/abstract expressionism

The Curated Collection | Cy Twombly

Remember the jaw-droppingly gorgeous floor from Catherine Kwong‘s rock ‘n’ roll lounge at the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase? I can’t stop thinking about it, and more to the point, wishing I had a client courageous enough to allow me to make such unabashedly artistic gestures in their home. I loved Catherine’s process, and the storied and curated inspiration for her room – from Mick and Bianca Jagger and the rock ‘n’ roll glam culture they helped to create; to the hum and vibe of backstage life; to the iconic art of Cy Twombly, the direct inspiration for that inspiring floor.

So today I’m taking some time to sit and savour – like sipping a fine wine – the artist who inspired Catherine’s spectacular art floor: Cy Twombly.

Born in 1928, Twombly was known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, calligraphic-style graffiti paintings. Painted on solid fields of mostly gray, tan, or off-white, it is their graphic simplicity bursting with emotion that sets them apart and has led to his work being exhibited and collected around the globe.

His approach to painting blurred the lines between painting and drawing, making lines and gestures subject matter unto themselves, holding their own next to traditional landscapes and figurative work.

Twombly was influential amongst his peers, and an agent of discomfort for critics in the postwar era of art. He had a capacity to polarize his audience – from discomfort to passionate admiration of his boldness.

How do you respond to the gestural work of Cy Twombly? Confusion? Admiration?

My hope is he inspires all of us to push the boundaries of exploration and expression. He certainly succeeded with Catherine Kwong, and I tip my hat to them both.

Happy Monday!
xo
s.

By |April 29th, 2013|0 Comments

Make Something Mondays | Lila Lewis Irving

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to a passionate abstract painter whose process is both emotional and inspiring. Starting with watercolours and woodcut prints in the 1960’s, Lila Lewis Irving’s artistic voice has evolved dramatically over the years. After thoroughly exploring literal subject matter through watercolours and printmaking for decades, Irving broke through to the adventurous world of abstract expressionism in 1990. Since then, she hasn’t looked back.

Irving’s dramatically large canvases – filled with gestural shapes, sophisticated compositions and bold colours – are the result of powerfully tapping into emotions, intuition and creativity while shutting off the “thinking brain” as much as possible. Her life-long commitment to spontaneity is inspirational.

I’ve had the joy of seeing Lila Lewis Irving’s work installed in a wonderful client’s home. Her pieces are at once bold, powerful, harmonious and deeply engaging.

Today I have a real treat for you – a beautiful mini documentary offering a rare glimpse into Lila’s deeply intuitive, private and emotional process. Lila says her greatest achievement is simply being able to paint for 50+ years. Painting for passion and not for profit has certainly served Lila well. Her work has been significantly represented in both private and public art collections.


Appassionata from Joel-Adam Powley on Vimeo.

Director + Producer – Joss Monzon
Director of Photography – Chris van Dijk
Camera + Editor – Joel-Adam Powley

Wishing you a day, an hour, or even a moment when you are able to turn off your thinking brain and immerse yourself fully in your intuition. If Lila is any example, this courageous and creative exercise can offer rather stunning results.

xo
s.

By |October 22nd, 2012|0 Comments