Art in the home: California collector

I think that the importance of having art in my home goes back to my childhood. My parents let me paint my room any color I wanted and didn’t have limits about hanging things on the walls. I filled the space with photographs, posters, concert t-shirts, and sports memorabilia, and displayed my treasures on shelves. When I was in middle school, my friends and I started buying art prints for each other’s birthdays. There was a store at the mall where you could choose a print and have it mounted on foam-board—it felt so grown up. Now, when I choose art, I consider the feeling that I have when I look at the piece and the energy that I want to invite into my home. Also, I like supporting artists and galleries because I value the effort, time, and perseverance that goes into having a small, creative business.

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Hunt Slonem as an artist is his commitment to his craft. I remember reading a story, years ago, about how Hunt paints bunnies each day as a warm-up exercise. I feel inspired by that level of dedication and devotion. In addition, I am awed by how each bunny has its own unique personality and expression. We think of our bunny as being both calm and curious—two feelings that we work to cultivate in our lives.

The intentional interplay of fabric and paint in Karin Olah’s work pulls me in every time! I love how she uses different types of fabric—from linen, to seersucker, to denim—to create textured, dimensional work. Although I realize that Karin meticulously places everything in her pieces, I like how the raw edges of the textiles give off a free-spirited vibe. I chose this particular piece for my home because it reminds me of the landscapes I saw during an amazing road trip I took a few years ago.

We are extremely grateful to share our space with two of Allison’s pieces. I look at these pieces every day, and without fail, I get lost in their layers and wind up somewhere new each time. I think that is one of the things that I enjoy most about Allison’s work. Allison shares beautiful stories through her work, but leaves it up to each individual to witness and interpret the meaning for themself. Each piece holds so much energy, emotion, life, and symbolism. I appreciate that. I like to imagine that Allison uses color to set the mood and tone of the tale—from moody, to romantic, to playful, to dramatic. Each story is complete with plot twists, metaphors and allusions to be unpacked, and the clever use of repetition for emphasis.

Oh, my goodness! The wish list is too long to mention all of the things that I hope to add someday. But, a few of the items that I would love to add to my collection include: 

1. A pair of lips by Angela Chrusciaki Blehm: I like the bold colors and patterns that Angela uses to make each pucker powerful and sexy.
2. Kintsugi eggshells by Elisa Sheehan: I have only ever seen these online, and I cannot believe how gorgeous her work is. The detail is incredible. And, I appreciate the significance of kintsugi—accentuating the flaws, cracks, and scars—showing that what was broken can be repaired and be even stronger and more beautiful on the other side.
3. Sneakers by Jimmy Navarro: I love shoes! I truly have an embarrassing number of shoes and fun sneakers are definitely my favorites. I like the way that Jimmy turns an everyday item, like sneakers, into a stunning work of art.
4. A skyscape by Rachel Walter: Honestly, I am torn between Rachel’s cloudscapes, starry skyscapes, and moon portraits. Her attention to capturing each nuance is commendable. I cannot get over how much her work looks like astrophotography, but is actually a painting. Incredible!