Mood Boards....

Knit,Purl and Stitch photo

If you are attracted to this blog, you are probably a creative person. Mood boards are one tool used in the creative process to provide a solution.

photo from The Style Files

They can be general, featuring pictures that inspire us and keep our minds jumping or they can be specific for an upcoming client project.

Architectural Digest July 1976

Albert Hadley was way ahead of the curve. He had a mood wall ! This would feature current projects and inspirational photos to keep his creative energy peaked.

Mood boards offer insight into the creative mind.

This mood board designed by UK's Andy Clarke of Malarky shows how the board should evoke an overall feeling  The pop colors and bold graphics put us in that late 60's, early 70's frame of mind just by glancing at it.

Stacystyle's Blog

With creative exuberance, this mood board spills over onto the table top!

Inreda.com photo

Located next to the drafting table, all one has to do is glance to the right to get energy and direction for where a  project should be going.

Well, now that we have a cool wall, we need a funky, creative chair!

Or two!

With this furniture, how can you not be creative!

(Teojasmin will also use your own graphics!)

Who knows what you can create when your mind is given free reign? I love the concept of the lace fence by Demakersvan.  They define it as "hostility versus kindness"..."industrial versus craft"....and that is where we come in....artists...creative people ...trying to add a little kindness to the planet! Happy Earth Day!!

 

Killing Time.....

What do you do with your idle time? 

Deface money?

You can even track your money!

Now you can impress your friends by folding a used metro ticket into a fighter plane.

Artist Diem Chau carved the twelve zodiac signs on skinny little crayolas...

are you into paper crafts?

Reminiscent of origami papers, these crafts are made with security envelopes!

courtesy of I Do It Yourself blog, you will start looking at your junkmail in a whole new way!

I paint...

I paint when I have idle time....

I paint for a living...

I paint to paint!

What do you do when you are killing time??

Shall we Dine...?

Ahhhhh...Rosenthal....Versace blue Medusa....it gets no better than this!

Courtesy-Sothebys Versace auction 2001

Anyone who has a bedroom that looks like this can certainly inspire china!

Isis custom painted dishes with their curved edges and hand painted scenes is also a favorite of mine. She combines the brushstroke technique of Italian pottery with an asian influence.

Speaking of Italian, don't get me started on Deruta, or any other elaborate hand painted Italian pottery!  If you want a source here in the States, try Gina Garner . She has an etsy store.  Using pigments from Italy and extensive research make  her designs works of art!

Slabs of salt have been used for years to serve or cook on.

Look at the beauty of thick slabs of opaque salt. They can be chilled to serve hors d'oeuvres or heated over a burner and cooked on.

Want a great look without getting out the china? Caspari has taken disposable plates to a new level.

Offering metallic chargers to compliment their many design patterns, eating can be civil... even on paper.

Remember the feel of a smooth wooden spoon in your mouth as a child when you ate ice cream from a wax cup ? Well, Conran offers an adult version. They offer knives, forks and spoons for your upscale picnic. Make your dining fun....I'm going for the slabs of salt.....fabulous!

ID-Digest.(.or....On the cover of the Rolling Stone!)

Judy Arnold , Vice President of Creative Development  and senior editor of the Paint and Plaster department of ID-Digest magazine contacted me a few months ago after seeing a post I made on Facebook about a book I had published of my art work.

ID-Digest is an international electronic magazine featuring artists, trends, creative ideas and much more for "right" minded people!

Judy noticed a post I made on a book I created on my Mac computer of my art work.

The post got strong response on Facebook and ID-Digest wanted to show the book as a marketing tool to use in advertising.

Barry L. Wingard, editor in chief of ID-Digest surrounds himself with a talented staff that seeks out trends, new products, and creative ideas for interior and exterior environments.

The article is in the current April issue! 

Thank you Barry and Judy for featuring my work this month....(I think this is as close as I will ever get to the Rolling Stone cover !)

Soiree....

Tonight there was a party at the home of one of my best client's.

The weather was great as the caterer's set up outside....

The flowers began to arrive and were placed in each room...

As well as outside...

Three rooms of my work were featured....the dining room ceiling...

The living room ceiling....

and the fresco on the patio.....

Everyone had a great time...lots of friends came and the music and food were perfect. The function was a fundraiser for an organization and my work was featured to help with the efforts....I hope you all take time to enjoy moments with your friends and have many soirees to attend this spring!

Child's Play.......

Chalkboard paint amazes me! Do you remember the first time you were called to the front of the room and got to write something on the chalkboard for the teacher? What magic that was!

Robbie Caponetto photo

Chalkboards are still magical to me...the predecessor of the Etch-a-sketch and the more modern Magna Doodle.

The magic of creating and then destroying by erasing, is addictive to me.

You can create and then erase all evidence with the swipe of a hand.

Domicidal Maniac blog photo

Chalkboards can now be almost anything you can put paint on.

Chiasso.com

You can write messages or create designs on the painted  object.

I am still a little "old-school" and would be more comfortable reaching for a piece of chalk instead of a blackberry!

You could have a new car everyday!  Can't you see chalk flames and pin striping?

artwork copyright 2010 by Mark Cameron Boyd

Some artists recognize this ephemeral media as art.

Artwork copyright 2010 by artist Mark Cameron Boyd

I love the graphic designs with the word placement.

Rowland Emmerich home  London

Now this is a room I need! A true think tank! I could work out designs and then erase them to move on to new ideas. Every day could be a completely different look.

I love this piece by artist Lauren Tennenbaum.   Inspired by 16th c.grotesques,she painted the griffins on canvas and then applied them to the drawers.....they look chalk- like to me.   I think I am going to do a series of furniture with chalk paint and feature ephemeral art on them. What a concept! You could change your furniture as often as you change your clothes! Thanks Lauren for the idea.  ;)