Ever since I was a very young child, I have taken an invested interest in art, and have been producing my own since the day I could first pick up a pencil. Fortunately, my degree allowed me to take a number of art-centric classes in college, from art history and issues of contemporary art to advanced painting. But as I neared the end of my coursework, I veered away from the realism I once preferred in favor of abstract expressionism, an artistic discipline that remains one of my favorites to this day.
Years later, I feel just as fortunate to be immersed in Atlanta’s fantastic art scene and to be inspired daily by the works contained in our local galleries. Creating art is just a hobby for me, but it has allowed me to truly appreciate the talents of those that far exceed mine. Until my budget allows, I will continue making my own artwork or sourcing it second-hand from antique stores, but I eagerly await the day when I can purchase large-scale pieces by the artists I so admire.
So naturally, when I was creating an original art piece for my bedroom, I was very much inspired by many local artists’ works, even just peripherally. (Probably the most valuable lesson my painting professor taught me was to be mindful of my influencers, because even subconscious inspiration from great artists is an inevitable and wonderful part of the creative process.)
Take the colorful abstract expressionistic paintings of Sally King Benedict, who is based in Charleston but represented locally at Gregg Irby Fine Art. I might describe them best as "stunning," and "gorgeous," but as pretty as they are, they're also perfectly in step with modern aesthetics, making them well-suited to a range of interiors. The fact that this young artist also graduated with me at College of Charleston just makes me doubly supportive of her work. I took the above photo at an art show for her work as well as others represented at the gallery.
Delightedly, I discovered the next artist on my list, Tina Steele Lindsey, via her comments on this very blog! Her acrylics-on-canvas, especially, are vivid, intricate and pleasing to the eye, but the examples shown here are only two of many that have recently captured me.
Lindsey works mostly on commission and specializes in media such as acrylic, oil and charcoal. Even her wedding portraits are imbued with energy and seem to tell very interesting stories. Lindsey posts her works—and the stories behind their making—on her blog, tinasteelelindseyart.blogspot.com, which is without a doubt one of my favorite new places on the net. She produces pieces on commission and also shows at Gallery 4463 in Acworth, Georgia.
Perhaps one of my favorite rooms we've ever published—the living room of interior designer Courtney Giles—features a large abstract canvas by Will Cay, represented through Carter Kay Interiors—which unequivocally demonstrates how art can make a room.
The works of Lorraine Christie, a world-renowned artist who's known for creating romantic street scenes of lovers and friends meeting, most often in the rain, are both beautiful and moving. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and now residing in Roswell, Georgia, Christie's work has soared in popularity in Atlanta thanks to local representation at Huff Harrington Fine Art. More Impressionistic than abstract, I love the linear qualities of the figures in these urban scenes and how well reflections are rendered in luminous oil pigments.
At last, my handiwork in oils below:
As you can see, I broke the cardinal rule of photography by capturing this image at night in incandescent light, but I intend to snap another shot in the daylight soon!
What artists inspire your own creative pursuits? Let us know in the blog comments below!
March 9th, 2010
Last evening, a small group gathered at the Midtown home of artists Richard Mafong and Jon Eric Riis to unveil the magnificent woven metallic silk and black fresh water pearl tapestry that Riis is generously donating to the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction on March 27. The piece is called “Tiger Banner” and (we’re just showing a snippet here) hangs vertically as a 12″ x 66″ museum-quality masterpiece. We were all invited to the basement studio where the most amazing and unique tapestries, coats and other pieces are created. I can’t even fathom the amount of hours it takes for just one piece.
This art is genius. No wonder his pieces are all over the world in private collections, traveling exhibits and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, Art Institute of Chicago, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, New York Museum of Arts and Design, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Renwick Gallery, and countless others, including the High Museum of Art, of course. Jon and Richard are world-renowned artists, and world-class gentlemen. How lucky we are to have them in Atlanta.
February 26th, 2010
I love the mirrored frames of these Trowbridge prints. Design by Beth Webb; photography by Erica George Dines
This symmetrical stacked grouping adds gravitas and volume to a bedroom designed by Phoebe Howard; photography by Erica George Dines
To hang art salon style takes a little more effort. Designer Robert Idol mastered the mix in this home office. Photography by Erica George Dines
Atlanta resident Katie Walker combined paintings and works on paper to create this installation—almost a work of art in itself. Photography by Mali Azima
January 25th, 2010
Gallery Hops at SCAD Atlanta are free and open to the public, allowing you to view many of SCAD’s groundbreaking exhibits at no cost–even a free shuttle to the galleries and parking services are available at the SCAD Atlanta campus. Fortunately, one of these seasonal events lined up for this evening—with refreshments served at select galleries. Details below:
The ACA Gallery of SCAD Atlanta welcomes the work of Cao Fei (a Chinese artist currently shortlisted for the Guggenheim Foundation’s Hugo Boss Prise) presents “NO LAB on Tour” in partnership with Map Office, a Hong Kong-based husband-and-wife duo, who show dynamic and politically charged films and line drawings depicting a Katrina-battered New Orleans. Joining the exhibit is a carnival cart with computers linked to another of this artist’s projects, Second Life. Viewers can use the software to create their own avatar and navigate the virtual world created by this digital architect. The exhibits continue through February 7 but are on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St.
Swing by Trois Gallery for Erick Swenson’s moving “Caught Captive” exhibition of naturalistic cast resin sculptures depicting allegorical, hybrid creatures frozen in dramatic moments of tension. His Whitney Museum-exhibited “Carpet Piece”—an intricatedly painted fiberglass sculpture desined to look like a woven carpet–is also on view. This exhibit continues through January 24 but is on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St.
Head to Gallery See at 3:30 p.m. for a gallery talk by the creators of “Horsepower”—a two-person painting exhibition by SCAD Savannah professor Gregory Eltringham and SCAD’s 2009 Visiting Artist Matt Blackwell. From cruiser cars to equine imagery, the works play off the double meaning of the title word and pay homage to a nostalgic American past. This exhibit continues through February 26 but is on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit at 3:30 p.m. for the artists’ talk. SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St.
Gallery Hops at SCAD Atlanta are free and open to the public, allowing you to view many of SCAD’s groundbreaking exhibits at no cost—even a free shuttle to the galleries and parking services are available at the SCAD Atlanta campus. Fortunately, one of these seasonal events is lined up for this evening—with refreshments served at select galleries. Details below:
The ACA Gallery of SCAD Atlanta welcomes the work of Cao Fei (a Chinese artist currently shortlisted for the Guggenheim Foundation’s Hugo Boss Prize), who presents “NO LAB on Tour”—a range of dynamic and politically charged films and line drawings depicting a Katrina-battered New Orleans. Joining the exhibit is a carnival cart with computers linked to another of this artist’s projects, Second Life. Viewers can use the software to create their own avatar and navigate the virtual world created by this digital architect. The exhibits continue through February 7 but are on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St.
Swing by Trois Gallery for Erick Swenson’s moving “Caught Captive” exhibition (shown above) of naturalistic cast resin sculptures depicting allegorical, hybrid creatures frozen in dramatic moments of tension. His Whitney Museum-exhibited “Carpet Piece”—an intricatedly painted fiberglass sculpture designed to look like a woven carpet—is also on view. This exhibit continues through January 24 but is on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St.
Head to Gallery See at 3:30 p.m. for a gallery talk by the creators of “Horsepower”—a two-person painting exhibition by SCAD Savannah professor Gregory Eltringham and SCAD’s 2009 Visiting Artist, Matt Blackwell. From cruiser cars to equine imagery, the works play off the double meaning of the title word and pay homage to a nostalgic American past. This exhibit continues through February 26 but is on view for free tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit at 3:30 p.m. for the artists’ talk. SCAD Atlanta, 1600 Peachtree St.
Visit SCAD Atlanta’s Events calendar for more info.
January 14th, 2010
The Englishman Fine Art & Antiques, currently located at the Galleries of Peachtree Hills in Atlanta, is holding an extraordinary moving sale, starting today and continuing through Monday, November 23 (excluding Sunday). A notice on the sale we received this morning touted discounts of up to 60 percent on select merchandise, which is an incredible deal considering the treasures to be found in this two-story showroom. (You may remember the shopping story we ran on The Galleries last March–and all of the fineries we uncovered). One category this shop specializes in is 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century European oil paintings–one of the largest collections in the United States. And although the name can be a bit misleading, suggesting that the store carries only English art and antiques, when I was last in the store, I was amazed at the unique selection of intricately carved Dutch and Flemish case pieces, gilded oversize French convex mirrors (à la Greenbrier Hotel writing room) and luminous Italian landscapes. Gallery Director George Getlik and Gallery Manager Rachel Evans (an artist in her own right), are just as delightful as the inventory itself.
Stop by during gallery hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday to survey what’s in store. Nearly all shops and galleries at The Galleries of Peachtree Hills are open to the public.
425 Peachtree Hills Ave. NE, Atlanta 30305. (404) 869-3175; theenglishmanusa.com
November 19th, 2009
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