An Elevation

Sometimes a sketch says a thousand things better then a whole monologue of how line can change the balance of an elevation. A case in point: my client was unhappy with how the large flat screen next to the fire place did not work, a suggestion was to put a cloth or curtain around it. My analysis was not the tv but the half round console table on the other side. A row of shelves with books would balance the whole wall, you have all straight lines: the fire place, the flat screen, the mantle piece. Replace the console with shelves, a quick sketch explained the solution:

 

I think it makes a more logical arrangement...... and more pleasing. Working on it now.

 

Mondrian Nicholson In Parallel

This weekend I visited the Courtauld Gallery to see a very good exhibition of the paintings of Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson, two painters from the 30's who explored the beauty of geometry.

I learned that they were friends, knew one another and shared ideas. To see their work in parallel, hanging next to one another was enlightening. Both worked and found that satisfaction in the balance of shapes, composed them on a plane of canvas and created compositions that are beautiful. Beautiful in the way it brings a sense of pleasure in yourself, that inner sense of balance.

Mondrian created his shapes with black lines, I found the austerity classical and abstract. He used color like punctuation, carefully placed and made the canvases sing.

Nicholson used shapes to define the space and used color like an embrace, his colors were yellow ochre, red, a soft blue, grey, black and white, closer to the colors of the earth and sky, I would add the British maritime climate sky.

I have always admired both their work, seeing this small exhibition and learning of their friendship opened another appreciation of their work. They had profound influences on 20th century design and architecture. I still see it today.

Sadly the exhibit is over, I made it just in time.

Classy and Classic

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I'm collecting up some ideas about classy living rooms; proportions, symmetry, balance, pairs, light.

Rooms that are comfortable and well arranged,  not following a fashion but confident to work with design principals, no need for a splash of edgy ideas.  Yes I am looking for rooms that are elegant, comfortable, confident and classy. I like the balance of these rooms.

Lucien Freud

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A painters view is often disturbing to many, some will find it too penetrating. Lucien Freud's work brought many mixed reactions from people and various critics. I thought he had an understanding of form and volume, of proportion and balance and painted with tenderness.

Most saw his angle intrusive. Many of his angles reminded me of the times when I would rush to a crowded life drawing class and get the last place to set up my drawing board, I would than have an awkward, foreshortened view of the model. Those are usually the more difficult positions to draw. Freud could draw from that angle and paint it with an understanding of the body, seated, reclined, folded in relaxed poses.

His palette was natural, earthy pigments, he chose to paint with natural light, to me, sometimes it seemed he painted under a fluorescent light, a cold shadowless light.

He was a very good painter, by that I mean with the skill of putting paint onto a flat surface he could create a complex 3 dimensional form; the body, the head, a tree, drapery and express it with a sense of beauty and humanity. Not many can do that. He will be missed.

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