First Love

Art was probably my first love. As far back as I can remember, I was drawing. In 6th grade, I was so proud that my artwork of a Swiss landscape with mountains and skiiers and ice-skaters was chosen to be put up on the big mural in the back of the room. I actually had other kids in the class help in transferring my little drawing up onto the big board!

My second love was fashion, as many of my childhood memories revolve around particular clothes (always dresses). A friend of the family used to call me Little Miss Priss. I was never quite sure what that meant, but it always stung a bit. At this point in my life, I prefer to think she called me that just because I was very girly and wasn't much into sports.

Now, does the little girl on the left really look prissy? Maybe my sisters were just a little tomboyish. Of course, that was my favorite brown & white check organdy dress. It had a wide, white organdy sash, and I loved the way it made a big bow in back. We even got headbands strewn with flowers, and carried little basket purses. Mom was a great fashion designer and seamstress.

At one time, I thought I wanted to combine interests in art and fashion into a career as a fashion illustrator. That didn't happen, but I was thrilled to find work as a graphic designer, eventually for a magazine. My favorite part of the job was art directing and styling the fashion and accessories photoshoots. A fashion shoot that lasts all day is tiring, but way too much fun to be called work. My second favorite part of the job was art directing the home features. Not quite as fun as fashion shoots – with models, fabulous clothes and jewelry, and hair and makeup artists – but still I had to remind myself sometimes that I was actually "at work."

Once reaching a certain age, I think many women, like me, become more interested in their homes and interior decor than fashion. Maybe at first it's because we can't afford to indulge both, and then it evolves that clothes don't look so great on us (me) anymore. Or we think about dressing differently than when we were in our 20s and 30s.

In college, I majored in Fine Art, so it's natural for art to be one of the first things I notice in an interior. Mind you, I would never advocate buying a painting simply to match a couch, but the right art can elevate any space to another level. Just as a beautifully designed room can't fulfill its potential with not-so-good art. In particular, I love how bold modern paintings, drawings or fine art photography can add freshness to a space with mostly classical or traditional decor. As well, classical or realistic art can warm and soften a modern interior. It can be tricky finding the right mix, but the top designers most always do it well. In fact, I believe that the very best interior designers are artists, and that is what separates them from the pack.

Please click on any image for a large view.

This Sills Huniford Associates room features a large Clyfford Still painting (circa 1960s), above a French Empire daybed, which was modeled after the one in David's famed portrait of Madame Recamier. The cubist painting to the right is unidentified. My best guess would be Braque or Gris.

The above painting in another interior by Sills Huniford Associates heightens the drama and takes this room in a totally different direction. The painting is red and black and the chairs are a gorgeous, rich raspberry velvet - who would have thought this would work so beautifully? The yellow walls, however, bring all the colors and elements together, and the room really does become a painting. Seems the designers have taken their own advice ... "Imagine a room as if you were creating a three-dimensional painting, juxtaposing one color and shape against another.

I often wonder how designers choose art for each project. Do they find it themselves or do they use art consultants to locate just the right piece? That is a job I would love to have! The lucky few designers might find clients who already have great art. I think that would be a really interesting jumping-off point for the design of a room or house.

The designers – again, Stephen Sills and James Huniford – indicate that the furnishings (the colors and curves) in this room were inspired by the Roy Lichtenstein painting over the sofa. This room is pure poetry.

Some designers regularly return to the same artists for many projects. For instance, in Axel Vervoordt's interiors, you will often see paintings by Jef Verheyen; and Myra Hoefer often places paintings by her husband, Wade, in her interiors.

Of course, everyone can't afford a Picasso, or a Vermeer. A great place to look for affordable original art is to visit a university near you. Most have art galleries where you can see and purchase student work. Or look for shows and exhibits of local artists in your town who have yet to make a name for themselves. And of course, as we all know, the internet has a wealth of resources - from etsy to ebay.

That said ... going into the new year, Topsy Turvy is beginning a regular feature called PORTFOLIO, showcasing the work of artists we like. And if any of you interior designers would like help finding just the right piece for a project, call me – I'm available!

First up:
Lynne Golob Gelfman lives in the Miami area, and is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence, with an M.F.A. from Columbia University.

If you're close by, hustle on over to a reception for Lynne on Saturday night, where she'll be showing 25 works from a new series – Water/Clouds/Sand.

Luminaire
Saturday, Jan. 10, 7-9 pm,
161 N.E. 40th St., Suite 201, Miami
305-571-5144

Here are a few pieces from Lynne's NY gallery, Newman Popiashvili.

Yellow & Green Lines, 2007, acrylic on panel, 48x48

White Wood, 2006, acrylic on panel, 48x48

React5.orange gr, 2006, acrylic on panel, 30x36
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Image from Cool Hunting

Read a great review and see more about Lynne and her work over at Cool Hunting.
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Top images from Dwellings, Living With Great Style by Stephen Sills and James Huniford.
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