Monday, March 29, 2010

Guest Rest Rooms

Guest Room Retreats


These uncomplicated bedrooms are set to welcome and relax any weary traveler.  They also appeal to the minimalist within.


Country Simplicity

Textile Wrap - Textured Wallpaper and Silk Linen


Steel Blue Balance


Attic with a View


Contemp Cozy


Friday, March 12, 2010

A Vibrant California Creek

California Creek by Eric W Schaap


I happened on this artist on eBay years ago.  How do I know it was years ago?  It was during the time I was actively bidding on a Sony MiniDisc player for a sound design project.  That was a rare time for me and eBay.  I had never been on eBay so much before or since that time.

Here are close-ups of Schaap's painterly technique.






Monday, March 1, 2010

Creative Custom Bath Windows

Stained Glass Beyond The Ecclesiastical


Gorgeous Stained Glass Windows - Why not in the bath?  Be inspired.


Mermaid


Mermaid Detail



Waves


Peacock



Sea Turtle



Tuscan Dream


Abstract Design



Leaded Glass


Abstract Design



Beveled Glass Privacy Window

Arched Beveled Glass Window

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Artist Gaze - John Haymson

The Plaza Hotel, NYC

I learned about John Haymson from a consignment store art sale.  I drug my husband there on the last day of the sale - Sunday.  It was our negotiated day.  Quite frankly, if he could put a restraining order on me around art, he would. I was in anxious anticipation leading up to the sale. Every day the sale was on, I felt a strong pull to just "pop in" there.

I remember that day clearly.  It was a messy, rainy day.  He didn't want to go at all.  I properly and politely chided him on reneging on his aggreement.  He very reluctantly relented.  "We're not going to be in there that long.  I want to look around and view the collection."  For some reason, he regarded those statements suspiciously.  More on that later. 

He drove me to the shop. To our surprise, the shop owner rented a separate warehouse building to display the art for sale.  I was ecstatic and he was sick. 

We went in and systematically went through every gallery type room and the jumbo main warehouse space. Art was everywhere:  covered walls, vertically stacked against the walls, and on the floor.  I didn't miss a single piece.

We were there for hours.  The funny thing was the art I saw in the first 15 minutes intrigued me the most.  I was certain that several of these pieces were from "known" artists.  My husband told me there was only one artist that interested him.  Ironically, it was the same artist I felt stood out among all others.  He turned out to be John Haymson.  We didn't know his full name because his signature isn't exactly legible.  I wrote down what I thought it was and we went home to find him on the net.

Royal Street New Orleans

It didn't take long for the Admiral of Surfing (aka husband) to find Haymson, a noted American watercolorist.  Haymson is best known for his architectural 1950-1960s era prints.  Today, they are called vintage.  His work is not expensive and can be found on art.com.   

Armed with the internet research, we went back to the consignment store to negotiate the price.  The store had four of his prints for $70 each.  We bought all four Haymson prints for $35 each.  We were quite pleased with this price.  When we got home, I started studying prints. Each work was professionally framed by an official art dealer in NYC who had an exclusive to sell Haymson's work back in the day.  We felt extra special acquiring his art for our collection.

I wrote a healthy posting on John Haymson largely because there was a lot interest about his work on the net.  In our research, there was little known about him or his work. 


Colonial Court House, Williamsburg, VA


Blairs Brick House


Paris Cafe


Central Park, NYC

Friday, February 26, 2010

Bathroom Privacy

Privacy windows on a budget


Do you have an aversion to curtains?  How about blinds?  Looking for an easy solution to provide privacy in your most private moments and still get natural light?  Consider installing window film.  Like practically everythinng these days - options abound.  It's not your grandma's tacky window film today. 

Just be prepared to use a lot of elbow grease working those nagging little air bubbles out.


Pratical Magic - Obscure Window Film


Flower Obscure Film


Bamboo Obscure Film

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Graphic Flowers in Chocolate and Earth Tones

Halliday Flowers



Chocolate Flower Burst

Ran into these awesome graphic flower art designs by Debbie Halliday's .  I am not a flowers kind of person, but these are fantastic.  Halliday's flowers have strong, simple compositions in earth tones.  That makes them pretty unique.

Cream Flower Burst


Oxygen Scribble Flower


Oxygen Flower Burst

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Surreal Girala


Adolfo Antonio Girala


Abstract 96



I first discovered Adolfo Antonio Girala's work at a Palo Alto Art Festival back in 2004.  I still remember my reaction.  My husband and I casually stepped into artists tents stacked up like bumper to bumper traffic in New York City on a hot summer day.  One of Girala's paintings peaked out behind the dense layers of people touring the various artist booths.  I saw just enough to have a strong visceral reaction.  I was like a moth flying to the flame.  I made a straight line to his booth not even taking a glancing look at the other artists I passed along the way.

Girala's work has transfixing power.  It draws you in and makes you feel.  In this way, his work reminds me of Rothko, but with tactile quality.  Power of color + texture.  That's Girala.


Abstract Fish 40


Abstract 19


Abstract 82


Abstract - Fish 40