The process of industry color prediction has always fascinated me. Each year the color institute, Pantone, selects a Color of the Year which forecasts color trends for the upcoming year. It's almost like having your very own decorating crystal ball, where you can see what's going to be popular before it actually happens!
Have you ever wondered why a blanket you buy from Pottery Barn is a similar shade as the rug you bought from Ballard? Well that's not a coincidence. Pantone is highly respected and regarded in the design industry as the global authority on all things color, as their analysis influences the trends we see and serves to unify color expressions across various brands and industries. Their predictions set the tone that often lasts for years into the future.
The institute selected two colors for 2021: Illuminating, a bright and joyful yellow, and Ultimate Gray, a steadfast and strong gray. Over the next several months, these colors will start to show up in major retailers from fashion and home décor to entertainment and beauty. The pairing of these two colors is a lovely balance of optimism and strength, a fitting theme for 2021.
It's really fun to pay attention to certain colors popping up everywhere. I was out shopping with my kids a few weeks ago and I asked if they noticed anything about the colors on the display. "Oh yeah!" they replied, "Those are the Colors of the Year!"
We wanted our first throw pillow collection to feature these upcoming on-trend colors, and make it simple for you to mix and match different patterns without worrying they wouldn't work together. These patterns are designed to coordinate with each other or you can integrate them into your existing decor.
Don't be afraid to pair a modern texture with a traditional floral. If your color scheme is neutral, try adding a nice little POP of illuminating yellow to refresh your space for spring without overwhelming it with too much color (assuming there is such a thing that is!)
One of my favorite design tricks is mixing traditional and contemporary. There is no rule that says you've got to stick with one style and never deviate from it. That's what tends to make a space feel stale and lacking in imagination. Throw pillows are a perfect way to test the waters with a new style or color...they pack a punch, delivering maximum impact with minimum commitment.
I was more than a little excited to play with this year's colors and see what kind of patterns would spill out of my sketches. Sometimes I have a clear idea before I start of what the design will generally look like. But other times, I let the colors, or the brush strokes dictate where the design takes me. These are the fun ones!
My designs almost always start out with a sketch or a painting. I use a combination of traditional and digital methods to achieve the finished pattern and make various colorways.
I'm so excited to see our Color of the Year pillows out in the world! Please send us your photos or share on social media and tag us @melissacolsonstudio. And as always, if you have a design question, don't hesitate to ask!
2.) Stunning Patterns + Colors: Each of our artisan pillows is a work of art - literally! Our one-of-a-kind designs all start from Melissa's original paintings and sketches. You can rest assured that the scale and style within each collection has been carefully curated. Colors are perfectly matched to the Pantone Colors of the Year so you'll be able to easily find other coordinating home decor.
3.) Quality Craftsmanship: We only partner with the best manufacturers who share our values and pay attention to the details. Each pillow is sewn here in the USA from the highest quality cotton.
4.) Designer Results: Finally get that "pulled together" look you've been wanting and just haven't been able to get until now!
Keep the same set of inserts and change out the covers! Our pillow covers have a zippered closure, making them easy to swap out with the seasons, or any time you want to re-fresh your decor.
We've made it even easier to style your sofa! Our expertly-matched Color of the Year Curated Pillow Sets include all the pillows you need for the perfect arrangement!
]]>Luxury throw pillows are a simple yet stunning way to update your space. We've made it even easier to style your sofa! Our Color of the Year curated pillow sets include five pillow covers: two 20-inch covers, two 18-inch covers, and one 14x20-inch lumbar cover for the perfect arrangement to fit an average-sized sofa.
We've eliminated the pattern-mixing guesswork and styled three lovely patterns in each set for you that are designed to coordinate flawlessly with each other. Best of all, you save 25% off the regular price when you purchase a set!
Our curated sets are a fail-proof method for introducing a fresh look into your space. Prefer to build your own set? We've got you covered (sorry, couldn't resist that pun!) Each design is also available as a single pillow cover if you want to customize or add onto a set.
For a typical sofa set, we suggest starting with a 20-inch solid color to ground the arrangement. Then choose your 18-inch accent pillows to complement the look and add some texture. Finish with a 14x20-inch lumbar to serve as an interesting focal pattern.
We want you to love your pillows as much as we do so we offer a 30-day happiness guarantee! You can shop with the peace of mind that if you're not completely satisfied, we will exchange or refund your purchase within 30 days for any reason.
You can confidently style your sofa because we've done the hard part for you. Your friends will be impressed with your decorating prowess, but only you need to know just how easy it was!
Give your space a spring refresh with luxury throw pillows in the hottest on-trend colors! Inspired by the 2021 Pantone Colors of the Year, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray, our newest collection takes the guesswork out of pattern mixing.
If you've ever shopped for throw pillows you know how time-consuming and tricky it can be! It's challenging to find high-quality, attractive patterns that work well together without having to make multiple trips to different stores and spend countless hours on the hunt.
We wanted to make it simple to turn your space from stale to stunning like a pro! Easily mix and match patterns within our uniquely-designed collection to confidently transform your space. Choose one of our curated pillow sets or build your own. Each pattern is designed to work with each other and seamlessly match upcoming color trends, ensuring your new pillows will integrate with your other decor items.
So what is a tea towel exactly? Practical and pretty, the tea towel is one of the most versatile and under-utilized household items. Chances are you’ve probably used them to dry your hands, but tea towels are no ordinary kitchen towel! Less bulky than terry cloth, they're typically made of soft linen or cotton and as such, they can support more decorative and detailed designs. They are truly one of my favorite things to collect and give away, so I wanted to share my top ten creative uses for this home decor workhorse.
Make your guests feel extra special and serve them a meal on a tray accented with a bright tea-towel. Or dress up a wine and cheese board for a chic, girls night-in. Even the simplest meals and hors d’oeuvres seem to taste better when they’re plated nicely. Pictured is our Victoria Damask tea towel in blush/pink.
Tea towels aren’t just for the kitchen anymore! They make lovely, elegant guest towels as well. One of my favorite things to do with tea towels is roll several up in a cute basket or container and place in the powder bath. Our towels are the perfect blend of softness and crispness and hold their shape nicely as they’re not too thick and bulky. Or try stacking several in a decorative tray or on a shelf for easy access. Pictured is our Paeonia tea towel in blush.
Fresh bread tastes sooo much better when it’s warm. I mean, if you’re going to have the calories, you might as well really enjoy what you’re eating, so make it count! For that “right out of the oven” effect, wrap your warm bread in a pretty tea towel and serve in a basket at your next dinner party. Our cotton towels are breathable enough to let moisture out while holding in the heat, so your bread stays warm not soggy. Tea towels are also excellent for covering the bowl as your dough rises. Pictured is our Bright Delights tea towel in wistful blue.
There is nothing more unsafe than a cutting board that’s sliding around on the counter as you’re wielding a sharp instrument! Try dampening a tea towel and placing it underneath your work surface. It’s just thin enough to keep it securely in place without raising the height too much. This was one of the first cooking lessons I taught my kids and it really makes prep work so much easier. Trust me on this…you’ll thank me later. Pictured is our Woodland Check tea towel in dark green.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the original purpose for the tea towel! Since their first noted appearance in 18th century Britain, tea towels have been used in tea service, both to keep the teapot warm as well as decorate the tray or table. If you’re more of a coffee drinker like myself, try wrapping a tea towel around your french press to hold in the heat while it infuses. Pictured is our Delight tea towel in wistful blue.
A soft tea towel is the perfect way to cushion your produce and style an eye-catching centerpiece. Line your bowl with one of our towels, add fruit on top, and place on the counter or table. My kids are so much more likely to actually eat fruit if it’s out in front of them and accessible. Pictured is our Light Up tea towel in happy aqua.
Replace a clunky drain board that’s impossible to keep looking clean with a simple rack and tea towel. It takes up far less counter space and brings another opportunity to add a design element into your space. Our soft, 100% cotton tea towels are perfect for drying fragile china. Or let your dishes air-dry and simply toss the towel in the wash when you're done. They actually get softer the more times you wash them. Pictured is our Light as a Feather tea towel in wistful green.
Try keeping a tray in your kitchen with a stack of folded tea towels in place of paper towels and you’ll always have a fresh towel on hand. Much easier on the environment (and your wallet) tea towels are re-usable time and time again and lets face it…they’re just so much better looking! Pictured is our Woodland Ferns tea towel in cloud white.
Put the “style” back in family-style dining and place a tea towel underneath your pot to protect your table from the heat. An added bonus is that it dresses up your dining space with color and pattern. Pictured is our Fun and Games tea towel in wistful green.
Perhaps the most obvious way to use your tea towel is to hang it on display in your kitchen. Whether you drape one over the sink or hang a couple on the range, tea towels are a practical way to add style and pattern to your kitchen decor. You can also try one of our calendar tea towels instead of a traditional wall calendar for a charming way to keep track of the date. Pictured is our French Culinary Terms tea towel.
Well there you have it! My Top 10 favorite ways to use a tea towel. There are many more clever ways to use a tea towel than I have room to include here. You can shop all of our new tea towel designs to create your own curated collection. We've taken the guesswork out of pattern matching and designed our collections to coordinate so you can effortlessly mix and match patterns. I'd love to see how you use them so leave a comment below or share a photo of your creative ideas with me on social!
]]>Has anyone ever asked you, "So...you do what?" perhaps with their head slightly tilted to one side and a confused-yet-polite expression on their face as they're trying to understand what in the world you're talking about?
As a surface designer, I've gotten this response more than a few times when I tell someone what I do for a living. If you're not familiar with my story, I wanted to share a little bit about what it's like as an artist, and why I decided to enter into the world of designing home décor products.
A surface designer is an artist that designs patterns and artwork that will be used on products. Now, to be fair, it is an unusual career. It's not quite as straightforward as saying you're a lawyer, or teacher, or project manager like my sweet husband Jason, who has been so instrumental in the logistics side of our business. It's a career that up until a few years ago, I didn't even know existed.
Any artist will tell you that a common response you get when you tell people what you do goes something like, "Oh that must be fun...you get to do a hobby for your job!" When I was first starting out, that used to bother me a little, because what they were really saying, probably without meaning to, was that it couldn't be taken too seriously. But you know what? It really is fun!
Like most artists, I didn't plan to become one someday. I studied interior design at Florida State University and really enjoyed it. To me, that was the best of both worlds, a place where I could blend art and business. During my study abroad summer in in London, Paris, and Milan, I studied art and the history of decor and furnishings. I fell in love with it.
I would say that my style and design aesthetic was shaped by two main things: the time I spent in Europe and my childhood. Growing up in the South I spent many hours outside. I could always be found drawing or painting and to this day, one of my favorite things is to study the simple beauty of a flower and capture its colors and subtleties.
After graduation, I took my first design job, but would find myself looking for little areas to bring my art into my work, mostly through design renderings for my clients. My time working in interior design was invaluable. One of my favorite things was getting to know my customers. I enjoyed solving design problems, and I learned about their likes, needs, and concerns. I saw what goes into the design of quality products that not only sold well, but had functionality. I always told my customers that you pay for what you don't see. The value is in the details.
Shortly before my first child was born I made the leap and started my own company as a professional illustrator. It gave me the flexibility to set my own schedule, and it also reinvigorated my creative energy. I started off doing architectural renderings, which led to illustrating for a leading travel magazine, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report.
From there I had the opportunity to work with Alfred Dunhill, a luxury menswear company in London. My work has also appeared on the CBS show, Two Broke Girls. My time as an illustrator really stretched me. I was frequently asked to draw things I had never before attempted, and honestly many times felt were beyond my skill set. The only thing to do was figure it out! This laid the groundwork for habits that would help me later on.
The business side of art is what separates the hobby from the career. Business fascinates me. I've watched my Dad run a small business from the time I was little, and I think I've always had the bug. The idea of being my own boss and having the freedom to make my own decisions and set the course for my company really appealed to me. Thankfully, my husband has been a very supportive partner. He's remained my biggest source of encouragement, and reminds me on the hard days why I chose this in the first place. Over the last 14 years in business we've had to adapt to a number of unforeseen circumstances. But that's what makes business so incredible...the constant need to change and get better.
Always looking for new challenges and ways to grow my skills as an artist, I became fascinated with surface design and the process of using artwork to create repeating patterns or designs to be placed on products. I took a few online classes and started creating patterns of my own.
I wondered what my designs would really look and feel like in person. I found a company that would produce a one-off sample of my creations, so I ordered a sample of my first tea towel design. From the moment I unwrapped it and held it in my hands, I was completely hooked! My own product...that I created...how cool was this?! The tactile, hands-on application of art resonated with me. I continued to mock up designs and order samples. There was something really special about seeing my work come alive in a room through wallpaper, fabric, table linens...the possibilities were endless! I had sold my own art prints in the past, but home goods?
I started dreaming what that would be like and last year, I made the decision to develop a few collections of my own products. I can honestly say that it's made me a much better designer. It's one thing to paint a design on paper but another thing entirely to format it for an end product, navigate the logistics and profit margins, and finally sell the product. It's hard work at times, but I discovered that I love this part too!
An entrepreneur at heart, I developed my brand with the desire to help people live well every day. To us, living well means so much more than showing off a picture-perfect space on social media...its about creating a quality lifestyle for ourselves and those we love. Our homes should be lived in and enjoyed each and every day, not just on the special occasions. I want to create products that are not only beautiful to look at, but will hold up with use--a "livable luxury" so to speak. I believe our surroundings have a significant impact on our outlook and quality of life, and I want to help you to enjoy your home as much as I do mine.
I can hardly wait to release our next peel and stick wall mural! We'll be launching very soon, but until then here is a short sneak peek. This design is near to my heart because I painted the original mural on my daughter, Olivia's bedroom wall several years ago. It's part of our upcoming Woodland Wonder children's decor collection. Be sure to sign up below so you'll be notified as soon as our new products go live. Plus you'll receive 20% off your first order!
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Yesterday was exciting for us! We launched our new peel and stick wall murals, a product that's been a long-time dream. It's so satisfying to see a creation finally make its way into the world. Especially this year, as we've all had unprecedented challenges to work through and overcome. Read on for more about our process and future product launches.
The COVID-19 virus has drastically impacted all things manufacturing, and we've had to pivot a bit on our timetable of products we'll be launching this year. We were originally planning to release our line of table linens first, but because of all the logistical delays, I decided instead to start with wall murals, followed by three collections of tea towels and throw pillows later this year, with our line of table linens launching next year.
When I decided to develop my own line of products last year I felt very strongly that it needed to be manufactured in the USA. It would have been easy and certainly cheaper to produce products overseas, but the quality just isn't there and the manufacturing methods are often concerning at best. I don't feel good about putting my name on that. In the current environment I'm even more convinced that producing our products domestically needs to be a priority.
Every good that's made here supports our local small businesses and national economy and the truth is, we have a much better handle on manufacturing processes and quality control. We're very selective with the manufacturers we partner with. We order round after round of product samples and test the products in real life before releasing them into the world. I'll be honest...it's not always an easy process.
One thing I did not anticipate was how long it takes to bring a product from the baby stages of development all the way through to production. Once I have an idea for a design, I usually start out in my sketchbook or on my iPad, and then move into a watercolor painting (for me, this is absolutely my favorite part of the process!) Then, I edit the art either in Photoshop or Illustrator to prepare it for placement on products.
For the Patisserie paintings I did it old school. I came across my original pencil sketches where I fleshed out different layouts and ideas. Ever since I studied design in Paris, I've been so taken with its charm and beauty. I wanted to paint the bakeries, or patisseries in French, and try to capture their character. I refined the sketches on canvas and went over them in pen followed by watercolor. When I paint, I use cold-press canvas because I love how the texture shows through. I kept these paintings a bit messy so they're not too perfect, and I always like seeing a bit of the pencil lines and the sketchy character come through.
Once the art is finished we use digital mockups to lay out the design for the product itself and make any adjustments (there are always adjustments!) Next, all the details such as image size and resolution, to what inks should be used: pigment or dye, to which printing process: screen or digital, to which manufacturing facility we'll go with...all have to be worked out, tested, changed, then tested again until it's right. Product samples are ordered and then...more testing! There is actually quite a bit of trial and error involved with product design. Finally, once the products are perfect (or as close to perfect as humanly possible) we move into the marketing phase where the products are photographed, blog and social posts are written, emails are sent and the launch begins! I'm still learning new things every day and honestly, it's never a flawless process. Most people never get to see this part, but I think the backstory is the most interesting thing about a new product. The process tells you about the product.
My biggest disappointment this past year was a line of tableware that the factory just couldn't perfect. Try as they might, they couldn't consistently center the design, which is kind of important on plates!! Granted it was only a couple millimeters off, but...enough to drive me crazy. So even though we've decided to pass on partnering with a few companies because the quality wasn't quite good enough or the logistics just didn't make sense, I know that someday these product dreams will absolutely become a reality just like our wall murals are now! We're pretty picky, but this is how I can promise you that anything we sell is a product that I feel good about having in my own home as well as yours.
Now more than ever we're spending a lot of time in our homes so it's important what we're surrounded by quality home goods. You can read more here about what makes our products different. And as always, let me know if there is something you've been looking for and just can't seem to find anywhere else. You never know, it may just be our next product :) I value your feedback and I'm so grateful for the kind words we've received. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not only encouraging me as an artist, but also for appreciating that bringing beauty into everyday life is always a worthy endeavor.
We have BIG news: our best-selling French Patisserie giclée prints are now available as peel & stick wall murals! When you can't go to Paris, the next best thing is to bring Paris to you. Invite true Parisian ambiance into your home, your business, or even your next gathering. These stunning, life-sized café scenes feature vivid colors and charming details that are uniquely captured in watercolor.
]]>We have BIG news and wanted you to be the first to know: our best-selling French Patisserie giclée prints are now available as peel & stick wall murals! When you can't go to Paris, the next best thing is to bring Paris to you. Invite true Parisian ambiance into your home, your business, or even your next gathering. Made from Melissa's original paintings, these stunning, life-sized café scenes feature vivid colors and charming details that are uniquely captured in watercolor. Since she first travelled to Paris, Melissa has had an affinity for the patisseries and the art of baking that only the Parisians can inspire.
We've been asked several times over the years if either of these prints were available as a larger wall mural. Each time, we've unfortunately had to say no. But when we got the request a couple months ago from a customer, we decided it was time we figure this out. She said something noteworthy: she had looked everywhere, and there was nothing else on the market like it. Alarm bells went off...if there is a need for a product that people want we'd be crazy not to listen! The main obstacle has been finding a manufacturer who could both produce the large size in a timely fashion and ensure the high quality we were looking for...until now!
Effortless to Install
Easy to place, re-position, and remove, our murals have a removable adhesive for just the right amount of "sticky" and best of all: no mess! The flexible, fabric-like canvas is more forgiving and resists creasing and sticking to itself as you're positioning your mural.
Commitment-Free Style
Make a lasting impression on your guests...not your walls! Perfect for parties, bridal showers, or apartment living, our wall murals are easily removable in seconds, and won't damage your walls. Transform your dining space into a stunning Parisian setting without fear!
Quality in the Details
Unlike most vinyl murals on the market, ours are crafted on a high quality cotton/polyester blend canvas which adds a level of luxury to your space. Pigment-based inks provide crisp, superior print quality. And our murals are made in the USA.
For months, we had been tossing around different options...should we do the big, whole-house reno, which meant an addition and moving walls? Do we start fresh with a new build? Or should we do a more modest fix-up and buy a new, larger house hopefully with property? We decided to do a smaller reno with the goal of selling it quickly and turning a profit to put toward our next house. I mean, if the Scott brothers can do it, we can too!
So we embarked on our project, and with the help of friends and family, we finished in a little over a month. We had previously tackled some projects over the years, but the main areas (kitchen, baths, and flooring) were still needing attention. This was the third house my husband and I have renovated since we've been married. It's exhausting and really difficult at times especially when you're living in a construction zone. But it's kind of like childbirth...when it's over you forget the pain and you're ready to do it all over again! The truth is, we really do enjoy it. Some people travel, some people golf...we renovate. There's nothing quite as satisfying as seeing a space become completely transformed and knowing that you did that.
Now we just had to wait for the right house to come along. We looked at so many properties and we were starting to get discouraged. After what felt like forever, we finally found the perfect (and unexpected) beautiful country house on acreage and a lake. So we put our house on the market and it sold in a week!
Our new home mostly needs some cosmetic updates to make it our own...and of course, the kitchen will need an update. But much to my husband's delight, no walls will move! We've done some things so far--replaced lighting fixtures, painted, put up new door casings and baseboards, and installed a shiplap wall. Honestly, we're in love with it and still can't quite believe we live here. It's true that the best things in life come along when you're least expecting them, and usually after you've totally given up.
In the months ahead I'll share some behind the scenes pics of our progress. But in the meantime, here are a few before and after shots of our last house.
The house would technically be considered a French Tudor. Most people are familiar with English Tudor homes, but Northern France was also known for this style. The main difference is lovely, bold colors instead of the more traditional brown and cream. Obviously, the more colorful route appealed to me! So we painted the siding and brick a light, warm gray, and used a deep cerulean blue to accent the neutrals.
The 1970's dark, red brick definitely had to go. I white-washed the brick and designed custom built-ins for either side of the fireplace along with a mantle with hidden cord storage for electronics. Adding recessed lighting and mirrored backs on the cabinetry flooded the room with light. It's important to light the corners of a room, as it expands the space and in turn it feels much larger.
We kept things simple in the kitchen. I wanted to go light and bright to emphasize higher ceilings, so we extended the white color from the cabinets onto the walls.
I probably had the most fun designing the kids' rooms. They were the first spaces we updated after we moved in. I painted a mural for each of them, along with some custom art pieces.
Well thanks for coming along on our journey! I'd love to hear about your home reno projects. Leave us a comment below and be sure to sign up for our list to receive updates and special offers.
photos © Lauren Womble
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It's easy to get distracted, especially if you work in a creative field. Or if you're like me, to feel like there are so many awesome, interesting things you could be doing, so let's go explore them all! The problem is, if you do that you'll never finish a thing. So for this year, whenever I feel overwhelmed or distracted...I'm choosing to FOCUS instead. Focus on the work. Focus on the goal. Focus on the future. I'm doubling down and leaving all distractions and negative thinking in the past.
I painted this new pattern yesterday on Procreate. I was thinking about all the different directions our passions can take us in, and if we're not intentional we can end up following one right off the canvas. I picked up my iPad and started making watercolor marks and kept turning my screen as I went, changing directions but always coming back to center. If I'm mindful of the big picture and focus on the end goal, I can bring all these different paths together to create a much more beautiful, um... "focused" design!
How about you, friend? Leave a comment below and tell me what your word of intention is for the new year.
]]>Originally published January 9, 2019
Happy 2019! I am so thrilled to be featured by Tori Chiarello on her popular lifestyle blog, Above the Plum Tree. She picked her top 9 art prints for 2019, and my French Patisserie watercolor was number 1! I encourage you to check out her lovely site.
French Patisserie is available for purchase as an 8×10, 11×14, or 16x20.
Every piece of artwork has a story. Be sure to sign up for our list below to receive a behind the scenes look at my creative process and the inspiration behind my work. You'll also be the first to receive new product updates and exclusive offers, as well as free monthly downloads delivered exclusively to subscribers.
I am thrilled to share that my artwork was featured last night on the hit CBS show, 2 Broke Girls! I was truly honored when Emmy-award winning set decorator Amy Feldman contacted me and asked to license my art for the show. My pen and ink print, Newport Rhode Island, appears in Season 6, Episode 18 which aired last night on CBS.
You can purchase your own Newport Rhode Island print here! Each print is carefully printed on the highest quality, acid-free fine art paper, and is available as an 8x10, 11x14, or 16x20.
Every piece of artwork has a story. Be sure to follow me on instagram for a behind the scenes look at the inspiration for my work.
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Well I'm back from my trip to Scotland! I finished going through my sketches and thousands (yes, literally thousands) of pictures and I wanted to share a few with you. I was in awe of the detailed architecture (including a few Outlander sites) as well as the breathtaking scenery. My sister couldn't have chosen a lovelier place for her wedding. From the rolling hills in the Highlands, which are often dotted with sheep and highland cattle (also known as "hairy coo" because of their abundant coats); to the haunting Gothic, sandstone buildings of Edinburgh; to the stubborn, hardy, lavender thistles that are determined to add beauty to the most rugged surroundings, I don't think there is anywhere on earth quite like this place. My next collection will feature Scottish patterns and prints inspired by my travels.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram for my latest sketches and photos.
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Originally Posted on October 19, 2015
This week’s Print of the Week, Les Petits Gâteaux Bakery, is part of my newest collection of French bakery-inspired prints.
Made from my original painting, this cafe scene features vivid colors and charming details that are uniquely captured in watercolor. Since I first travelled to Paris, I've had an affinity for the patisseries and the art of baking that only the Parisians can inspire.
Painted in a loose, informal style with a touch of pen and ink to accentuate the details, the charm and je ne sais quoi of Paris shines through. I used vibrant pops of color to evoke a feeling of light and movement.
Les Petits Gâteaux along with its companion print, French Patisserie may be purchased as an 8×10, 11x14, or 16x20 here.
]]>Originally posted on October 12, 2015
This week’s Print of the Week, French Patisserie, is part of my newest collection of French bakery-inspired prints.
Since I first travelled to Paris, I've always had an affinity for the charming patisseries and the art of baking that only the Parisians can inspire!
Painted in a loose, informal style with a touch of pen and ink to accentuate the details, the charm and je ne sais quoi of Paris shines through. I used vibrant pops of color to evoke a feeling of light and movement.
French Patisserie along with its companion print, Les Petits Gâteaux may be purchased as an 8×10, 11x14, or 16x20 here. And...we're thrilled to announce that this print is now available as a peel and stick wall mural here!
]]>Originally posted July 27, 2015
In a part of Paris affectionately called the “Parisian’s Paris”, there is a charming little bistro tucked away from the typical tourist haunts. Restaurant Jadis captures the very essence of Parisian culture, and is needless to say a favorite of the locals.
The simple elegance of the place with its wrought iron detailing, crisp black and red accents, and of course French bistro tables and chairs evokes sophisticated style without trying too hard.
Although the name itself is a nod to the traditional (jadis translated means “in days gone by”) this restaurant does classic French cuisine with an innovative, modern twist.
Another element I love–the walls are lined with framed vintage prints.
This week’s Print of the Week, Restaurant Jadis, is a pen and ink print made from my original drawing and is available as an 8×10 or 11x14 here.
]]>Originally published July 13, 2015
This week’s Print of the Week is one of my personal favorites. Some structures seem perfectly suited to be the subject matter for an architectural drawing, and Algodon Mansion certainly falls into this category.
Located in Buenos Aires, this 1912 classical French mansion has been fully restored as a luxury boutique hotel. This charming hotel has won multiple awards and achieved recognition among international travelers.
The combination of delicate and bold lines in my composition enhances the architectural details and elegant proportions that make this such a beautiful structure.
This architectural print made from my original pen and ink drawing may be purchased as an 8×10, 11x14, or 16x20 here.
]]>Originally published June 8, 2015
If there was ever a structure that possessed quintessentially British style, it would be Bourdon House on London's Davies Street. Formerly the residence of the Duke of Westminster, this Georgian mansion is now the retail home for luxury menswear company, Alfred Dunhill.
Built in 1720, the home's architectural details feature an elegant red and black brick façade, with an outdoor courtyard bordered by a stately wrought iron fence.
Restrained refinement meets modern elegance at Bourdon House where clients are offered bespoke tailoring and the finest accessories and products. It also boasts a spa, barber, private screening room, Humidor cigar keep room, cellar bar, and restaurant.
Rated as one of the ten best shops in the world, to visit Dunhill's Bourdon House is an experience to say the least. It's no surprise that over the years Dunhill's clientele has included British royalty, celebrities, and politicians from Coco Chanel to Winston Churchill.
This week's Print of the Week, Bourdon House, is a pen and ink print made from my original. This illustration first appeared in Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report and was also featured by Dunhill on merchandise swing tickets and promotional booklets.
Bourdon House is available as a 5x7 or an 8x10 print here
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Coffee houses have a rich history in Vienna, some dating all the way back to the 17th century. Throughout the city, you can find a number of old-world cafés like the iconic Café Sperl where time seems to stand still.
Founded in 1880, with its Art-Nouveau design aesthetic complete with Thonet chairs, marble tables, and floral motifs, Café Sperl is undoubtedly one of the most exquisite coffee houses in the world.
Since it's beginning, this quiet, corner café has been a cultural haven for artists, writers, musicians, and architects. Café Sperl has also been featured in several movies, including the film Before Sunrise starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
Café Sperl is available as an 8x10, or 11x14 and may be purchased here
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