Hola! from Madrid...Part 1

One of my biggest regrets is that I have not attended graduate school to get a masters in Art History or Arts Management...it is something that I must achieve at some point...

BUT, for now travel will have to serve as my graduate school as I see and do and experience life-changing moments and events..staying ahead of the curve (and my competition!) by stepping outside the box of safety and reality of mundane daily life...it is what my clients will benefit from as I stay on top of what the world and not just the South is doing and offering all of us..

HOLA! from Madrid, Spain where I am since Saturday and until this Friday..

Each day has been spent seeing, doing, & studying 4 categories which I will expand upon in blog posts to come...

DECORATION:

I am obsessed with these new tables by Moroso..the Ukiyo table is a chic red metal base with the top made of traditional Kimono fabrics pressed with polyester resin.

ART:

Yesterday we visited the Museo Reina Sofia where I saw this diptych by Sam Francis, 1956..

LANDSCAPE DESIGN:

a new interest of mine...all things beautiful interest me and gardens are a huge part of any design project...on Sunday we traveled out of Madrid to the mountain side town of Le Granja..this the just one tiny corner of the Royal Palace gardens

ARCHITECTURE:

classic or modern it always fascinates me...I can stare at a building for hours taking it all in..

this is the Palacio Real de Le Granja which is so massive and detailed that it took about 2.5 hours to tour just the palace

Adios for now!! Daily posts to follow as I explore and learn and become a better designer and art consultant! My clients will thank me later, I know....

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

www.roypfister.com

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

www.hopehebert.com

Pop's Cabin

Acrylic on Canvas

12" x 12"

SOLD

Linda Moncla

www.lmoncla.com

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

www.luesvendson.com

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

www.bernardstudio.com

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

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

www.studiofiredance.com

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

www.hopehebert.com

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

www.kellikaufmanpaintings.blogspot.com

Sea Glass

Oil and Plaster on Canvas

24" x 36"

$640.00, framed

Erin Chance Fenstermaker

www.erinchance.com

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!

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

www.mallorypage.com

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

www.katcrosbyart.com

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

www.ramseyayers.com

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

Caroline Chunn McCarthy at 119 Quincy Circle-Seaside, FL

I recently had the opportunity to place the paintings of one of my favorite artists, Caroline Chunn McCarthy, in a gallery in one of my favorite places, Seaside, FL.

119 Quincy Circle is a beautiful home furnishings boutique in the picturesque village of Seaside on the Gulf of Mexico between Destin and Panama City. Sylvia Forbes of 119 Quincy Circle has accumulated a great mix of artists to represent including Lesa Rowe of Memphis, Dean Bentley of Atlanta, & now Mallory Page Chastant of Lafayette, and Caroline Chunn McCarthy of Mobile, AL.

Caroline was born in Jackson, Mississippi and grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. She received her B.A. from Southern Methodist University and her law degree from the University of Alabama. Since graduating from Alabama, Caroline has been an attorney with Lyons, Pipes & Cook, P.C.

Mobile, AL, is home to Caroline and her husband Brian. They have three children, all currently in college.

In 1998 Caroline began painting seriously and has studied under regionally renowned artists including Wanda Sullivan (Spring Hill College), Randy Moberg, Kathy Whitinger, Missy Patrick, Ainsley McNeely, and Karen Stastny. Caroline's paintings, primarily oil on canvas, reflect a love of color. Yasharel Manzy's landscapes and Cynthia Packard's figures influenced McCarthy's earlier paintings. Currently, she is exploring "organic" still lifes. (which is the series that I love so much and placed at 119 Quincy Circle)

With the demands of the practice of law, Caroline has had little time to promote her work (hence, I come into the picture). She has participated in various shows in Mobile including Ashland Gallery and was featured in a two person show at Gallery 912 in Lafayette, LA.

In addition to showing at 119 Quincy Circle, Caroline will be the featured artist at Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio in Breaux Bridge, LA, in July & August of this year.

Three of Caroline's Still Life Series are currently on display at 119 Quincy Circle. As we prepare for the official opening (Friday, May 28th) of the show, more of Caroline's pieces will arrive in Seaside.

For more information on these paintings, please contact me via email (jefferymccullough@hotmail.com) or Sylvia Forbes at 850 534 0038, or if you are lucky enough to be in Seaside, stop by 119 Quincy Circle at 119 Quincy Circle.

Caroline Chunn McCarthy

Contemporary Still Life I

Oil on Canvas

24" x 24"

$1,050.00

Caroline Chunn McCarthy

Contemporary Still Life III

Oil on Canvas

12" x 16"

$525.00

Caroline Chunn McCarthy

Contemporary Still Life IV

Oil on Canvas

10" x 20"

$525.00

Hope Hebert-New Series of Abstracts

One of the perks of being so closely involved with artists is that I get to see new collections before they are shared with the world.

Hope Hebert, prolific South Louisiana based artist, recently completed a series of abstracts that have been unveiled at Gallery at City Club in Lafayette.

A departure from Hope's well known florals and wine bottle paintings, the abstract series possesses the qualities that all of Hope's pieces have-whimsy, color, texture-but add a whole new dimension to Hebert's body of work that is constantly evolving!

Here are three of my favorites that are on display at City Club until April 2nd:

Hope Hebert

Tsunami

Acrylic on Canvas

36" x 48"

$1,875.00

Hope Hebert

Kaleidoscope 6

Acrylic on Canvas

8" x 10"

$90.00

Hope Hebert

Kaleidoscope 4

Acrylic on Canvas

9" x 12"

$135.00

All three are unframed on gallery wrapped canvas. They would look fantastic in a simple floater frame.

For more information or to purchase these pieces, contact me at jefferymccullough@hotmail.com or stop by Gallery at City Club before April 2nd.

To see additional paintings by Hope Hebert, visit her website www.hopehebert.com

Thanks!

and to those of you in the South, Happy Spring! to those of you in the North, hang in there!

Happy Valentine's Day 2010!

Flowers make all of us happy so I am sending you some of my favorite flowers to brighten your day and wish you a very happy Valentine's Day 2010!

From our collection, flower paintings and photographs scattered throughout the house..they cheer me up on a daily basis and I hope they will you as well..

Suzanne Packer

Blue Bureau VII

purchased at Provinceton Art Association Museum auction in our beloved Provincetown, MA

www.suzannempacker.com

Gabriella Mills

Purple Dawn

Camellia photograph

purchased from Gabriella Mills, Lafayette, LA

www.gabriellamills.net

Hope Hebert

the very first Hope Hebert we ever bought

purchased at The Big Easel in Lafayette, 2008

www.hopehebert.com

Jeanne Svendson tulip and rose

purchased from Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio, Breaux Bridge, LA

www.luesvendson.com/galerie.asp

Hannah Lane

www.hannahlane.com

a very special gift to me

from Rue du Pont Galerie et Studio, Breaux Bridge, LA

No house is ever complete without fresh flowers..here are over 100 tulips about to be placed throughout the house!

oh, those of you in Lafayette, if you want tulips don't go to Fresh Market..all tulips they had were purchased by me today so they are either at a clients house that I styled for a party or at our house!

from our house to yours, Happy Valentine's Day 2010!