Friday, September 28, 2007

CHIAVARI CHAIR SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Paper hand-cut silhouette on paper mounted on gesso board(8x10)
Click here to buy!
The classic silhouette of an Chiavari ballroom chair in black contrasts beautifully with a cheery yellow and white polka dot background. Ready for framing or perfect as is. Complete with painted sides and protective coating. Signed and dated on back by artist. Watermark is not present on actual work.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

ARTIST'S PORTRAIT * PATRICIA VAN ESSCHE


Patricia at work (can you believe she's a mother of 3?)


A beautifully colorful pattern designed by Patricia


One of Patricia's sketches for J. McLaughlin


A charming interior sketch by Patricia


Devoted mother Patricia pictured here with her 3 children.


Today I want to feature a profile on a friend and fellow artist, Patricia van Essche. Patricia is not only a very talented artist, in several mediums, but also a fascinating personality as well. She was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky in a very nurturing family of 7 children. She attended the highly touted University of Cincinnati's School of Design, Art and Architecture, where she was the recipient of "The Golden Brush Award". Following her education, she worked for 15 years in NYC as a designer and design director for Calvin Klein, Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren. She now runs her own business, PVE Design, based in Westchester County, NY. She is married and has 3 wonderful children of her own now. She somehow manages to keep many plates spinning successfully at once. She balances her first priority as a dedicated wife and mother, with a successful career in illustration, design and decorative painting. She also sneaks in time for volunteer work, tennis, school activities and teaching at her church. Something tells me that growing up in a large family somehow helped prepare her for a life that is very full, if not challenging, at times. Patricia is a warm and giving lady who exudes class, style, talent and, most importantly, a very giving spirit. She was kind enough to take some time out of her crazy busy schedule to answer a few questions for me.

What is your earliest memory of being involved with the artistic process?
My earliest memory is what you might call "bittersweet". I entered a contest in elementary school and had to sketch a still life, which I did of a vase holding "bittersweet". I remember the intensity of trying to make it look very life-like. Well, the judges said that "it looked like a copy"! I was heartbroken, yet soon realized the importance of realizing one's "own" style. Perhaps my quest for making something real taught me a valuable lesson: that we really have to see something from our own eyes and then interpret it into our own unique style.
I also think that artists are truly born with the gift to create, and finding the medium of your choice to master is a life-long quest. Listening to that "inner voice" and following its' guidance is also very important.
Which artists have inspired and influenced you the most?
That's a difficult question, because there are so many artists that I admire! They are somewhat of a mixed bag because I have always been fascinated with art and fashion. I love the work of John Singer Sargent and admire his famous painting, "Madame X" - love his use of light. Another is Coco Chanel for her brilliant design and style for fashion that still inspires artists and designers today. I also adore ultra modern art and would love a "Stella!" One day one of my twin sons came home from school and asked,"Mom, are we related to van Gogh?"
What do you find is your greatest challenge as an artist?
One of the greatest challenges is to dedicate yourself as an artist to art; by working at it, pursuing it with gusto as an athlete masters his sport or game. As an artist, one of the most difficult things to realize is that you are going to have hard days getting to know your style and also mastering it. I am taking an oil painting class and it is hard - sometimes I feel frustrated and then it all just starts to make sense. Painting in oil and doing the illustrations that I sell are related and yet completely different. The biggest challenge is that, as a working artist, art and ideas are not free. People think that just because you have "talent" that you can share it for free. Free has an audience for worthwhile causes, yet I work very hard to make a living at what I do. With that said, I have been extremely fortunate to do what I love and that is priceless!
Do you have a nickname?
I do. My sisters called me "Treeba" when I started to sprout long, tree legs. Also, when I was growing up in Kentucky, I was called "Trish". When I came to New York, I listed my name as "Patricia" in all of my interviews. This is my real name, the one I love and prefer, given me because I was born on St. Patrick's Day! I am one of 7 children and we all have long or double names. Imagine calling ALL of us for supper!
If you could go anywhere in the world on an all-expenses-paid trip, where would it be and what would you do?
I would go around the world on my own private jet, accompanied by my family. I would stop at every museum, feeding my passion for Art History! (I would also love to have a camera crew in tow, filming it all LIVE!)
If you could host a dinner for any 3 people from the past OR present, who would they be?
I guess I can't say" my 3 children", even though I really would! So, the people I would love to "break bread with" (I can't narrow it down to 3 !) are Mary Cassatt, Coco Chanel, Anna Wintour, Ghandi and Mother Theresa. How's that for a "power lunch"? Can I invite you, too? I promise to use my good stuff!! Linens, crystal, china and silver! I had better go plan "le menu"!!

You can read more about Patricia on her website: http://www.pvedesign.com/

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

CASA COR - STOCKHOLM

This is just to let my Swedish readers know of the fabulous design exhibition,"CasaCor" that is taking place now through October 14th in Stockholm, Sweden. Annica Lindeberg of A-Design blog wrote to let me know this is going on now and to encourage anyone living in Sweden or traveling there in the next few weeks to go and take advantage of this fabulous design venue! You can read more about it here on Annica's blog.

Monday, September 24, 2007

ANOTHER ORANGE SILHOUETTE COLLAGE......


Hand cut paper silhouette on paper background mounted on gesso board (8x10)
The classic silhouette of an oval-backed French chair in a spunky shade of orange contrasts beautifully with a deep pink background. Ready for framing or perfect as is. Complete with painted sides and protective coating. Signed and dated on back by artist.


Friday, September 21, 2007

OVAL BACKED CHAIR SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Hand cut paper silhouette on paper mounted on gesso board (8x10)
This piece features a beautiful classic French oval-back chair in tangerine with a deep lime background and punchy polka dot border. Ready for framing or even perfect as is! Complete with protective finish and painted edges. Signed and dated by artist on back.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

GARDEN PAVILION SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Hand cut silhouette on paper mounted on gesso board (8x10)
This collage was inspired by English garden pavilions of the 18th century which were modeled after Oriental architecture. This collage features a hand-cut silhouette of one of these pavilions in black on a contrasting yellow polka-dotted background, complete with protective finish and painted edges. This collage comes ready to frame or can be left as is! Signed and dated on back by artist.

Monday, September 17, 2007

TEA SET SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Hand cut paper silhouettes on paper collage (14x11)
These silhouettes are of a classic Limoge teapot, creamer and sugar bowl. Solid blue on a light-green and white leaf print. A sublime color combo, trust me! Ready to be framed or left as is with protective finish and painted edges. Signed and dated on back by artist. Available on my Etsy site.

Friday, September 14, 2007

CIRCLES CHAIR SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Paper on paper hand-cut silhouette collage mounted on gesso board (8x10)
This is a bit of departure from my more classic shaped silhouettes, but won that makes for a great silhouette with the intricate circular carving on the back of the chair. In lilac/lavender. Signed and dated by artist on back, ready to be framed or left as is.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

LOUIS SETTEE SILHOUETTE COLLAGE


Hand-cut paper silhouette on paper mounted on gesso board (10x8)
This continues my silhouette series and features a classic French Louis settee in the form of a hand-cut blue silhouette mounted on a cheery retro-style print backgound. Complete with a protective coating and hand signed and dated by artist on the back. Ready to be framed or left as is.

Monday, September 10, 2007

THANK YOU, AGAIN, JONI!!


I just wanted to offer my sincere thanks once again to the illustrious (and humorous) Joni Webb, of Cote de Texas, for her post on my silhouette series this past weekend!! Thanks for being so supportive, Joni!

ENGLISH ROSE BASKET


Watercolor on paper (10x8)
David Austin antique English roses are the best! The "petal count" is phenomenal!


Friday, September 7, 2007

AQUA LOUIS SILHOUETTE


Paper and acrylic on gesso board (8x10)
This piece features a hand-cut silhouette of a classic French chair in aqua. It's mounted on a chocolate colored, linen-effect, painted background on gesso board. Protective coating tops it off. This is an original and is ready to be framed or left as is! Signed and dated on back by artist.
Price is $60.00 + shipping. Email me (anneharwell@hotmail.com) if you are interested in purchasing and I will invoice you through Paypal.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

DREY at BIJOU KALEIDOSCOPE

I want to say a special thanks to DREY of BIJOU KALEIDOSCOPE all the way down in Melbourne, Australia for the mention on her blog yesterday and also back in June. I just discovered it! Sorry, Drey, for the delay in acknowledging your kindness! Thank you SO much!

GREEN CHAIR SILHOUETTE


Paper collage on gesso board (8x10)
This is the second in an ongoing series of silhouette collages I am creating. This particular piece is for sale as an original work (not a print!!). It's a paper on paper collage mounted on gesso board. Features a delicate green-on-green polka dotted paper chair on a fuschia colored linen-effect paper. It's ready for framing or perfect on its own, propped on a ledge, easel, or anywhere!! Great cheery colors and a beautiful shape of a classic chair. Available on my Etsy site.
 
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000028477615