/The Curated Collection

Inspiring Art, A VIP Party + A Giveaway!

Heads up, art lovers. There’s a new kid on the curator’s block, and she’s all kinds of amazing. Friends, meet Alessandra Salituri of Citizen Atelier.

The most inspiring adventures are always born out of passion, and that is most certainly the case with Citizen Atelier. Alessandra spent countless hours visiting galleries and pouring over portfolios before curating her Montreal-based collection. And I think you’ll agree, the art she offers is entirely chic, edgy, feminine, fashion-forward and totally my cuppa. In fact, she has included some of my favourite contemporary artists in her collection.

ANGEL I (left) and ANGEL IV (right) by ZENA HALLOWAY
I can’t tell you how much I want one of Zena Halloway’s Angels. Etherial. Dreamy. Feminine. Dramatic. Perfection.
And wouldn’t it pair perfectly with one of Ashley Woodson Bailey’s stunning florals? They are both moody and uplifting all at once {how is that even possible?}. Strong yet soft and somehow mysterious.

ALEX by ASHLEY WOODSON BAILEY
COOGEE WAVE by GRAY MALIN

Gray Malin’s art just makes me want to go on an adventure and enjoy my life. Seriously. All of it. And that’s the best kind of inspiration to have hanging on your walls if you ask me.

Remember Jenny Andrews Anderson? Yep, she is a part of Citizen Atelier’s stellar line up as well.

BREAK by JENNY ANDREWS ANDERSON

As if Alessandra’s twin-sister-taste in art weren’t enough to make me love her, she’s coming to town. She’s not just coming to town, but she’s kind of moving to town, because she’s opening up her first bricks-and-mortar presence in partnertship with the gorgeous Black Rooster Decor. And naturally, she’s having a coming-out party to celebrate. Think VIP, invite-only kind of scene, rubbing shoulders with the who’s-who of design and shelter publications all right here in Toronto this Wednesday night from 6-9pm.

And here’s the best part: One of you lucky art lovers can win the chance to get your name on the exclusive invitee list for said party where you can hang out with me and Alessandra while taking innumerable selfies and sipping something fabulous. Oh yes, and that is also when and where you will personally receive your choice of a small print from Citizen Atelier artist Georgianna Lane. Just feast your eyes on these beauties!

SPARKLE by GEORGIANNA LANE
VERSAILLES CHANDELIER II by GEORGIANNA LANE
VERSAILLES CHANDELIER I by GEORGIANNA LANE
VERSAILLES CHANDELIER III by GEORGIANNA LANE
VERSAILLES CHANDELIER IV by GEORGIANNA LANE

Who doesn’t need a touch of Parisian magic in their home? Georgianna’s prints are the perfect way to make that happen.

So how do you make sure you are the one to party like an art lover and walk away with the print to prove it? 3 easy steps:

1. Follow @citizenatelier and @thecuratedhouse on Instagram
2. Sign up for my email list in the right side bar
3. Pin your favourite Georgianna Lane print above to Pinterest with the hashtags #citizenatelierXthecuratedhouse and #artgiveaway

That’s it! 3 easy steps to truly the most exclusively delightful invitation and gorgeous gift of the week, so hop to it, darlings! Just let me know about all your social media love in the comments below, and we will announce our lucky winner on Wednesday morning. Can’t wait to see one of you at the party!

xo
s.

By |November 17th, 2014|0 Comments

The Curated Collection | Jenny Andrews-Anderson

One of the things I love about art is the discovery waiting to be revealed in it – of a new perspective, an awakened emotion, a new view to beauty. I also love discovering artists in the early years of their work, as their process of evolution is inevitably a fascinating narrative. Stumbling upon today’s artist feels like stumbling upon a gold mine of inspiration, and I really can’t wait to see where her work will take her next.

Remarkably, Jenny Andrews-Anderson is a self-taught artist, and her foray into the ethereal underworld of jellyfish is very recent.
She describes waking up one day with an image of a black and white photograph of jellyfish in her head and the knowledge that she had to paint it. The results are truly breathtaking.
And when I say “recent,” I mean in the last two weeks. Jenny’s first post of a jellyfish painting was November 12th. I’ve shared these images in chronological order of when she painted them to show the development of the concept in her body of work. And to put it simply, I am completely blown away.

This should come as no surprise confession: I am coveting one of Jenny’s paintings. Large. The only problem is they seem to sell before the paint is even dry on the paper!

Many of these pieces take my breath away, and I have a new number one item on my personal wish list for Christmas. Oh. My. Goodness.

If you check Jenny’s Etsy store you will find it conspicuously empty, but she does accept commissions, which these days might be the only way to snatch up one of these beauties before they disappear into the ether of great taste and smart art buying. You can keep an eye on her Tumblr as well to keep up to date with her latest inspiration.

Keep dreaming good dreams, Jenny, and waking up with these visions in your head. They are truly spectacular, and I can’t wait to see where your work {and your dreams} will take you next.

xo
s.

By |November 25th, 2013|2 Comments

Decorating a Nursery with Groupings of Original Art

I must apologize for not posting this last week as I’d promised. Real life got all kinds of “real” and…well…you know what they say about best laid plans. But it’s Monday morning, the sun is shining, and there is a fresh and happy week ahead of us! What better way to start that week than with some inspiration on how to use original art in your nursery design?

The lovely Patricia from Art Interiors sent me some wonderful inspiration images showcasing pieces from their gallery installed in children’s rooms, and let’s just say I’m in l-o-v-e. I know I might sound like a broken record here, but I really do believe in carving out room in your decorating budget for original art whenever and wherever you can. Original art has the ability to transform a space from pedestrian and boring to personal and dynamic in a way that little else can. Just feast your eyes on these inspiring spaces and you’ll see what I mean!

This first nursery {above} feels quiet, sophisticated and perhaps a little bit quirky; whereas this second children’s room {below} feels bold and fun and unexpected.

This little girl’s room {below} is all kinds of charming, and the solo piece that greets you as you enter suggests she will grow up into a very interesting and sophisticated lady.

I’m totally crazy for the grouping in this sweet baby girl’s nursery {above}. The diversity and juxtaposition of the pieces creates such an interesting sense of story, and the pieces they have collected can easily be built upon and rearranged over time.

Is it just me, or does the art totally make these spaces come alive?

Not only did Patricia send over some inspiration of art groupings that have already been installed in children’s rooms, but she also kindly pulled together three fresh groupings for us – all created with a baby boy’s nursery in mind – to get the creative juices flowing using pieces that are currently available at The Festival of The Smalls.

Grouping Number One {above} is a delightful mix of hip and fresh with a healthy dose of vintage throw-back for good measure. I particularly love the hockey player by Patrick Lajoie {left} and the hipster playing with the viewfinder by Kelly Grace {top right}.

Grouping Number Two is given a more modern edge with the photograph by Emilie Rondeau {left}. My favourite piece in this grouping is the cyclist by Sara Caracristi {bottom left}, but I love the play of colour and texture that keeps the eye moving and engaged amongst all the pieces in this dynamic grouping.

Grouping Number Three {above} is really a marriage of the first two. Anybody remember Marigold? Oh my goodness that takes me back! And the vintage Fisher Price record player {top right by Kelly Grace} was seriously one of my all-time favourite toys when I was a kid! The abstract colour-blocked piece by Richard Herman is fresh and lends a modern edge to the nostalgic vibe of some of the other pieces.

Today’s visual design lesson really builds upon last week’s 3 Tips For Buying Original Art: buy what you love; start small and build over time; and be open to diversity! As you can see from the groupings above, an interesting mix will add energy and intrigue to a space in refreshingly unexpected ways. And remember what we learned from the gents at Madcap Cottage? Gallery groupings are totally where it’s at.

Can’t wait to get working on my groupings for Project Debonaire Young Sir and Project Nursery. Goodness, I have so much to do! But believe you me, the art groupings are already floating around in my head like happy little dreams. Just have to get the spaces ready so I have fresh walls on which to hang the art!

Wishing you a happy Monday, brimming with inspiration and fresh perspective.

xo
s.

By |November 18th, 2013|0 Comments