Making an Entrance in Los Angeles

My lovely client was changing her life and decided to move into a charming 1920s Spanish Cottage in Eagle Rock she had purchased as an investment rental 20 years ago.

One of the things that didn’t quite sit right with her was the absence of a formal entryway; the front door opened into the open-plan space.

My client’s space before the construction of the room divider

I proposed building an open shelving unit. My solution solved the problem; creating a faux foyer without losing natural light or making the front door area feel hemmed in. In addition, this open shelving gave my client a platform to stage her beloved collectibles gathered from world travels.

Contact me today to learn how I can help you transform your living space.

The new entryway; a transition space for putting your keys down and kicking your shoes off before settling in.

A Private View of Art

I paint to express emotions and thoughts I can't put into words. The only other experience that is as important to me is sharing the work with people.

While showing my paintings in galleries, museums, and social media connects to an audience, there is something exceptional about a private viewing.

Two collectors interested in acquiring my work arranged to view a selection of pieces in my home. One of the advantages is that I can curate the collection to their particular preferences. There is also a calm that comes with experiencing the group in a relaxed atmosphere of a living room.

Another bonus is my studio is adjacent to my home. There, I can talk about the process with pieces in various states of completion.

I am pleased to say that Destiny Guides Our Fortunes and Moon Monster will be a part of their collection.

It's much more than finding a forever home for the pieces. It's about opening the door to the how and why of the creative process.

Hearing the reactions, thoughts, and reflections of those witnessing the presentation fuels my imagination and inspires me to go back to the studio and paint.

Destiny Guides Our Fortunes

Moon Monster

The Big Picture for Your Home Exterior

While painting your home's exterior is part of maintaining your investment, you also want it to reflect you. You want your taste and style to create a feeling that you're happy to come back to at the end of the day. A place you're proud to call home.

One of the tools I use when working with my clients is creating a Photoshop color rendering to give an overall idea of the new look. The photo rendering allows my client to feel the mood a particular color combination carries.

The next step is narrowing down the choices and putting paint swatches up on the exterior. While a digital rendering is fantastic in establishing a design concept, seeing how color behaves during different times of day in a different light is something a rendering can't capture.

Once the paint samples are up, and you've lived with it, seeing it in the morning, afternoon, and evening, you can be confident that these are the colors for you and your home.

Mama Mia

While we’re delighted to welcome Bruce and Rosie, two kittens from an animal rescue, into our family, cleaning fur on our upholstered furniture has been a less thrilling bonus that comes with four-legged roommates.

I had to do something, so I started researching slipcovers, thinking I would have something custom-made. But, in my mind, most off the rack slipcovers were little more than ill-fitted sheets that turned any room into a shabby college dorm.

Looking on the web, I found Mamma Mia Slip Covers. Made in Italy, all their proprietary fabrics have a two-way stretch. In addition, all the fabric collections they carry, Microfibra, Velvet, Mille Righe, and Jacquard 3D, are high-quality materials.

The slipcovers fit beautifully and can be taken off and put in the wash.

Once I realized how practical and good-looking the product was, I’ve decided to partner with Mamma Mia Slipcovers. I will be carrying samples of all their fabrics with me when visiting my clients on color consultations as a quick, economical way to change or protect existing sofas, loveseats, chaise lounges, recliners, ottomans, dining chairs, pillows, and headboards.

As a partner with Mamma Mia Covers, I can offer a 5% discount. Follow the link, and the discount will automatically be added at check out.

https://mammamiacovers.com/?ref=v3mobWhiV1ZuWs

How Light Affects Color

When choosing a paint color, an essential factor to consider is the lighting in the environment where the paint will be applied.

To illustrate how light can affect color, an area is painted two similar shades of green.

Lit by the sun, the difference is very slight. The same colors under warm artificial light look very different.

Here we are observing a phenomenon known as metamerism. Where similar paint colors appear different under one light source and the same under another light source, there are many different light sources, and the same color will look different under each of them. Be sure to check your color under the same lighting conditions in which it will be applied.

So when deciding on a paint color, don't forget the effect of light on color.

Sway T.V.

I was delighted to be interviewed by the lovely Candace Kita on Sway T.V. about my artistic training, background in theater and film set design as well as the inspiration and artwork in my book,

Fairy Tale Remnants.

The full interview can be seen by clicking the link below and queuing up to 54 min in the show

What is Greige?

What is Greige? A combination of grey and beige, this range of warm tones creates a timeless natural backdrop.

Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter graces the wall of this entry.

John Bessler

Greige is an excellent option if you cannot decide between a warm or cool hue; it encompasses both elements. A timeless natural backdrop can be paired with bold colors or layered with other neutrals; greige's elegance has unlimited possibilities.

Don't forget about texture; layering metallic surfaces and different fabrics will add depth to the space's composition.

Also, keep in mind lighting when working with this adaptable color... Even though it is generally considered a warm tone, greige colors will present differently under artificial light than natural daylight. Always buy a sample and put it up to observe how it changes other times of the day into the evening.

Ultimately, it's about what makes you happy. Play with different combinations of contrast, tone, and texture and notice the way they make you feel.

Photo Apartment Geeks

In the Spirit of Giving

Few gifts are as memorable as original art. Taking the time to select a painting with thought given to the person receiving the present shows how much the person means to you.

There’s no wrong way to go about this, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

Think about what makes the person you’re gifting for special, and let their interests be your guide.

Not sure that the painting you’re thinking of is “the one”? Schedule a socially distanced visit in the studio to see the work in person.

Actress moves into West Hollywood 1920's Spanish home

I’m delighted that my painting, “Actress” has been acquired for a collector’s stunning 1920’s residence. The building has all the charm and elegant proportions of Californian Medditerrian architecture.

Her mysterious regard looks like she may not quite be ready to emerge from behind the curtain.

“Actress” was found via my gallery store at www.customcolorandart.com/shop

For the month of November, I’m offering 20% off on all artwork.

Just type in the code ARTHOLIDAY at check out.

A History of Color From The Forbes Pigment Collection / Harvard Art Museums

Photo Credit: Caitlin Cunningham

Presented as a tour of The Forbes Pigment Collection, Harvard Art Museums has put together an audio tour with slides of 27 different pigments, their history, origins, methods of extraction or formulation, and application in the artistic and commercial world.

In this tour, the presenters share interesting lineages of colors like Crimson, derived from Kermes lice. These bugs’ bodies are filled with brilliant red carminic acid. They live in groves of trees known as Kermes Oak.

Ancient peoples as far back as the Neolithic era crushed Kermes lice to use as a red dye. This centuries-old pigment faded quickly into obscurity with the introduction of cochineal imported from South America in the 16th century. While both pigments are derived from insects containing carminic acid, cochineal is a significantly stronger and more light-resistant dye, and the insects are much more plentiful and easy to cultivate than Kermes lice.

One of the most brilliant greens in the Forbes collection is emerald green, which was a favorite of Van Gogh and can be seen in his self-portrait dedicated to Gauguin in the Forbes Gallery 1220. Emerald green is closely related to Scheele’s green, which was incredibly popular in the early 19th century. Unfortunately, both pigments are copper arsenites, which can cause ill effects on people’s health. Despite this, it was used in fabrics, wallpapers, children’s toys, and even to top confectionaries. Rumor has it that the British deliberately sickened Napoleon by housing him in a room wallpapered with Scheele’s green.

As a color fanatic/nerd, these histories delight me. If you want to learn more about pigments, colors, and dyes: have a listen to the audio tour, which can be accessed by clicking any of the images above or the link below.

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/tour/a-history-of-color-an-audio-tour-of-the-forbes-pigment-collection