Art's The Answer!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Wandering in Venice...!

Getting lost in Venice is almost always inevitable! I know the city well enough to get from one district to another...

But it is so easy to get distracted by all of those incredible window displays and get off track!

Getting away from the tourists paths, you will find more of what Venice is known for, intricate lace...

Wood carvers and gilders....

And incredible carved stone on almost every building...

Old world charm with medieval influences are still a typical site.

But eventually, you make you way back towards your destination...

And the water that connects all things in Venice. Happy wanderings to all who visit this magical place!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Buona Pasqua!

I just returned from Venice two days before Easter and the shops were full of decorated eggs!

The Pasticceria Marchini; one of Venice finest pasticcerias, had an explosion of heavily decorated chocolate eggs and candies.

Small ones with spring themes and holiday decorations....

Large ones in the window with Happy Easter written on them....

And the sweetest bouquet of flowers and butterflies on a larger one inside to lure you in from the street....( as is the pungent smell of chocolate in the air isn't enough!)

Walking over by the Rialto, Drogheria Mascari had a mammoth chocolate egg in their display window.

These two pasticcerias still carry on the tradition of the serious art of confection. I hope you all have a happy Easter and maybe some chocolate on the corners of your mouth!

Friday, March 30, 2012

(Marco Massimiani)
Salon 2012 just concluded in Hamburg, Germany. Salon is a prestigious gathering of international decorative artisans that gather once a year to celebrate decorative ornamentation. (Decorative artists are eommonly used to embellish the walls and ceilings of prominent buildings.)

Artist work on a panel they will exhibit usually featuring faux marble or wood graining techniques sometimes combined with other decorative ornament.

The exhibits were under a glass ceiling complete with classic music to set the mood.

The faux marble, arabesques and wood graining panels shown brilliant in the sun.

The purpose of salon is to share ideas and pass on age old techniques to the next generation of artisans...

Trompe l'oeil is also prominent for subject matter of the panels. (French artist -Julien Gautier)

...and the occasional tulip by one of the Dutch artists(Michiel Van de Laar)....they paint them so well!

Pierre Finkelstein did a wonderful arabesque with a tortoise theme.

Natali Hallberg of Sweden working on a panel.

Yaeko Kurimata' panel included a dragon . Yaeko would have hosted this year's Salon in Tokyo but; due to the tsunami, will host in 2013.

To submit a panel, one must be judged and only the best make it to be exhibited. This beautiful arabesque is by Lo Spazio Dipinto-Caterina Manisco

Special thanks to Leslie and Nicola Vigini of Vigini Studios who graciously shared their photos so we could see this incredible art!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Fair Weather Friends...

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How many times do you see decorative animals or faces on the sides of important buildings?

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These carvings; although decorative, serve a very utilitarian purpose.

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Their first service is to funnel rain away from the ornate walls they are attached to.

Near the Sahara desert in Mali, the Dogon carve wooden rain spouts in the shape of crocodiles.

Proving; even in stark conditions, decoration is still important.

In typical fashion, the French excel at making the utilitarian appear decorative.

These beautiful dolphin downspouts are located at the Hotel de Lauzun on Ile Saint- Louis in Paris.

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Look up next time you are exploring a historical structure, you might be surprised what will be looking back at you!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Kaveri Singh...An Artist Through Immersion

Kaveri Singh has many talents, but ornamentation is one she does particularly well!

To quote her website-"I should say that my journey in the arts, my understanding of decoration and the rhythm and flow of colors- the core of my aesthetic-had already acquired its essence in India."

Kaveri grew up in India, but was sent to Europe by her father at seventeen to not merely look at art in books, but to experience it first hand.

These ornate ceiling and wall designs are from a job in Beverly Hills .

These arabesque designs she produced for the client were based on a fragment from the 1520's which later became commonly known as the arabesque knot. Singh does her homework and gives her clients authentic ornamentation. I hope you will review her website and see more of her wonderful work.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The World of Tania Vartan....

I have never blatantly copied from another blog before....until now!

The New York Social Diary has a wonderful section on homes of public people. They get access to the most incredible homes and apartments in the world!

When they covered Tania Vartan, my heart skipped a beat! She creates her ornamentation on textiles, canvas, panels, furniture and any other paintable surface she can find. To quote Tania-"I want to paint on every surface and cover it with ornament. Ornament!"

She has studied ornament over the years and has a line of fabric through John Rosselli. She also has a book! Here is a link to her website.(if you do nothing else, check out her apartment in Florence)

The Lyre headboard and églomisé bedside table were made by Tania. Go! Run! to the New York Social Diary and read the entire article. It is a true treasure!