Hola! from Spain

Hola from Marbella, Spain! I am sorry I haven´t written in the last few days...We were in Madrid until last Saturday, then traveled by fast train (it´s fantastic! and sadly something the USA doesn´t have) to Seville for 2 nights, and have been in Marbella since Monday...today we travel by fast train to Barcelona where we will be until Monday...

This has been a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful trip...I still maintain life-changing and even more so after being here for longer...

Madrid is a city that I have fallen in love with and I will do several posts on the wonders of it in the next week...But for now, I give you Garden of Earthly Delights by El Bosco (Hieronymus Bosch) which I saw at the El Prado Museum in Madrid (again, thanks to Laura & Lisa for making us ¨visita oficial¨ at the museum!)

I had never seen this incredible, incredible triptych painting....It is the type of work that you could see 20 times and find something different each time....

just study a bit...you know you can click on the picture and it will enlarge...

according to the Prado, in this triptych created circa 1500:

"The left panel is dedicated to Paradise, with the creation of Eve and the fountain of life, while the right panel shows hell. The central panel gives its name to the entire piece, representing a garden of life´s delights or pleasures. Between paradise and hell, these delights are nothing more than allusions to sin, showing humankind dedicated to diverse worldly pleasures. There are clear and stronlgly erotic representations of lust, along with others, whose meanings are more enigmatic. The fleeting beauty of flowers and the sweetness of fruit transmit a message of fragility and the ephemeral character of happiness and enjoyment. The seems to be corroborated by certain groups, such as the couple enclosed in a crystal ball on the left, which probably alludes to the popular Flemish saying: "happiness is like glass, it soon breaks."

Hmmm....sounds like the real world to me!..aren´t we always somewhere between paradise and hell? isn´t that reality?

for me it certainly is, but for now....I will continue to enjoy the paradise of this journey in Spain!

Adios Amigos,

xoxo

Jeffery

Hola! from Spain..Part 4..Modern Hotel (Paradores Hoteles) & Art Gallery (Galerie Arte Sonado)-La Granja

Hola chicos, chicas, amigos, & amores...

We just arrived in Seville, Spain by train today...another incredibly charming and beautiful city..this is the 7th day of this truly life changing journey..I am a bit tired because we have been moving at a fast pace in order to take it all in...My next few posts will be about Madrid...

This post, however, is my final letter regarding La Granja and the beauty of the village..Juxtaposition, the most important design element, is the focus of these pieces...

First up...Paradores Hoteles:

www.paradores.es

Housed in the Casa de los Infantes, an 18th century structure constructed by Charles III to house Princes Gabriel & Antonio, a modern beauty exists...we did NOT stay here (La Granja was a day trip for us) but if I come this way again, I will most definitely spend 1 night in La Granja..

While walking down a cobble stoned street, I was stopped in my tracks by the modern glass entry doors tucked behind the ancient carved wooden doors:

the human sculpture was a major clue that there was something VERY interesting going on inside...and boy was there! note the original stone walls with the new sheetrock versions in front..the elaborate crystal chandelier with the modern rug below...

and even a Lewit P floor lamp by Metalarte (a Spanish company) for Hinson & Company (www.hinsonlighting.com) where I worked for 4 of the 8 years that I lived in New York! :

Like many European buildings, a central courtyard awaits you..in the hotel, one side is a courtyard lounge and garden :

and the other, the restaurant:

Who couldn't while away a day here?? the pool is at the top of a hill with stone walls and steps..PERFECT juxtaposition in the form of the glass box structure with the ancient coraly-pinky building behind it:

Just down the street from the hotel, Claudia Schaefer (a friend of our friend Chico) has a wonderful contemporary art gallery..again, look at the cobblestone street, the wonderful shell pink stucco facade and the modern glass entry to the gallery:

The current show at Galerie ArteSonado (www.galerieartesonado.es) is of three photographers..As a photography junkie, I was on cloud nine for the hour or so that we spent there...here are my favorites:

Elixir, 2010 by Pototo

Busto Series by Alberto Villar

**I have selected the middle one for one of my clients..hope it happens!

Note the juxtaposition of the original beamed ceiling (painted white for freshness), the original stone based columns, the new, very crisp neutral stone floor, the modern lighting, & the modern art---YUM!

Noche blanca & Agui y ahora on left by Pototo

Diptico New York on right by Javier Martin de Frutos

I've written three letters regarding La Granja because it is not a place I have ever heard Americans speak of visiting...It is a MUST if you are in Madrid...about an hour and a 1/2 drive from the city..in the mountains..beautiful, beautiful..one night would be enough so that you have a full day and a 1/2 to enjoy the hotel, gallery, & royal palace and gardens..

OK....hope you enjoyed! gotta run so I can take a quick siesta and then head out for Tapas in Seville!

More tomorrow....

Adios...

Jeffery

Hola, Hola, Hola! Palacio Real de la Granja

And now for the Palacio Real de la Granja....

Unbelievable...Spain's Versailles..

built in the 1700s for King Philip as his summer house...

The palace as seen from the gardens...beautiful, beautiful..and so perfectly symmetrical...for those of you in Lafayette, you'll understand what I mean when I say that it is TOO bad that the owners of the nouveau grande "European" mansions didn't visit this palace before building! particularly the "cherub house" and the multi-structured gated monstrosity on Worth Avenue!

To give you a sense of scale, Tim is 5'6"....the simplicity of the arch and the classic shutters and simple iron railing are just perfection..

vast, vast, vast, vast....

This tower structure is just beautiful..reminds me of pal Robert Smith's tower house on Lake Martin..all very simple details but very, very effective..

Iron work that is, again, perfectly simple and beautiful...

Photos were not allowed in the areas of the house with antiques and art...this floor is an example of where 17th century design is still oh so relevant..in fact, the David Hicks tile collection from Studium utilizes this exact color combination of ivory, caramel, & chocolato..

I fell in love with these interior wood shutters...I recently was shopping for a client at Au Vieux Paris Antiques (www.auvieuxparisantiques.com) in Breaux Bridge, LA, where antique paneling very, very similar to the design of these shutters is available..

this ceiling is exactly the design of the foyer ceiling in a clients house..adds depth and interest in what would otherwise be just a flat ceilinged boring space..

Adios....off to see the Royal Palace of Madrid today!!

Hola from Madrid Part 2! Gardens at Royal Palace-La Granja

Hola! I can't believe I am on day 7 of my trip to Spain...I am in love with this country on so many levels and for so many reasons but primarily because of the beauty..everything I have seen is just simply spectacular!

On day 2 of our trip, our wonderful friend Chico organized for us to go into the countryside about an hour outside of Madrid. The village of La Granja has buildings dating back to the 15th century and is just lovely..really, stunning..I will do a separate blog on the town in a day or two..

The main draw for people to La Granja is to see the Royal Palace at La Granja and its gardens..the palace dates to the 18th century and was the summer home of royalty of Spain for centuries..It is considered Spain's Versailles..

Here I will show you the gardens..SPECTACULAR!!!!

over 1,500 acres...26 very elaborate fountains..the garden was designed by only French landscape designers from the 1700s...

If you ever make it to Spain, this is a MUST do....

It was quite a big deal for us to get to see this fountain in action--this area of Spain is in a drought and as it relies solely on the reservoir of La Granja for water, restrictions are in place during droughts and fountains can only be working certain times of each week..we arrive in time to see this as people (hundreds) were clapping and cheering...

There are 26 of these bronze fountains throughout the garden..they are breathtaking:

This one is the "Bath of Diana"..the parts that you see that are rough looking are made of actual shell..is is a myth that King Philip V remarked in the late 1700s that "it has cost me three million and amused me three minutes." HA!

The Fountain of Neptuno:

Ahhhhhhh, the colors of the garden.....Japanese Maples (one of my favorite trees) are everywhere, everywhere, everywhere in Spain..also, Rhododendron and Cedars and Jasmine are robust and everywhere...it's a great combination for a garden...the cedar, japanese maples, rhododendron, jasmine

And these Chestnut trees were in full bloom..gorgeous to look at it and sweet, sweet, sweet to smell...

As a designer, I found all of the sculpture and vases to be mesmerizing...VERY detailed and intricately designed..

And here I am happy, happy, happy and giving you a sense of scale...remember I am 5'10"..even in my relaxed stance of repose I am probably 5'8" from ground up and you can see how massive this vase is...

Adios for now! today is our last day in Madrid...we travel by train to Seville tomorrow...

Muchos gracias..

Jeffery

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!