My Color Lab., Vol. II, Failed Experiments

My apartment is where I experiment with color.  I love changing my accessories - the sofa cover, vases and pillows - on a whim.  Sometimes I am happy with a look and I live with it a while.  Until it's time to change it. I've been working hard on getting my apartment just right for Winter. I want it to be an edgy, romantic, girly cave. But I also want it to be simple, yet comfy.  It's all about balance.

Decor is all about balance.  Sure you want beautiful things, just not too many.  Clutter just won't do.  And there's no such thing as a mistake.  It can always be changed again, so don't be afraid of failure! My experiments often lead to several "failed" looks before I hit on just the right balance.  Here's a few of my recent failed experiments.

This look is clearly too much.  Although I must admit, that the pop from the chartreuse pillow is fab.

I love the coral pink cover, so decided to pair down the look.  This look is much better, except for the carpet - yuk!  Nothing worse than rental carpet.  I miss wood floors.  I can see this look with wood floors and gray walls.

Here's an experiment with my new gray quilt that I got on the cheap from Big Lots.  Nah.  Too much, and I like seeing the sofa's legs.  Friends often mistake my sofa for a futon!  Not so, it's a vintage Danish modern sofa.  The fabric the cushions are covered in is an unfortunate microfiber. Microfiber is one of my least favorite fabrics. Don't let the furniture store talk you into microfiber - it itches!

This is closer to what I what to achieve, probably my favorite of this round of experiments.  I always prefer a more streamlined look.  Really loving gray.  That table is bothering me.  I love low scale.  If this table's going to stay, I need to have its legs shortened.  Though I had a lot of fun with these experiments, none of these looks made the final cut.

My Color Lab

My apartment is my lab.  It's where I experiment with color.  I love changing the look of my place on a whim, and on a dime.

The Influence...

Have you seen the latest CB2 catalog?  It's so gorgeous!  The Rue Petal sofa designed by Jannis Ellenberger has me swooning!  It has a mid century vibe and is in a perfect pale pink!  I'll take two please!  I adore the presentation of the sofa here.  Love the large gray pillow,  Love the juxtaposition of the industrial chic capitol pendant lamp with the ethereal wall hanging by photographer Debbie Carlos. The wall hanging is soft and gentle, and provides the illusion of a window. Genius!  I commend the stylists and photographers of this shoot.  It's simply stunning.  I must admit, however, I am not in love with the rug.  But the rest of the shoot is so beautiful it doesn't really matter.

I could not stop staring at this photo.  I knew I wanted to experiment with these colors in my place.  I have a small stash of sheets stored in my ottomans, so decided to change the look of my living room (again).  Voila, I have a beautiful coral pink sheet set, and I have a big gray body pillow.  Both bought on the cheap (of course).

Here's what I came up with.  I love the color combination of coral pink, gray and turquoise.  This was a fun experiment, but it was clear that it would not work in the long run.  I want a new rug, but everything I like is way out of budget.  I hate the carpet in my apartment, I miss wood floors.  I do love these colors, but I dismantled the experiment after I photographed it.  I like the body pillow in my bedroom.  I use it as a headboard.

Here's a little vignette I did in the kitchen, also experimenting with these colors.  I love pink, black, gray and white together.  This was a fun experiment and set the tone for a bunch of other color experiments.  I knew I wanted to use gray prominently to make my place cave like for the winter.  It took a while to hit on the right arrangement.  In the next post I will show you more of my color experiments. Stay tuned.

Window Shopping, Vol. I

I mentioned in my post below that I shopped at Sweet Lorain in Cleveland yesterday.  I just had to show you a couple of sofas that I fell in love with.

Dig this two piece orange sofa!  Gorgeous!  I love that corner.  I love mid century modern.  This would look so fab in my place.  At $750 it's reasonably priced, it's sturdy and well made.  They just don't make them like that any more.  But it's not in my budget.  Oh well.  I'm sure it will sell quickly.

Look at this deco sofa and chair.  So cute!  Love the shape.  Love the low sale.  I can imagine stretching out on this to watch a movie.  Of course, I'd fill it with lots of pillows.  Also dig that coffee table and that standing lamp.  I might have to go back for that lamp.

Something New

I shopped in Cleveland yesterday!  Woo hoo.  Sadly, there's not many places to spend money in Cleveland, unless you are a fan of tits, sports or gambling.  But, there are some great vintage stores, one of which is Sweet Lorain.  I used to go there a lot when I lived in Cleveland.  When I drove into the city, it looked dingy as ever, but so beautiful to me.  It looked like home.  It felt like home.  I even looked at an apartment while I was there - near the Lake!  I was so excited.  It was a dump.  A dump. No hyperbole. Okay, I live in the hood.  It's friggin' noisy and the young men have no idea how to wear pants or talk to me with respect.  But. I do have a nice apartment.  I love my apartment, but I have dreams of a quiet, little cottage.  With trees and in suite laundry.  Sorry, I digress.  Here's what I bought at Sweet Lorain.

I had been eye balling this beautiful opalescent bowl for probably three years.  I totally expected that it wouldn't be there.  But when I got there, there it was, hidden behind a ton of fabulous art glass (they have the best collection of art glass ever - no lie!).  Dusty and patiently waiting for me to take it home.  And here it is in my home.  So gorgeous.  So simple. I can contemplate its shape forever. Indeed, this must be what eternity looks like. It's damn near impossible to photograph, though. I just couldn't do it justice.  So you'll have to take my word for it, the sun light shining on it is a slice of heaven. Man, humans sure make some beautiful things.

P.S.  Isn't that carpet ugly?  I miss wood floors.

A little bookcase, a story of OCD and coming full circle

I have a little bookcase.  I've had it for years.  Bought it on the cheap at a thrift store.  This little bookcase has been many colors.  When I first bought it, it was a dull beige.  I gave it a coat of white paint, and a new life. It's a versatile little bookcase, the legs can be taken off, put on straight up and down, or at an angle.  It's been many colors.  Some of the colors predate the digital age, so pics are not available.  It's been royal blue, chartreuse, pink, and gray.  Now it's white again.  Here's its current look:

NOW

It took me a long time to arrange the pottery.  I wanted the display to be perfect.  Simple shapes, and matte finishes. I still believe that Nirvana can be achieved by achieving the perfect look and then living with it. I'm going to try living with this arrangement, appreciating its beauty and letting go of the desire to change it. I'm going to try.  For the moment, laying on my sofa and contemplating the shapes and colors makes me very happy.

THEN

Here are a few of its previous incarnations. Sometimes I still dream of owning a shop.

It started out white.

Then I made a drastic change to high gloss hot pink.  This color still makes me swoon.  I painted a canvas to match.  A great solution if you are unable to paint your rental space.

These pictures are from my studio apartment in Cleveland.  I loved that little apartment.

I've had to sell pottery during some of my periods of unemployment.  I'm grateful I was able to do that, but I miss this pink dish and the blue vase.  Ah well, c'est la vie.

For a while the bookcase was gray.  These pictures are from my attic apartment in Cleveland.  I miss Cleveland.

I love this gray color.  It was a perfect Behr custom mix.  The skilled technician matched a pillow I took to the store.  Sometimes I wish it were still gray.

Then I went for a flat bubblegum pink.

These colors still shock me, but I do love them.

In my little apartment in Akron, the bookcase still wore the bubble gum pink for a time, but it was clear it needed a new identity.

I love painting cheap vases from the Goodwill, but have had to take a break from painting.

I started getting restless.  The bookcase needed a new identity.  I thought about using it in the kitchen, and took the legs off.

I thought about using it to display some cute teapots.  The painting would have had to go.  I still like this idea, but scrapped it.

I decided to return to white.  I love color, but in an identity crisis, I always return to white.  I loved dipped legs, so experimented with making the legs hot pink.  I've never really been one for embellishments, and prefer things simple.

So white it is!  It could use some sanding, and another coat.  But the high gloss white (Behr of course) looks great to me.  At this point, only half the battle is complete. Now to accessorize. I like this look, but it wasn't quite right.

This was a fun experiment with some super cheapo pieces from the Goodwill, but I dismantled it as soon as I photographed it.  It's not simple enough for my taste.

What if I add a cute little faceted black lamp I have in the closet?  Yuk.  That's what.

So here's its current look.  I love it!  I bought the beautiful pink dish from JunkHouse. It really set the tone for the display.  After I got that piece, my collection sort of upscaled.  I was no longer interested in anything that looks mass produced, or too new. The matte finishes make me swoon!  I've been really working hard on my apartment, stay tuned for a full reveal.

Here's the details of this display, if interested:  

First row, left to right:  white stoneware vase from Z Gallerie's, physical store in Westlake before they closed.  Haven't been as happy with their internet business.  Painting one of my own.  Vintage pink atomic dish from JunkHouse.

Second row, left to right:  vintage aqua dish purchased at Sweet Lorain in Cleveland, Buddha cup by Donna Karan and the bulbous vase is from TJ Maxx believe it or not!  It's a stunning vase, perfect execution, perfect matte finish.  I only saw one, and I've never seen another like it, it must be a replica.  But every now and then you can find something mass produced that doesn't look mass produced. 

Third row, left to right:  bowl from ASA Selection, it's one of my favorite pieces of all time.  This bowl sings when you run your finger around the lip.  Haeger vintage candy dish.  Vintage California pottery purchased at Sweet Lorain in Cleveland, beautiful matte finish, beautiful legs. 

Work in Progress and Impermanence

This photo is to provide a little perspective on the work I spoke of in the post below.  This work emerged out of my interest in making sculpture out of detritus, and a friend who said to me, "You are trying to create a perfect little world."  Huh, I thought, why stop there?  Why not a perfect universe?  The work started as an installation piece, but has evolved into a comic book which I am now working on story boarding. I want to make it into a video too, but fear that's too ambitious. I am sometimes hard on myself because I'm an idea person, and not very good at execution - and that's such a cop out.  As you know, clutter distresses me.  I cannot relax - nor feel inspiration - when I am surrounded by clutter. Once this installation was photographed, it was dismantled.

So here I am again, in a familiar place. Questioning everything.  The importance, the relevance (or lack thereof as the case may be).  Today, a friend said to me that blogs are corny. That gave me pause, I've heard many descriptions of blogs, but well, frankly, corny wasn't one I had heard. Blogs are certainly obsessive, and most bloggers by definition have ADD. You have to have ADD and OCD to succeed as a blogger. Your audience needs constant new content. When I was part of corporate America, blogs and coffee were an important part of my morning.  I'd much rather read a blog than a newspaper, and I love hearing unique voices. I've also heard bloggers described as self absorbed, or arrogant. I can kind of relate to the self absorbed description. After all my blog is all about me. My likes, my aesthetics, my work.  For some reason, I have an intense need to share. Perhaps that's part of being an artist.  Or perhaps that's part of being a human. We seem to have a need to document our lives. Never in history have we documented so much.

Whether or not this is a good thing, eludes me at the moment, and will probably consume my thoughts for the next few days.  What I do know is this: I am grateful to have a voice. Grateful that there are a few people who have taken the time to listen to my voice, and grateful that I am participating in a small way. Does it really matter?  What do you think?  I'd love to hear from you my dear readers.

Work in Progress: A Comic Book!

Hello dear readers!  I had a set back and found myself in bed for the last three weeks.  I went through deep moral and philosophical introspection.  A flare up after doing so well, seemed cruel to say the least.  I went through alternating bouts of self pity, especially for facing this illness alone.  I came to contradictory conclusions.  I realized that I don't want to live like this - who does?  But then realized I have no choice.  I will have to learn to live like this.  And I'm not really alone, we will all face this type of illness at some point in our life.  It is not the illness, but rather our reaction to it that is important.  Meaning, I will need to learn to harness my strength, dignity and go on.  What does this mean?  That I'm never going to get better.  That's not a sad statement of resignation, but rather a proclamation of peace and acceptance, a letting go of denial.  In the following days there will be more discussion on this topic, as well as facing chronic illness (and or caretaking of someone who is chronically ill) from a Buddhist perspective.

For now, since I'm behind in blogging, I'd like to show you more art that I've been working on.  I'm a little afraid, since it seems to eccentric.  But, I think I have a track record for putting it all out there, so I'm not going to stop now.

As you know, I've had to find "clean" ways to create.  I create because I must, there's just no other explanation for it.  I can no longer tolerate many of the toxins I dearly love (acrylic, spray paint).  Since everything looks like sculpture to me, I've been enjoying working on various assemblages, many of them temporary, a nod to the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.  Oftentimes, I dismantle the assemblage as soon as it's been photographed.  I've also been incorporating my interest in upcycling and my concern for the over abundance of detritus in the hood.  The comic book will feature various superheroes cleaning up the ghetto, having fun and using recycled materials to make their home sacred and beautiful.

Do you remember my Detritus Robot?  She will be appearing in the comic book, and also in a video I am working on.  The video is painstaking work, however, as I have no idea what I'm doing.  As always, that's too many words.  Art should stand alone, it doesn't need explained.  But we are human, and humans are wired for attempting to make sense of our reality.  For now, here are some proofs from this project.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I started making little worlds and decided to incorporate some of my toy collection


First World, Admiring the Cross

This little world is perhaps the most melancoly, because vestiges of former beauty still remain.  A cross made from copper and nails is a prominent feature.  The twine is an attempt to create wind, like a tumble weed has clung to the cross.

A Pokemon tree-like figure protects the cross and is the last vestige of trees.  Two little aliens admire the cross and are protected by a ninja.  Credits:  Pokemon Sudowoodo.  Little clay aliens by Robert A. Krause of RAK Graphics.  Ninja by Shawnimals for Kidrobot.

I felt like the rock assemblages by the Ninja needed to be larger and more Suessian in nature.

Ta da!

I'm hooked.  I can't stop looking for rocks to pile on top of each other.

A vintage Japanese paint brush seemed to fit, as well as a broken peace sign earring.  We can paint a better world.

Second World, Special Forces Fight Detritus

GI Joe and his troops are called in to fight the apathy of non-sustainability.  It takes agility to navigate this dark world, so they call in a floating, spinning yogi.

Scarlett does not use her archery skills to kill, but rather to pick up large amounts of detritus, The dancing, spinning Pokemon uses his skills to create large piles of sculpture like debris, easing the Special Forces' ability to move.  The debris is bundled in easy-to-transport packages, and shipped to the upcycling planet.

If you are a toy collector, Pokemon figures are very intriguing.  New characters are always being created, so your collection can never be complete.  This figure is relatively new, and is one of my favorites.  His name is Meloetta-Piroutte.

Third World, Where Detritus Is Upcycled

 

On this world, another Pokeman spins beauty out of the detritus the Special Forces have delivered.  Here, beautiful and functional objects await delivery to other worlds.

Overseeing the work of the Pokeman is the wise teacher of Ninjas.  He is able to move around easily on his flotation device made of a pencil sharpener.  On this upcycling world, they have learned to navigate the plasma energy easily, rendering most forms of transportation obsolete.

Each object on this planet is designed for beauty, and has a function which aids in sustainability.  Objects are disseminated to planets with populations who need the product.  There is no hoarding.  Since objects are disseminated according to need, there is no exchange of currency.  Credits:  Dunny Series 2009 by Shawnimal;  not sure the name of this Pokemon, will ask my nephew and update.

Originally I intended this work to be an installation piece, but I love the idea of a comic book.  That's my first installment.  Stay tuned for more.

All photos by Peggy.

Vignettes around my apartment

Good day dear readers!  It's a beautiful day in Akron, Ohio.  It's gentle, gray and misty.  Quiet.  The kind of day where you take things slow and enjoy the smell of a pumpkin spice latte.  As you know, I've been working hard at making my humble, little apartment into an efficient and beautiful work/live space.  And, I am addicted to photography.  So today's post features a bunch of lovely vignettes around my apartment - at least they are lovely to me!  I love styling and rearranging.  All in an effort to achieve Nirvana.  Once the perfect balance between beauty and simplicity is achieved, I will stop (I hope).  For now I am in love with my apartment.

My little outdoor space has become an extension of my living room.  The three ceramic vases were made in Vietnam and purchased at the Goodwill for a song.  Lighted faux branches were from Big Lots.  Also, for a song.  But you know me, I'm cheap.

Remember my little installation of broken and ugly vases?  (See previous post here.)  Since I've been embracing imperfection, I've been embracing broken vases.  And why not?  I adore little orphaned pieces and get them on the cheap, so why not honor them when they are broken?

Here is a new vase that I got at Home Goods.  I love gray.  Especially with pink.  The vintage pink bowl - probably my current favorite - is from Etsy seller JunkHouse.

A little sake bottle and vintage Japanese tea cups in my kitchen.  The cups were a gift from my uncle.  This little corner sort of explains my color scheme.

I often make vignettes, and then dismantle them as soon as they are photographed.  I am fascinated by the idea of impermanence, like the Tibetan Monk Healing Mandalas.  (Styling my apartment makes me so happy, it's certainly healing for me. Fixing up your place is the perfect remedy for a broken heart.)  I am also fascinated by rendering the impermanent permanent by photographing it.  Meta-photography, if you will.

You already know I can't stop making shit.  And that includes jewelry.  Yep.  That's right.  I am now a jewelry designer too.  I am creating edgy pieces from detritus.  This piece is actually a bracelet, but I love it so much I have it sitting on a plate displayed as sculpture.  Everything looks like sculpture to me.

My spiked hat is hanging with my favorite purse and scarves.  I love its edginess.  A reminder to me to be the warrior with the iron fist in a velvet glove.

New little lamp from Family Dollar!  I almost shit when I saw it!  The shade is made of wallpaper like foil and is perfect for fall.  Only $5.00.  Yep.  You read that right.  $5.00.  Venturing into the hood sure can be fruitful.  Also displayed on the table is part of my rock collection.  Everyone brings me rocks when they travel, especially my sister-in-law.  This little collection includes rocks from Aruba, Alaska, Hawaii, Cleveland and Akron.

Isn't this the sweetest little Buddha statute?  Got him for $3.00 at CitiTrends.  I like that my home is edgy and a bit of homage to the hood.

All images by Peggy