Thursday, April 15, 2010

Amanda Burdge on An appreciation for Art

I think Karen Carrol said it best when she said, " I can not think of any element that pulls the total look of an interior together, more than art"; and I have to agree with her. My love affair with art started when I was young, but I grew to have a deeper appreciation for it when I started doing interior design.
Jamie Drake
All elements in an interior are essential. Each and every item plays a cohesive role in pulling it all together. (if only there was an ingredient like this for our daily lives!) Nevertheless, art brings the character, the flavor and the wow factor to a room. It is the one thing that draws you in, and forces you to pause.


Thankfully, museum-quality masterpieces are not required to add character to your blank, naked walls. Art can come from anywhere like a flea market, Goodwill, a local gallery or the starving artist next door. I have never been an art snob. I cannot tell you about a particular paint style, or genre, I can not even tell you why one piece is $100 versus $5000. What I do know is this, I know what I love, and I know how it makes me feel. This is genuine appreciationadmiration and understanding for artistic vision, in my opinion.

Troy Beasley
Just like interior design, art comes in many forms. Furniture, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, pottery, and many other items can be considered art. Creativity is something to be celebrated, and enjoyed. Art is just that, a celebration of creativity! Art possesses you, captivates you, and cultivates your emotion and curiosity. Whether you are a connoisseur or an amateur, it is all about how it makes you feel. Like this brooch below, well this thing just makes me dizzy!
Gabrielle Kiss 
Luna Moth Brooch
with diamonds


My medium of choice is typically paint on canvas. Just like the artists themselves, art comes in all shapes and sizes. Here, are a few of my favorites that I have met along the way:

#139

rebirth


#24


Saints Superbowl

Painted Trail

Grandeur 



Clint Metcalf
Organica red

Growing up I had a wonderful mama who encouraged and fertilized my creativity. She challenged me to be better, because she would frame EVERYTHING I so lovingly put my heart into. In fact, she has a framed picture in her bedroom that I drew, and colored when I was five. She also has a large poster board of my venture into geometric forms; of which she also had professionally framed. Giddy with excitement that I had THE MOST adoring fan, I strived to get my hands on every thing I could to turn it into my vision (and of course get it framed and on the wall. Gotta keep those fans happy!)  Amazingly, her home to this day still houses every artistic carcass I made.  Its like walking through a cemetery of good and bad choices. But she is still my BIGGEST fan!

Two of my first introductions into the art world were Southwest artists, Bill Rabbit, and Bev Doolittle. My parents have several Rabbits in their home, and these purchases made it obvious to me that the value of art is not in the price itself, but the emotion it evoked and the experience it brought into the home.  By no means are my parents wealthy. But, to spend three thousand dollars on a painting (20 years ago, I might add) meant nothing in comparison to the meaning of the art itself. The emotion, the feeling it evokes.

Bill Rabbit
Just forme

My parents do not own any Doolittle's. We simply admired her from afar. But her works are that of a true genius. Her pieces are thought provoking, and they draw you in. Every piece has two meanings in one. If you look closely you will always find a surprise. (see below, are those rocks? Or are they buffalo?) 


Calling the Buffalo

 When you have a home that reflects who you are, and it envelops you in the things you love, it will take you to a higher place, it will make you better every day, in every way. A recent article in LonNy featuring Laura Day on her own home, she comments, "Artwork should GRAB you, It should reel you in..." And one of my favorite quotes by Leyden Lewis, "I'm hysterical about art!! I would officially be considered addicted to art, IT IS MY PASSION..!"

Terry Slaughter, from Gallery Terrence Denley, believes that creativity and beautiful design can only improve the human condition. I cannot agree more with this statement. The next time you find yourself in the mix of redesigning, or designing a space, don't forget the art!


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20 comments:

  1. Hi Amanda!
    A couple of things. You look adorable on your new photo!
    I have a friend who calls art Prozac for the walls. I love that! It made me feel less guilty about spending money on art.

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  2. Okay, you my dear deserve an award for this post! Your choice of words were art in themselves and thank you for sharing those beautiful images. Please do more posts on this subject, I so enjoyed it.

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  3. Thanks you for you wonderful post Amanda. I really appreciated your honesty and insight. I love your profile picture, you look stunning and I am learning a lot from your posts. I am studying Interior Design and although I am very early on in my course I often wonder if I am making the right decision. I feel I know nothing and I feel that my family look at my choice as frivolous and more of a hobby than a career. Thanks you for your #1 question of an Interior Designer post it was really encouraging to me! xx

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  4. The publicist's mother was an artist. Oils.
    The publicist loves the smell of turpentine and oil paints.
    The publicist has a degree in art HISTORY.
    The publicist can't draw a stick figure.
    *sigh*
    But she did inherit her mother's color sense.

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  5. Thanks for a very imformative post. I love the art in the 3rd photo. xo

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  6. Amanda, your new photo is fabulous!! Love it, isn't it worth every single penny?

    Great post on art, something I need to know more about!

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  7. Amanda, thank you so much for including my art in your fabulous post! I am honored, and so pleased you like my work.

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  8. What beautiful examples of art, Amanda! I am quite taken with that first picture and how it feels with the rest of the room and I'm more of a landscape kind of girl. I love that your Mom framed your art when you were a kid ~ I did that with my kids, too. I can't tell you how special they felt and when they had friends over; they couldn't believe that my daughter and son didn't just have their art hanging on the fridge. I hope that is something that allowed them to explore their creative sides. I have to admit I enjoyed it, too! As you say, when I would be home on my own, it would bring a smile to my face and draw me in when I would pass by them.

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  9. Love this post! Thanks for including so many examples of your favorites. Finding artists I've never heard of is so much fun. And sometimes art can be a jumping off point for me. I've used some of this artist's work:
    http://users.binary.net/burkhldr/burk-2006-1.html
    to inspire the color of my formal living room.

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  10. YES! To it all! Great art featured here...and that Jamie Drake room...omg!

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  11. Hey :)

    I'm loving the simplicity of the interior and beauty of the art. Have a fab day :)

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  12. I cannot agree with you more, art is the soul of a space!! It is what makes the space truly your own and gives it personality. I hope to own as many original pieces as I can when I can afford it!!

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  13. I love Karena's work and hope to own a piece one day. Your blog is lovely. I was sent to you from Catherine, whom I adore. xx's

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  14. I agree with you about art being personal, rather than equating quality with monetary value. It's so sweet that your mother framed and keot all of your master pieces.
    My neighbour creates art in you home. She comes along to your house and puts together a piece right there.It's great.

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  15. Love #24, Amanda! I agree completely, everyone needs art to add that personal (and sometimes edgy) touch. I like to see really classic design with rough, edgy, contemporary art. Wonderful post, I always learn something from you!

    Have a fabulous day, and if you haven't had a chance yet, pop on by and check out my Catherine Deneuve giveaway! XO!

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  16. Hey :)

    I gave you a Dazzle Girl blog award :)

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  17. You are sooo right! You summed up the importance of art - and the impact that it has, on a room and on the soul - just perfectly. And what beautiful images you chose to highlight!

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  18. This is such a great post! I think that art is truly one element that can separate a great space from a truly FABULOUS space! I love how you brought in the perspectives of some artists and tied them into your post. So well written and thought-provoking. Love the "surprise" in the Doolittle painting, by the way. And how wonderful that your parents framed your art! Probably accounts for part of your brilliant creativity today! :)

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  19. I love those pieces by Thomas, Albert, and Metcalf. Metcalf kind of reminds me of how Chuck Close would put together his life size portraits. All my wall decor is more personalized- I wish I had the guts to go for a big piece of art!

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  20. Does anyone know the name of the painting of Bill Rabbit?

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