Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Wednesday Inspiration | Jane Rovers

Surf's Up by Jane Rovers




Jack Frost by Jane Rovers





In a Mist by Jane Rovers




The Sea by Jane Rovers



. . .

Today's Inspiration is Canadian Artist, Jane Rovers!

I have admired Jane's work for a few years now.  Contemporary and edgy, these works push the envelope when it comes to art and design.  I love the subject matter, colors, textures and bold graphic elements.  I'm delighted to own the top print, Surf's Up, which I absolutely LOVE!  You may recall seeing it in a style board earlier this week, a Play Space entitled California Coast.  I previously featured the same work in another inspiration board, Tropical Paradise.  

Have you seen Jane's website?  I'm completely inspired by it, what a cool way to showcase artwork - love the gallery feeling!  Also, so delighted to have recently discovered Jane on Instagram (which includes gorgeous Artist+Mom Inspiration)!

Hope you enjoyed today's post.  What an all-around inspirational artist!!

. . .

To view more gorgeous works like these, please visit Jane on her Website, on Etsy and on Instagram!



keywords:  wednesdayinspiration, featuredartist, featured artist

Monday, February 16, 2015

California Coast | Play Room




Today's Art in the Home post is kicking off and a leading up to this week's Friday Post: Art and a Baby | Getting Creative with Baby!  Follow along with me on Instagram this week with the hash tags #mhtips4artmoms and #mhcreativeplay to see what fun things my son and I will be doing every day this week!  Hope you can join us!

. . .

This style board is inspired by my son's Play Space, which is just a mash up of things we already had around the house.  It ended up having California Coast feeling - so we went with it!  It ended up being perfect since this space matches the dining/living combo, "Coastal Countryside" I designed a while back - see style board here.  I love how it turned out!

Just want to point out a few things.  LOVE the wire display {5} that we are going to use for showing off my son's art projects!!!  Can't wait to see how that will look with all the cute baby art we do together!  The painted swiss cross {4} is actually my son's first painting that we did as a DIY "tummy time finger painting" project.  After it had dried, I overlaid the swiss cross image.  I love, love, love it!  I put a filter on this one so it matched the aqua colors in the space.  I'm going to do another one this week with him and will be posting about it on Instagram, you can follow along with the hash tag #mhcreativeplay!!

I really wanted the wire basket {16} shown, but we were trying to spend as little as possible putting together this space.  I ended up making a trip to Home Goods and we picked up an aqua blue wire basket with bamboo trim that was much more reasonable AND it couldn't be more perfect with the space's beach-y feeling!  We lucked out and got the director's chairs {15} at a thrift store a few years ago, and at the same time, we sewed our own white canvas seats and backs!  It's pretty much the perfect decor for a Film lover from California.  One last thing to highlight, a DIY Busy Board {7} that we made for my son!  We made it to match the space, you can see the DIY details here.

Hope you enjoy this style board - can't wait to share the how the real room turns out soon!

. . .

For more ideas visit my "California Coast" Pinboard:


xo. m






keywords:  studiomini, ministudio, styleboard, artinthehome, diy

DIY Busy Board



Two very exciting things to share with you today!

#1 - This DIY Busy Board
+
#2 - A Style Board featuring this DIY Busy Board!
(Style Board on the way - check back soon!!)

. . .

My son (almost 8m) is at the stage where he LOVES knobs, buttons, switches and anything that moves and makes noise.  We have a vintage Pioneer SX1250 receiver that is currently his favorite toy.  He b-lines for it whenever he sees it.  So, we decided to make a Busy Board that he can safely enjoy that has all the same qualities!  We got the idea from this one and this one on Pinterest.  I wanted ours to be in my son's California Coast inspired play space so we choose an aqua, soft green and orange paint colors to match.  We chose all brass hardware.





The construction is fairly self explanatory, so I didn't take step-by-step photos.  Here are the materials and basic steps:


Materials

Wood Board (Ours is Pine - 1"x 12" - from Home Depot)
Light Switches (x2)
Switch Plate
3/4" Square Wood Pieces (for mounting the light switches)
Door Knob
Flip Locks (x2)
Door Lock
Hinge (x2)
Drawer Knocker Pulls (x2)
Sliding Door Lock
Wood Plaques, various shapes x2
Non Toxic Craft Paint, Satin Finish (Martha Steward Brand):
Board Color 50-50 Blend:  32009 - Pea Shoot x 32016 - Surf

Steps

1.  Just choose the size wood board you want & cut to size (ours is 12" x 30").
2.  Sand it smooth.
3.  Round the edges to make them safer.  (We used a router - 1/4" round over bit.)
4.  Paint the board.  We used a 50-50 mix of these two non-toxic paint colors: Pea Shoot & Surf (Martha Stewart Brand - see materials for links).
5.  Locate and buy all hardware.
6.  Paint doors.  We used orange and green non-toxic paint, namely Scallion & Tangy Tangerine (Martha Steward Brand - see materials for links).
7.  Arrange and secure hardware to board. (We raised up the light switches so we didn't have to cut a hole in the back.)
8.  Secure somewhere and let baby enjoy!  (Supervision is required.)

. . .




My son LOVES it, he can play for ever and ever on it!  Definite WIN!


. . .

Hope you enjoyed the DIY, and check back soon for the style board!!

xo. m



keywords:  DIY, artinthehome

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day!!


by Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)



Knight

. . .

Just sharing a couple romantic paintings from Art History for you today -

Happy Valentine's Day!



keywords:  wednesdayinspiration

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Wednesday Inspiration | Edgar Degas

The Star (Dancer on Stage) by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas



At the Cafe des Ambassadeurs by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas


Jockeys in the Rain by Edgar Dega

by Edgar Degas


Jockeys Before the Start with Flagpole by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas


Musicians in the Orchestra by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas


The Curtain by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas


Miss Lala at the Cirque Fernando by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas


Dancer with a Boquet of Flowers by Edgar Degas

by Edgar Degas



I've decided to feature a few related artists in a row for a couple weeks, last week was Post-Impressionist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and this weeks inspiration is an Impressionist one who both preceded and painted around the same time in the same location as Toulouse-Lautrec, namely, Edgar Degas (1834-1917).

The artists of this time period were very inspirational to me as a young artist.  My watercolor professor was probably the first to introduce me more fully to the impressionists.  She gave us lessons on these artists and spoke of the unusual compositions, the long legs of Degas horse paintings, the colors and the looseness of the media application.  Much like Lautrec, the compositions are striking and unusual.  Besides the non-traditional compositions, the light in his pieces is what draws me to them.  The bright white spot lights in all of the dancer pieces above makes the figures glow with an uncanny, almost moon-light, feeling.  Even the titles of the works, which often mention the star of the show, go hand in hand with the way the light is used.  The unusual colors and the varieties of texture in his pastel work is also completely mesmerizing.

Degas has a very interesting history and background, I recommend reading about it here.  After reading about his history and viewing a comprehensive body of work, Degas legacy reminds me of so many things, two of which I will share:  One, it's never to late to start a new career path and change course; since Degas changed careers in his early thirties - from that of a history painter to a contemporary painter of modern life.  And two, ALL of our artworks, even the most dreadful sketch could be cherished one day!  It's hard to believe the below sketch is from the hand of Edgar Degas.



by Edgar Degas


Yet, I LOVE IT!  Why?  It's very inspiring to see drawings like this one since it's not very finished and yet, still in Degas' repertoire.  It reminds me of why I keep paintings or drawings of mine that I am not fond of: that one day young artists can look at them an see how unskilled I once was, and know that everyone, even the greatest of artists, has humble beginnings and bad days.  So thank you Edgar Degas for inspiration on so many levels!

. . .

To learn more about Edgar Degas I recommend reading his Wikipedia article, WikiArt page, and viewing his page on Artsy.




keywords:  wednesdayinspiration

Monday, February 9, 2015

DIY Clothes & Jewelry Display | Gold Animals & Reclaimed Wood



I LOVE my Gold Animal clothes and jewelry display!  It's not only gorgeous in my room, it is extremely functional too!  They say necessity is the mother of invention, right?  Well, I needed a way to display clothes for special events, as well as to display and store scarves and jewelry.  This design was the perfect solution + these animal hooks are inexpensive and easy to make!

. . . . . . . . .
MATERIALS

Reclaimed Barn or Fence Wood
Screws (4)

. . .

TOOLS

Awl
Vice
Soft Cloth/Towel
Drill
Router


. . . . . . . . .


After gathering the materials, the first step was cutting the animals in half, we made sure to cut at the visual center of all the animals.  Then we used an awl to make a hole and pre-drilled further:  we wrapped the animal in a soft towel and clamped it in a vice then used a drill to make the hole the right size for the screws.  We then measured and pre-drilled the wood.

Above are the measurements for this project.  The trickiest ones I highlighted in light purple.  They were difficult to calculate, since I made those measurements precise to the 16th inch.  I centered the animals visually on the front and the heights were different for each one since some are taller than others.  If you aren't so picky, you can just take the average of all four.

Next we painted the animals using this gold spray paint (we got ours at Home Depot).  PRO TIP:  We drilled holes in a cheap piece of wood and used some cooking skewers to prop up the animals.  This made spray painting and the drying process much faster and easier too!  (See below.)

My husband made the key hole hangers with a router since wanted these to be flush mounted to the wall.








. . . . . . . .


THE FINISHED PRODUCT





I adore how these turned out!  The style of these Animal Hooks fits perfectly in our "Hawaii meets Hollywood Regency" style bedroom.  Plus, they are kind of modern art piece in and of themselves: since we used both sides of the animals it adds humor - a little conversation piece!  This display rack is great for clothing, scarves, and jewelry.  I recommend getting some wood hangers for a more professional and finished look.  We made a similar version for my Son's nursery you can view it here.






Hope you enjoyed this DIY!  

Check back every monday for more Home Decor inspiration and DIY projects - we've got more fun DIY's planned and on the way this year!!  Don't forget to enter the first Giveaway of 2015, it ends tomorrow 2/9!!!

xo. m




keywords:  artinthehome

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Toulouse-Lautrec at the Crocker Art Museum


A little piece of Paris is coming to California!

Exhibition of Parisian fine artist & poster artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento starting this week!

EXHIBITION DATES
February 1 - April 26
2015

. . . . . . . . .


(If you saw my post that the exhibit was open in January, my apologies,
I discovered recently that the Crocker changed the exhibition dates.)


Wednesday Inspiration | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

"At the Moulin Rouge" (Self portrait in the crowd.) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

"At the Moulin Rouge" (Self portrait in the crowd.)
by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


La Charrette Anglaise (The English Dog Cart) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

(The English Dog Cart)
by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


Le Chat Noir The Black Cat by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

The Black Cat
by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


In the Circus, Work Without Saddle by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


At the Cirque Fernando, Rider on a White Horse by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

At the Cirque Fernando, "Rider on a White Horse"
by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


Horsemen Riding on the Bois de Boulogne by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


La Valse des Lapins by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

The Procession of the Raja by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec


. . .

Today's inspiration is French Fine Artist & Poster Artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901).  As a young artist, I was very inspired by Impressionists and Poster Artists from Paris.  I loved the idea of being a commercial artist.  Perhaps this stemmed from my fascination with Illustrators like J.C. Lyendecker, Norman Rockwell and the T.V. show Bewitched, in which you may have noticed Darrin Stephens' job was similar: he was a Graphic Designer, more specifically an Illustrator for Advertising.  In any case, the time period, the subject matter (one common to painters around that time in France, dancers) and depiction of "real life," all wrapped up in the whimsy of the color palettes and striking compositions; it's completely captivating.  

I remember my high school music professor had the work, "At the Moulin Rouge," up on a pin board in the front of the room. I would often pass by and became good friends with the green faced woman contemporarily cropped out of the frame.  More recently, the film "Midnight in Paris," captured the night life of these artists perfectly!  As the film portrayed, I love the fact that many famous artists in Paris were friends and even painted together, as well as the notion that they were influenced by famous artists from previous art movements.

Paris itself is a very magical and romantic place.  Having taken a trip there with my high school watercolor group and painting the scenes of Paris, including a venture into Montmartre, first hand fostered a strange connection to these artists.  Seeing these famous works in person, in Paris, was surreal.  The line work (reminiscent of Heinrich Kley), the unusual subject matter, color choice and application, the strange illustrations paired with non-traditional composition are some of the things that captivate me about Toulouse-Lautrec's work.

Seeing the work in Paris is a dream, but we are very fortunate, since there is an exhibit of Toulouse-Lautrec's work taking place in California right now!  Starting this week, an exhibition of his work is showing at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.  I highly recommend attending the exhibit.  Toulouse-Lautrec and his work are a significant part of Art History.  Immerse yourself in 19th century Paris!

. . .

For more information on Tolouse-Lautrec, his art and life, I recommend reading his Wiki article, and to view a comprehensive compilation of his work visit his WikiArt page.  

An exhibition of his art is currently at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento  from February 1 - April 26, 2015.





keywords:  wednesdayinspiration

Monday, February 2, 2015

DIY Children's Clothing Display | Gold Horses & Reclaimed Wood!




This is the clothing display rack in my son's room (style board + room tour).  We did it completely DIY and used salvaged weathered fence boards, which has a barn-wood feeling!  All the materials we used and those I could find references for are linked to below.  Under that I have provided the measurements!  (TIPS:  All the horses were cut in half as close to the visual center as possible.  After cutting the horses in half, in the back we made holes with an awl at the visual center.)   I love how it turned out!  It is just perfect for my sons room which has a Colonial / Western feeling, and it's so practical too!  A pretty easy and fun project.   

I'll be sharing a grown-up version and a few more tips next Monday!

. . .

Materials

Reclaimed Barn or Fence Wood
Awl
Screws (4)



. . . . . . . . .

xo. m




keywords: artinthehome, nursery, baby room, DIY