Scrolls, swags and such.....

Alan Carroll recently featured a wonderful article on the works of Jean Berain on his  incredible blog- Surface Fragments....Alan is an Irish born artist now living in New York. He began his work in America with Pierre Finkelstein of Grand Illusion for four years going on to create his own decorative paint company twelve years ago. His blog is a virtual archive of rare books and other sources pertaining to the art of ornamentation.

Pierre Babel study for cartouche-Metropolitan Museum

Ahhh, ornamentation....I am a sucker for intricate, engraved ornamentation and have a weakness for all things rococo....all those scrolls, swags and such....

Pierre Chedel- Metropolitan Museum

The fantastic morphing of nature and human form embellished with heavily engraved ornamentation..
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Rocaille-Metropolitan Museum

These designs have popped up unexpected in my life and are mentally filed for inspiration! I have always gone ga-ga over the sets of Three Coins in the Fountain..especially the red paneled drawing room in Dino de Cessi's home. Those walls are incredible!!!!

Fortuny fabrics, such as the Lambelle pattern shown above, make my heart skip a beat!

Genevieve Woodford

I recently stumbled upon artist Genevieve Woodford on etsy and purchased this lino print! She, like many natural artists, began her career about a year and a half ago out of necessity....she wanted art for her walls  that she did not afford to buy.

So, she went to the local art store and bought her first lino block and began to carve a simple Christmas card design. She was addicted and continued to refine her techniques being drawn towards 17thc intricate engravings.  Much of her work is rococo influenced and fits my mood nicely!

She has no formal training, does not own a printing press or a studio but, she does have passion! Her natural talent has allowed her to find a way to create these wonderful pieces.  Her work is on etsy and other public websites and she finds time to also manage her blog-The Scoop.

With Gen's recent decision to sell on Etsy, she has received immediate recognition for her work.

Look at this Venetian pudding print ....it comes in pink!

Papatotoro

There are other lino artistis on etsy selling great art. This etsy store-  Papatotoro offers textiles with asian influence created by a London based artist.

Papatotoro offers tea towels.....

aprons.....

and tote bags.

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

So, go to the museums and drool over the engravings....

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

but, remember, you can get your "rococo fix" by contemporary artists all around you!

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum