Art + Interiors: Berry Punch [Richard Mayhew]

Today I am loving the vibrant expressionist landscapes of African-American artist Richard Mayhew. After seeing this piece, 'Rhapsody' in person at the De Young Museum in San Fransisco I knew I had to have more. The vivid colors pack quite a bit of punch and are not easy to miss. The heavy application of color upon color, the vast range of values and the complimentary palettes (orange and blue, red and purple) make these paintings emotionally charged and incredibly substantial. I love the way the trees silhouetted against their rich skies seem to vibrate with life. They emit the feeling of nature's energy and its connection to us all.

"I paint the essence of nature, always seeking the unique spiritual mood of the landscape" -Richard Mayhew

live in it...

 

Chair via Jonathan Adler , Lamp via abc home , End table via Neiman Marcus, Table via West Elm, Pillow and Rug via Madeline Weinrib



 I loved pulling from the highly saturated jewel tones in Mayhew's work to bring that same drama to a space. Not only would you never feel cold in this palette but the berry pinks are flattering to any complexion. And how much would you love to curl up in that bright orange tufted chair for a catch-up session with one of your closest friends? Enjoy! 

And a couple designers who know how to amp up the palette the right way are none other than the one and only Kelly Wearstler... 

And Marjorie Skouras...



Art + Interiors: Textile Luxury...

Often in life we have to learn from the past to be able to look forward. ,In the same way, a lot can be taken from traditional art forms as well and given a fresh look they can be breathtaking. This tradition Indian Karuppur textile does just that. The brilliance of  the rich red dye the golden thread gives a feeling of decadence to an organic form. And it is quite fitting as the textiles were often gifted as dresses of honor in the late eighteenth century. Even more inspiring is the hand work that went into each stitch of a piece like this, undergoing a meticulous process of weaving and dying. The result is something so delicately stunning, I'm in love...

Live in it...

from top...table via http://www.irisfurnishings.com/. wall decor via http://www.arteriorshome.com/. end table via http://www.arteriorshome.com/. bedding via http://www.johnrobshaw.com/. antique red glassware. tea set http://www.anthropologie.com/. end table http://www.marjorieskourasdesign.com/. rug via http://www.abchome.com/

I love the idea of fusing a look of well traveled tradition with modern glamour and these pieces do just that. The Karuppur textile makes me want to put a modern golden end table atop a traditionally woven rug. And with the most powerful colors surrounding you how could you not feel like

 nobility? Enjoy!



Art + Interiors: Emerald and Sapphire Decadence

"I feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore"-O'Keeffe

I have said it before and I will say it again, I love strong-willed women and Georgia O'keeffe fits the bill. She pushed the envelope with her bold abstractions and was no stranger to criticism by any means. But her paintings were extensions of herself, she painted to express rather than to impress. Though she became well known for her large close-ups of flowers, I tend personally to be more drawn to her abstract works, especially these in beautiful Sapphire blues and emerald greens.

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I could not say any other way-things I had no words for." -Georgia O'Keeffe

"I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at, not copy it"-Georgia O'Keeffe

Live in it...

I am absolutely lusting over these rich, decadent pieces by Marjorie Skouras. They have the same bold, saturated feel of the O'Keeffe pieces and yet they are so innately feminine. Add this gold and malachite end table to a seating area for and extra pop of glamour or amp up an old dresser by replacing it's knobs with these in jewel colored stones, instant decadence!