I definitely have pottery on the brain these days; a lot of the pieces that I’m attracted to are essentially functional art. Take these mugs by ceramicists and sculptor Peter Shire of Echo Park Pottery, which dates back to 1972. Dragging myself out of bed every morning would be a little easier if my reward included sipping tea or coffee out of one of these slab construction, handmade vessels. (The colorful splattered motif was apparently inspired by Sam Francis’ paintings.)
In San Francisco, you can marvel at an array of Shire’s work in person at Gravel & Gold, which is where I first became obsessed with these mugs! And if you’re in Los Angeles, Shire has listed three dates—December 2, 3, and 4—on which he’ll be selling his pottery out of his studio on Echo Park Avenue. (Psst … I love this video on Shire, his crafts, and his cups.)
{ All photos from Echo Park Pottery }
by Alexis on November 12, 2012
Pop-Up Magazine is a live event that’s been taking place in San Francisco since 2009. The magazine is made up of a series of pieces by writers, film makers, photographers, and radio producers sharing stories live on stage. I’ve been trying to make it to an event for quite a while now, and finally had the chance to see Issue No. 7 last week. It was worth the wait and the extra effort to get tickets!
Wendy MacNaughton is a fantastically talented San Francisco illustrator, and she also presented one of my favorite stories. Her piece was an illustrated interview, telling a sweet story about the life of a particular man. Part of the magic and charm of Pop-Up Magazine is that the work presented only happens once and isn’t recorded or available in any other format. But I was delighted to discover Wendy’s series, Meanwhile, on her website this weekend. In a similar format, Wendy is taking interviews and stories and translating them into illustrated documentaries. San Francisco Public Library, The Dolphin Club, and The Winemaker of Bolinas (excerpted here) are three of my favorites, but they’ll all make you smile if you take the time to scroll through them. If you are looking for a little inspiration to kick off your week this Monday, be sure to check them out. And if you are in the Bay Area and have the chance, I highly recommend checking out a future issue of Pop-Up Magazine as well.
{Images from Wendy MacNaughton}
Nancy and I spent yesterday afternoon talking about color palettes for an upcoming project. Color can be such a tricky thing, so when I see a scheme I like, I try to bookmark them for future reference. Often a single image can be the perfect color study for a whole room, project, event, or photo shoot, and these paintings all have palettes that inspire.
Dale Frank, the Australian artist who created the pieces shown here, has a signature style involving pouring, drizzling, and blending paints that results in beautiful layered, mingling effects. I especially love the apparent translucency in some of the colors as they interact, like in the painting above, and the unexpected combinations of reds, pinks, corals, and purples in all of these. If you’re looking for color inspiration for a weekend project, I’d suggest looking through Dale’s gallery. His bold color palettes will kickstart any project.
{Paintings by Dale Frank via Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery}
Last year, during a week-long vacation on Bali, I squeezed in multiple trips to Jenggala—a pottery and ceramics factory/showroom located not too far from my hotel in the Jimbaran Bay area. (They also have a paint-your-own-piece program, which is a great activity if you’re traveling with kids!) While I was able to tote home a few souvenirs from Jenggala, I really wish I had been able to bring back more of their wonderful designs.
With the holiday season fast approaching, I started thinking that it would be awesome if I could buy some Jenggala ceramics for friends and family. And I was thrilled to find a U.S.-based, authorized dealer: Bali West Imports. Now I can get my Jenggala fix without sitting on a plane for 12 hours! I have a feeling that there are a lot of people on my holiday list who will be receiving some ceramics this year.
{ All images from Jenggala }
A few years ago, my husband and I decided to stop buying each other holiday gifts. Well, sort of. Instead of exchanging presents, we’ve agreed to make one major purchase for our house every winter. I usually propose that we buy some art so that we can gradually grow our collection.
One of my go-to online resources when I feel like my walls need a little sprucing up is 20×200. The pricing—which usually ranges from $24 for an 8″x10″ print to $240 for a 16″x20″ print (occasionally, larger sizes are available)—totally supports the site’s motto: “It’s art for everyone!” If you’re looking to update your interior before guests arrive for the holidays or have been eyeing a 20×200 work for a while now, you’re in luck: We’re giving away a $100 gift certificate for 20×200!
Pick up several small prints or a single, bigger print; if you’re the winner, it’s your choice. To enter for your chance to win, just leave a comment below letting us know which 20×200 print is at the top of your wishlist this holiday season. (Women on Rocks by Elizabeth Huey, shown above, is my latest 20×200 acquisition.)
One winner will be chosen at random. The giveaway ends at 11:59pm PT on November 14, 2012. Please note that the email address you provide for contest entry may be shared with 20×200. No purchase necessary to enter for a chance to win. See complete rules here.
