Hand painted furniture

Doesn't this make you want to get out your brushes and start painting some basic pine furniture?

I've been traveling around Italy and soaking up the artistry. My delightful hotel in Florence was still filled (though the main reception rooms were re-done ultra modern) with the original handpainted furniture, reflecting the beauty discovered at every turn.

Amelia's magazine and Shelter fundrasier

When I first saw Amelia’s magazine back in May 2006, with her smiling childhood photo on the cover, I was in awe. I loved it for the magical and witty illustrations and her uninhibited and freely roaming expression about fashion, style, music and concern about the environment and the future. It was more book-like than magazine, very personal and open, and rich in content and creativity. Unfortunately the hard copy has folded, but she continues to have a strong following and online presence through her blog (here I am.)

When I read her call for submissions in aid of Shelter, the UK charity for the homeless I had to send in a submission. I am thrilled that I made the first cut, from which she will choose 52 illustrations, all on the theme - the TWO OF HEARTS, and create a quilt. Her quilt, along with artwork by other artists and designers (including Stella Vine, Basso and Brooke and Rachel Whiteread) will be exhibitied this summer in the UK, and auctioned to raise money for the charity.

My drawing reflects my thoughts about being homeless and the enormous strain that poverty puts on a family and relationships. Hoping that a safe and secure home will help mend a broken home, I drew a heart, formed from many pieces and patched up, re-gaining it's power with a busy family in toe, named- Shelter for a Broken Heart. It's sad, it's happy, it's about life.

You can see all the intriguing and imaginative drawings on Facebook. Doesn’t it make you want to design your own deck of cards…?

A New Magritte Museum

this sketch has been etched out of the white washed window front

of a shop under renovation, a few blocks from the museum

Yesterday, with great fanfare, a spectacular new art museum, devoted to René Magritte, the Musée Magritte Museum, officially opened in Brussels. Situated on Place Royale in the heart of the art and antique district, and an extension to the Brussels Royal art museum (filled with work from his illustrious Belgium colleagues), the Magritte Museum has gripped the city. Everywhere you look you find Magritte symbolism, which is not only amusing, but also creates the feeling that Magritte is amongst us, chuckling to himself ... Ceci n'est pas une musée… as you bite into an apple green macaron.

My personal introduction to Magritte was The Empire of Light II, hanging in the MOMA . Hanging next to a Salvidor Dali, I returned over and over again, week after week, in disbelief, trying to absorb the contrast of the magnificently painted blue sky and the lamppost lighting the dark street. The perfection was surreal and impossible to fit into my natural world. Permanently etched into my memory, the effect of this one painting, had such a demanding presence, even though it was a comparatively small work, in the far side of a large room filled with a stunning assortment of art, that I wonder if a whole museum devoted only to this artist, will make the same powerful impression? It will be a different kind of experience (the museum opens to the public in June) and why not, isn't that art?

Plant creations by Elsita

One of my favorite blogs is Elita's, her voice is a small and delicate one, yet powerfully wondrous. She walks a delicate line between make believe and reality with a rare honesty and sincerity. I just discovered her "plant creations" but whatever she posts I love and wanted to share it with you.

Aussi Rouge Que Possible, As Red As Can Be

Aussi Rouge Que Possible (As Red As Can Be) at The Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, is a small not to be missed temptation. A visual and symbolic feast is spread out with rooms themed by voluptuousness, power, danger and pleasure, among others, and every shade of red, all stylishly mixed from different eras. The Parisian sixth sense that appears as much in the text as the objects creates plenty of fresh fashion inspiration. Naturally, I loved the sketches by Schiaparelli. Here is a tiny glimpse of the exhibit.

From Russia

Portrait of Anna Akmatova, 1915 by Natay Altman
Triggered by the blockbuster From Russia at the Royal Academy of the Arts, the Russian influence, in many formats, is happening right now, in London. At the Academy, the first portion of the exhibition is based on work from the two Russian collectors, Shchukin and Morosov, through who's vision and taste you see not only some of the finest examples of French modern art masterpieces (1870-1925), but additionally what happens when truly passionate and profound collectors develop relationships with the greatest masters. And then, in the second portion, it all comes crashing down, when the Russian avant-garde art - in particular the bold trio of work by Malevich as the grand finale - mark the beginning of the future. http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/from-russia/

Breaking the Rules - London

On display, at the British Library, and certainly an influence that will seep into fashion and style, are extraordinary examples of the movement that brought us FuturISM, CubISM, DadaISM, SurrealISM, VorticISM, ExpressionISM. A comprehensive, and compelling collection of magazines, journals, books and newspapers that were published from 1900-1937, were the showcase for the ideals driving these movements. European photographers, artists, writers, composers, philosophers, graphic artists and illustrators, collaborated, expressing the avant-garde movement that was a revolutionary departure from the establishment, drawing a line between who's good and who's bad, who's the future and who's the past. http://www.bl.uk/breakingtherules

Asian Red-Hot Art

Feng Zhengjie's 2007 portrait of a female, at the Houston Museum of Art...

"Red Hot : Contemporary Asian Art (collection from the Chaney family) I caught the exhibit on the last day! By chance in Houston with a long layover, just enough time to do one thing, so I decided to drag myself into the city and see what is happening art-wise, and stumbled, completely unexpectedly upon this futuristic and glorious exhibit. I arrived, thirsty, went down to the cafe for a drink and was mesmerized by the animated DVD film "City Glow" by Chiho Aoshima which was right at the door. Wonderful to enter her imaginary world and a perfect entree for what was to follow, upstairs, ... a comprehensive body of work from over 60 artists, a youth driven perception, that was shockingly bold, fresh, glossy, fun, flirty, sexy, idealized beauty, reality, fear, full of fantasy and Asian culture. The artists embrace state-of-the-art techniques and innovation without any old European world art influence. It was an unforgettable experience, and a wake up call to the creativity from the Far East, and the youth culture that binds the whole region. Bravo to the collectors and the curator.