thank heavens for little boys

While touring Brussels, a visit to the "Grande Place" is always a must and just off the square, there is a famous little boy, "the Manne ka pis" - a statue of a little boy sprinkling and tinkling!

This statue is dressed up on Holiday and other days, simply sporting his "birthday suit!"  A visit quickly takes me back to the days of potty training twins and setting up a routine for them to successfully make the mark.  I know that many of you will appreciate the success and the rewards of having no more diapers to change.  Children along with adults find humor in this little boy.  Around the area, one can find lots of souvenirs of this statue.

We happened upon this Artist, Ziaeian, who had a booth set up and the most charming illustrations. We could not resist to purchase this small work of art to hang in the bathroom.

A souvenir or sorts.

There were other illustrations that I loved as well, take a look at this lovely building and those gorgeous flowers.  An awning always adds a smile to a building as well as protection from a different sort of shower.  Speaking of showers, it happens to be raining here today.  Thank heavens for little boys and for showers too!  Have a sunny day.

Mr.Harte's Holiday

Illustration by Glynn Boyd Harte from "Mr.Harte's Holiday"

Glynn Boyd Harte takes us on a Holiday to the north coast of France, celebrated by generations of painters and writers, from Eugene Boudin to Marcel Proust.  The above illustration by Mr. Harte takes us to a wide expanse of Beach, of an old-fashioned sea-side resort.  I love this work for the use of a limited color palette of red, yellow and blue.  The majestic shadow cast of the umbrella in the foreground leads us towards a promenade of beach chairs and cabanas.  The northern light gives a golden glow to the sand ready to greet those on Holiday for a day at the beach.  I hope that this inspires each of you to begin with a simple primary palette and take your sketch-book on Holiday. 

shady spot

Isuwannee lives in this shady spot that I illustrated for her some time ago. Creative license gives me the ability to visualize and to transform things. No need to call the landscaper or the painter, with the click of my pen and brush I can add a shady tree, a fence and some color - all to make your home all the more sweet to come home to.

creating a home illustration

Pencil is used to "rough in" the shape and size on the paper or the image and then a micron archival ink pen is used to fill in the details. The devil is in the details. It takes time but a little patience here is truly a virtue. Working from top left to the bottom right keeps my artwork clean. I use a Mars Staedtler to erase the pencil prior to painting and a drafting brush to dust off the surface.
At a point that I feel I have captured the essence of the artwork, then I begin to prepare my color palette with the colors to be used. I try to narrow down the number of colors and stick to using that palette which brings a cohesive order to the final artwork. I use clean water in a clear glass container , good brushes and have a blotter or a paper towel to test the amount of paint that I load on my brush. Just like applying make-up, if it goes on too dark, you have to start over. I try to work light to dark in water color, but in oils my process is different.

I plan to post more about my process and if any of you have any questions that you would like to know, please feel free to leave me a comment. Creating illustrations and inspiring others to draw or paint is pure joy. Tell me if I have inspired you and let me know what you are creating!

le Voltage

Maison 21 decided to up the voltage and raise this chandelier found on e-bay as a design challenge.  It caught my attention over at Mrs. Blandings as she designed a chic Bordello for a "quick" visit of pure and utter decadance.  Next, off to Katiedid where I sported my muff and my portable flask of vodka as temperatures dropped and lead me into no mans land to an icebound dacha.  I was quite happily snowed in there, which then led me to my own challenge of flipping my own switch, to "Le Voltage."

"Entre, s'il vous plait" to "le Voltage" - through this gate for an evening that you will never forget.

I felt that this chandelier needed sharing for all to see and a setting commensurate with it's grandeur.  I mean it would be perfect in a Master Bath but then again, how cruel not to share it with the world.  Philanthropic interests at heart.  Le Voltage was designed after Versaille and I have decided to add an opera house there and invite each of you to a grand fete!

Nothing to wear, I am sure that you can come up with something to promenade along the red carpet as you have made the cut for an evening of total excess in a rather gloomy economy.   Just what the Doctor ordered to make us feel happy, a night out of high voltage to electrify! 

Blinded by the light, perhaps a pair of these would help to cut down on glare.  Dolce & Gabana has these for $386,ooo.  Not to worry, they are in the gift bag along with some other goodies, that will be handed out after you pass the gates.    I mean if I can afford such a chandelier, surely, I can afford to give each of you a party bag.  Hurry take your seats as the performance is about to begin.

Now that you are seated, turn off your cell phone and put away those noisy candy wraps and anything else that might ring, or bling during the performance.  Quite a venue of star performers on this evening's program, Kiri Te Kanawa, Madonna, Prince and several other surprises. Sit back, dim the lights, and let the evening at "Le Voltage" light up your mind and your hearts.  Fireworks to follow the show in the formal gardens along with refreshments.

r.s.v.p with a comment for me.

Hostess with the mostest!

LE VIF cover girl, my mother-in-law "top" hostess at the Expo 58 in Brussels

While we were in Europe, visiting Brussels, one of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the "Atomium."  Once upon a time in 1958, at the Brussels Fair, Expo 58 there was a certain fair hostess greeting tourists and working as one of the fairest of them all.  My mother-in-law happened to be a fair hostess, one of the top 3 out of 500 hostesses.  She recently attended the 50th Anniversary Party for Hostesses.  

PARIS Match "Centerfold" - my mother-in-law happens to be on the fold. 

 

She told me one of the most important responsibilities as a Fair Hostess was that of "hygiene"

and that a part of her job was to inform other Hostesses that they were to return home and come back for lack of proper hygiene.  Can you imagine?  Today, we (Americans) take for granted the daily showers and shampoos and all the products a plenty to keep us fresh as daisies.  

The "Atomium" is an amazing architectural wonder.  Recently restored for the 5oth Anniversary, polished to an incredible silvery sheen.  The structure is a series of round balls connected, like that of an atom. 

 The connecting structures are a series of stairs or elevators taking one to the pods for various exhibits.  If you are ever in Brussels, take a trip to the Atomium.  You will be amazed at how many tourists are there.  I was thrilled that we were able to go and that our children saw photos of their Grandmother their on display.  We were so proud of her.

She still reigns fairest of them all to each of us.

Happy 50th Anniversary to you and to the Atomium!

little red door

There is nothing finer than a red door.  This illustration was done for a client who is working on a special surprise for her husband while he is away, (this illustration being one of the surprises along with another one, a secret!)  So nice to come home to surprises and to be a part of a surprise. Do you have any surprises in the works?  I just love surprises.  I like red doors too.

island-shopping

pve design, illustration of a "new" JmcLaughlin shop on Martha's Vineyard

Island-hopping along with island-shopping! 

Tis so much fun to shop on location, and to associate a memory of a special purchase from a far away spot.  A bag, a beach hat, a skirt or pareo, items that add sunshine to your ensemble.  Books are also wonderful to bring back and savour, a local cook-book or local artist's book.  Summer would not be complete without a ferry ride from the Eastern shores to Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard or Block Island.  What is your favorite island?

Where will you be hopping and shopping this Summer?

case of the missing art

Brooklyn Limestone posted this empty frame - part of her "trash to treasure" collection.She found them while on her hunt for her sofa.  They were literally in the trash.  What a steal. 

She posted them on her blog looking to readers for help, the frames were missing something. Help being in the form of ideas left as comments.

Funny, when someone asks for ideas I can pull them out of a hat.  I happened to find these great photos in a European Magazine at the Paris Apartment from the 1990's - which I was delighted and thought they would be just the thing for Madame Limestone.  Borrowed ideas, not stolen.

A perfect solution for the case of the frame missing the art.  What thinks thee?

image of heirloom family photos, from a vintage French decor magazine

These items of a personal collection suddenly become transformed into one private place of honor. Perhaps a scrap of wallpaper serves as the perfect back drop to off set a collection.  Don't you just love the mix of frames within frames.  I could see some of those fabulous old keys displayed in frames that Madame Limestone found during the renovation.

These remind me of my teenage "shadow box phase" as I made them for gifts.  

My Mother still has one 

that I made and I look at it in awe of the patience that it must have taken. (all done pre-children of course)

image from a vintage French decor magazine

Elegance is in bringing a collection to one particular spot.  Mixing minimal with baroque or family heirlooms all provide for a unique private collection.  What would your private collection be?  Do tell.  This gives me impetus to hang my illustrations in one giant frame.  I know my framer, Elegant Poster will love this idea too.  "Cha-ching" as my daughter likes to say, unless of course, I can find some frames in the trash.

circle of love

August Family Circle - Connie's favorites on page 28

Family love is unconditional along with a circle of wonderful friends who mention you in the August 2008 of Family Circle.  For a buck ninety-nine, I encourage each of you to get your own copy or subscription.  I posted the illustrations awhile ago that I had done for Connie Dirvin of interiors of her fun home.  Take a look on page 24, at her "Fun House" and be inspired to add a little fun to your home.

I have to admit, I was in earnest hopes that my illustrations would make the cut, but I am so thrilled that pve design was included in, "A few of Connie's favorite things" on page 28.  Connie has a fantastic site too which is a great online home design shopping guide - blink decor.  Connie along with Anne Carr partner to edit the market and introduce strategies for keeping decor fun.

Connie and I worked together years ago and remained in contact with the annual Holiday Card. Connie would call for a variety of artworks that she would ask me to do - such as, a personalized illustration for her father's birthday invitation, place-cards for an at home dinner party with clever quips, and an illustration of her interiors, an illustration of her former Connecticut residence.  I feel so included, like having my very own "Circle of Love."  Connie can count on me, in the blink of an eye, I would illustrate anything for her, even her dog, Chloe!