Features Archives - Page 3 of 11

Amy Judd

Amy Judd is a London based artist whose work is just spectacular.

Amy Judd is a London based artist whose work is just spectacular. Her work is represented by Hicks Gallery, Wimbledon. Amy’s paintings, according to her website, “are a collection of sensitive silent moments; some full of whimsical intrigue, others more surreal and seductive. These paintings draw inspiration from the enchanting and imaginative relationship between women and nature found in traditional mythologies and folklores.”

At first glance, Amy’s work looks like photography. The level of detail in each piece is so refined, it’s hard to visually categorize them as oil paintings. They feel sultry and a little risque. I love her saturation of color and the amount of sheer depth, but at the same time there’s a quirkiness that makes her work so memorable. One of her pieces would be a confident addition to a striking interior.

To see more of Amy Judd’s work, visit her website or the Hicks Gallery site. You can also find her on Facebook.

2014 HOBI Awards in CT Builder

The Winter 2015 issue of CT Builder Magazine recently came out, featuring the winners of the 2014 HOBI Awards.

The Winter 2015 issue of CT Builder Magazine recently came out, featuring the winners of the 2014 HOBI Awards. These awards recognize excellence in a range of categories such as new construction and remodeling. I was so pleased to see three projects I collaborated on receive HOBI awards, including the 2014 Custom Home of the Year as shown on the magazine cover. Built by Sound Beach Partners, this incredible residence truly deserves recognition. The home is a great example of a design that respects the home’s surroundings and makes the most of the stunning location overlooking Long Island Sound.

Dibico Construction also received two HOBI Awards. I’ve collaborated with Dibico in the past, including on these two award winning projects — one of which was my own studio and office. Congratulations to Dibico Construction!

Valeria Nascimento

Valeria Nascimento creates the most beautiful porcelain installations.

A native of Brazil, Valeria Nascimento creates the most beautiful porcelain installations. Her work is inspired by her love of natural forms and how these forms are a part of an urban environment. Valeria’s installations consist of dozens of hand formed ceramic pieces, combined to stretch across walls. Each piece takes months to assemble.

Valeria was originally trained as an architect, an aspect of her perspective that is visible in her use of repeated simple forms and patterns. Her work has been exhibited and commissioned all over the world. She’s also created designs for brands such as Chanel and Tiffany, and well as many interior designers.

I love Valeria’s work because it makes you want to go up close to examine it. The 3D aspect, gradation of a shade, and sometimes a zest of color make her work so powerful. I value the pure dedication to her art — you really can see her love for each individual piece in how it is crafted.

You can see more of Valeria Nascimento’s work on her website.

AtHome: Jewel Box

I am so pleased to have one of my favorite projects featured in the May/June 2015 issue of AtHome in Fairfield County.

I am so pleased to have one of my favorite projects featured in the May/June 2015 issue of AtHome in Fairfield County. I loved working on this one of a kind dining room. Having a great relationship with a client who let me run with my ideas allowed the dining room to become everything I envisioned. Pick up a copy of the magazine to read more about the project and each of the beautiful elements in the room.

Connecticut Cottages and Gardens: Paper Chase

I had so much fun working with Connecticut Cottages and Gardens to compile wall paper collections for a feature in the April 2015 issue.

I had so much fun working with Connecticut Cottages and Gardens to compile wall paper collections for a feature in the April 2015 issue. Each collection is based on a specific palette but combines patterns and textures to show a range of possibilities. I hope you’ll pick up a copy and let me know what you think!

Spring Design Books

Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect.

Design books are a great resource and something I love to collect. I am always keeping an eye out for new releases that might be full of inspiration. While design books are an investment for me, they make great coffee table books for anyone interested in interior design. Here are a few new books I can’t wait to browse through.

Windsor Smith, Homefront: Design for Modern Living

Charlotte Moss, Garden Inspirations

Anouska Hempel, Ansouska Hempel

Nicki Haslam, A Designer’s Life

Peter Gentenaar

Netherlands based artist Peter Gentenaar works with paper to create huge, undulating sculptures.

Netherlands based artist Peter Gentenaar works with paper to create huge, undulating sculptures. These enormous, but delicate, sculptures grew from Peter’s initial work as a printmaker. When working on engravings, he often found that commercial paper wasn’t thick enough for his engravings. He then began to experiment with making his own paper and learned that by using a specific method of beating the pulp, creating sheets with thin ribs of bamboo, and then allowing the pulp to dry, the shrinking of the pulp pulls the bamboo ribs in such a way as to create these rolling, unique sculptures. In developing his artistic process, Peter even built his own equipment to achieve the results he wanted.

I love the free from element to Peter’s work. The pieces remind me of sea creatures; very graceful and eloquent. They have magnificent scale, but are delicate and feminine in a way that is really pretty. The way color is integrated into the sculptures is just striking.

Many of Peter’s sculptures are suspended from the ceiling; others are free standing or hung on a wall. His work can be see all over Europe as well as in Abu Dhabi. You can see more examples of his work on his website.

Edmund de Waal

Edmund de Waal is a British ceramics artist who studied his craft in England and Japan.

Edmund de Waal is a British ceramics artist who studied his craft in England and Japan. His recent work explores ideas about collections and how objects are grouped together. de Waal has had major installations in museums around the world, from London to New York. His pieces have a minimalist quality, yet often look natural. He often combines his pottery with materials such as wood or acrylic to create stunning compositions. His large scale installations are particularly memorable.

One of the interesting things about de Waal’s art is how each piece interacts with its display. How it is displayed is part of the art itself. I found de Waal’s work through a client and immediately fell in love with the simplicity and scale of it. It’s so nice when a client is open about their art interests and shares exciting things. I always go a step further to see what they’re looking at and why they like it. In de Waal’s work, I see peace and serenity.

Phaidon has published a monograph on Edmund de Waal, a tribute to his artistry with ceramics as well as his acclaim as a writer. This book includes incredible photography detailing de Waal’s daily life in his studio and his most famous installations. With contributions from writers such as AS Byatt and architect Deborah Saunt, it’s a work of art itself and a great addition to the library of any art lover.

You can see a full online gallery of Edmund de Waal’s work on his website.

Method Monday

Today’s Method Monday features a neutral scheme based on a grey palette.

Today’s Method Monday features a neutral scheme based on a grey palette. I love this combination of fabrics and furnishings for the variety of textures. The use of white elements brightens everything up and the overall feel is modern and sleek, but comfortable.

Robert Motherwell at the MET

New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be showcasing an exhibit to mark the one hundredth anniversary of American artist Robert Motherwell’s birth.

New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will be showcasing an exhibit to mark the one hundredth anniversary of American artist Robert Motherwell’s birth. He founded the New York School, an art movement that included Jackson Pollack and Mark Rothko, and was a teacher, writer, scholar, and champion of fellow artists. I have been so into art lately, and this is one collection of work that I don’t want to miss.

Motherwell traveled through Europe and spent time in Mexico, experiences that not only influenced his art but allowed him to create lasting relationships with other artists. He was, in fact, a crucial link between the American art world and its European contemporaries. His work is an important part of the Abstract Expressionism movement, featuring bold brushstrokes, dynamic movement, and simple shapes.

Collage in Yellow and White, with Torn Elements, 1949

Robert Motherwell’s work will be on exhibit at the MET through July 26. To plan a visit, see the MET website. You can also learn more about Robert Motherwell and see more examples of his paintings at The Dedalus Foundation. His work can also be viewed in the Robert Motherwell Paintings and Collages trio of books from Yale Press. I absolutely love this set — they make great coffee table books.