Art and Interior - a "Market Niche"

When I started this blog I never thought of being unique with the theme "Art and Interior" - I only thought it to be quite a nice and entertaining idea. Of course this little blog is nothing spectacular and my intention was not presenting only top notch interior designs - this is the job of those who are exclusively working for a special clientele.

My intention rather was to present ideas of a working artist who goes a bit further than just finishing a piece of art, selling it and never caring for where it is going to or in which environment it would settle. I am sure there are quite a few artists out there who do care but either they are not talking about it or they do not want to make it public so that the examples could be seen by a broader audience. I think this is a big mistake.

Admittedly - I am talking about my own art work exclusively at the moment - not about other art that could be placed in certain rooms - but this is not the point. The point is that I think that most people feel intimidated by art and therefore feel inadequate to judge where a piece of art could look good and where it is just out of place not to talk about craftmanship and lack of professional execution. I am not talking about art you might have found in a flea market (I love flea markets and art that can be found there) - I am also not talking about art bought by collectors for millions of bucks and not meant to embellish the walls of a small family home - I am talking about art that has a reasonable price, that represents professional workmanship, originality and uniqueness and that creates an emotional relationship with the buyer.

I am sure that exactly emotion is the most common impetus for buying art without knowing at that point of time in which environment it would settle in. Second place takes probably the wish to find anything that fits in a certain room above the sofa or the mantle of the fireplace. That is perfectly acceptable. What sense would it make to buy a painting only because you like it and then you have absolutely no place where it would fit? And even worse - you buy a painting and the place you have found for it is an awful match. Very quickly you would regret having bought the whole thing and curse the impetus that has made you buy art. This does not help the art in general nor the next artist.

And here we have the dilemma. Most people who care for art - or visit a museum or an art opening from time to time - feel what they are drawn too but they don't trust their own judgement. So for proper room design they either consult an interior designer or an art dealer/gallerist. But why not the artist her/himself? Wouldn't it be more appropriate and right to go to the source, to consult that person who knows the most about a certain art piece? And why are artists so reluctant to consider their work a product that needs the same introduction, a certain "maintenance" and care as any other sophisticated product?

I very much hope that my little blog here contributes to seeing art as something available and approachable and not something mysterious and detached. I think the more examples you see where interior design and art are creating a unique entity the more confident people will become to make their own decisions. And maybe the more real art (not the cheap prints, posters and reproductions) will find its way into the homes of people who just have an affinity for aesthetics...

Btw - if you happen to know of any blogs which cover the same subject - art and interior - let me know. I would like to add links!

A cosy Room with a touch of Nostalgia

Currently it seems that I have a soft spot for cosy rooms. Maybe it is the cold outside that has returned where spring temperatures should be dominant.
What I love here are the stucco ceilings and the touch of ease - nothing appears "staged" in this room, it seems to be totally natural. I also like the old apothecary cabinet that has been used here as a practical shelf/closet. And the small crystal chandelier adds a touch of nostalgia.
And of course I would add a piece of art if this were my room: a silk carving (bas-relief made of silk) that depicts an apsara face as a reminiscence of Angkor Wat in Cambodia with its many apsara wall reliefs.

with courtesy of http://www.livingetc.com
click here for the original image source

If you would like to know more about silk carvings in general and the series about Angkor's Faces please use this link.

"Apsara"
( from the Angkor's Faces series)
silk carving, 14" x 14"
©Petra Voegtle

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An opulent Lady's Boudoir

This could be the lady's bedroom but it also could be a very generous guestroom for very special guests in a home where hospitality is considered an important virtue.

I love the colours and the aura of this boudoir and the original very decorative paravent that was placed in the same position of this room. But if this were my room I would add just a tiny bit more contrast and drama, a bit more material for your imagination. And what could be more appropriate than an interpretation of one of the most famous loving couple: Krishna and Radha from the Indian epic Mahabharata.

This precious paravent has been hand carved in many hours. It consists of 3 panels. It has been glazed with an ivory colour, patinated and waxed so that it looks like old ivory.

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

"Krishna and Radha"
Indian style triptych, hand carved, massive wood, 85" x 93" x 7", 65 kg
©Petra Voegtle

Intrigued to see more details then please check this link

I have to apologize again...

Two weeks ago it looked as if I could return to a regular posting again - not so. Somehow there is someone who needs me for different jobs which take over my daily routine: I have another very sick pigeon hospitalized and have to take care for the little bird intensively.

You may call me a nut but these creatures have a soul, feelings and lots of character which some people are terribly missing. Pigeons have a very special relationship to humans and they show personalities with attributes which really remind very much of human virtues and failures. But most people do not care about this or have never made an effort to observe closely. Very sad because they miss a lot. They might miss what life is all about...

I do care and therefore - I am afraid - blogging is on the lower part of my priority list. But I will return soon and look forward to "seeing" you again...

(Please see my pigeon diary the Pigeon Tales if you like)

LUXURY FANTASIES: Cooking in a crystalized Kitchen?

uroWould this belong to your ultimate fantasies of luxury? A hyper-modern kitchen design with magical stones everywhere? Maybe these crystals inherit a kind of spell which would make your dishes automatically a fantastic experience for your taste buds and those of your guests! But who on earth would dare to make a mess in a kitchen such as this one

"Auro is a Spanish company, which is great in production and design kitchen furniture. It offers high quality products to consumers for 25 years. It always presents contemporary designs and perfect craftsmanship finishes, but on its 25th birthday it has surpassed itself and has created an excellent luxury kitchen. Its name Crystal25 perfectly reflects the main its feature: cabinet doors incrusted by Swarovski crystals." Continue to read...

all images from original source www.auroweb.es
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