Volcano Landscape in a Moroccan inspired Living Room

Moroccan flair - what could be more inspiring than the colours, patterns and textures of Moroccan interior. I simply love the deep colours which bathe in an opulence that is always reminiscent of fairy tales and dreams of 1001 nights.

The colours especially touch the senses, purples, dark blues and then the shimmer of brass and silverware seem to emanate something vibrating that seduces you to forget about everything else...

 with courtesy of http://www.livingetc.com

While the vignette of this wonderful living room does not tell me how large the room actually is I feel I would add a painting on the wall, that repeats all those voluptuous colours:

The landscape is painted on silk which certainly would complement the brocades of the pillows.

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

This silk painting has been inspired by the breathtaking landscapes on the Hawaiian Islands, especially the Haleakala National Park. You can read more about it here if you like and what's so special about this painting.

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OFF-TOPIC: What I have been doing lately again...

This has nothing to do with interior design and only very peripherally something with art (because they are my painting models) but I was a bit drowned again - too many sick pigeons to care for. But I love them dearly and cannot see them suffer if they need my help. And somehow they always find their way to our place...

This is Micky, who came to us 1rst of November last year with a bad PMV infection. She could not fly any more, not eat by herself. With her last energy reserve she managed to get to our balcony.  4 Months later she could be released after intensive care, such as hand and tube feeding, keeping her warm, doing training exercises with her when she became a bit better, etc.
During this time she has become an incredibly sweet pigeon, very affectionate and tame. I am so happy that she recovered fully and can now live the life of a pigeon again - flying free - but coming home still each day for sleeping during the night in her box, taking her meals here or just a little nap on the bookshelves:

Then we found Gino - or rather he found us - a squeaker, totally undernourished, hardly being able to fly, extremely thin but otherwise healthy with badly developed plumage - his tail feathers were nearly all broken or badly developed, no real downy feathers to keep him warm. It was a miracle that he had survived the big cold. He is with us since 4 weeks now and has developed into a very funny sweet little chap with a big big appetite. He managed to increase his body weight from 210 gr to more than 300 gr which is nearly 30 %.

He is growing new feathers like crazy, does his helicopter training in his den (within a mosquito net that I am mounting every day for his safety in my studio), has lost nearly all his bad feathers now but cannot really fly yet. He must train his flying skills first before we can release him. Oh my - what a shitty bunch of parents this poor little creature must have had whose responsibility would have been to nourish their little one and teach him everything he needs to know. But then they might have had big problems to find food for themselves not to speak of for a baby. Who knows. Now we have to do this instead and it is so much fun to watch him. He is incredibly sneeky and he makes good progress.

Now look at his nose - there were even feathers missing above his cere...

some of his bad feathers he lost in the meanwhile...

And then we had Hatty who had paralyzed legs due to a severe calcium deficiency probably after egg laying. Giving her calcium for 4 days made her able to walk again. It was a big relief. She still comes in to get her breakfast and/or lunch here.

Then we had another pigeon with a drooping wing but besides cleaning the wound she had on it several times probably from an old break I could do nothing else for her.

This is it for the moment and I hope very much that there will not be any more sick pigeons so that I have a bit more time for my regular work again...
If you want to know more about our pigeon family and see more photos please read the diary Pigeon Tales. I assure you that you will have fun!

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GUEST POST: Design Shuffle

Here is another guest post: this time from an online place for interior designers - Design Shuffle - and it is "all about expressing personality through decorating with art".

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Hello all! It's Mari from Design Shuffle, a special online place for interior designers, design professionals and enthusiasts. With thousands of photos to look through each day, this website is your one-stop shop for decorating ideas!

Today's guest post here at Art and Interior is all about expressing personality through decorating with art. We're all drawn to specific pieces of art for as deeply personal reasons. Our artful choices reflect our passions and individual personalities. Whether it’s the color, scale or subject matter that catches the eye, art can imbue your living environment with your own personality and sense of style. I hope these appealing spaces will inspire you to add the wonderful element of art to your home.

One look at the focal wall of this light-filled foyer and we know that family and nature are two of this homeowners passions. What a lovely gallery wall dominated by photographic art. Here, it's all about family and natural elements.

Another artfully decorated foyer shows off an eclectic personality with a love of all things vintage. And just so you know the inhabitants of this space don't take themselves too seriously, a few quirky touches are on display.

Art is the focal point in this totally appealing sunroom. Here it's all about the birds with an eclectic collection of avian-centered artwork.

Is it a love of architecture, history or movement and life that drives the personality who inhabits this space? A few unexpected touches complete this stylish, yet comfortable living room design.

Set against sandy walls, seahorse paintings give this space an understated coastal feel and a sense of easy living also reflected in the rest of the decorative elements.

Need dining room design ideas? Bright colors and simple artwork give an impression of warmth and lively style. The velvety upholstery on the dining chair backs is a beautiful work of textile art.

This artist's space is all about a love of the ocean and a deep understanding of its ever-changing color. Unframed and set against a background of pure white, the work speaks for itself.

Calm and soothing, an eclectic space in shades of blue sets the stage for a collection vintage botanical prints. This living room is one of those special interior designs that offer a retreat from the busy cares of everyday life.

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

How do you like to display your art? Find more great ways to showcase your work at Design Shuffle! You'll find stunning inspiration from Boston interior designers, San Francisco interior designers and much more!

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Thank you, Mari, for this lovely post with lots of very inspiring ideas!

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GUEST POST: 8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays

Holiday decoration is soon to come. Here is a guest post from Brianna Davis:

8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays

If getting an interior ready for the holidays, fresh greenery is a must.  But which plants are associated with the holidays and can be utilized for indoor decorating?  The below is a list of eight must have plants for the holidays, which include a few well known plants and even some only told of in stories.

1.   Poinsettias – These red and green flowers are a staple for the holidays.  They can be used in boxes, vases, as garlands, and many other uses.  They need lots of direct sunlight, water when the first half inch of soil dries, and liquid fertilizer. 

 Image source: http://www.cherrygal.com/

2.  Holly – There is a reason the Christmas carols say to deck the halls with this plant.  Hollies have distinctive, crisp, green leaves in addition to bright red berries for that Christmas color scheme.  They are often used in hedges and can withstand heavy pruning.

  image source:   www.tortenwelt-shop.com/

3.  Evergreen – These trees are commonly known as Christmas trees.  Spanning from a few inches to several dozen feet, these trees are the kind that decorated indoors with lights, tinsel, and much more.  However, those with a yard and a knack can plant their own.  In addition to evergreen trees, firs, pine trees, spruce, and others can also double as Christmas trees.

image source:  www.henryfields.ca

4.  Mistletoe – Known as the kissing plant, what holiday would be complete without one?  Usually joined together in a bunch and hung over a doorway, mistletoe is actually a semi-parasitic plant and grows on the branches of various host trees.  A little known fact is that in the first days of mistletoe kissing, a berry would be plucked for each kiss until they were all gone. 

image source:  metrolic.com

5.  Christmas Cactus – The plant earned its name for a reason.  Not a traditional cactus in the spiked sense, this plant almost looks like a fern with pink flowers growing on it.  Another plus of the Christmas cactus is its low maintenance. 

©Petra Voegtle

6.  Laurel – These shrubs are relatives of azaleas and are best known for their white flowers.  It is a broadleaf evergreen commonly found in New England.  They are also commonly found as accents in Christmas wreaths.

image source:  herberowe.wordpress.com

7.  Frankincense – One of the three gifts for Baby Jesus, many have heard of it, but few know what it is.  This herb is made from the Boswellia tree.  It is commonly burned during church masses and has a distinct smell.

image source:  incensedshop.com

8.  Myrrh – Like the above, this is also one of the gifts the three wisemen brought for Christmas.  It is from the Commiphora myrrha tree.  It is also used as incense burned during church ceremonies.  It is also used as an antiseptic in mouthwashes and toothpastes.

image source:  pointsoflight.com

Brianna Davis keeps up the site Bachelors of Arts Schools. Her site helps students find the right college to get a degree in the arts.

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A rustic Hallway with a Pigeon Painting

These days I read so much about pigeon haters again and about people who save songbirds and raptors, have a heart for all kind of wildlife but when it comes to pigeons, especial the ferals, their hearts turn into a stone and they would rather extinct them from this planet. Why is this so? I don't understand this. People are the cause for their misery and people condemn them, pursue them and shoot them just for fun.

A whole industry has grown who gain their profits through destroying the vermin of this planet and as vermin they declare the feral pigeon, even blackbirds and other birds which impend to reclaim a piece of nature which was taken away from them by the human species. The birds are considered to be a danger for human valuables such as cars, roofs, gardens. Loudly arguing that pigeons spread diseases which are dangerous for human health, offering even studies which are meant to prove their arguments but which are poorly executed and paid by the very same industry. Fact is that mammal pets can be far more dangerous for human health than any bird at all simply because of the specifications of bacteria, viruses and parasites which are limited to pigeons and other birds only.

The ferals are the offspring of carrier pigeons which are bred for sport, fame and income and when they don't deliver their expected accomplishments they are set free - when they are lucky - and euthanized when they are not so lucky. Not to talk about those who get lost on their "missions". And sometimes they are "used" as pets and share the common fate of other pets who get sick or are abandoned when the "owners" realize that there is a lot of work involved and time and occasionally money.

Is this the way we have been empowered to treat the fellow creatures on our earth?

Any creature on this world has a right to live - who are we to determine which species is the noble one and which is doomed to die? This is nothing else than what all nazis on the whole world do!!! So why is this bigotry still cultured?

But thank heaven there are also loving hearts who deeply feel compassion for the tortured souls and do whatever they can to save the lost, the injured, the sick only to realize what incredible gifts they have got on their hands. Anyone - I am sure there is no exception - who has ever taken care of a pigeon and realized what amazing birds they are, widely underestimated and misunderstood, will never again be able to escape the mystery of their knowing eyes, their affectionate love for their savior. These birds are highly intelligent with capabilities science only just begins to notice.

For this reason I decided to "hang" one of my pigeon paintings again in a room that I like very much: a beautiful rustic hallway in blue and white - noble colours indeed and just right for the painting The Gathering. Without the painting I feel there is something missing, a little eyecatcher, not too bold to destroy the serenity of this room:

 (original image source www.housebeautiful.com)

This is the original acrylic painting. If you would like to know more about this series please check this link. The original is currently not for sale but I have fine art prints on heavy cotton in various sizes in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vyalaarts . Other sizes can be made available if needed.

"The Gathering"
(from the Pigeons series) 

26" x 18" acrylic

©Petra Voegtle

And if you would like to read more about pigeons in general and what they do go here to the Pigeon Tales, a diary about their lives and more...

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FINDS: The Ceramic Art of Candone Wharton

I cannot remember when I saw Candone Wharton's work for the first time - I only can say that I was fascinated from the first moment. I am always intrigued by objects which emerge from manual work, work that emanates from the soul, the phantasies of a person, work that is deeply inspired by ancient cultures such as Candone's work.

Ancient cultures have something magical which is not really tangible - we feel the affinity but cannot really say where it comes from, we feel a certain familiarity and a longing but are strangers nevertheless as if an invisible wall separates us from the original source which we cannot permeate.

"My education is American, the firing technique is Japanese, the glaze influences are from Morocco, and the forms are inspired by ancient architecture and vessels."

says Candone on her website.  And this is only a small part of her affiliations with foreign cultures. Candone grew up in Florida, studied in Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. After college she went to Europe, teaching ceramics in Sweden for five years. She also spent one year in Panama, teaching primitive ceramics to the Cuna Indians.

In 1977 Candone set up her first studio on Ibiza, a Spanish Island, and began working there as a full-time  clay artist. Influenced by her admiration for North African potters and her experience with Raku firing during college time Candone created her own style of ceramic art: her handbuilt vessels,boxes, bowls and platters are carved intricately with basketweave and blockprinting patterns. But not only that - Candone developed beautiful luster glazes which transform her objects into magical devices.

(all images with courtesy of Candone Wharton)

If you would like to know more about Candone Wharton and her fantastic work please check her website.
Oh and if you feel you should try your own hand on ceramics and Raku firing - Candone offers a two week workshop on Bali in November. I wished I could go...

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FINDS: Green Walls for Indoors

After I managed to turn our balcony into a little green jungle this year, I thought it might be an extra to have green walls inside as well. I mean real green walls with plants growing vertically not horizontally.

There are a couple of companies who create breathtaking green walls for inside with immense advantages for your well being and enjoyment because who would not love to have a green living wall in front of you rather than a grey concrete monster? Here are a few examples which may give your interior designs a completely new twist:

The first examples are from a company in Stockholm, Sweden, Greenworks:

image source for all above images:

  http://www.greenworks.se/index.html

Wouldn't it be exciting to work in an environment such as this? Or imagine to have a green wall in your living room so that it would not be necessary to have an additional sunroom to enjoy the feeling of an inside garden?

The following examples are from Indoorlandscaping, a German company, located now in Munich but with subsidiaries in Los Angeles and Mexico City:

 image source for above images:

  http://www.indoorlandscaping.de/

And here are some more examples from a company in England, Bio Tecture which are specifically charming:

 image source for above images:

 http://www.biotecture.uk.com

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