Sofas the colour of Dijon mustard.
The intensely colourful paintings of Grace Hartigan.
Linda Lomelino’s sweet food and florals.
Sunbathing in Southend on Sea, Essex.
Jacques Henri Lartigue’s images of aviators, racing cars and life in motion.
Life
splatter
August 23, 2021
My favourite table is one covered in a mishmash of tableware. Hand thrown pottery from France, vintage Milk Glass plates, a jewel toned cake stand and a ceramic carafe blue like the lake. Always a winner, is the traditional splattered crockery from Italy. I’d love a stack of lemon yellow plates, and I’m dizzy for this red and blue platter. Handmade in Southern Italy in a pottery Studio which dates back 18 generations, splatter ware can find a place at any table.
strawberries and cream
August 20, 2021
“Poundcake is a beautiful vessel for ripe summer fruits,” begins this post for fancy strawberry shortcake. Pound cakes date back to the 1700s and were originally made with four pounds of ingredients. There are endless varieties. I personally love a lemon loaf, but this simple strawberry number looks utterly delicious. The more strawberries the better, And don’t hold back on ice cream.
colour meets form
August 19, 2021
It was the painting below that caught my eye and led me to the work of American Modernist, Milton Avery. There’s an air of Matisse in his work. His portraits are quite lovely. “That gift for capturing his sitter without controlling her is one of the secrets to the longevity of his art,” writes Rachel Spence in the Financial Times. I love this beautiful bather in her lemon yellow suit. And this girl by the harbour is delightful. Have a look at more of his work here.
colour field
August 18, 2021
In celebration of our Luma’s seventh spin around the sun, I bring you the exuberantly colourful work of abstract expressionist painter, Jules Olitski. Olitski painted with an industrial spray gun, and created canvases that are a wash of joyous colour and light. On his creative process Olitski said, “expect nothing, do your work, celebrate.”
still life
August 16, 2021
A large bowl sits on our kitchen counter filled with tomatoes and chilli peppers from our neighbour’s garden as well as Greek figs, lemons and bright yellow squash. I’m not much a fruit eater myself, but I love to see all those wonderful colours and shapes together. This post from design blogger, Victoria Smith offers plenty of inspiration for displaying summer produce, from hanging baskets to jewel toned glass platters. We arrange flowers in a vase, why not give our peaches, plums and cherries the same artistic treatment.
different strokes
August 13, 2021
Marolize Southwood‘s colourful, impasto paintings of flowers, lobsters and fried eggs are intensely rich and tactile. I’m a sucker for white daisies so this blue glass vase of them caught my eye. Southwood is a modern day Impressionist, whose work pays homage to Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir et al. Her crop of red tomatoes are a joy.
estate
August 12, 2021
Little towns like the one pictured below are what summer dreams are made of. At least, my summer dreams. Mismatched sheets hanging from wrought iron balconies, fishing boats cluttering the port. I imagine walking barefoot from the beach to our pensione, washing sand out of my hair and then sitting on a balcony drinking cold white wine and watching old men playing Briscola in the square below.
pitcher perfect
August 11, 2021
Anyone who loves colour, and high wattage colour combinations, will enjoy the work of ceramicist and painter, Andrew Ludick. Think lime green and satsuma, turquoise and terracotta, plum and sky blue all painted upon whimsical forms. Ludick’s tall vessels –– elegant and bizarre –– are my favourite of his designs. Unusual shapes, clashing colours, and playful surface decoration come together to create humour and originality. John Ffrench is a major influence as are Paul Klee and Thelonious Monk.
around and around
August 10, 2021
Young Navajo skateboarder, Naomi Glasses.
Molly Ringwald smoking in the Breakfast Club.
Lee Friedlander’s stems; an inspiration for any artist.
Ghanaian traditional hairstyle.
Olympic surfer, Carissa Moore.
Paola Paronetto’s paper clay bottles.
