Color Buzz

Travel Series: Fine Art in Ghent, Belgium

By Michele Coppin

If you enjoyed Monday’s post about the architectural beauty of Ghent, then you might also find today’s post interesting as well. One of Ghent's main attractions for tourists and art historians is St. Bavo's Gothic Cathedral. With its 22 altars and mixture of marble and oak, St. Bavo’s is home to the world famous polyptych "The Adoration of the Lamb" also known as "The Mysterious Adam's Apple.”

This Ghent altar piece is one of Belgium's greatest treasures and one of the world's marvels. This monumental master piece (12 feet x 17 feet) is the finest example of Northern Renaissance painting, replete with disguised  mystical and overt Christian symbolism woven into realistically portrayed  figures and landscapes. Unlike the Italians, Northern painters lacking antiquity for inspiration turned to nature which they embraced in all its detail - inventing an early form of hyper realism.

Painted by the Van Eyck brothers in 1432, this exquisite painting consists of 24 compartmented scenes featuring Christ, Mary, St. John the Baptist, angels, bishops, saints, martyrs, Adam and Eve. The imagery is full of symbolism and double meaning.

Holiday Food Color Inspiration

By Veronique Habermann

Inspiration for color palettes can come from anywhere. As I have been getting myself into cooking mode for the big Thanksgiving holiday, I also realized how inspiring browsing through cookbooks can be. On an empty stomach, all I could think about at first was lunch, but after I fixed myself a nice sandwich (turkey, of course), I let my senses take on the beautiful show of colors. I even researched paintings that were inspired by these foods. Here are some inspiring images along with color palettes inspired by each image:

                                   
                Orange Nut 2004-1C                   Autumn Blaze 2002-1A

                                   
               Golden Spell 3004-1B                  Almond Cream 3001-4C

                               
         Whipped Strawberry 1006-1A          Mystic Taupe 1002-9A

                                
               Autumn Fog 4007-1B         Lyndhurst Castle Sand 5008-1C

                   
     Plumberry 1004-3A        Market Flower 1005-3C         Homestead Resort
                                                                             Parlour Raspberry 1006-3B

                   
  Dusky Purple 1003-5A        Coffee Whip 2008-3A      Toasted Honey 2006-1B

                                
                      Carolina Inn                        Jekyll Grand Dining
              Lobby Yellow 3008-6B                  Sea Mist 5006-3C




                               
               Heirloom Red 1010-3                Pensive Plum 1002-3A

                                
                Perfect Plum 1011-7                Plum Passion 6007-5B




                   
   Berry Blush 1004-1A            Quite Red 1011-3          Hint of Cherry 1004-1B




                               
               Sassy Green 6009-10              Everglade Glen 6003-6A
                                
                Fresh Pear 6007-7C                 Desert Flower 6008-5A

Day of the Dead

By Michele Coppin

Friday’s Project Series post centered on Mexico’s festive and colorful Day of the Dead. This celebration gets underway during the last week of October, when the streets are strewn with colorful papel picado, or paper flags, while town squares and cemeteries are decorated with wreaths of bright yellow, orange and deep, purple marigolds.



Markets are full of unusual sweets such as festooned calaveras, ornate sugar skulls, and garish, little calacas, skeletons in fancy dress sitting on coffins with defiant grins.



On street corners, large paper Mache skeletons greet passersby, beckoning them with a drink.



Portraits and effigies of the popular Catrina figure, a female dandy calavera created by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada are present everywhere – in store windows, banners and billboards like this one made out of dried beans and corn:



As November approaches, cities become alive with parades and the buzz of one of the biggest celebrations of the year for Mexicans. Because it is so close to Halloween, The Day of the Dead is sometimes confused with the pagan American holiday. However, the Mexican Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is not a dark holiday or one that harps on fear or death. The occasion is festive rather than morbid, and death is laughed at. It focuses on the idea that death is simply a part of life. It is a way to honor with both mourning and celebrating friends and relatives who have passed.

Families make altars and place ofrendas, offerings of food, candles, incense, and flowers alongside the photo of the departed.

The Day of the Dead coincides with the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, the first and second of November.

The multitude of the holiday's images of skeletons and sugar skulls may be a little surprising – these images are not meant to be frightening, they are reminders that death is a part of life and Mexicans face it with a brave smile.

The night of November 1st, the celebrations come to a climax with a mass, performances and even fireworks. Everyone comes together in this unique atmosphere; mariachis strumming guitars, priests mingling with little devils and baby skeletons and boisterous sexy Catrinas.

The whole night is aglow with color and noise; the sparkle of candle light, the warm bonfires, golden yellow, flamboyant orange wreaths, and garlands, singing, laughter and prayers. But this evening is especially alive with the joyous and sometimes bittersweet remembrance and gratitude for the departed who blessed our lives.

The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in art – like in these 2 paintings by Mexican painter Diego Rivera, who captured his country dichotomy of the spiritual and the grotesque.

Relax in Style

By Michele Coppin

When it comes to decorating, it is easy to be overwhelmed. There are so many styles and palettes to choose from! Knowing what style you like can be very helpful. Here are some visual aids to help you identify your preferences:
 
If your ideal house has a wrap-around porch:


If you like combining natural materials like stone and wood and variations of their muted colors:


If you really like the feel of natural wood furniture and simple patterns on uncluttered walls:


If you like soft light filtering through bamboo shades:


If you get ideas from this fine magazine:


If you like these gifts:


If you like art inspired by  the beauty of nature  like Bierstadts's "Butterfly":


. . . and the warm earth tones in Paul Cezanne's landscapes:


If a fire on a beach helps you dream and relax:


Then, congratulations my friend! You are a relaxed nature lover.
 
You might like these earthy palettes inspired by nature:
 
Reds:
                   
   La Fonda Antique Red   La Fonda Boulder 3001-10A    Cream in my Coffee
            2002-5A                                                                 3003-10C

Greens:
                   

 Grandma's Linen 6001-1C   Cinema Screen 7001-17        Irish Tea 1004-9C

Also, you might want to check out this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Friday about Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site, which quoted Ann and a couple who took the style quiz.

Valspar's "Love, Our Style" makeover contest ended last night but you can still go to the site and take the Our Style quiz to find out how to merge your style with that of your partner.

Styles of Romance

By Michèle Coppin

Decorating can be daunting and confusing with so many styles to choose from. Knowing which style you are or like can be very helpful. Here are some visual aids to help you identify where you fit in:
 
If this is your ideal home:


If you like floral wall paper and lots of flowers:


If you like soft muted colors and pretty furniture:


If you like delicate window treatments and diffused light:


If you like pretty embroidered pillows:


If you like pale linens with delicate patterns:


If you Love paintings by the "Pre-Raphaelites" of lovely maidens playing the harp with flowers in their hair:


And beautiful Japanese prints of birds and flowers:


If this is your ideal get away:


And finally, if you named your cat Ophelia, you have read Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" more than once and your favorite movie is "Doctor Zhivago":
 


Then, congratulations… you are a hopeless ROMANTIC!
 
As a romantic you might like these palettes:
 
Warm:
                   
  Pretty Orchid 1002-8B         Lilac Intuition 7001-1        Dust Bunny 2005-10B

Cool:
                   
    Ocean Buff 7005-7           Betsy's Linen 7005-16       Seashore Fog 7004-22

Earthy:
                   
 Bungalow White 2005-1C    Dust Bunny 2005-10B        Modest Silver 4002-1A
 

Romantic palettes work best with shades of one color and very subtle accents.

Couples, remember to check out Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site for tips on merging styles AND a chance to win a room/paint makeover from Beehive Studios! This is the last week to enter the makeover contest, so don't forget to send in your stories!

Modern Style

By Michèle Coppin

Decorating can be daunting and confusing with so many different styles to choose from. Knowing what style you are and what you like can be very helpful.  Here are a few visual tips to help you identify where you fit in:

If this is your ideal home :

If you like spatial uncluttered spaces:

If you like designer furniture and slick materials:

If you like clean simple textiles:

And graphic accessories:

If you like contrasted interiors:

If you like minimalist's strong contrasting colors:

And/or abstract art:

And your ideal get away is here:

And finally, if you like the clean contrast of  black and white… congratulations!

Your style is…

MODERN/URBAN

Here are some modern palettes to begin developing your very hip style with:

Dramatic:

                   
Rugged Suede 4003-2B  Montpelier Red Velvet 1009-6 Rocky Bluffs 4003-1C

Elegant:

                   
London Coach 4002-1B     Hailstorm Gray 7006-21     Sweet Currant 1001-7A

Couples, don't forget to check out Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site for tips on merging styles AND a chance to win a room/paint makeover from the Beehive Studios!

Desert Colors

By Michèle Coppin

Summer is mostly associated with the beach, but at the other end of the spectrum lie deserts – fantastic, wild landscapes with sandstone spines, rocky mountain, sandy dunes and valleys.

Deserts are painted with palettes of soft pinks, tans, golden yellows, rich browns, deep oranges and fiery reds with deep purple shadows. The light has a different quality in the desert. Its long rays turn pale tans and ocher into shades of flamboyant crimson.

Many national parks are home to these dry treasures, which are well worth a detour, if not a destination. My favorites are: Monument Valley, Arizona, Anza Borrego, California and Zion, Utah. They are spectacular jewels of nature.

Deserts have been inspiring artists for millennia, but to date, no one has captured the desert's colors, atmosphere and flowing combination of flora and geology better than Georgia O'Keeffe, who painted the landscapes of her beloved New Mexico.

The colors of the desert provide great palettes for warm, earthy interiors that can be beautifully enhanced with Valspar's Sandstone technique. Sandstone's soft, sandy texture and distinctive granular appearance adds unique style and quiet sophistication to walls, while also hiding imperfections in three easy steps. Follow Valspar's Sandstone instructions to give it a try.

Summer Photos: William Eggleston

By Michèle Coppin

Summer vacation is a great time for photos; snapshots of exotic getaways or staying home and rediscovering our own backyards like photographer William Eggleston, the pioneer of ordinary summer memories. Considered by many the "father of modern fine art photography," Mr. Eggleston was the first to bring color into a domain that was exclusively black and white, color being regarded as strictly commercial and therefore rather vulgar.

He photographed his own backyard, old cars, signs, road trips, and ordinary people, nothing too extraordinary. However, these random items are elegant, the apparent simplicity of the images composed like beautiful abstract paintings.

 

Eggleston taught us to open our eyes, see the wide spectrum of colors around us and appreciate it. However, it was not always appreciated. He was the first to have a show of color photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1976, which was described by one critic as “the most hated show of the year.”

Times have changed and Mr. Eggleston is currently being honored with a retrospective of his work at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C. The exhibit, "Democratic Camera," runs until September 20th.

William Eggleston considered everything interesting. Let summer inspire you, like it did him. Explore your world, take some photos and discover beauty in banality, the spectacular in the ordinary, and admire the color surrounding you.

David Hockney’s Pools

By Michèle Coppin

The hot lazy days of summer are in full swing, and it is time to lounge by the pool. In art, no one has captured the sense of quiet afternoons, hot air and cool water better then British artist David Hockney, whose swimming pool series has become synonymous with summer.

Born in 1937, David Hockney has become the best-known British artist of his generation. He has spent much of his time in the U.S., and the California swimming pool has become one of his favorite themes, optimizing summer, heat and calm.

As a child, he was fascinated by the long shadows present in Hollywood movies. He had never experienced these in his gray, rainy, native Britain, and realized it probably had to do with the light. When he went to California he discovered not only light, but color. Just as Van Gogh discovered color when he moved from Holland to the south of France, Hockney discovered intense and vibrant color under the Californian sun, and color became his main subject.

“For me, it is the color that creates the structure and shape of a painting,” said Hockney.

His most famous pool painting, "A Bigger Splash," painted in 1967, borders abstraction. The quiet image is suddenly disturbed by the stark contrast between solid pink and blue geometric shapes of a Los Angeles setting and the exuberance of a spray as the unseen diver enters the pool.

Hockney said he loved the idea of spending two weeks painting the splash with small brushes and little lines on an event that actually only takes two seconds.

Happy summer!

Combining the Traditional and Modern in Maastricht

By Michèle Coppin

I love the contrast of old and new – antique furniture and modern art, contemporary and classic design – each style enhancing the other.

In the glorious city of Maastricht in the Netherlands, interior architects and designers have created wonderful spaces, successfully combining history with modern trends.

Maastricht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands sits on both sides of the Meuse River (Maas in Dutch) in the province of Limburg, near the Belgian and German borders.

It is a beautifully preserved city with many styles of architecture, lovely squares dotted with charming statues, gorgeous boutiques, delicious restaurants and several large universities. Maastricht is also very famous for its wild winter Carnival, its rich history and vibrant culture. Each year, Maastricht also hosts the world famous TEFAF arts and antiques fair.

The city of Maastricht has 24 churches. Over the years, the disaffected ones were used as bicycle depots, storage spaces, or were abandoned. Rather than letting them disintegrate, officials have restored these giant edifices into unexpected jewels.

Built in the 13th century, the Eerste Minderbroederskerk – or the First Franciscan Friars Gothic church – has been turned into the current archive center for the Limburg Province.  It serves as a library with researchers quietly reading among the stacks and as an art gallery with a variety of modern sculptures greeting you at every corner.

The Dominican church from the same period has become a magnificent bookstore.

The most spectacular however, is the former Kruisheren cloister.

Dating back to the 15th century, this church and its adjoining buildings have been transformed into a hotel.  The monks’ quarters were made into luxury rooms, and the nave into a restaurant with a mezzanine. The red wine bar is intimate and comfortable, despite the high ceilings and the otherwise austere surroundings.

The manager sits in a glass office suspended over a copper, tunnel-like door.

This interior was created by the internationally renowned interior designer Henk Vos. Modern art and antique sculptures contrast with the stained glass windows and the frescoes on the ceilings, a truly magical effect celebrating mankind's creativity over time.

So try to mix, match and contrast styles and time periods – it really works!