art Archives - Page 7 of 14 - The Curated House

The Curated Collection | Eric Blum

I first stumbled upon the haunting and ethereal work of Eric Blum on Pinterest of all places! It was just one image, but it captivated my imagination. There was something other-worldly, soulful, gentle and transparent about the work that drew me in and made me feel.

As it turns out, his entire body of work has a similar effect for me. There is a sense that his work is capturing blurry impressions – perhaps early memories that can’t be carved out with hard lines and sharp edges, the way things look when you don’t quite look straight at them, or remember your dreams just before waking.

There is something poetic and not at all literal in his work that speaks to me. The organic and gently layered shapes and lines allow perception to become reality.

His technique fascinates me as well – this entire collection is a mixture of ink, silk and beeswax on canvas. I imagine a process similar to the one of really coming to know oneself – slow, patient and deeply rewarding.

Somehow these pieces remind me that we can be at peace with the unknown. In a world where our daily task seems to be to control it, I find in Eric’s work a reminder to let go instead. In letting go, we find a sweeter, wilder song to sing, a more adventurous path to trod, and more open arms to embrace the surprises that await us.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|June 17th, 2013|0 Comments

The Curated Collection | Suzanne Ernst

I always love a good story, and today’s artist certainly has one. Armed with a masters degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University, Suzanne Ernst started out making her mark as the in-house landscape architect for a major Canadian architectural firm, working for clients around the clock to pour her passion for design and beauty into their projects. But the gratification of seeing her visions fulfilled was often waylaid by competing budgets, and the hard edges of the business started to wear away at the softer edges of Suzanne’s artistic integrity. So, in an act of courage and honesty, Suzanne embraced her love for landscape and decided to protect it by giving it a new voice as a mixed media visual artist.

Armed with her camera and her very personal and refined view of the natural world, Suzanne now expresses her well-honed vision through the lens. She prints the images to her chosen scale and then lovingly enhances each one with acrylic paint, ink, pastels and pencil crayon before adhering them to board and finishing them with a water’s-surface-like coat of colour-enhancing resin.

Suzanne’s story is a story of redemption, really. Of protecting the thing you love most. Of staying true to your passions and recognizing where they are best set free.

I wonder how each of us might take a page from Suzanne’s book? Where do I need to take a leap of faith to guard and protect my first loves? Clearly – as evidenced by Suzanne’s work – the results of such courage are truly beautiful.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|May 27th, 2013|0 Comments

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 Sarah Walker The Curated House|April 29th, 2013|0 Comments