Art Attack!

When I was at school I used to draw every single day. Now it seems the only time I even pick up a pen is to fill in the little forms at Argos (I could've said 'the bookies' there, but that wouldn't give a good impression!).  It used to be my way of relaxing and tuning out but pretending to be a grownup is taking up all my time these days.  

When I'm in need of a little inspiration I look at the work of my favourite artist, fashion illustrator David Downton.  

David Downton at work

I have been a fan of his work since around the age of 15 or 16 when I saw some of his drawings in a Sunday supplement. There are few artists that can evoke such strong emotions in me but his illustrations are so beautiful they actually make me want to cry! In fact, after my engagement and wedding rings, probably my most treasured possession is a framed, limited edition print of the cover illustration that Downton did for the book '100 years of Fashion Illustration' that Mr VKH bought me for our first wedding anniversary (paper, see?).
If you're talking about dream jobs then his is at the top of my list -  he gets to travel the world drawing the beautiful people and hang out at fabulous, glitzy fash parties!

Paris Couture

Carmen Dell'Orefice

His style is fluid and looks effortless which, I can assure you, is no easy feat. As Mr Downton himself puts it in an interview with Tony Glenville: "In order to leave something out, first you have to put it in." 
The finished work is a masterclass in 'deconstruction' and one that is not as spontaneously arrived at as it may seem - something which I have constantly reminded myself of during the  development of my own style.

To really get the creative juices flowing, though, there is nothing like surrounding yourself with the smell of linseed oil and white spirit so I visited a very dear friend, artist Luci Metcalfe, at her studio in Wapping.

Luci and I have been friends since meeting on the train home one day at the beginning of our art foundation course nearly (eek!) 20 years ago and although we have followed different creative paths since, we've always stayed in touch.

After studying fine art, first at Canterbury and then the highly respected Slade School in London, Luci has held the Artist In Residence post with Imogen Heap at The Round House and now teaches at International Community School in Edgware Road, alongside mentoring graduate artists through the Arts Charity 'Morphe Arts'.  Here, she answers a few questions about her work:

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I have always loved making things, and this was encouraged in me from a very young age by creative parents.  My dad used to take me to galleries and I have very early memories of seeing huge installations and colour-field paintings!!!  In the more traditional galleries he would say:  'Go and find your favourite' and this association of art, with not only seriousness but fun, was important.

Who or what inspires you?

I saw Sigmar Polke's enormous paintings in the Hamburger Bahnhof gallery in Berlin when I was still a teenager and they had a profound effect on me.  The way that he painted by pouring resins onto huge drum-like, see-through materials, stretched over structures which were visible was so refreshing and exciting.  The scale of these was out of this world!  I have more recently been inspired by painters like Nigel Cooke and Dexter Dalwood.

How would you describe your style in three words?

Luscious, painterly realism.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am close to finishing (at last!) an 8ft by 8ft painting called 'Pink Wall'.  I have sold its smaller cousin (which I am basing it on) but the buyer can't have it until I finish the big one which puts a healthy pressure on the process!  It shows a huge, flourescent pink wall, with 2 empty chairs staring at it.  We spend a lot of time these days staring at a 2-dimensional illusionistic space.  I've taken away the projected illusions, and you're just left with the physical reality - the idea of people staring at a facade.

Pink Wall (work in progress)

If you weren't an artist what would you be?

A builder!!

To see more of Luci's work, click here.

Watch this space to see how writing this post has inspired my own work!

All the Fun of the Fair!

Last week I began to get in the festive mood by visiting the Country Living Christmas Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington, and from the moment I walked through the doors I couldn't wait for it to be December!

Greeted by the scent of cinnamon and orange, I made my way through the crowds (day one and it was heaving) and decided the best way to see everything was to adopt a systematic approach. I would start at one end and make my way up and down the aisles without getting distracted by anything sparkly. Easier said than done! 

The fair features craftspeople from all over the UK, so whether you're looking for original decorating ideas or gifts when the high street just won't do, this is the place to come. 

Here's a round-up of some of my favourite stands, which hopefully will inspire your Christmas shopping this year:

The English Stamp Company 

Rubber stamps made to order, choose from hundreds of designs or create your own. I'll definitely be ordering some for my homemade cards and labels.

Heart Zeena

Gorgeous textiles and homewares from the East London studio of Zeena Shah. I particularly love that all the products have names - my favourites are 'A Tote Bag Called Trevor' and 'A Cushion Called Clive'. How cute is that?!

Sophie Allport

Fine bone china and kitchen textiles from this family run business, the epitome of country living. Simple yet beautiful illustrated designs with a distinct farmyard feel. Now all I need is that country kitchen to put it all in!

The Letteroom

'Spell it, love it, give it, keep it' is the motto of this personalised gift company, based in an idyllic sounding old stable in Hampshire, lucky things!

I've got my eye on the Scrabble cushions (VKH is 13 points!).

 Whinberry & Antler

Textiles and homewares featuring hand drawn and etched designs inspired by the British countryside. The 'Hare' design makes me go all Watership Down (?!). And I love the beautifully designed logo!

Ah, I can almost smell the pine cones and roasted chestnuts and hear the fire crackling as I kick off the wellies (Hunters, obvs!) and get my hands round a glass of mulled wine while Mr VKH...what? Oh, you're still here, sorry I was off then! Maybe next year...cheerio old chap!

Purple Reigns, Dear.

Here's something I never thought I'd say: I must get some lametta for the Christmas tree this year.

Yes, you heard correctly. After years of banishment from our household (much to Mr VKH's disapproval), and much derision from yours truly, it seems that this year I am going to have to admit defeat: lametta is in.

    I blame Living Etc and their too cool for school style team.  In the decorating pages of this month's issue we're treated to a theatrical extravaganza with plenty of lights and stars. And lametta.  

It goes against everything I stand for when it comes to my home. It is cheap, shiny and looks incredibly untidy. But somehow in these holy pages it looks casual, cool and oh so sparkly!

Even more scary is how I caught myself stroking it longingly in the shop yesterday. I'm also particularly taken with the gold drape curtain from Pearl And Earl.  I think I've been taken over by aliens. 

  After the success of last year's Kitsch-mas, for our (now annual) Mulled Wine & Mince Pies Night next month, I'm pulling out all the stops. I'm taking inspiration from the lush Cox and Cox Christmas catalogue and Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Think opulence with a touch of humour: gold, top hats, cut glass, bowls of sugared fruit, candelabras, maybe a feather boa or two, paper pom-poms, sparkly skulls (too far?) and lots and lots of my new favourite colour, purple. 
Alexander McQueen and Prince all bundled up in to one glorious mess of gothic bonkers-ness. Or, Helena Bonham-Carter.

Here's what's on the wish-list:

L-R: 'Skulls' wallpaper by Barbara Hulanicki for Graham & Brown, £60 per roll  Velvet cushions, £32.50 each, Graham and Green  Multi-glittered skull tree decorations, set of 4, £6.00, Paperchase  Vintage silk Top Hat, £100, Bottle Green Homes,  Green Ivy Garland (1.8m) from £6.25 and Black Mirror Ball, from £12.00, both DZD,  'Connie' glass bauble, £2.50, Habitat,  pair of John Rocha Black cut glass wine glasses, £135, House of Fraser,  Glass Christmas Tree jar, £30,  Aubergine Pillar Candle, £8.50 and Chunky Mercuried Glass Candlestick, £10.50, all Cox and Cox,  XL Drape Fringing Curtain in gold, £15 and Paper Balls, from £5.00, both Pearl And Earl.

And, of course, all topped off with a sprinkling of purple lametta. Just to please Mr VKH :-)

Blind-sided!

  Mr VKH does not do DIY.  So, imagine my surprise when it was suggested the other day that we should take a trip to B&Q. To buy a drill. Although I am certain that it was a preliminary peace-keeping move (given the poker night that has been organised in my absence for the weekend) the rarity of such an occasion meant I dared not question why.

Normally for me, buying such an item would require extensive research in to the pros and cons of different makes and models but he is, if nothing else, impulsive and so off we went not knowing what we might come home with (oh, the horror!).

  I discovered on the short journey to said home improvement store the reason for the spur of the moment trip: I bought a dark wood venetian blind way back in the summer for the spare room but as yet have not had a chance to install it. My reasoning, apparently, was 'because I need a drill'.  It seems Mr VKH has cottoned on to my thinly veiled attempt at putting off odd jobs.

  After a short discussion a Bosch PSR18 was purchased (with 20% off!) and we returned home via Costa Coffee, by which time it was getting dark. Too late now to do any DIY, these things need daylight, I said. Pub?

  Now the clocks have gone back, I have been distracted by football, visits to friends out of town and Hallowe'en (that last one might not be true). And so the drill remains untested, the blind unopened and the windows undressed. But, to make it a really worthwhile purchase, I have somehow managed to find the time to buy two more blinds that are perfect for the living room. After much inner deliberation, I decided to play it safe with more wooden venetians and not spend the £500+ it would have cost to get the ones I really wanted from Surface View:

Time-lapse Photographs of a Horse Running by Eadweard James Muybridge,

from £210, Surface View

Maybe in our next place!