I found these by Yago Partal and they really made me smile. Aren’t they just exactly like people? We’re still waiting for some sunshine here… I do hope summer starts soon!
~ Zoo portraits ~
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Art
~ Abbey Mcculloch ~
Really like these paintings by Abbey Mcculloch, an Australian painter. Couldn’t find any site of Abbey nor any other site where you can buy her work, so she is shrouded in a little bit of mystery. I like a little bit of mystery from time to time…
~ Tate Modern London #3 ~
As promised my post about Tate Modern. I really loved that museum, not just because it was nearby our hotel, but also because it’s a great building (I actually loved the building even more than the actual collection – although that was pretty great too). In museums I’m always intrigued by people looking at art. I mean the gaze is a much debated subject in psychoanalysis and a popular question in philosophy or cultural analysis is where does meaning start? Is it indeed with the artwork itself, with the viewer or somewhere in between, in what we can call the narrative of art? Anyway, I will not turn this into a philosophical discussion, but the photo’s of Tate I took are somewhat ‘indirect’ since I only photographed people having the experience of art which I find very intriguing.
~ Alia Penner ~
Stumbled upon these illustrations by Alia Penner. Love them!
{Ali Penner It Girl Book (2006) & Jean (2007)}
~ The Blank (Gallery) Wall ~
When we moved here Mister wanted everything white. So when we in fact moved, we felt like we moved to the Apple store, it was so very white we needed some shades. Now white is a good basis, don’t get me wrong, but the thing is, white is so very white. My aunt, who is an artist, said once: “my eyes need hooks and crannies to cling to.” We try to maintain a delicate balance between the serenity my Mister comes to look for when he’s home and my natural curious gaze that needs little things to marvel and wonder about. My latest design challenge is the big white wall above our couch. It’s now ‘just white’ and since we have a high ceiling everything seems to be more empty because of it. That wall needs something, but we don’t want any stuff like shelves. I wanted something different. I had this vision of all sorts of little and big paintings, drawings and posters even before I knew this kind of thing had a name: a gallery wall. So there it is: I want a gallery wall and am now contemplating which pieces go together to create a serene but interesting combination. Since it’s quite the undertaking, looking for the perfect poster etc. is not that easy, I’ve decided to keep you updated on this wall to see it’s progress. For now some inspiration!
{1. brit.co / 2. Do you fancy this / 3. The design files}
~ David Stephenson ~
When I was in college we had a course about the concept of the sublime which has made a lasting impression on me and so I was immediately drawn to these photo’s by David Stephenson. His meditation on the sublime has really influenced his artistic practice and his photographs of the sublime ceilings of European sacred architecture have been published in two monographs: Visions of Heaven: The Dome in European Architecture (2005) and Heavenly Vaults: From Romanesque to Gothic in European Architecture (2009, and showcased worldwide in many exhibitions. They are truly sublime.
{1.Sala de las Dos Hermanas, Alhambra, Granada, Spain, 2003 / 2.Chapter House, York Minster, York, England, 2006 / 3. ?? / 4. Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, Rome, Italy, 1997}
~ Kasamatsu Shiro A spring night ~
We’ve had a change of weather which is very welcome, I’m already planning trips to the beach and such. Let’s hope we finally have beaten winter and that spring is coming!
{ Kasamatsu Shiro “A Spring Night” 1889-1991 Japan}
~ Flying houses by Laurent Chehere ~
Lately I’ve been having trouble remembering my dreams. Each morning when I wake up I immediately forget that I’ve dreamt let alone remember exactly what it was. I really feel I’m missing out on something. I used to have these elaborate dreams and I’ve always given them some sort of significance like they were trying to tell me something. But, lately it’s been very quiet on that front. I remember this one dream I had years ago of a piece of rock that was floating in the air on the edge of a beach. There was a beautiful castle built on that rock. These pictures by Laurent Chehere reminded me of that dream, but then a little bit different of course. I just have this fascination for anything up in the air.
~ Femmy Otten ~
Looking back I should have gone to the Art Academy or something like that. I don’t know if I would have been any good, but I’ve always felt that if I would have been challenged in a constructive way I could have surprised myself. Sometimes I reminisce and dream of the old forgotten days when you started as an apprentice and slowly but surely learned the trade in that way. I’ve always wanted to work with my hands but at the same time I’m really typically a thinker. This is why I so much respect artists and creatives. The work by Femmy Otten (1981) is really intriguing, I like her use of colors (soft pastel) and her three dimensional work. She makes murals and installations that are reminiscent of myths and has a definite connection to the classical fresco’s. She has an impressive art resume and has been making her mark in the international art world. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have such talent and to maybe someday hang in a museum with your work? To have your art as a legacy? So it can continue to speak after you yourself have gone.
The following text can be found on the website of the Royal Academy of Arts where she is an artist in residence, it explains something of her motives. I think it’s beautiful.
“It’s magic when thoughts become reality.
Tying laces together, licking out love.
When it gets too warm to stay human.
My concentration floats endlessly over, under and through the image,
but mostly slips away.
A scenography of waiting.
Standing in my studio, my right arm stretched towards the canvas,
it crawls up along my shoulder.
Then, when I’m no longer apprehensive,
it will appear out of thin air.”
Tying laces together, licking out love.
When it gets too warm to stay human.
My concentration floats endlessly over, under and through the image,
but mostly slips away.
A scenography of waiting.
Standing in my studio, my right arm stretched towards the canvas,
it crawls up along my shoulder.
Then, when I’m no longer apprehensive,
it will appear out of thin air.”
~ Meet the Tweet revisited ~
When I went to Meet the Tweet last Sunday (thanks again Nina, Rivka and Ria) it was actually one of our conversation topics: why post something about something when others have posted about that something. Is there anything you can add? I thought about that conversation while I postponed writing about MTT. You see, I was a little bit shy. Because how could I add something when so many attending had written so many good posts already? But then I remembered our conclusion: you always have something to bring to the table when it’s in your tone of voice or when it’s drenched in your particular ‘style’. And I remembered what I thought was the great positive about that Sunday: it was meeting so many talented and passionate Dutch ladies. I really was blown away by how amazing some of their products were. I have this awe for anyone with the creative gene, maybe because I lack it. So here are some examples of the talent of some of my (new) favorite creative ladies. In the little booklet Nina made all the attendees have written some quotes and blogtips. If you would like to get your hands on a copy, please do contact Nina.
{ Logo of Meet the Tweet / 2. Zonnende merel by Simone a.k.a. Miss Honeybird / 3. Card by Ocher / Baby emperor penguin by Ankepanke - isn’t it too cute? }
So I’m not going to rave about Badhu (where it all took place) which is great and really beautiful and I just know you already made plans to go there sometime, but I am going to insist you check out these talented entrepreneurs and lovely blogs right now:
- If you are searching for the perfect ring try a confetti ring by Twinklebird, I’m saving up for one!
- Do check out the incredibly versatile Carlotte at Ocher, she paints, she designs, she can do pretty much anything I think! I had a really interesting talk with her (she can be hired too to do design, branding, creative concepts).
- Love the vintage broches by Broesj! Very dangerous stuff indeed!
- Really impressed by the blog and work of Windward, lovely lady and very talented. She can be contacted for web design and such.
- Allihoppa’s blog is now among my Bloglovin Dutch bloggers to keep up with!
- Nathalie Paak is one of my favorite Dutch bloggers and she sells beautiful selfmade photo’s, cards and lifestyle items in her web shop Worldly Treasury.
- Also check MooisenMeer where publishing house buddies Suzanne and Saskia aim to inspire.
I’m very excited for the next edition!
