Monday, June 27, 2011

Melissa Payne Baker-From the pages of.......

....Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, December 2010 issue

The national greats Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and Traditional Home often overshadow regional design magazines. This is a mistake as there are fantastic publications that give a glimpse into the way of life and style of particular areas across the country. New York Spaces, Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Garden & Gun, and Louisiana Homes & Gardens are examples of top quality "books" that achieve greatness in features, writing, and photography specifically focused on the regions they serve. Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine not only succeeds in exceptional lifestyle and design project inclusion but takes it to the top of the craft by selecting Atlanta area homes that are so well done that they feel like outstanding design projects, not just Atlanta homes, that could be anywhere that good design is achieved.

One such project with wow factor was the December 2010 issue cover story. Executed beautifully by designer Alison Womack Jowers and photographed by Emily Followill, the large Buckhead home could just as well have been in Connecticut, Los Angeles, or Dallas. I particularly love the Master Bedroom. In tones of yellow, gray, and neutral, the space is very soothing--traditional but with a bit of an edge, feminine paired with masculine, i.e. the graceful lamp on the strong architectural column-style bedside table. 



Bedroom in Atlanta home by Alison Womack Jowers of Womack Interiors; painting by Melissa Payne Baker; photo by Emily Followill for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine


But what caught my eye is the small abstract painting placed perfectly above the bedside table. This little gem adds edge to the room. Melissa Payne Baker is the artist. I had not seen Melissa's work before and thinking that a piece similar to the one shown would be perfect for a Lafayette client's master bedroom I began research to find out more about the artist and to see more of her work. I learned that the Mississippi native is Atlanta based and represented by several galleries throughout the South. And I was relieved to see that this featured piece isn't just one successful piece by the artist but one of many great paintings.

Well, great minds think alike. Within a few days I received an email announcement from dear friend Alice Parker of Parker Gallery (www.parkerartgallery.com) on St. Simons Island, GA, announcing that Melissa Payne Baker is now represented by Parker Gallery! I was thrilled. Parker Gallery is one of the best galleries not only in Georgia but in the South. Armed with Art History and American Arts degrees from University of Georgia and Sotheby's New York, Alice Parker's Shops at Sea Island gallery represents an impressive roster of contemporary fine artists from all over the country. Melissa Payne Baker is joining Jim Touchton, Dennis Campay, John Mathew Moore, Page Davis, and Brucie Holler (just to name a few of my favorite Parker Gallery represented artists) on the walls of the sleek and inviting gallery which could (like the great projects Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles chooses) be in any sophisticated locale across the country.


Here are three of my favorite Melissa Payne Baker paintings that are now at Parker Gallery:



Melissa Payne Baker
Cherish
Acrylic on Canvas
24" x 24"
$ 925.00



Melissa Payne Baker
Soft Landscape
Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 48"
$ 2,800.00


Melissa Payne Baker
Iris
Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 36"
$ 1,800.00


In addition to large-scale paintings, Parker Gallery will be receiving small paintings by Melissa Payne Baker. I hope to use this duo in the same way that Allison Womack Jowers did so successfully in the Atlanta project. These would be perfect in the Master Bedroom of a Lafayette house for clients who are city-lovers and regularly spend time in New York and Houston.


Melissa Payne Baker
In the City I
Acrylic on Canvas
8" x 8"
$ 245.00



Melissa Payne Baker
In the City II
Acrylic on Canvas
$ 245.00


The texture and depth are what drew me to the piece featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. When I asked Alice Parker what exactly makes Melissa Payne Baker a strong addition to Parker Gallery's already heavy-hitter stable of artists, Parker said:

"Color is what makes her work unique. Natural, organic, with lots of depth. At the same time it exudes a sense of calm."

I share the same feeling. As does Samantha Dinos, art consultant and a collector of Melissa Payne Baker's work. Samantha's Sea Island house is where Parker first saw Melissa's paintings and through the Dinos connection met Melissa. Paying the ultimate compliment to an artist, Parker feels that Melissa Payne Baker is, like her work, "lovely, gracious, and graceful".

I look forward to seeing the new additions to Parker Gallery when I spend July 4th weekend on St. Simons. If you haven't booked all of your summer and fall travel yet and are looking for a wonderful place to visit, consider St. Simons. And stop by Parker Gallery. Meet Alice Parker. Buy a Melissa Payne Baker painting. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

Parker Gallery-St. Simons Island, GA    www.parkerartgallery.com
Melissa Payne Baker--Atlanta, GA      www.melissapaynebaker.com
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine   www.atlantahomesmag.com
Alison Womack Jowers, interior designer  www.womackinteriors.com
Emily Followill, photographer of Jowers home  www.emilyfollowill.com

In addition to Parker Gallery, Melissa Payne Baker is represented by:

Huff Harrington Fine Art, Atlanta
The Studio Gallery, Grayton Beach, FL
Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN
Hanover Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
Loretta Goodwin Gallery, Birmingham, AL
Quatrefoil Design, Atlanta



Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Jeffery McCullough Art & Design Consulting Back Up & Running....in Atlanta & Lafayette!

After a very time-consuming and tiring "move", Jeffery McCullough Art & Design Consulting is back up and running in a great office/study at the new house in Atlanta. The house is pretty swell and I am thrilled to finally have a space that is strictly for my work, research, planning, dreaming.

I have been able to assemble some of my absolute favorite things all in one place...pieces that had not been on the wall since 2007 in New York surround me again. Books that I constantly go to for inspiration are now out in a neat stack where I can see them and easily turn to the exact page I need...or peruse to find the surprise inspiration photo that will get me revved up when preparing a client presentation.

This corner of the office is very special for me. I only like to use my desk when I need the surface. For so many things (like writing this) I would rather be in a comfortable chair with a reading light over my shoulder. It somehow how takes the "work" feeling out of it and feels more like something I want to be doing, not something I have to do.

So.....what makes it special? I can function again (i.e.--return phone calls, emails, texts!) , I have some exciting new projects to focus on, and a few of my favorite things....

One of the most comfortable club chairs I have ever sat in upholstered in Jed Johnson Home's "Kamakura" fabric. Orange velvet lumbar pillow by Maison de Vacances from Calypso St. Barth in Sag Harbor. Vintage Painted Chair with F. Schumacher "Red Dragon" Fabric from Tracery in Birmingham. Vintage Koch & Lowy reading lamp from The Savvy Snoot at Westside Urban Market in Atlanta. A trio of pieces of art--Mallory Page "Marsh Series" Acrylic on Wood painting, Raoul Dufy lithograph from Jones Clark & Company at Center 44 in New York, and Foster Witt's "Greenwich" photograph from his Passenger Series.

Required Art & Design Books, Steve Martin Sculpture, Candace Greer Painting, Ceramic Bowl by Lyndel Renoudet, Painted Seashell by Sarah Stewart, & Fresh Flowers...and yes, the vintage phone works!



 "Marsh Series" Landscape by Mallory Page--final two of this series available at Tracery!



"Greenwich" by Foster Witt--this piece lived in my New York apartment in a spot that I saw immediately upon waking each morning...so much symbolism, such a strong composition..I am thrilled to have it back in my life!



Jed Johnson Home "Kamakura-Bark" Fabric--available through Jeffery McCullough Art & Design



F. Schumacher "Chiang Mai Dragon-Lacquer" Fabric--available through design showrooms

If you like what you see here and want more info on any item, please let me know....for now, here are some key resources to make good art and design a reality in your home or office.

Enjoy!

Mallory Page, New Orleans artist  www.mallorypage.com   represented by Max & Company in Atlanta; Mrs. Howard in Charlotte and Jacksonville; Tracery in Birmingham and Rosemary Beach; Julie Neill in New Orleans; Mallory Page Studio in New Orleans

Steve Martin, New Orleans artist    www.stevemartinfineart.com 

Candace Greer, Lafayette artist   www.candacegreerart.com   Represented by Tracery in Birmingham and Rosemary Beach; Rue du Pont in Breaux Bridge

Lyndel Renoudet, New Iberia ceramicist represented by A & E Gallery, New Iberia www.schex.com/aande/

Sarah Stewart, Florida artist-painted seashells  www.sarahsreef.etsy.com  represented by Watercolor Store in Watercolor; An Apartment in Paris in Seaside; Studio Gallery in Grayton Beach

Foster Witt, New York photographer  www.kiptonart.com/artists/foster-witt

Tracery, Rosemary Beach, Florida; Mountain Brook, Alabama  www.traceryinteriors.com

Jed Johnson Home Fabrics   www.jedjohnsonhome.com   represented by Jeffery McCullough in Louisiana; Travis & Company in Atlanta; John Rosselli in New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Dania, FL.

The Savvy Snoot Consignment Store    www.savvysnoot.com   Westside Urban Market in Atlanta
for vintage Koch and Lowy Reading lamps: www.1stdibs.com

Jones Clark & Company at Center 44 in New York  www.center44.com/boutiques/jones-clark-co