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Is your cup half full?
I can’t wait to head over to Eva Breuer Gallery this weekend and have a look at the exhibition of works by Rosemary Valadon.
The exhibition is called Euphoria ; The Tea Party and the paintings look fantastic. Beautiful vintage tea cups and saucers with tea and blossoms and lemon and spoons.
Makes you want to sit down and have a cuppa right now.
I would like a set of four to place in the casual dining room or perhaps one of the tablescapes in the dining room.
Decisions, decisions!
Wishing You A Colourful Weekend
"High Country" by Dulcie Clegg - Watercolour on Yuppo Paper
If you’re in Sydney’s North Shore tomorrow, drop into Roseville Public School’s Fair. They are having an Art Show as well and I have just delivered four of Mum’s paintings to the organisers.
"Tumbling Peonies" by Dulcie Clegg - Watercolour on paper
Hope they have good weather and a successful Fair.
by Gianluca Neri on Flickr
Whatever you get up to this weekend, enjoy.
Aussie Back Yards
Wall Mural by Emma Burmeister
I loved this image when I saw it in a recent Australian House and Garden. This small house in Melbourne has virtually no outdoor living area other than the courtyard. So mural artist Emma Burmeister was called in to give the family what nearly every other Aussie family has (or wants) – a Hills Hoist (for drying clothes, there’s nothing like it), a weber barbeque for the snags (sausages), a sprinkler (not used so much these days in view of the drought), a backyard cricket set and Dad has a beloved Victa motor mower. The quirkiness of the image appeals to me, it would make me smile every time I stepped outside.
Art For Art’s Sake
One of the last things I’m often asked to advise on when working with a client, is their art. Not so much which type of are, but rather which part of the wall should the piece be placed. It’s usually the last thing that goes up and marks those freshly painted or renovated walls so I understand the trepidation felt.
The most important aspect of hanging art is to make sure the centre of the artwork is at eye level. This is so the average person can peer straight into the painting. Those of us that are vertically challenged need to take this into consideration and take it up a few centimetres. However as we all know, rules were meant to be broken.
Artworks from Floor To Ceiling
Another great tip for hanging art is to hang a large piece off centre and group two or more smaller pieces to one side, rather than on either side.
Arrange clusters of separately framed photos, rather than multiple photos in one frame.
As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and this should be kept in mind when you are buying art for your own home. What appeals to you will not necessarily appeal to everyone, but if you are living with your piece then it must have some meaning to you. It should evoke a memory such as something you have purchased on a holiday, or it should tell a story like a historical piece or it should get you thinking.
Shell Money from Solomon Islands
These were my daughter's baby shoes. Too cute for hand me downs.
I don’t think a house looks lived in until there are pieces on the wall. It doesn’t have to be expensive artworks (although my artist Mother would say this is a good option). Think outside the frame and consider other options for decorating the walls.
Plate wall by Lisa Congdon
Hall of Mirrors
Framed
If you were styling your home for sale, then that’s the time to purchase or rent artwork that sits well with the decor. The subject matter at this time should be fairly neutral too. It’s amazing that some people just can’t see past what’s in front of them and an “out there” artwork may detract from the reason these people are in your home in the first place.
So this weekend, have a look at what’s hanging on your walls and maybe change things around or put up new items. Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend.
Rug Up at Government House
Government House, Sydney
Last night I attended the Rug Up Design Forum which was held in the Grand Ballroom of Government House. What a magnificent building. I’ve lived in Sydney for 7 years and never visited this Historic House. Australia is only 200 years old and you forget we do have some beautiful old buildings. I have just finished reading The Secret River by Kate Grenville which is a fictional novel following the journey of one of the early settlers of the Hawkesbury River just north of Sydney. It was interesting to have that insight into Sydney’s early days and then be standing on this historic spot.
Drinks in the arcade
The panel on the design forum included Yosi Tal from Designer Rugs, Akira Isogawa, Fashion Designer, Liane Rossler from Dinosaur Designs, Julie Patterson of Cloth Fabric and Harold Luke of Whitecliffe Imports. Lead by Neale Whittaker from Belle Magazine the panel discussed the art and romance of rugs.
Designer Rugs started in 1986 when no-one was making rugs in Australia. In 2005 they ran a fundraising event to design a rug with the funds going towards the charity Camp Quality. This was a very successful event and showcased Australian Designers. From there, the idea to ask Australian Designers to collaborate on rug designs evolved with each of the three designers on the panel having a collection of rugs manufactured by Designer Rugs.
Cloth Rug on Display at Government House
It was interesting to hear where these designers fine the inspiration for their designs and how they then translate them to their respective products and now rugs. The common challenge each of them find is working on such a large scale as a 2m x 3m rug and handing their designs over to other people to produce. They all consider themselves part of a cottage industry and are all very “hands-on” with their designs, manufacturing and marketing. Liane called the rugs, jewellery for the home and I liked that.
Akira Rug on display at Government House
One thing that was evident from this conversation was that each of the designers are passionate and dedicated about their work. Julie likened her creativity to a stock. You put all the good ingredients in and keep it simmering away until you are ready to cook. Liane said the most important thing is to have contentment and enjoyment in what you do, any success that comes along is a bonus. Akira said his challenge is to keep inspired and passionate.
It was wonderful to hear these amazing people and have a little insight into their thought process. Designer Rugs has done a wonderful job of blurring boundaries and bringing fashion, design and art together.
Bentwood Chairs at Saturday in Design
Bentwood Chairs at Saturday in Design
One of the projects going on in conjunction with Saturday in Design was redesigning the Bentwood Chair. James Richardson Group supplies the industry with a range of chairs and other seating mainly from Europe and the Czech Republic and is the largest supplier of Bentwood Chairs in the Southern Hemisphere. There was this great teaser at one of the locations which convinced us to visit the showroom where the contestants were on show.
All the chairs were amazing and so different from each other. We had the opportunity to vote for our favourite.
Which one would have received your vote?
Life’s Journey
I have long been an admirer of paintings by Margaret Olley and as I learnt more about this remarkable grand dame I liked her style even more. So when I read that the S H Ervin Gallery in Sydney was host to a touring exhibition of her work I HAD to go and take a look.
Margaret Olley sketching in Newcastle in 1965
The blurb says that this exhibition “provides an insight into the world around Margaret Olley from the early 1950′s to the the 1970′s”. The watercolours and pen and ink studies on display (which are essentially her travel notes) show scenes of her home town of Brisbane (also mine), Paris, New Guinea, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Venice and Sydney. It is remarkable to think that the then 25 year old travelled the world in 1949 – a very different world than the one I have seen. It was only 2 years since World War II ended.
Brisbane River by Margaret Olley
Better known for her Still Life paintings, these artworks easily show her eye for detail, colour and everyday scenes. Her first trip abroad to London and Paris in 1949 was the beginning of a life-long romance with travel, of visiting museums, paying homage to great art and of exploring cities and cultures of countries throughout the world.
Port Marseille by Margaret Olley
I recommend you visit the gallery before 28th June to view these seldom seen paintings. The exhibition then moves to the Newcastle Regional Gallery and will be on display from 15 August – 26 Ocotber 2009.
