Sometimes you need a Colour Break...

To furnish and decorate a room, a hallway in matching tones might be desirable for many people but too often the result is boring and tiring. An eyecatcher can create so much difference. I would want any room or place to incorporate something exciting, an object, a colour that really demands some attention. If you have a colour palette that consists mainly in beige and brown tones a break is really necessary as in this hallway:

The original art on  the wall certainly looks elegant with the nice shiny frame but I am sure that after a very short while no-one would look at the art any more - it would simply mingle with the background and disappear from your attention.
The contrary would happen with a piece of art such as this one:
a silk carving/sculpture with glowing colours, nothing you would just oversee.

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

(This art piece was shown at several art venues in the USA and was featured by art critic Cate McQuaid in the Boston Globe.)

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Hornets in the Doorway

Do you like hornets? I do and I can tell you why.

You will soon understand why I try to break a stone for these wonderful insects. The silk scroll (see below) is an hommage to an insect which has a very bad reputation due to many myths which need to be rectified. Exaggerated stories of hornet attacks and the effect of their stings such as "Seven hornet stings kill a horse, three an adult and two a child" simply belong to that world of fairy tales. Such myths which exist for generations have led to the hornet becoming an endangered species in many areas of Central Europe, due to merciless human pursuit.

"Hornets"
43" x 24", silk scroll
©Petra Voegtle

Hornets belong to the most useful insects at all. While most people seem to be afraid of them because of misinformation there is absolutely not need for this. Bees and wasps can be much more dangerous and aggressive. Hornets are peaceful insects as long as one doesn't behave like an idiot and tries to remove their nests. When you have a hornet nest in your garden you should call yourself a lucky person because then you won't have any problems with wasps and other stinging insects such as moskitos and gadflies.

They buzz - this is probably making people nervous. But you should not be. It's a sound that is much more peaceful than the angry barking of your neighbour's dog. Hornets will not attack you and try to eat the jam on your roll or dirsturb your coffee party - they do not eat sugar or other artificial sweets.

Hornets are incredible architects. They build their little palaces with a craftmanship and esthetics that hardly can be compared to anything else from the world of insects. They are real interior designers.

(image source:  http://www.insektenstaaten.de/index.html)

(image source: http://www.rsl-blank.de/Hornissen2008.htm)

Some time ago some rare wood wasps built a nest outside the window of my mom's house. It was at a place that was not a problem. So I had the opportunity to take the wonderful material they created for the nest into my hands after they had all left. It is very similar to the one hornets are creating. I have added some photos I made from pieces of a wasp nest, photographed against light so that you can admire the structures and patterns of these incredible architects:

photography ©Petra Voegtle

And where would I hang the scroll? This doorway would be perfect for hanging this scroll although the original piece of art looks marvellous too. I especially like the connection to wood...

But wouldn't it bring even more luck to you to have this scroll hanging in your house?

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Magic Landscapes in the Hallway

I like this hallway for its simplicity. It looks unspoiled, ready to reveal some magic, nothing spectacular but simply something magical which you can only discover if you look close enough to see what might be seducing.
The idea of placing these two silk paintings (virtually) above the sofa came from the other art work on the wall of the staircase. Its theme fits very well to the ones of the two silk paintings from the Magical Landscapes Series.

If you would like to see more of the latter - please check this link and this link - both paintings available at the Boxheart Gallery in Pittsburgh.

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

"Angkor's Relics" and "Morning in Sumatra"
(from the Magic Landscapes series)
40" x 13" each, silk
©Petra Voegtle
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A Niche with a Longing...

The original photo contains quite a few empty golden picture frames on the wall which are supposed to be filled. I thought this silk carving may be another potential complement for this lovely niche. Colours would be perfect including that little gold pigment that has been used in this silk carving called The Longing.

If you would like to see details of the silk carving use this link.

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

"The Longing"
silk carving
©Petra Voegtle
.

A terrific Hallway with a Valley on the Wall...

Although these colours are a bit gloomy - I do not quite understand people's preferences for dark colours - I nevertheless like this composition. Maybe it's because I live in a country where half of the year bright light is rare due to bad weather and long winters which are mostly wet and dark.

The original painting on the wall was marvellous and I would not want to change this interior design image - I just added one of my landscape paintings which I believe would fit marvellously into this hallway too, even repeating the graphic design of the carpet accidently. This silk painting belongs to a whole series called - Magic Landscapes

This silk painting is called The Valley, inspired by the wonderful green valleys you can find on the Hawaiian Islands. Check out this link for more details...

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

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

The Landscape in the Entrance Hall

This entrance hall would be cold, clinical and a bit hostile unless you make it somehow interesting - with a landscape painted on silk. And what could be more fascinating than the landscapes around Guilin with their incredible archaic magic?
I can tell you - the photo does not do any justice to this painting. If you stand right in front of it - it becomes totally 3D! You think you can walk right into it...
Check out the details of this painting here if you like.

original image source from http://www.modernes-interieur.de

"The Monuments of Guilin"

silk, 5 panels, 40" x 65"

©Petra Voegtle

Starting your own private Gallery....

How about starting your own little gallery with silk paintings similar to these (two of them are sold)? This could be a blast for your house. Even for the foyer of an office building this would add elegance and atmosphere...just an idea.

The paintings here are (from left to right) Machu Picchu, Celts and Mesopotamia. Details for Celts can be seen here, for Mesopotamia here

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

Potentials of a Lounge - dipped in warm Colours

This acrylic painting Tourmaline II from the Minerals series is a little jewel because its colours start to glow with the right light. Placed on a wall like this one is just the perfect complement. And a modern designer chair like the one below is a great place to wait for someone...
If you would like to see more detail photos of this painting please check here

original image source of chair from http://www-modernes-interieur.de

Sun in a modern Living Room or Lounge

This is another painted and beaded silk scroll called Sun from the Hidden Gems series about minerals and crystals. Check out the detail photos on my other blog here if you like.
These scrolls fit very well into a modern interior, be it private or public.

original image source from Schütz Flechtwerke, French catalogue 1999

An Asian style Silk Scroll in a Moroccan House...

You think this does not work? But it does!
This is one of my most favourite houses of this style. The colour is just unbelievable. And if you think hard about it - this house could be at many places in southern regions of this planet not to speak of hanging that silk scroll which is called The Palace.
If you would like to see detailed photos of this scroll please check this link here (don't forget to click on the image for enlargement).

original image source from "Moroccan Interiors", Taschen Verlag 1995

The Dragon - an Art Quilt in the Foyer

Admitted - this is only a very spare interior but imagine what you could do with a silk quilt on the wall like that one. Dragon would be everywhere an eyecatcher especially for people who love this lucky symbol. It adds an exotic flair to a room, especially due to the fact that this is not Chinese massware but an original. Detailed photos and description in English you will find here.

original image source for the designer chair is http://www.modernes-interieur.de