Scoop-Back Chair by Julia Rothman

To help launch her book Design*Sponge at Home, Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge selected artists and crafters to customize west elm products to be auctioned off to benefit the New York Public Library. Each of the designers gave their own stamp of style to the various pieces that were auctioned on 9/13. Here is the one-of-a-kind design from Julia Rothman…

Julia Rothman has illustrated books, bed linens, wallpaper, fabric, ceramics, subway advertisements and much more — she is the illustrator behind all of the Design*Sponge book event invitations! She is part of the award-winning design company ALSO and has a popular blog about beautiful art books called Book By Its Cover.

Julia worked with west elm’s Scoop-Back Dining Chair — one of our basic bentwood chairs that we offer in a variety of colors and patterns. Julie started with a white lacquered chair and with just a Sharpie permanent marker drew an elaborate pattern all over the bentwood surface.

Julia liked to work on her chair in the evening while she watched TV — the bulk of the time was spent drawing with the marker. After that step was complete, she painted in the various shapes in her pattern with 3 colors of acrylic paint — pink, gold + butterscotch. Julia estimates that it took about 20 hours to complete the chair.