The perfect Painting on this Wall

When I saw this picture for the first time it occurred to me immediately that I had the perfect painting for this wall. The wall firmly screamed for even more orange colours...

 (original image source: homesolute.com)

The above image is probably only from a showroom but if this vignette were part of your livingroom or a hotel lobby (even more then) I would place this 3-panel silk painting right on this wall. Isn't it made exactly for this place - what do you think?

The painting consists of 3 silk panels which could be hung separately even as each one is a complete image in itself. The semi-surrealistic motif has been inspired by the awsome canyons you can find on the North American continent.

  "Canyon"
(from the Magic Landscapes series) 
40" x 63", Triptych, silk
©Petra Voegtle

I have added some details of this painting to show you the colour hues and textures in close view:

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Colours of the Desert - Dry Land - a surreal Landscape

This painting belongs to a series called The Magic of Landscapes and I have shown it already several times in different environments. Here are now some details about it. The series is also part of a concept and the theme of this concept is to show the magic that surrounds us everywhere and is recognized easily when we open the eyes. This series explores the magic of landscapes and special places, the moments of awe when we see the miracles that are created by nature rather than human phantasy, the moments of spiritual connection with the past and the future and the moments of transformation through human imagination.

Dry Land is a semi-surrealistic landscape. Inspired by the colours of the desert, which can change completely during a day, this work shows the paradoxa of a landscape that obey the natural laws of nature. While the dune like formations seem to be a solid mass, the surface of the dried river bed  appears  fragile and delicate. But in reality the opposite is true: dunes are the fragile element, ever changing with the wind and the dried river bed has turned into solid earth, hard as stone when the water is all gone.

(click on images for enlargement)

"Dry Land"
(from the Magic Landscapes Series)
40" x 21", silk
©Petra Voegtle

Under following links you can find some room examples featuring this painting: interior1, interior2, interior3

This painting has been painted on silk, has been gallery wrapped and is ready to be hung with or without additional frame.

(This work won an "Artist of the Year" award at the Boxheart Gallery in Pennsylvania and a solo show.)

In addition I am presenting here a version of the painting how it could look like when framed in a sophisticated frame. It makes a difference - doesn't it?

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Art is a Stepchild of Interior Design

What I love most in this room is the round arch as opening to the next and of course that magnificent swing. I want one too...

But as usual I am not quite content with the original art that was on the wall - not because I think I have the better paintings (of course I do ) but because I think in many examples I have shown art is definitely not a major element of care or to say it more bluntly - art is the last subject the interior designer was thinking about which I bewail.

Sometimes it appears to me that interior design ends at the cushions on the sofa or bed, that the decorator was tired and eager to get the job done. So something has to go on the wall but there is no money nor time left to spend a bit more energy to fulfill the job. And sadly enough more money is often spent on stupid light fixtures or accessoires which are unneccessary and only dust catchers. Less would be really more. I would rather hang a poster on the wall to fill the place and then take time to look for the perfect painting or other wall art piece instead of buying something cheap and meaningless.

My mantra is when you can afford to spend xxx money for a bag or a designer table ware, you could spend the same money on a REAL piece of art.

Of course you also have the other way round - people spending big bucks on a painting that is intended to be an investment but does not fit into the environment at all. This should rather be kept in the security container of a bank than on a wall then...

I need to add though - in order to be fair - that there are many many examples of interior design where you really can see that every single piece was chosen with great care and diligence and a lot of love for the task. Unfortunately I am not so sure whether this is always appreciated by the clients accordingly...

Now in this example below I thought it would be more appropriate to repeat the hues of the rug and the furniture rather than using the original art piece on the wall. The orange of the painting Naranja adds a bit more warmth to a room that is rather cool despite the gas fire place in the wall.

 original image source and with courtesy of 

http://www.livingetc.com

the original image  

The acrylic painting belongs to the Reminiscences series, a painting series, that was created from my photo documentary about the Olympic Student Village in Munich, that has been torn down 2 years ago in order to be re-constructed.

"Naranja"
(from the Reminiscences series)

26" x 18", acrylic

©Petra Voegtle

 

In order to create a kind of memorial for the beautiful and often funnily painted walls which are now all lost I took hundreds of photos from the village. But this was not enough for me - I also decided to create a painting series from the most impressive and beautiful parts i.e. walls, doors and windows. The peeling paints and especially the marks all the vines left on the plaster created wonderful patterns and structures. There is an extra photo series only about these wall motifs which you will find here.

More about the painting itself and the whole series you can find under this link .

A Touch of Colour in the Bedroom...

I like this little bedroom with its stylish graphic decor although I am missing colour a bit here. So I thought I would add just a bit of an eyecatcher with a modern painting rather than leaving that net over the bed. I love mosquito nets as an element of romantic decor but in this case I would prefer a bit more colour.

with courtesy of livingtec.com

original image source http://www.livingetc.com

The acrylic painting belongs to the Reminiscences series, a painting series, that was created from my photo documentary about the Olympic Student Village in Munich, that has been torn down 2 years ago in order to be re-constructed.

In order to create a kind of memorial for the beautiful and often funnily painted walls which are now all lost I took hundreds of photos from the village. But this was not enough for me - I also decided to create a painting series from the most impressive and beautiful parts i.e. walls, doors and windows. The peeling paints and especially the marks all the vines left on the plaster created wonderful patterns and structures. There is an extra photo series only about these wall motifs which you will find here.

More about the painting itself and the whole series you can find under this link .

"Naranja"
(from the Reminiscences series)

26" x 18", acrylic

©Petra Voegtle

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Interior Design on Ranches and their Signatures

The interior design of a ranch would certainly include the appropriate symbols and signatures of a life on the country and living with its animals. But sometimes you can do a little too much I find as in this case.

The entry hall is quite dark and makes you well aware where you are and including a new object of interest like this silk painting adds even more focus to the land instead of a photo or painting with another "ranching" motif such as a typical "cowboy" motif. See original below. Or what is your take on this

    original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

 

"Dry Land"
(from the Magic Landscapes series)
40" x 21", silk
©Petra Voegtle

Other vignettes with this painting can be found here and here.

A Firework of Colours - in a Crystal

Remember the other painting about tourmalines? It is here. This is another one with completely different colours and different shapes. Tourmalines belong to the most variegated minerals. Take the complete colour wheel and you will have all potential hues and shades of the crystal.That's so fascinating with tourmalines.

This one has been painted in acrylic on cotton. You can hang it with or without an additional frame. Illuminated with the right light the colours of this painting start to glow...

(Click on the images for enlargement)

"Tourmaline II"

(from the "Crystals and Minerals" series)

40" x 13", acrylic on cotton

©Petra Voegtle

Some virtual examples of a room with this painting on the wall are enclosed in the following links: interior1, interior2

I have added some photos of this fascinating mineral:

(image source: http://mineralminers.com/)

And here is another, very unusual tourmaline crystal in order to show you how variegated this mineral is:

(image source: http://www.crystal-treasure.com)
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Flowing Lava in a Doorway

The cloud of ashes is gone and things are going "normal" again in Europe. But could you ever talk about normality with the knowledge that beneath our feet the earth is hot and fluid and could burst any time depite all scientific research anywhere on this planet?
Did you know that worldwide around 20 active volcanos are doing their job i.e. erupting right now? And about 50-70 volcanoes are active (erupting) each year (from Volcano Discovery). A creepy feeling. But if we would give way to all our fears life could not go on.

When I saw this image of a doorway/stairway I thought it would be the perfect place for Pele, the silk carving. The original painting that hangs on this place of the wall is surely an eyecatcher with its vibrant colours (see below) but I am sure the designer would have chosen the dramatic silk piece if s/he had known about it - not? What would be your choice?

original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

The silk sculpture was inspired by the Hawaiian legends of Pele, the Hawaiian Akua (Goddess), the fire goddess, mother of all life which comes out of the depth of the earth. 
In Hawaiian mythology women were a powerful source of new life and source of spiritual power. In the Polynesian world Mana Wahine - the power of woman - was a force that must never be ignored. It was Hina (Woman) who gave birth to new life, Hina controlled the moon, the tides and the reefs and Hina had the secret of fire.

Pele incorporates a technique called silk carving©, which is a development by the artist. The intent of this technique was to create a symbiosis between carving and fiber art. The surface of the fiber was transformed completely into a relief. The upper layer of this piece was made from one single piece of silk - nothing was sewn on top to add depth. Additionally paints and pigments were used in a manner to give the visual impression of flowing lava in all its glowing colours and the viewer is supposed to feel the heat. But it is "only" a piece of soft sculptured silk.

 "Pele"

( from the Hawaiian Symbols series)
silk carving, 48" x 17"
©Petra Voegtle

If you would like to see more detail photos please check this link

Btw - this art piece was shown at several art venues in the USA and was featured by art critic Cate McQuaid in the Boston Globe.

Some Mysteries and a cozy Retreat...

Isn't this strange? While I was very young history has never interested me much besides ancient buildings, ruins, fortresses which can be a great inspirational source for a child or teenager. I have always loved to read stories which take place in ancient sceneries full of secrets and mysteries. Maybe this was the spark for this series of Magic Symbols which I painted just a few years ago. Memories of childhood fantasies. I really don't know.

What I do know now is that I love this kind of bedrooms, a cozy retreat from every day's stress and duties. Light colours to re-fill soul and energy.

The silk painting on the wall is Qumran, from the Magic Symbols series. Click on the link and you can see more details about this series. Qumran is an ancient place from the days of the Second Temple on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea. It became famous since 1947 when a number of ancient manuscripts were found in nearby caves. Today these manuscripts are known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

Qumran
(from the Magic Symbols series)
40" x 13" silk
©Petra Voegtle
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I am adding here an example of how this silk painting could be framed (as shown in the ambiente above). The richness of this gilded wooden frame adds to the colours and enhances the subject I believe:

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Landscaping

The monuments of nature have always been part of man's fascination. And despite all attempts the colours of nature cannot be reproduced in all their splendor and in all their variations. Each artificial reproduction will fade away in the face of the real scenery. Even photography is not capable of giving us what the eye and the soul is seeking.

Additionally colour is susceptible to every individual's interpretation. Sometimes it seems that colour becomes a very personal goal/achievement. This is the "burden" of any interior designer as well as any artist. Not to speak of the deficiencies some people are suffering from, such as colour blindness in various grades.

Still - colour is one of the most important elements of interior design and will always be unless we learn to live in a world one day that is no longer dependent on superficial surfaces - but that would be science fiction??

I "added" this silk painting Canyon to this hallway, thinking of opening spaces which lead into other spaces - fantasies - just as a valley would do. Where would you like to be? In the hallway or in the canyon?

original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

"Canyon"
(from the Magic Landscapes series)
Triptych, 40" x 63", silk
©Petra Voegtle

A few details from this painting are shown below. The silk painting Canyon is actually a triptych, inspired by the many marvellous canyons in northern America's national parks. If you want to know more about it check this link.

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Dining Room with Landscape...

A dining room without any knick-knack but in warm earthy colours. The latter always creates a cosy and inviting feeling and in this case there is no exception to the rule.

It is not meant to be cynical when I thought this silk painting Dry Land to be an excellent addition to the vibrancy of this room because it assimilates the very same colours. Additionally it leads into the distance what might be an advantage for a rather small room such as this one.

original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

The painting was inspired by the breathtaking colours I have seen in Egypt. The skies over the desert are exploding with all hues of red, yellow, violets and purples, colours I have never seen in my life before. They must hail from the palette of the Big Spirit Himself - no human being can create colours such as these.

But to every beauty there is also a downside. These are the cosmic laws of balance and duality. In arid regions such as this, water is the most precious treasure. And as usual some areas have plenty - others none at all. So survival becomes a daily task that often ends fatally.

We - as tourists - can return into our well-balanced and air-conditioned homes, our mind full of magnificent images but the people who cannot return to a different location have to face the challenge. Whether they have the eye and the leisure for this unearthly beauty is doubtful. Their life is wrapping around different issues - the one of survival of their families and themselves.

Dry land does not grow crops. Instead it is deadly. Deadly beautiful but with a treacherous beauty. No human can survive here.

"Dry Land"
(from the Magic Landscapes series)
40" x 21", silk
©Petra Voegtle
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