The Many Shades of White // in Art and Interiors

March is a month of transition. We are tired of the cold, and the flat colors of winter, grays and browns. We're waiting expectantly for spring to arrive, and with it the beautiful colors of the season. Before we get there, I have been thinking of white, and its many shades. White is associated with light, freshness and new beginnings. As we anxiously wait for the new season to arrive, a look at white and how neutral artwork looks great in a variety of interiors, especially as part of an all-white decor, layered with texture, fabrics and variations of color.

During the winter, it's always refreshing to wear or see someone in shades of white. Winter white is a warm color, with yellow undertones. There is an elegance to white clothing, especially in contrast to the black, or dark clothes we usually wear in the fall and winter months. A preview of classic winter whites from Ralph Lauren’s new Fall 2015 collection

I recently read on GOOP about the redesign of Gwyneth Paltrow’s music room in her Hamptons home by designer Windsor Smith, and loved this white room. It works  beautifully because of the crisp dark contrasts and layers of color, including the abstract painting.

The crossover between fashion, interiors and art is particularly clear with color trends. Windsor Smith Interiors puts together inspiring collages on Instagram showing the parallels and influence across the different disciplines. The clarity of white has always appealed to modernist artists, from Mondrian to Barnett Newman, and also to architects, from Le Corbusier to Richard Meier. I loved this recent Instagram post, classic architecture paired with a new sculptural design from Prada.

The beauty of white in the various arts is that you can create interest and complexity by using different shades together to create an interesting neutral color scheme. The hues and intensity of a white vary depending on how much of other colors, red, yellow, grey are in it, from cool and crisp white, to warm beige, ivory, linen, cream, vanilla and more. In a recent article, The Insiders Guide to Decorating with White, in Country Living Magazine, I read that Benjamin Moore offers over 200 shades of white.

Various interior designers discussed their preference for using white, from paint to furnishings to artwork. Darryl Carter said, "White rooms are more complex than they appear, because there are no distractions. Every choice becomes critical.” This white room is warm, especially complimented by natural woods and the addition of an all-white artwork

Designer Suzanne Kasler says its her “liberal use of ivories and creams — plus loads of natural texture” that gives her classic rooms their casual, contemporary appeal. Her home is all whites and natural colors. The design and layout of the collection of artworks by Kris Ruhs add pattern and interest to the neutral living room.I have collected a number of all-white rooms, many with tonal white artwork on my "White" Pinterest board. The style, look and color white of these rooms vary. From this crisp contemporary white room by Eric Cohler accented by warm woods with a large scale white painting

to designer Jill Stuarts’ cool sleek bedroom, with a large modern painting, White on White, by Julie Olitski

to Vicente Wolf’s dining room with a mix of materials and whites, complimented by a sculptural triptych of white artworks which adds depth to the space

RE photographer Shelli Breidenbach’s large scale Abstract Shells are the visual centerpiece in this yachts stunning interiors

The color white is versatile, it's many shades, from warm to cool, can vary and change the mood of a room, whether in the paint color, fabrics, accessories or art. White artwork, with nuances of color, texture or pattern, beautifully compliments and enhances a white palette. The large scale plaster bas relief by artist Mark Beard in this tonal room by Victoria Hagan brings a quiet drama to the elegant space.

Here is our selection of RE artworks in the many shades of white. These can be the starting point in creating a personalized white on white space. Photographer Barbara Erdmann creates graphic images by capturing patterns in nature.  Mesh looks great alone or is striking when used as a diptych or triptych, with it's varying shades of whites and beige

Another of Breidenbach's Abstract Shells, No. 3, these graphic images work as a grouping, as in the yacht, or alone

Artist Andrea Bonfils' underwater photographs have an ethereal quality, especially Joy, of a woman floating in a diaphanous white dress. Installed by the artist at her clients' light and airy white home

In Winters Dream, artist Kerri Rosenthal captures the nuances of whites in her abstract snowy landscape

For horse lovers, Shelli Breidenbach's portrait of Flamissy would be a great addition to a room with the contrast of warm woods and natural fabrics

The beautiful serenity of the sea and sky in Stefan Radtke's Sound Portrait #1, with its subtle gradations of cool color, would be the perfect beginning for a quiet peaceful room

I look forward to the transition to a more colorful season, and the natural beauty of the grasses, trees and flowers that will (hopefully) soon be blooming. Color is always an option in the coming months or you can opt for white on white, even in flowers, as in Morning Blooms, by Kerri Rosenthal

Looking forward to the change of season and color...happy (almost) spring!

Living with Art // Loving Pinks & Reds

Valentine’s Day celebrates love. The day is closely associated with the color red, from soft pinks, rose to hot magenta to classic red. Why is that? The color red says passion, energy and love and the softer hues from pink, to rose and deeper are closely related but in a gentler way. Artworks in these ranges of colors are the same, they can provide a hint of warmth or speak loudly and carry a room. Here are some examples of how a variety of artworks in the red spectrum can have a beautiful and strong impact in interiors. Flare Series ll, by RE artist Anne Raymond,

Pure red makes a big statement. I have written about the meaning of red and the energy it conveys. Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko is identified with his many red paintings, recent sales have broken records. The TV show Mad Men is closely identified with how it represents the style and design of its period. This fun illustration places one of Rothko's iconic paintings of the 50's on the show's set.

RE Artist Andrea Bonfils took her cue from these works in her layered encaustic painting, Rothko Pink Window.

This large scale red painting brings contrast and drama to the quiet, elegant furnishings in this Texas home, in Luxe Magazine.

Interior designer Jennifer Post uses the painting's color and composition as a focal point in this soft blue and white modern bedroom

Fashion designer Lisa Perry’s homes have the same 60’s vibe as her modern, pop-inspired clothing. Primary colors, an integral part of the sixties are echoed in “The Beach House",  her Hamptons home. The two red paintings are by Ed Moses, along with a Damien Hirst dot painting.Outside Perry's home, The Rings, by Zhu Jishi, appear to be rolling around the lawn.

In these two kitchens, the red and white artworks bring pattern and warmth to the minimal interiors. Designer Joe Mimram’s NYC apt, with artwork by Ohad Memory,

and this playful abstract canvas,

RE Artist Claudia Mengel has a wonderful sensibility for color, her artworks, whether quiet or strong use unexpected color combinations that create a beautiful harmony. Red,

RE Photographer Shelli Breidenbach contrasts strong background color with the regal portraits of her horses, Noblesse,

This stunning living room by Steven Gambrel was recently featured in Architectural Digest. He incorporates a stunning modern art collection into the rooms with an eclectic mx of furnishings. Cecily Brown’s large scale painting filled with pinks and reds presides over the elegant and layered grey living room.

 Another project by Gambrel uses red in an unexpected way. The hallway gallery of red frames makes a great visual statement.

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler is known for boldly mixing color and pattern in projects. In her office, she creates a strong but feminine mix with hot pink chairs and a striking large-scale painting by Lana Gomez.

Pinks are present in RE photographer's Stefan Radtke’s new First Light Collection. The images capture the striking colors of winter's early morning light on the water.

The Drippy Heart Series by RE artist Kerri Rosenthal's has brought smiles to a number of clients. This heart installation takes on another look, sweet and youthful in ballerina pink for a young NYC girl.

Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without flowers. Artists interpret them in a myriad of ways. RE artist Deborah Falls’ classic paintings on silks represent the incredible varieties and colors. The Red Clematis

The Red Tulip

"Toning down the passion of red with the purity of white results in the softer pinks that are associated with romance and the blush of a young woman’s cheeks", according to Kate Smith of Sensational Color. In addition, she notes, pink is "the color of happiness", the lighthearted color is the 'go-to' choice for flowers. RE Artist Mary Morant paints a variety of traditional and impressionistic florals. Here Pink Roses, are captured on canvas as a special memory of a bride's wedding bouquet.

From the Submerged Garden Series, by RE's Andrea Bonfils, a long-stemmed rose.

A striking installation from the same series,

An abstract floral, Suburban Jungle Pink, by RE's Kerri Rosenthal

And pop art, by Alex Katz, Red Roses with Blue

From pink to red, modern to pop, abstract to traditional, artworks in this range of colors can suit different tastes and interior styles. They can provide color, warmth, and energy. Fill your home, like your life, with artworks that bring you joy and love.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Warm Happy Holidays // Art Inspired by Nature

“Great art picks up where nature ends.”  - Marc Chagall Art is a visual creative expression of an artist’s moods, feelings, experiences. Interesting how so often it reflects the beauty of what they see and then capture around them. I often reference the influence of nature on the various work of many artists. These select artworks reflect a few artists’ interpretations of nature, their wintry blues and browns touched with gold accents - they feel like the holiday and winter season - filled with warmth, family, friends and some holiday sparkle!

When I saw this photo recently of a jaguar in photographer Shelli Breidenbach’s home, I was drawn to the graphic and stunning image. Shelli captured the animal, its movement and its beauty. Aztec is from Breidenbach’s Big Game series.

It made me think about how animal prints have been used in fashion and home decor for a long time, a bit of a zebra or leopard pattern make a strong visual statement. This began in the 18th century when Europeans brought back exotic skins  as trophies while they were colonizing Africa and Asia. They remained a status symbol of sorts. The brown, black and white patterns, created from nature easily blend with all styles. I recently browsed through many Pinterest boards, here is one by interior designer Carolyn Williams filled with great pics from fashion and decor.

This is a more serene image, of an abstract sunset from John Duckworth’s Landscape Series. Duckworth’s “photographs are infused with an intimate knowledge of nature, a passion for pure color, and a rhythm drawn from life itself.” His images of the South Carolina coast have a universal appeal.

There has been much interest recently in abstract land and seascapes, as they bring nature inside in a way that is familiar, easy and calming.

Kerri Rosenthal’s abstract paintings reflect the artist’s here and now, she is always adding new work to her different series.  Kerri gives names to her work that lets the viewer into her world, one that’s informed by many stylistic viewpoints, from art, to fashion to decor to nature. A recent series is all about the season, Winter Chic, 40"x40"

and Winters Dream, 48"x48"

Artist Andrea Bonfils recently introduced the Submerged Garden Series. This is an extension of her underwater photography and mixed media work. In her previous series, she captured people, their movement and forms through water. She is now exploring the color and shape of flowers and the way they transition from crisp to blurred under the water line. Blue Hydrangeas 

The images are stunning when printed large and mounted in plexi as in a recent installation.

In photographer Barbara Erdmann’s Abstract Series, she focuses on the repetitive patterns she finds in nature. This graphic image, Hubris, brings back memories of pulling dandelion weeds from the ground, making a wish, and blowing it through the summer air.

Wishing you a happy, healthy holiday season filled with warmth & sparkle...and hoping your wishes for the season and the new year all come true!

Orange // & the Natural Beauty of Fall

It's been a spectacular fall, the weather and the colors of this season seem far more intense than in recent years. The natural beauty has been the topic of many conversations, Instagram pics and Facebook posts recently, so before it’s gone, I want to share some thoughts on the colors, and the beauty of autumn. Artist Andrea Bonfils captures the season's colors and texture in a combination of oil and encaustic wax. Falling Leaves, from her Nature in Wax Collection,

Orange is the color mostly associated with fall, mixed with the many hues of yellows, to golds to browns. A recent Sunday morning walk revealed all of these colors, contrasted with the incredible rich colors and reflections in the lake at a friend’s picturesque Northern Westchester home

Artists have always been inspired to capture this natural beauty.  I love how Wolf Kahn expresses nature in his work, Orchard Patch is his view of fall,

Orange is named for the fruit, but has come to mean many things, different in various cultures. In a recent yoga class, my yogi talked about the 2nd chakra, as the source of creativity. In another breath, she, like so many of my friends referenced the incredible colors around her during her morning walk, "there is orange everywhere -- like the trees are on fire"

Many Masters have been known for their use of orange, among them Gaugin, van Gogh and here is Venice Twilight, by Monet

Octave is one of  Anne Raymond's orange canvases, inspired by the natural colors near her Hamptons home,

Color consultant and Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, explained the choice of orange last year as Pantone’s Color of the Year 2012, as “a spirited reddish orange...continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.” Orange feels that way, it has energy.

I have described Kerri Rosenthal's color-filled paintings as happy and full of life  - an example is Nice 2

It's a classic color, it works as a beautiful contrast to quieter shades. Orange has become syononomous with the luxury retailer, Hermes.

A search of "Hermes Orange" brought up 62,110 posts on the home decoration and renovation site Houzz!

Orange as a fashion statement  has found its way into popular culture this season. The name of the new series, “Orange is the New Black”  has started a marketing trend, being used as a reference in interior design and fashion and I imagine in other fields as well.

In the NYTimes Style section last month, Bill Cunningham captured Le Grande Orange

Elle Decor referenced it recently, about the a pair of vintage Italian armchairs upholstered in pumpkin orange leather, in designer Cynthia Frank's Southampton home

And of course, this week is Halloween...a celebration of fun and scary things, all in orange and black. Feng Shui, attributes orange and black used together for the holiday because they are on the opposite ends of the energy spectrum. “Orange is a very lively and happy color, the color of fall bounty and the warmth of fire, it is often called the ‘social color’. Whereas black reflects mystery and void, the color of a space with no beginning and no end, filled with mystery, it holds the energy of power and protection.”

Photographer Elisa Keogh captures this contrast in Norwalk, CT orange-black,

and how fun is Tiffany’s "Spooktacular" wink in this past Sunday's NYTimes?

The leaves are starting to fall, it ‘s time, it was a beautiful and long fall season, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did...

Happy Halloween!

Color // The Power of Red

Red is an emotional color. It elicits feelings, both positive and negative, depending upon its context. Last year, I wrote a blog in February about the color red in art & design and why it has become associated with Valentine's Day. When I began thinking about it recently and if and how I might add to this, I found red was present in many places other than art. It prompted me to think about what else elicits emotion. Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko's "No.1 (Royal Red & Blue)" sold in November 2012 for $75 million at a record-setting Sotheby's contemporary art auction. The NY Times reported that as the bidding was escalating, the dealers described this painting as having "wall power" - as in, it is large, and has presence, a result of the strong color and composition, and thus fetched a significant price.

Leatrice Eiseman, a color specialist, is an "international color guru". She works with color consultant Pantone, and with companies worldwide offering advice on how color can affect their brands. Eiseman says, "People love red".  In her book, "Colors for Your Every Mood", she writes that red evokes a physiological reaction. And since it is believed to promote passion, it's an obvious choice for the bedroom. Red is perceived as the most sensual of all colors and, as the saying goes, 'sex sells.'

Diana Vreeland, the larger than life fashion editor of Harpers Bazaar, Vogue and then Creative Consultant to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum said, "Red is the great clarifier - bright, cleansing, revealing. It makes all colors beautiful. I can't imagine being bored with it ... I wanted this apartment to be a garden - but it had to be a garden in hell."

Vreeland in her  multi-patterned living room, with layers of red,  her "garden of hell",  photographed by Horst P. Horst

Editor Pamela Fiori recently wrote in Harper's Bazaar about Richard Avedon and his muse, Audrey Hepburn. This photo was one of his many photographs during his collaboration with Vreeland.

The passion of red extends to other fields, including sports...and this was very apparent to me recently. At a Super Bowl party last week, a kitchen conversation, away from the TV's and the game, turned to politics, Michelle Obama and her fashion choices. There was a sharp divide on the subject of the Jason Wu flowing red organza gown she wore to the Inaugural Balls. Was it a good color for her, was it too strong, was it elegant, did she look better in white four years ago?  My opinion: I thought she looked beautiful and regal in red!

And then the sports teams themselves. This past week with football season over, my family turned its focus to Big Ten college basketball. I began to notice the red and white uniforms. First, of the Indiana Hoosiers (my son's team, so a family favorite!) then, the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes. Really, once you start looking, there's a long list of teams with red in their uniforms, from college to the pros.

National Geographic reported a study by anthropologists on the power and benefits of red in sports. It stated that, "when opponents of a game are equally matched, the team dressed in red is more likely to win."  It went on, "Across a range of sports, we find that wearing red is consistently associated with a higher probability of winning."  The feeling is that there is an intuitive, but not conscious, aspect to seeing the benefits of the strong color.

In art, color theorist Josef Albers series, Homage to the Square, he explored chromatic interaction of nesting squares. One of  his red studies

I'm a fan of the strong canvases of several artists that I work with;

Attraction, by Xanda McCagg - with an evocative name

Random Red, by  Andrea Bonfils - created with layers of encaustic wax

Cirrus Cadmium ll, by Anne Raymond - named for the red pigment

In interiors, color is used sparingly as an accent or in large doses to fill the room. Designer Jennifer Post, known for her minimalist interiors, often punctuates a space with bright color

Architectural Digest recently featured the LA home of Maroon 5's Adam Levine, beautifully filled with an art collection and mid-century furnishings. Designer Mark Haddaway used a combination of reds, from the deep rich hue of the drapes, to the pattern of the rug to accent the masculine bedroom. The oversized bright red tufted red ottoman is the visual centerpiece

Miles Redd is known for his bold use of color and often chooses red, either saturating a room in the color or in small doses of red as in this fun closet.

Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture was initially created as a holiday card for the Museum of Modern Art. The design then became a sculpture exhibited at the Indiana Museum of Art.  It has since been recreated around the world, it became a postage stamp and an iconic pop art symbol.

As a color identified with emotion and love, red has long been associated with Valentine's Day. I found it so interesting when I began to focus on the color red, I realized it was all around me: from the First Lady to fashion to interior design to art, to sports uniforms. Totally different applications, but in each, the color red, elicits emotion.

Artful Options // at the NY Gift Show

The NYIGF, the “gift show” is in NYC twice a year, filling two piers and the Jacob Javits center with merchandise. 35,0000 buyers from the US and 85 countries shop for new products in home decor, tabletop, personal accessories, kids, books & more. I’ve been attending for a number of years and look forward to catching up on what's new for the  home, particularly decorative accessories, art and artisanal products. I want to share some notable decorative art that I saw last week. For the past 15 years, Christopher Marley has been creating modern artworks from natural objects at Pheromones. His love of nature and the beauty of living and found things led him to create precise geometric artworks with these elements.

He incorporates insects, butterflies, fossils, crystals, shells & feathers into beautiful decorative pieces. His work has a geometric precision and creates visual impact on two levels, on one you have the overall shape crafted by his attention to spatial relationships, line and form.

And then you have the element itself, the insect or crystal or butterfly and its inherent beauty. Marley considers himself a storyteller because he takes the single object and crafts something bigger with his overall composition.

A favorite resource of mine for artisanal furnishings is Moderna, which features contemporary Brazilian furnishings. Roberta Schilling puts together a collection of modern furniture that represents the countries’ strong history of craftsmanship. Always supplemented with beautiful glass and ceramic pieces, this show also featured a number of terrific and different art pieces as well.

These colorful portrait paintings have great color and raw energy

A graphic collection of 20" x 20" glass squares with linear patterns creates an optical illusion, which varies depending upon the placement of the graphic works.

I especially liked this grouping of two-dimensional sculptural pieces crafted from paper in natural tones of white, grey and taupe.

Posters have been used in advertising since the early 1800‘s when printing made mass production possible. The Ross Art Group exhibits their collection of collectible vintage posters which includes many memorable and iconic images.  In the 1850's French artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec spent a great deal of time portraying the dancers at the Moulin Rouge. For income, Lautrec and other artists were hired to paint posters as advertisements for the shows.

La Goulue, Louise Weber, was the model for many of his artworks, both paintings and posters.

In the 1960's, the Artist David Klein created a group of iconic illustrated  TWA posters . Here are two favorites,

       

Andy Warhol used his famous “15 minutes” in many ways.  One of which was creating a series of four posters for Chanel in 1997, in different colors.  Warhol's pop paintings of many of the era's consumer products have become iconic images.

Another reference to fashion and design history is in a collection of prints from Dean Rhys Morgan. The London-based company has created limited edition giclee prints of drawings by various famous illustrators of the 20th century. This is a great way to acknowledge and enjoy beautifully rendered artwork that would otherwise not be seen, work that documents people, fashions, trends and places of the last century.

Tony Viramontes created graphic and vivid illustrations for many designers and magazines through the 70's and 80's. Much of his work captures the mood and energy of those years in fashion and music.

Jeremiah Goodman was an illustrator for Lord & Taylor for many years and was also known for the rooms he illustrated for the monthly covers of Interior Design magazine.

The Diana Vreeland, “Garden of Hell”  living room is wonderful,

and Sir John Gielgud's sitting room,

I highlighted several resources that I saw at the recent New York International Gift Fair (which is being rebranded this year to NY NOW, The Market for Home+Lifestyle, a more suitable name) that reflect an interest in nature and artisanal work as well as historical references in art, fashion & decor. There is a lot of overlap in these creative fields and these artists and companies are presenting products that respect and exemplify this.

The Neue Galerie // A NYC Gem

An afternoon spent walking through the collections at the Neue Galerie  was a real treat, a glimpse into another era. My daughter Alexis and I had a few hours recently and chose the small collection of Austrian And German Expressionist art in the beautifully restored Beaux Arts mansion just off Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile. The museum showcases early twentieth-century German and Austrian art and design. The collection reflects the intersection of various creative disciplines at the turn of the century, the "New Art", (source of the museum's name) of this period was represented throughout Europe to capture the innovative and modern spirit that was emerging. Examples from these early days of modern design; in the decorative arts, painting, sculpture, furniture, lighting and the very new field of photography are all represented in this thoughtfully edited collection and inspired design and book stores within the museum. The collection has work from the fine artists from Vienna, including Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

and the decorative art of early modernists, such as Wiener Werkstatte and Josef Hoffman.

In the early 1900's in Germany, the Bauhaus movement was growing and included artists like Wassily Kandily and Paul Klee and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer. I have Breuer kitchen chairs based on the same tubular steel design of this bar cart and lounge.

The Neue Galerie grew out of the passions of two men who collected Modern German and Austrian art and design. Leonard Lauder, a businessman,  philanthropist and art collector and Serge Sabarsky, an art dealer and museum exhibition organizer. In 1996, after Sabarsky's death, Lauder began to create the Neue Galerie, to realize their shared vision of opening a museum for their respective collections. He bought  the former William Starr Miller House, on the corner of Fifth Ave and 86 St. Seldorf Architects renovated the mansion to appropriately display their artworks.

In 2006, Lauder purchased Gustav Klimt's 1907 gold-drenched Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer l for a record price (at the time of $135 million).  The painting is in the main floor gallery, it is really wonderful, and worth the visit to the museum.

Cafe Sabarsky, the intimate restaurant in the museum was designed to replicate the Viennese cafes at the turn of the century. The furnishings are correct for the period, light fixtures are by Josef Hoffman, furniture by Adolf Loos and the banquettes in a 1912 fabric by Otto Wagner. I began by saying the museum and cafe are a treat, a quiet and lovely space. We didn't eat here that day, but will plan to on our next visit. The museum and cafe are beautifully done, a wonderful break from the usual NY pace, an environment to feel immersed in the period it represents.

We saw the current exhibit of Ferdinand Hodler's paintings. Hodler is considered the most influential Swiss artist of the period. His landscapes are beautifully executed, and I loved how their rich colors looked on the vibrant blue walls in two of the gallery rooms.

Color was a key component to his work in his female figures - particularly blues and reds.

The museum website has photos from a number of magazine layouts that were recently photographed at the museum. How apt that the  elegant setting was used as a background for fashion and style in the 21st century. Diana Taylor, "New York's First Lady", in Harper's Bazaar, 2011, in patterned black and white, echoing the stunning grand staircase.

and from Quest Magazine, patterns and colors reflecting the detailed Klimt painting

To view the collection and the current exhibit, (Ferdinand Hodler: View to Infinity, is through January 7th) only takes a short time. Both the museum space and exhibitions provide a glimpse into a period in history that informed a lot of change in the creative arts and influenced a great deal of modern art and design.