ISIS CERAMICS' CHINOISERIE CHINA

Years ago, when I was studying at Oxford University, I loved poking around in the charming old shops in town center. If you avoided the tourist-tchotchkes-key-chain-selling establishments, there were wonderful treasures to be found. One of those great finds for me was Isis Ceramics. A bespoke English delftware company named for the nearby Thames (known locally as the Isis), Isis Ceramics was founded in 1988 by Deborah Sears. A phenomenally talented painter, Sears created a series of china patterns - all hand painted by herself and local artistans - in the chinoiserie style. Each piece is a unique artwork, as beautiful as it is unusual. They are gasp-worthy in person, and I treasure my own Isis Ceramics!

These patterns also put me in mind of some of Southern designer Phoebe Howard's work. Wouldn't Isis pieces look stunning in these dining rooms? The wall murals and the china coordinate beautifully. I wish I knew who Howard had used to paint/paper these spaces.

P.S. Isis Ceramics also creates exquisitely beautiful custom china for weddings. Brides and grooms can choose a unique design that reflects scenes and symbols special to them. Isis Ceramics also provides a bridal registry, where guests' names are painted onto the back of their gifts to the couple.

Images, www.oushop.com/acatalog/Isis_Ceramics.html, artstheanswer.blogspot.com/, www.bbchomesandantiques.com/feature/pots-personality. Rooms, Phoebe Howard.

John Galliano’s Marie Antoinette Inspired Collection for Spring 2010

Marie Antoinette

As promised, I am thrilled to bring you a very special guest post today from talented artist and style savant Ingrid Mida. Ingrid's repertoire, which includes beautiful, fashion-inspired artwork and photography (be sure to visit her online gallery), is regularly exhibited in Toronto, and she brings a wonderful historical sensibility to each creation. She is particularly inspired by Marie Antoinette, thus making her our ideal guide for this Dior collection. Enjoy!

"Marie Antoinette and the pre-revolutionary court of Versailles seem to be an ongoing source of inspiration for fashion designers, including the spring 2010 collection of John Galliano for Dior. Although the links to Marie Antoinette are more subtle than his “Masquerade and Bondage” collection of 2000, they are there nonetheless. The influence of Marie Antoinette on the Dior collection for winter is in evidence in the riding costumes, luxe hats atop frothy, pouffed hair styles and exaggerated hip lines.

The pouf hairstyle was a signature hairstyle for Marie Antoinette and much copied after she debuted it in 1774. Galliano brings the elevated hairstyle back in this collection to great effect!

During Marie Antoinette’s reign, extravagant hats often topped these towering pouf hairstyles. Similarly, Galliano adds frothy and luxe toppers to complete many of his over-the-top fabulous confections.

Perhaps most obvious is the influence of the riding costume on the Dior collection, especially as Galliano ended the show by appearing dressed in riding attire. 

The male-style fraque a bavaroise was popular for women in 1779 and had lasting impact on women’s fashionable attire. Galliano's interpretation of riding costume in the Dior winter collection is the height of elegance and chic!

Exaggerated hip lines somewhat reminiscent of panniers can be seen in several of the beautiful long evening gowns.

Marie Antoinette was the first fashion icon. She serves as a muse to many designers like Galliano and artists like myself. Please visit me at Fashion is my Muse to read more posts about her and visit my website to see artwork inspired by this period."

- Ingrid Mida

Images: Marie Antoinette and the Dior Collection.

Giddy About Gadabout

Awww... thanks!  One of the things I love about blogging is the element of surprise:  I never know when I'll stumble across beautiful photography, exquisite fashion, or an inspiring artist. I mentioned Hanna's stationary from Gadabout Papers a few weeks ago - a paper card is a rather limiting shape, but Hanna's designs breathe fresh life into the medium.  Proof in the pudding:  this very sweet (and stunning) thank you note for my post. Thanks Hanna! Stationary never looked so good.

New Mexico Museum and Jozef Bakos

A recent issue of Architectural Digest brought the Museum of New Mexico store to my attention. They're offering beautiful patterned tiles (or trivets, but I dislike that word because it confines a flexible decorative object to the kitchen). The tiles are decorated with artworks by prominent New Mexico painters or Navajo patterned rugs.

Springtime Rainbow, by Jozef Bakos.

A tile with an Arape Style Navajo rug design.

Santuario de Chimayo, New Mexico.

I was unfamiliar with the work of artist Jozef Bakos (1891 - 1977), so I decided to investigate further. Bakos was originally from Buffalo, NY, and was a member of "Los Cinco Pintores," an avant garde painting group in Santa Fe. He was also a professor at the University of Denver, a carpenter, and a furniture maker.

Jozef Bakos, Sunmount

Jozef Bakos, Sun Mountain

Jozef Bakos, Kitchen Interior

Images, jozefbakos.com, matthewchaseltd.com, askart.com.

Trompe L'Oeil

It's a stunningly beautiful day in Alabama. Earlier this morning, I snapped this pic on my new blackberry of a lovely configuration of mare's tails. They look a bit like jellyfish trailing tenticles to me though... maybe I'm overdue for a trip to the beach?

I'm very fond of using elements from nature in decorating, and far from finding it cheesy, I love a trompe l'oeil ceiling with clouds. If well done (think: opposite of Vegas), a cloudy ceiling brings a little of the outdoors, in.

The art of trompe l'oeil dates back to Greek times, and figures among the Greek mythology:  "A legendary contest is remembered between two ancient Greek painters, Zeuxis and Parrhasius. They challenged each other to produce the most realistic painting. Zeuxis painted grapes which the birds flew down to try and eat. Then, Zeuxis asked Parrhasius to draw back the curtains on his painting. Parrhasius knew he had won because the drapes were part of the painting." - Rebecca Abel, Brown University. By far the most beautiful examples of this art are found in the churches of Rome. This exquisitely rendered ceiling of Sant Ignazio was painted by Andrea Pozzo around 1685. The ceiling is completely flat, including the dome. The effect in real life is indescribable - the figures above seem to bend toward you, and their expressions alter in the light.

St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are of course the most well known ceilings, but glorious examples are found throughout the Vatican. In this hallway, an unadorned ceiling appears to be intricately plastered and carved.

This tradition later made its way to America, quite literally in the case of the library at Biltmore, which was imported from an Italian Villa in strips and then reinstalled on the ceiling. Constantino Brumidi brought the ceiling mural to government; below, the interior of the U.S. Capitol dome, depicting the Apotheosis of Washington (surrounded here by some picturesque clouds and the original 13 colonies, represented as maidens). The square pattern around the mural is not trompe l'oeil (literally: "fool the eye"), but impressed steel, painted to compliment the mural. It too has an Italian model:  the Pantheon.

Trompe l'oeil is still alive and well today. Here's chalk artist Julian Beever's highly amusing street work - the sidewalk is still there, but notice how the pedestrians are skirting it anyway.

And if you're feeling VERY daring and want to pick up a brush yourself, try The Art of Faux: 

Credits: Sant Ignazio, Wikipedia. Vatican Hall, About.com. Capitol Ceiling, aoc.gov. Julian Beever's work, sharenator.com.

Artist Gallery: Elizabeth Stockton

A recent post on  Fashion Is My Muse made some very thought-provoking points about beauty and its place (or lack thereof) in the art world today.  I rejoice whenever I find an artist who has developed a unique vision appreciative of beauty, and Elizabeth Stockton is one such artist.  Her serene and frequently haunting paintings invite you to look deeply and consider landscape as an expression of emotion.

I appreciate the wonderful serenity of Stockton's paintings - in a world of chaos, she paints an oasis of calm. It is sometimes sad, but it is always quiet. Here's her Artist's Statement:

"I paint landscapes that portray an

emotion as opposed to an actual place.

I appreciate a painting that haunts me

so I never get tired of looking at it and

studying it - one that changes with the

light, the season, placement, and mood.

My paintings evoke an emotion of

peacefulness, awareness, quiet,

and tranquility."

Consider: what is more emotional to you than the landscape in which you grew up? Your home, the yard, the hill behind your house? Or what, really, is America without the Grand Canyon, Italy without her coastline, Switzerland without her mountains? In turn, consider the cultural currents surrounding suburbia and its cul de sacs, or perceptions of inner city violence. Landscape is environment - and it frequently defines those within it.

For further readings on landscape and art, I would highly recommend Simon Schama's book Landscape and Memory, which asks, when we look at a landscape, do we see nature or culture? It's a worthwhile question.

Have a great (and restful!) holiday weekend everyone! You can find out more about this Atlanta based Artist here.

Pic 1: Atlanta Homes Mag. Pic 2 - 4: www.elizabethstockton.com.