Art – The New Christmas Shopping Trend
The adverts tell us earlier and earlier each year – Christmas is coming. But rather than the mounds of plastic toys, overpriced perfumes, or single-use novelty items, have you ever wondered if there’s an escape from the transience of traditional gift-giving? Buying art for Christmas is a wonderful way of passing on sentiment, showing that you know a person, and giving them something that they’ll cherish for a lifetime. Here are 7 reasons you should consider art [...] November 27, 2018
Painting ‘Human Nature’
Human Nature From my studio where I work by the gorgeous morning light, I see a duality. Outside in the wild, untamed garden, the beautiful autumn colours come into focus as the last vestiges of summer ebb away with the changing of the clocks. Nature shakes itself of its green and give way instead to vibrant reds and browns. Fallen, crisp leaves carpet the land, spread deep on the grass like offerings laid by careful and [...] November 14, 2018
Artwork For Your Home – Honour Your Soul
Artwork for your home – honour your soul Buying a piece of artwork for your home can be a big thing. There are all these questions to answer: What kind of artwork? Which colour scheme? Which artist? Does it go with the space? Let me give you some advice, forget all that. Buy art because you love the piece. That is the only criteria. Art is not supposed to match the sofa, it’s supposed to reflect [...] October 31, 2018
Chasing The Colours
Today’s blog is an article written in the February issue of OZB Magazine. I had the pleasure of welcoming into my studio Ada Popescu, Art Director and Douglas Williams, Co-owner/Editorial Director. We had a nice, relaxing chat, they liked the art and decided to write a double page article. Oh…and I became ‘Artist of the Month’ in the online version of the magazine :). Thanks OZB, it’s been a pleasure! ‘Art and its understanding is one of [...] February 19, 2018
My spiritual practice
When I was a little kid, my grandmother used to take me to this little church in the village and I always hated it. My grandmother was the most loving person I know. She always put everyone before herself, making sure we were well looked after on both a physical and emotional level. If I had a headache she would sit for hours and rub my head and sing to me. On cold winter nights she [...] January 21, 2018
A Bird’s Eye view
Sometimes we have to stand back and take stock of our lives. Every December or January, depending on available time, I take a few days to look at my life. I start with writing my annual journal, describing all the important things that happened in my personal life, my career and my charity work. I write about people who influenced me, places I visited, books and workshops that had a great impact on me. I write about [...] December 21, 2017
Questions
As my life unfolds I have more and more questions. I know people throughout history have asked these questions before me. From the universal questions of ‘Do we have a collective purpose?’ to the personal question of ‘What is my purpose’? We try to find fulfillment through our work, our children or our marriage. We are not satisfied just being, we have this need to know that there is something else greater, bigger, better and it’s out [...] December 3, 2017
Art in your home
As you can imagine, my house is full of art. However, in my living room I only have one work that I painted, everything else is art that I have bought. Someone was visiting me recently and as she was looking through the collection of paintings on my walls she asked me a question: ‘Why did you buy this painting? I’m sure you can do one just like that.’ I was shocked. I didn’t understand her question [...] November 28, 2017
Quest Discovery
I am very privileged to have this week’s blog written by Karima Noor Elmaghraby Radwan. Karima is an art historian and lecturer from Washington DC.After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill where she completed an BA in Classics and an MA in Art History, Karima worked at Christie’s in London in the 20th century decorative arts department and then later moved back to the US to teach art history at various colleges around the greater DC area. Karima has [...] November 20, 2017
My Marylin
Why is there such a fascination with Marilyn Monroe? Artists use her image again and again; she has been the subject of paintings, films, songs and opera; hundreds of books have been written about her, people want a piece of her image and energy in their homes, and in their lives! I think it is the paradox about her strength and her weakness that fascinates us about her story. When I painted this portrait I thought a [...] October 29, 2017
A Journey of Colour
I grew up in Romania under the communist regime. In communism everything was grey. The buildings were grey, the clothes were mostly dark blue, grey and brown for fear of not getting dirty; newspapers, magazines and school books were black and white, TV programs were black and white. There were no commercials, flyers or advertising and no pretty flowers planted by the sidewalk. This was the city life. In the countryside it was very different. First of [...] September 10, 2017
What if?
I look at a painting and sometimes I’m amazed at how just a few colours and shapes can transmit such strong emotions. And then I remember the intent; it’s the intent of the artist that transcends through the colours and shapes into your heart and finds something to resonate with. I love how people interpret my paintings in different ways and most of the times I like to listen to their stories before I say what I [...] September 3, 2017
With me always
No matter how successful you are, how big your house is, how well your business is doing, how fit and healthy you are, I am quite certain and aware that the ultimate feeling of happiness comes from being with your soulmate. I never liked the phrase ‘my other half’ as that makes me feel chopped in half. I understand the sentiment, that your other half is the half to your whole, but it never quite resonated [...] August 15, 2017
I am a spiritual being having a human experience.
I did not come up with this phrase, it is used among many. Sometimes I have moments where I am unequivocally aware of the truth behind it. So much so that I can feel it with my entire being. As a society, when we are at pace, when we have shelter and food and the basic necessities taken care of, when there is no war or plague; we start to ponder, to look round at this amazing [...] July 30, 2017
