Tuesday, May 18, 2010

TREXDeck Design Contest..what an honor!

Spring is here! well, Summer is most definitely upon us in the South...and everyone I know tries as hard as they can to spend time outside..whether in the park, at an outdoor cafe, or on your own back porch, there is nothing better than green grass, blooming flowers, blue skies, and for those that are lucky enough, a water view is primo.

Our back porch is used every day nearly year round..large enough to accommodate a chaise or two, a pair of comfortable lounge chairs & a small dining table, we can easily host eight comfortably. And we do. And it makes our guests and us quite happy.

Dreaming of your own space to entertain? relax? morning coffee and cocktail hour as well?
NOW, you can have that! I was recently honored by inclusion in a very special contest sponsored by Trex (www.trex.com), the country's largest manufacturer of wood alternative decking.

Don't think of decking as the typical boring raised deck...No matter what your yard topography is, your location, space limitations, Trex offers the perfect solution:

How fantastic is this?? the classic iron furniture and lattice-style fencing mixed with a more contemporary fireplace..neutral cushions to keep it all serene


OR, if you have a hilly site with pool and lush grass beyond:

even if simple is more you, you can still have style:


So no matter where you live, I know you are dreaming of a place to perch and enjoy the beauty of the seasons....and I want to be the one to help you design it!

It's very easy to enter:

www.trex.com to explore your options..click on You Could Win a Deck Makeover

you must enter by June 15th..spend a few days dreaming of what you could have if you simply enter to win!

Best of luck....
Jeffery





Friday, May 14, 2010

Collection 2 from The Big Easel-Tony Bernard, Kathy Dumesnil, Hope Hebert, Linda Moncla, Roy Pfister, Lue Svendson

On the heels of the wildly successful Big Easel, I decided to do a few blog posts on building a collection from group shows. While making my rounds at The Big Easel, I took photos of my favorite pieces that were on display by the 59 artists from all over Louisiana. From many wonderful pieces, I have culled my favorites to 25 outstanding

For this first grouping I am imagining these six paintings in a traditional living room or library..possibly wood-panelled, shades of neutral, brown, camel, & dashes of red and soft, soft blue..good classic Southern design...

Over the sofa, this landscape by Roy Pfister of Covington, LA, framed in a soft gold antiqued frame would be perfect as the starting point of the collection...

Roy Pfister
Winter Strays
Oil on Canvas
24" x 36"
$800.00


Groupings of paintings in a room are most successful when different mediums and styles are paired..

On a side wall, Hope Hebert's acrylic on canvas landscape above Linda Moncla's slightly more abstract watercolor framed in a soft gold thin frame would be perfect..


Hope Hebert
Pop's Cabin
Acrylic on Canvas
12" x 12"
SOLD


Linda Moncla
Morning Colors
Watercolor on Paper
16" x 20" image, framed to 20" x 24"
SOLD


And for even more juxtaposition, place Lue Svendson's Louisiana Lane landscape above the abstract Myth Series by Kathy Dumesnil...every room, no matter how traditional, needs a touch of contemporary to spice things up a bit while adding interest, depth, & texture..


Lue Svendson
Louisiana Lane
Oil on Canvas
8" x 10" painting
$325.00 framed
available at Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio, Breaux Bridge


Kathy Dumesnil
Myth Series
Acrylic on Paper
15" x 15" image, 27" x 27" framed size
$500.00


Too often, bookcases are forgotten as a wonderful spot to showcase small pieces of art..I always hang a piece or two on the back of the bookcases..Tony Bernard's small tree piece would be perfect for that location..


Tony Bernard
Louisiana Series-Oak Study 2010
Oil on Canvas
6" x 4"
$125.00

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the Big Easel..I hope you found pieces to begin your collection and will enjoy them for years to come. For guidance placing your art in your home, consider hiring an art consultant...that would be me!

Jeffery McCullough Design & Art Consulting
jefferymccullough@hotmail.com


Monday, May 10, 2010

Big Easel Preview Party Winners-Kathryn Crosby, Frankie DeMelo, Ramsey Ayers, Forrest Montgomery, John Bienvenu, Christine Ledoux, Kathy Prejean

Big Easel Committee Members at Preview Party
Lue Svendson, Jeffery McCullough, Karen Daigle, Hope Hebert, Kim Mallia

2010 Big Easel Official Painting by Hope Hebert
auctioned with proceeds benefiting Acadiana Center for the Arts & River Ranch Arts Institute

On the eve of the Big Easel (a major, major success--more on that later!), a fabulous preview party was held at Club 1100 at City Club at River Ranch. With the primary goal of giving sponsors (The Village of River Ranch, Event Rental & Event Restroom, Impressions PDM, Vinyl Modern Sign Concepts, Gallery Insider, & Acadiana Center for the Arts) and art collectors a sneak peek at one special piece by each of the 59 artists participating in the Big Easel, the work was juried by local gallery and jewelry store owners.

This year our jurors were Pegi Derby & Jane Noble of Galerie Eclaireuse (www.galerie-eclaireuse.com), Don Leblanc of Gallery 549, Roger Laurent of Gallery 912 (www.gallery912.com), PJ Naomi & Patti Naomi Smith of Paul's Jewelry (www.paulsfinejewelry.com), and Kiki and Kate Frayard of Kiki (www.shopkikionline.com).

Huge congratulations to the following winners:

Acrylic Paintings Category & Overall Best in Show:

Kathryn Crosby
Bringing it Back Home
Acrylic on Canvas
24" x 30"
SOLD


Oil Paintings Category:

Frankie DeMelo
Metallic Haze
Oil on Canvas with Silver & Gold Leaf
30" x 40"
$2,100.00


Mixed Media/Collage Category:

Ramsey Gardes Ayers
This Hut is Home
Mixed Media Acrylic Collage
16" x 20"
SOLD

Photography Category:

Forrest Montgomery
Louisiana FayOB
Photograph-HDR Processing
16" x 20"
SOLD

Watercolor Category:

John Bienvenu
Ashland Plantation
Watercolor on Paper
20" x 25"
$450.00, framed

Mosaic/Glass/Sculpture Category:

Christine Ledoux
Goddess of Water
Mosaic Sculpture-Hand built ceramic form, stained glass, fused glass
16" x 20"
SOLD

Jewelry Category:

Kathy Prejean
On the Verge of Autumn
leaves handcrafted of Copper & Bronze Clay suspended on necklace of cording & ribbon
SOLD


One of the big highlights of the night was the live auction of Hope Hebert's beautiful 2010 Big Easel signature painting (at top of this post). Beneficiaries of the $1,800 selling price are the River Ranch Arts Institute and the Acadiana Center for the Arts, organizations that keep the arts alive in Louisana!

A huge thank you to The Big Easel sponsors:

The Village of Ranch Ranch: www.riverranchdevelopment.com

Impressions PDM: www.impressionspdm.com

VINYL Modern Sign Concepts: www.thevinylpage.com



Gallery Insider: www.galleryinsider.com

Acadiana Center for the Arts: www.acadianacenterforthearts.org

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

A Collection Begins-Big Easel Preview-James McDowell, Kathy Dumesnil, Kelli Kaufman, Forrest Montgomery, Erin Chance Fenstermaker, Hope Hebert

As chair of The Big Easel, I have looked at tons of art over the last few months as part of the jurying and selection process with the 60 artists who will be showing their best work this Saturday, May 8th, from 10 am-5 pm in Town Square-River Ranch in Lafayette, LA.

This process and the current very warm weather in Lafayette along with all of the coverage of the potential devastation to the gorgeous Gulf (so very close to Lafayette), has summer plans/escapes to the beach on my mind. It's no secret that blue and green are my favorite colors and it's a little too well known how much I love days on the sand and in the water. In fact, I can easily say that a perfect day for me begins and ends staring at the water, both at sunrise (though it's quite rare for me to be up that early!) and sunset.

As I studied photos that have been sent to me of pieces by Big Easel artists, some remained in my mind. I realized that all of them have a watery and breezy quality and presence and would make the beginning of a very nice collection...imagine a casual seafront condo with these pieces...take me there now, please!


For inspiration and the beginning of the room, consider this fantastic glass piece that would be fabulous on an end table illuminated by the lamp it would share space with:

James McDowell
Oceanous
blown glass object created at Michigan Hot Glass Workshop
$200.00


then add these (3) pieces that are available at Gallery at City Club Fitness Center...the Hope Hebert large abstract above a fireplace (you need that on a winter night at the beach) and the (2) Kathy Dumesnil's on a small side wall one above the other as shown:

Hope Hebert
Landslide
Abstract Acrylic on Canvas
30" x 40"
$1,350.00

Kathy Dumesnil
Field in Harmony and Field at a Glance
12" x 12"
$275.00 each, framed



For a bit of unexpected energy, an assymetrical grouping of the next 3 pieces above the sofa would be fantastic! Kelli Kaufman's abstract on the left with Forrest Montgomery's photograph above Erin Chance Fenstermaker's abstract landscape on the right..


Kelli Kaufman
Sea Glass
Oil and Plaster on Canvas
24" x 36"
$640.00, framed


Erin Chance Fenstermaker
Abstract Landscape, 2010
Oil on Canvas
22" x 40"
$1,200.00, framed


Forrest Montgomery
OR 1
16" x 20"
$150.00, framed

and VOILA! a room is built around 7 fabulous pieces of art, all by artists showing at the Big Easel this Saturday, May 8th, 10 am-5 pm--Town Square, River Ranch-Lafayette, LA.
A great way to build a collection is to start by attending art shows like the Big Easel where you are able to see the work of 60 diverse artists. It is a great way to hone your style and find artists whose work you love. I look very forward to seeing you there!


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Top 5 Picks-Big Easel Preview Party-Mallory Page Chastant, Kathryn Crosby, Caroline Chunn McCarthy, Camilla Drobish, Ramsey Ayers, & bonus Hope Hebert


I've been asked by a couple of area art collectors what my top 5 picks are of the pieces that will be for sale at the Big Easel Preview Party this Friday night.

The Preview Party is where the 60 artists participating in The Big Easel choose their absolute best piece to be on display and for sale for the area art collectors, patrons, & sponsors of The Big Easel. The party is Friday night at Club 1100 at City Club in Lafayette. Tickets are $50 each and there are still tickets available. Please be in touch with me via my email..jefferymccullough@hotmail.com..to purchase.

SO, going out on a limb here, I (and these are 100% MY personal selections here) think the 5 best pieces that will be in the preview party show are:


Mallory Page Chastant
Sealight-Studies of the Moonlight
on the Ocean
Acrylic on Panel
42'' x 42"
$1,625.00

Mallory Page Chastant's Acrylic on Panel paintings are now shown at Mrs Howard/Max & Co. in Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville & Jacksonville Beach, FL, & Charlotte, NC; Perch Home in New Orleans; Gallery at City Club in Lafayette; and 119 Quincy Circle in Seaside, FL.



Kathryn Crosby
Bringing it Back Home
Acrylic on Canvas
24" x 30"
$600.00, gallery wrapped canvas

Paintings by Kathryn Crosby have been shown at Cajun Spice and Lafayette Art Association in, both in Lafayette, LA


Caroline Chunn McCarthy
Contemporary Still Life
Oil on Canvas
18" x 24"
$750.00, framed

Paintings by Caroline Chunn McCarthy are currently shown at Gallery at City Club in Lafayette, LA; Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio in Breaux Bridge, LA; and 119 Quincy Circle in Seaside, FL.


Camilla Drobish
Atchafalaya Sunset
Acrylic on Canvas
20" x 20"
$350.00, gallery wrapped canvas

Camilla Drobish's paintings are currently shown at Gallery 912 in Lafayette, LA and Tallulah's Treasures by the Sea in Orange Beach, AL; Lagniappe Antiques in Breaux Bridge, LA; and Cajun Spice in Lafayette, LA.


Ramsey Ayers
This Hut is Home
Mixed Media Acrylic Collage
16" x 20"
$1,250.00, framed

Ramsey Ayers mixed media works are currently shown at Entre Nous in Lafayette, LA, and Page O'Connor Fine Art in Destin, FL.

and primo is this years poster painting (at top of this post)...an original acrylic on canvas 24" x 30" painting by Hope Hebert that will be auctioned off Friday night at the Preview Party...50% of proceeds will go to the Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA) and 50% of proceeds will go to the River Ranch Arts Institute. If you would like to place a bid now for this special painting by a wonderful artist, please contact me via email..jefferymccullough@hotmail.com

A wonderful time will be had by all on Friday night...great food, drinks, art..don't miss it!
to purchase tickets at $50 each, please contact me at jefferymccullough@hotmail.com


Sunday, May 2, 2010

Jewelry Artists at The Big Easel

Gearing up for what will be the best Big Easel Art Show yet! This Saturday, May 8th, 10 am-5 pm, Town Square-River Ranch, Lafayette, LA.

In addition to fine paintings, photography, sculpture, glass ware, and pottery, we have 7 or 8 jewelry artists who will be exhibiting. Here are some pics of my favorite jewelry that will be for sale:


Liz Juneau
Archipelago Jewelry
(Alexandria, LA)

Blue Bayou Earrings
Chalcedony and pink freshwater stick pearls with gold filled wire/posts
$40.00



Kathy Prejean
KP Designs
(Youngsville, LA)

Loop-d-Loop my Darlin
Silver pendant handcrafted from silver clay with freeform swirl/curl pattern
on 18" sterling silver chain
$50.00



Paula McDowell
Firedance Studio
(Lafayette, LA)

Waiting Twigs
One of a kind pin constructed in 2008 of textured fine silver,
set with a frosted titanium doublet
3" x 2"
$200.00



Janet Ullrich-Theriot
Art by Silver Sister
(Lafayette, LA)

Freshwater Pearl crochet set of cuff, pendant, earrings
crocheted fine silver
$200 for the set


Hope to see you at The Big Easel this Saturday!