Pursuing Art for a Black & White World

As of late, I have been craving a little happy color in my neutral world. I have found myself intrigued with the juxtaposition of modern art against a sophisticated, tailored neutral backdrop. I really like colorful spaces {in other people's houses} but find in my own home I like the simplicity of layering tone-on-tone neutrals and organic textures. I've been looking for just the right piece of art to add color to my world.

 I remembered reading about a Charleston artist featured in Garden and Gun - Sally King Benedict and went in search of more. I am really inspired by what I found - a talented young artist that has an amazing way with color and abstract forms.

{Garden and Gun}

A Snapshot of Sally King Benedict

Sally was born and raised in Atlanta and is currently living in Charleston; She is expecting her first child and moving to Atlanta this summer.

Sally attributes her keen artistic eye to early exposure to the Atlanta art scene by the side of her mother visiting high profile gallery openings and clients homes. She also lived with great art in her own home.

College: Studio Art Major - College of Charleston

During her college years she spent some time in NYC and landed an Internship with Chanel.

Benedict is inspired by master artists such as Helen Frankenthaler, Philip Guston, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko and Pablo Picasso. She also mentions a more recent fascination with the works of photographer Massimo Vitali.

One of my good friends just mentioned that she was looking to add a nude to her collection. 

I know she will love the one above. 

{House Beautiful; Interior Design by Kathleen Rivers}

Sally King Benedict's contemporary art is the perfect complement to this beautiful traditional interior and exactly the kind of pop of color I am looking for in my own home.

I wasn't planning to publish this post until Monday but when I checked my email and gave the new Matchstick Magazine a quick overview I noticed an awesome feature on Sally King Benedict. I thought you might like to read over the weekend. To see more click on over to Matchstick's latest edition.

{Matchbook Magazine}

{Source}

I was interested to see how growing up in the South has influenced Sally's work. The Glitter Guide meet Sally in her Charleston home for an interview. here is one of my favorite quotes from that interview:

"Being from the South and living in the South has made me appreciate the importance of keeping tradition and exuding grace. For a woman and her style, I think the most important thing is confidence. I definitely feel the most confident when I look classic and comfortable — a perfect southern combination. My artistic style encompasses the way I see beautiful things for the most part, so the influence of southern landscapes, architecture, and people are ever prominent in my work."

{Source}

You have read this article art / Charleston / Sally King Benedict with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2012/03/pursuing-art-for-black-white-world.html. Thanks!

Beautiful Art, Blog Love and an Award

I recently discovered a beautiful new blog:

allumer * decor

classic * sophisticated * timeless

The creator of Allumer Decor is Meg McCabe. She is also the artist that created this beautiful contemporary art. We seem to have an afinity for the same kind of aesthetic - clean lined, traditional interiors with a soft color palette and modern edge. She was incredibly kind to recognize Heirloom Philosophy with the versatile blogger award. I am so gratitude for her recognition and excited to have discovered a new blog to explore. Allumer is the french verb for' light up' and let's just say that is exactly what I did when I saw her beautiful paintings. I have been searching etsy and chasing down blog leads looking for the perfect modern art to grace the walls of my home.

Meg and I have had fun getting to know each other and I actually purchased the painting above for my new side entry. I think it might be one of those paintings I carry around the house and find a lot of perfect places to hang it.

Here are two of the other paintings I was considering:

 

I hope you will stop by her beautiful blog one day soon!

Meg has three signature series that I have really enjoyed that I think you will like, too:

 Friday Flowers, Wednesday Whites and Classic Pairings. 

{Allumer Decor: 'Friday Flowers'}

{Allumer Decor 'Wednesday Whites'}

{Allumer Decor 'Classic Pairings: Art and a Bench'}

Meg, thank you again for recognizing Heirloom Philosophy with the versatile blogger award. I can't wait to receive my new painting and share with you its new place in my home.

You have read this article art with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2012/02/beautiful-art-blog-love-and-award.html. Thanks!

Hanging Art

As of late, I am intrigued with all the new and interesting ways to display art and thought I would share some of my favorites with you.

(via A Perfect Gray)

This is such a clever way to highlight these small etchings.

I am in love with this vignette from Susan Ferrier with art hung asymmetrically on antique mirror.

(via The New Victorian Ruralist}

These antique farmed maps bring movement to a modern space and are hung in the shape of Italy.

I have always liked an orderly grid patterned art arrangement but thought this was more interesting...take the classic grid pattern and shake it up, just a little!

I like the idea of creating a clipboard art display where you can change out the art with the season, your mood, as your children grow, highlighting your latest journey...

I like this artistic placement of this collection of prints...random, not really.

I have noticed a lot of art placement all the way to the floor and many times leaning against the wall.

I am a huge advocate for these little hallways of discovery. {Love the wallpapered focal wall!} This image is from West Elm.

I love black and white photography and love to take pictures and thought this gallery of a hallway was way cool. I might just get lost on the way to the powder room...

I like the juxtaposition of these antique prints framed in modern Lucite in a bedroom from Charlotte Moss.

I have been contemplating going big and modern and love this art in a room by Victoria Hagan.

Something old, something new....I like it!

You have read this article art with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2011/08/hanging-art.html. Thanks!

Artistically Speaking: Page Laughlin

I first met artist Page Laughlin across a plate of ham biscuits relaxing on the back porch of a mountain house at the foot of the blue ridge mountains. I have always enjoyed talking with and getting to know artists and learning more about their artistic perspective. Our children took off their shoes and frolicked in the little trout stream below, and we sat on the porch and talked about art and the artist's life. She invited me to bring my daughter by her studio one day to watch her paint and see her canvases in progress. I never got up the nerve to call her and take her up on her intriguing offer. I have a secret...although my daughter would have found this mildly interesting, I would have been over-the-moon!

I first became an admirer of Page's work after reading a feature story in Traditional Home several months prior to our family picnic in the mountains. I didn't really connect this lovely, down-to-earth person that teaches art at Wake Forest with the artist of my admiration until much later. I love that my little hometown of Winston Salem is home to such a wildly talented artist with a very complex and interesting artistic perspective.

I thought you would like to know that Page Laughlin's latest work is currently on exhibit in Charlotte through June 25th at the Hidell Brooks Gallery.

To give you a little insight into the artist, here is a quote from Page revealing her artistic point of view:

"These interiors present us with a fantasy of materialist beauty. These commercial images are compelling subjects for my painting because they reveal much about our consumptive desires. I am interested in what these fantasies reveal upon closer inspection and in what is veiled in seduction."

To see more of Page's work visit her website here or Hidell Brooks Galleries for her latest work here.

 

You have read this article art / winston salem with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2011/06/artistically-speaking-page-laughlin.html. Thanks!

The Perfect Vignette

Have you ever wondered what makes a vignette pleasing?

I adore the simple composition above.

The question ...

Is it really that simple to create the perfect vignette?

 If you haven't noticed, I am just a tad obsessed with Suzanne Rheinstein's New York pied a terre. Rheinstein's entrance hall is curated like a master painting. Be sure to notice all the details especially that iridescent trim color at the ceiling and the dark gray brown around the base of the room. Although I think we are all fooled by the mastery of good photography, I would be willing to place a bet that this entrance is as pretty in person as it is in this glorious photo. I say it is all in the composition. It has all the artistic merits of a compelling piece of art ~ a beautiful color palette with a well-placed pop of color, balance, proportion, depth and perspective.  I have noticed more and more that I like a well-placed "mid-height" element in a room. The contrasting dark patina of the little antique table in the foreground with the pop of color from the magnolia blossom really does it for me.

You have read this article art / Suzanne Rheinstein / vignette with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2011/02/the-perfect-vignette.html. Thanks!

Antiques as Art

Sometimes the perfect piece of art is as close as the nearest flea market or antique show. I have often fallen in love with beautiful old things when perusing an antique show and wondered what new life I could invent for my obscure adoration. After all, what are you going to do with a pair of crusty ancient anchors?

That's when you look to the masterful designer, Susan Ferrier who together with House Beautiful created this inspiring show house apartment in Manhattan. Ferrier elevates the neutral palette to new heights with texture and interesting vignettes. The pop of color is insane! I love the sculptural quality of these anchors, truly unexpected, interesting, textural, graphic, whimsical...It may be a personal thing for me.

Do you like found objects as art?

Designer Ellen O'Neill uses the inside of an old parasol as the focal point over her mantle in her New York studio apartment. Her small space is full of inspirational ideas and clever juxtaposition of old and new. The monochromatic color palette unites the space and allows her eclectic mix to coincide.

Sometimes that tablescape needs that unusual, sculptural shape to add interest to straight lines and a neutral palette. Displayed above are a pair of African head or neck rests. The ancient purpose for these intriguing objects was to elevate the head or neck when sleeping so as not to damage the often elaborate and sometimes encrusted coiffures. These found objects made of beautiful old wood  have a worn and soft patina and curvaceous, statuesque shape. Surely these obsolete, intriguing objects would stimulate interesting conversations over wine.

Designer Shannon Bowers uses antique french ceiling panels as art. I love the crusty, peely paint texture of these panels arranged in a graphic, orderly composition.

Oars serve as art in Kay Douglas's beach house featured in Coastal Living. Douglas, owner of South of Market in Atlanta and Charleston, is a master at using found objects as art.

Do you share my enthusiasm for found objects as art?

You have read this article antiques / art / intriguing objects with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2011/02/antiques-as-art.html. Thanks!

For the Love of Dogs

{Natural Curiosities}

The gallery wall {above} is a display from the Natural Curiosities space at the recent High Point Furniture Market. The silhouette of the lab made me smile! Something about the way the dog is sitting at attention reminds me of my best friend ~ Sadie!

You can see my love knows no limits!

You have read this article art / high point furniture market / High Point market / Puppy Love / silhouette with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2010/10/for-love-of-dogs.html. Thanks!

Laura Day Living: A New Spin

{image via Hidden in France}

I thought you might enjoy a little spin art this weekend {not just for kids anymore}! Designer, Laura Day, of Trading Spaces fame teaches us a new spin on an old art favorite via YouTube.

{YouTube: Laura Day: A New Spin}

For more of Laura's fresh ideas, visit here new webazine, Laura Day Living. Simply put, it will make you happy!

You might also like to read Ronda Carmen's {All The Best} interview with Laura here.

You have read this article art / DIY / Laura Day with the title art. You can bookmark this page URL https://enjoywithluh.blogspot.com/2010/07/laura-day-living-new-spin.html. Thanks!