy the process and have something you could view from different perspectives in the room. I love wood and its ability to be molded so easily. It truly is a fluid material in a sense, so with that and some materials, you have the art cube. They can be made any size, and they especially make great end tables with a glass top. It’s a dynamite functional piece of art.”

MATERIALS

6 pieces of 1/2-inch plywood, birch or other wood
(Measure the space where you’d like to place the art cube to
determine size. Four pieces should be the same size, and two
should be cut to fit as the top and bottom pieces.)
Hammer
1”x17 wire nails
Saw
Glue
Wood putty
Sandpaper
Gesso or coating of wood primer
Design for cube sides (see step 3)
Paint
Varnish

Step 1: Cut boards to specified size if you didn’t have them cut at the hardware store.
	Nail the pieces together with small finishing nails.
When the block is built, putty the seams with wood putty. Putties may vary, so check the directions for the specified dry time.

Steps 2-4 on next page.