mixed media collage: wrappings, recycled paper, ARTchix Studio image
Archive for the ‘art’ category
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays All!
December 24, 2010Shades of Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration
December 10, 2010
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8821 © christine matthäi
Artist Photographer Christine Matthäi has created an alluring and intriguing series of images inspired by the changing shades of blue and blissful reflections of what surrounds and supports us most—water. Her travels to Grand Bahama Island and watching the wind and waves create motion, reflecting the sunlight on our gorgeous clear sapphire seas, is certainly part of her ongoing inspiration and fascination with water—that life-giving source vital to us all. Take a look at these modern, contemporary art works:
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9589 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8789 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9587 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9592 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8908 © christine matthäi
If you are interested in prints for your home or office, write to the artist at christinematthai (at) mac (dot) com and note the image number in the caption.
Or take a look at all Christine Matthäi’s gorgeous contemporary portfolios by clicking here.
I am fortunate to call Christine a friend, and am posting this because I admire her incredible talent and brilliant work. As with all things I enthuse about here, it’s simply because I enjoy it and like to make the world a brighter place by sharing the good stuff!
That said, I DO have a vested interest in my husband’s printing company—Freeport Advertising & Printing—a Grand Bahama-owned full service printing and graphic design business here since 1973. If you would like to win a big beautiful 24″ x 36″ inch, fomecore-mounted print of one of Christine Matthai’s images (your choice of the ones shown above), just click here to subscribe to their free Printer At Work newsletter. You can see a sample issue by clicking on the Printer At Work button on the bottom left side of the screen. The newsletter is a quick read, with great tips on marketing, design, technology, and ways to save money and increase business sales. It comes out every two weeks, so you won’t be getting tons of email or anything. There are even a couple fun cartoons in each edition. (And of course, your email address is safe with us and will be kept private.)
Okay, that’s it. If you’re already a subscriber or have an account at FreeportAdvertising.com, you’re already entered and eligible to win. Subscribe by January 1, 2011 to be eligible to win the print. A random entry will be drawn by over-caffeinated gerbils, or some objective technological wizardry, and the winner announced the following week.
If you want to leave a comment here letting me know you’ve subscribed, or which print is your favorite, or just to jump in and say the water’s fine, that would be wonderful, but is completely up to you.
And if you need some last-minute Christmas cards printed, or little notepads with people’s names on them as thoughtful gifts, I know just the place! (that was the last commercial plug–but aren’t imprinted personal things so cool?—okay that was it, really … I get on a roll and can think up all kinds of fun goodies to print!)
Enjoy the blue bliss of water that surrounds our wonder-filled island and makes us all fortunate in business … in beauty … in life … each and every day. In gratitude for the time and tides—Paula.
It's about the water. It's always about the water. Southern shore of Grand Bahama Island.
Famous Blueprints: Our Humble Historic Home
October 7, 2010
Originally constructed for a former chief executive of The Grand Bahama Development Company, our modest two-bedroom home shares architectural roots with a much grander home, built by one of Freeport’s founding families on Sea Shell Lane. This property was recently sold by Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty and photographed by fine art photographer Christine Matthäi. Matthäi’s artful images capture the home’s classic oceanfront elegance and the timeless organic nature of Parker’s work.
Sea Shell Lane residence photographed by Christine Matthäi
Parker shared a passion with Frank Lloyd Wright for designs that worked with local climate and natural materials. In tropical climes that meant louvered shutters and windows that allowed prevailing ocean breezes to cool things down in the days before air conditioning became commonplace. Parker’s sensitivity and commitment to use of indigenous materials is also evident in the limestone rock that is incorporated into both our humble abode and the Sea Shell Lane residence.
Beautifully blending local materials, recycled materials with then-modern techniques like poured concrete was part of Parker’s modernist mission. His designs are still relevant today in the way they seamlessly merge the interior with the exterior—blurring the boundaries between building and landscape in classic organic architecture.
Sea Shell Lane photos by Christine Matthäi. 2010 ChristineMatthai.com
In our little part of paradise, the grand old trees that surround the property are visible everywhere and bring a particular kind of contentment and sense of well being found only in the shade of their longevity. Our stands of mature trees were planted by Lila Gonsalves—the first President of the Freeport Garden Club—and I send her quiet thanks on an ongoing basis for the green goodness we regularly enjoy in the garden. Sir Jack Hayward also had a hand in our arbor abundance, having given the now towering 40-foot tall Royal Poinciana tree that graces the front entry, to the original home owners in a coffee can—a tiny sapling housewarming present that bursts out in dazzling splendour every May & June.
Royal Poinciana entryway tree in full bloom
A kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
— Dorothy Frances Gurney
Our small home and the Sea Shell Lane property are the only two known surviving residential works of Alfred Browning Parker on Grand Bahama—a tie to modern day Freeport’s history that still smiles on the ideal of harmony between human habitation and the natural world—an essential element in preserving our island’s inherent beauty and grace as we make our way into the future.
Related Alfred Browning Parker Links:
Alfred Browning Parker: The Master of Coconut Grove:
Modernism Magazine (Volume 11, No. 2 | Summer 2008)
The legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright commented on a home Alfred Browning Parker built for himself in the Coral Ridge area of Miami, featured as House Beautiful Magazine’s 1954 Pace Setter House:
“This Florida house aims at the highest goal to which architecture may aspire: organic architecture. Along this new but ancient way a home where the enlightened mind can flower, where people can develop their fullest potentials, is still a possibility.”
Slide Show: More of Christine Matthäi’s photographic images of Sea Shell Lane residence, click here.
Turquoise & Butterflies
August 21, 2010That Bahama-blue water color — turquoise — is the theme of this week’s ARTchix challenge for fun and prizes. Here are a couple “inchies” (1″x1″) collages made from ARTchix images and aqua bits of a shopping bag.
The flutterby collage ATC’s (artist trading cards) feature new images from ARTchix’s Hot & Cool Butterflies sheets, along with some of their lovely vintage ladies! (and some recycled Daytimer refill sheets and magazine clippings!)
Let your art take wing!
It’s About Time
August 19, 2010I found this quote artfully created on a calendar frame …
Having a marvelous summer stretch and wishing you the same!
Clothespin Art
May 14, 2010
altered old-fashioned slotted wooden clothespin decorated with ARTchix images, ornamentals, some paint, and marker
other side of the clothespin
Having fun … making art!
Art Challenge Fun: Playing with Complementary Colors
May 10, 2010
It’s fun to play with color. I created this collage playing mostly with shades of deep blues and various orange-reds as part of this week’s ARTchix Studio challenge about exploring the fullness of the color wheel …
… this pinwheel is a simplified version of the full color spectrum, but it nicely illustrates the pop and zing you get in your artwork when you pair up colors that are opposite each other on the wheel to command maximum attention … like yellow and purple …
… orange and blue …
… or pink and green (or red and green!)
Color wheels can be sweet and simple with primary colors like the pinwheel, or hugely detailed with all the multi-shaded variations of color that printers, designers, and artists use …
… either way, it’s a wonderful visual reminder of how contrast gives you the most impact and why some pairings automatically appeal more to the eye than others. And when playing with color—whether in art, graphic design, fashion, food, or decor—it’s all eye-candy! Play away — it makes you feel like a kid again with a new box of crayons!
“Create Art. Share Happiness.” — ARTchix Studio
I Love … Collages!
March 25, 2010This blog started out as a list of a whole buncha stuff I love …
… having fun making art collages is definitely on that list, especially when I’m inspired by the fabulous ARTchix Studio …
… ARTchix inspired their chixies to create Twinchies (2″ square collages) in a red, pink & green color palette …
… featuring “I love …” messages of whatever strikes our fancy at the moment … I loved making these …
… with snippets of this and that … bits and pieces from a magazine … great images and goodies from ARTchix …
… recycling … refreshing … renewing your creative spirit … reminding yourself of some favorite things that make you smile …
… yes, I love making art … making collages … taking little trips into the imagination … especially in The Bahamas!
ps … 5/18/2010: I’m posting the back side of the twinchie collages now. The originals have been mailed out as part of the swap and are arriving in their new homes … I like to leave some small element of surprise for the recipients of the originals when they receive them in the mail (in case they’ve already seen the card fronts in other ARTchix places!). For me, it’s just as fun creating the back side of the cards as the front side, so here they are!
I Love Movies (Movies Thrill Me); I Love Gardens (Nature Lover); I Love LOVE In Your Heart (True Love); I Love A Love Story (Sweetly Told); I Love Being Me (Surprise); I Love Vacations (Sea Post)
Make Every Day Valentine’s Day
February 16, 2010
With this Pride & Prejudice-inspired Mr. Darcy Proposal Dish Towel in your kitchen, every day can be Valentine’s Day, with its fab reminder to express your love for your special sweetheart — or your own dear wonder-full sweet lovin’ self! Whatever your passion, proposing to your own uniquely creative muse is a sure start to a renewed and longstanding love affair with Life! Ahhhh …. daily romance …. xo!
Mr. Darcy Dish Towel via Modite via Design Mom via Poppytalk
p.s. My post wouldn’t be complete without a note of thanks to award-winning author and speaker Jan Phillips as the source of so many of my thoughts on being wedded to your creative bliss. Her wonderful book, Marry Your Muse: Making A Lasting Commitment to Your Creativity made a lasting impression when I first received it as a gift many years ago (so much so, that I’ve practically forgotten I didn’t come up with that brilliant concept myself!) It’s available here, along with a new book called The Art of Original Thinking – The Making of A Thought Leader. Another book that has influenced my thoughts on the value of keeping all of your love more alive by being passionate about your creative essence is The Conscious Heart by Gay Hendricks and Kathlyn Hendricks. Brava to all the passionate champions of artistic amour! (and as with everything I post here, this is not something I’m selling, just stuff that I like that makes life more wonder-full!)
Butterfly Inspiration
January 19, 2010
Postcard collage for ARTchix challenge inspired by vintage butterfly postcard
another postcard collage inspired by ARTchix butterfly-themed weekly challenge
I adore butterflies. And that made this week’s ARTchix challenge extra fun in making these postcard collages. All kinds of creative inspiration takes wing at the ARTchix Studio blog: http://www.myartisticlife.typepad.com
