Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Flowing Lava in a Doorway

The cloud of ashes is gone and things are going "normal" again in Europe. But could you ever talk about normality with the knowledge that beneath our feet the earth is hot and fluid and could burst any time depite all scientific research anywhere on this planet?
Did you know that worldwide around 20 active volcanos are doing their job i.e. erupting right now? And about 50-70 volcanoes are active (erupting) each year (from Volcano Discovery). A creepy feeling. But if we would give way to all our fears life could not go on.

When I saw this image of a doorway/stairway I thought it would be the perfect place for Pele, the silk carving. The original painting that hangs on this place of the wall is surely an eyecatcher with its vibrant colours (see below) but I am sure the designer would have chosen the dramatic silk piece if s/he had known about it - not? What would be your choice?


original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

The silk sculpture was inspired by the Hawaiian legends of Pele, the Hawaiian Akua (Goddess), the fire goddess, mother of all life which comes out of the depth of the earth. 
In Hawaiian mythology women were a powerful source of new life and source of spiritual power. In the Polynesian world Mana Wahine - the power of woman - was a force that must never be ignored. It was Hina (Woman) who gave birth to new life, Hina controlled the moon, the tides and the reefs and Hina had the secret of fire.

Pele incorporates a technique called silk carving©, which is a development by the artist. The intent of this technique was to create a symbiosis between carving and fiber art. The surface of the fiber was transformed completely into a relief. The upper layer of this piece was made from one single piece of silk - nothing was sewn on top to add depth. Additionally paints and pigments were used in a manner to give the visual impression of flowing lava in all its glowing colours and the viewer is supposed to feel the heat. But it is "only" a piece of soft sculptured silk.

 "Pele"
( from the Hawaiian Symbols series)
silk carving, 48" x 17"
©Petra Voegtle

If you would like to see more detail photos please check this link

Btw - this art piece was shown at several art venues in the USA and was featured by art critic Cate McQuaid in the Boston Globe.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

An elegant Bedroom with a Volcano on the Wall

You might have seen this elegant bedroom already a couple of times. Published in Southern Accents, it is now in the room gallery archives of MyHomeIdeas. But have you ever thought about adding something to this room? A painting f.e. to the wall above the headboard?

For quite some time I thought that there was something missing because the eye needs an object to focus on, an anchor. Although this room is truly elegant and emanates a certain tranquility and ease of mind through the wonderful cool palette of colours there is a bit too much tranquility for my feeling. I thought it (the room) would need a bit of complementary element. One of my favourite silk paintings - Haleakala - would be the perfect match - wouldn't it? But see for yourself what happens with this room if...

original image source from My Home Ideas


The painting has been inspired by the wonderful landscapes on the Hawaiian Islands, especially by Maui's volcano landscapes of the Haleakala. If you would like to know more about the painting, it's "making of" and detail images check this link. Only in the details you can see the true contents of this painting.

"Haleakala"
(from the Magic Landscapes Series)
silk, 21" x 40"
©Petra Voegtle
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Sunday, April 18, 2010

Dark Rooms

In the meanwhile I have seen a lot of images about interior design and one point really sticks out - many rooms are incredibly dark, especially hallways. I would like to know what the reason for this is. I could possibly understand this in geographical regions where sunlight is abundant but still I could not stand dark rooms, even less in areas where the winters are long and dark.

The design of this hallway is harmonious but very dark especially as the adjacent rooms seem to be dark as well unless this has been photographed in the evening but I doubt it. The illuminated graphics on the wall cannot really lighten this space up, the pottery - although wonderful - adds to the sinister feel I would have in this room.

In order to show how paintings can make a difference in similar rooms such as this one I added these silk paintings virtually, in order to add a bit of colour and another feeling to a dark room.

original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com


The two collages/paintings belong to the Magical Symbols series and are painted on silk. They are also stitched to add more texture.

"Minoans I and II"
(from the Magic Symbols series)
 

40" x 13" each, silk
©Petra Voegtle
~
If you would like to see details of these paintings, Minoans I and II please see this link and this link.

Friday, April 16, 2010

What a romantic little Bedroom in white!

You might already have noticed that I am a fan of bedrooms. Bedrooms are in my opinion those rooms where we might not spend most of our time but where we need the feeling of peace and comfort most in order to have a wonderful relaxing sleep. And who could deny that this gorgeous sweet little bedroom is perfect for romance and love.

The acrylic painting that I added to the wall - just to have a little art piece in this room - is called White Wall - isn't it a nice coincidence - and part of the Reminiscences series. And reminiscences one might have in this room, reminiscences of wonderful moments, a lost love, a magnificent holiday or of a dream.
You can read more about the painting here.

original image source from My Home Ideas

"White Wall"
(from the Reminiscences series)
26" x 18", acrylic on cotton
©Petra Voegtle
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Lost Treasures in the Hallway

The hallway of this house looks marvellous with its space for arts and crafts. So my thought for this stairway was - if it were mine - to hang this silk carving with its trees and floral environmental theme: Lost Treasures as a complementary art piece to the wonderful pottery besides the stairways.

As I already said - the silk carving is an environmental piece and - belonging to the Hawaiian Symbols series - it stands for all the extinguished flora and fauna of this world. Especially the Hawaiian archipelago has lost many of its endemic species thanks to the introduction of too many aliens due to the ignorance of immigrants and natives - mostly not with bad intentions but nevertheless deadly for the existing species.

 original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com


"Lost Treasures"
( from the Hawaiian Symbols series)
silk carving, 66" x 17"
©Petra Voegtle

If you would like to see more detail photos please check this link
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Monday, April 12, 2010

A sunny Bedroom with dancing Sepia on the Wall

I love this friendly little bedroom - it makes me smile, the warm and sunny colours make me smile. This is certainly a bedroom where you can have a wonderful, relaxing sleep. Nothing is there that could cause a nightmare.
What if you would add a painting, on silk, with two sepias on their wedding dance? I have seen them, many times while diving somewhere in the caribbean oceans. They look wonderful, ever changing their colours when they get excited. See more of the painting here if you like.


from My Home Ideas
please click here for the original image source 

"Sepia"
(from the Magic Creatures Series)

silk, 40" x 13"
©Petra Voegtle
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Sunday, April 11, 2010

There is always Hope

It seems that our life is returning to some "normal" conditions again and I might be able to post more often again. Our little "pigeon hospital" has released 3 birds (from 5, partially 6 - that was a string injury) who have recovered completely from their severe illnesses.
Jimi, who is a PMV (Paramoxyvirus) survivor had been hospitalized since beginning of December and Alice, who had a bad bacterial infection, was here for more than 6 weeks. Both pigeons are fully recovered and even fell in love with one another. Isn't that sweet? They are roaming the world together now but come in once or twice a day to get a proper meal here. So I can have an eye on them - they are really doing well.




The 3rd pigeon is our Willy who has also survived a PMV infection and was hospitalized since November last year. I never thought that he would recover completely again but he is now his old self again - cheeky, sneeky, funny and a wonderful flyer. His mate is Pina who was the first to become sick beginning of November last year. She still cannot be released as she is still showing symptoms like stargazing and circling from time to time. But there is hope that she will eventually recover completely also. She could not eat any more nor fly for more than 4 months. She now can eat by herself again and she is able to fly again although landings are still a bit wobbly. But she is exercising.
Winnie also needs some time for recovery still. She still needs to be handfed 3 times a day as she cannot eat by herself yet. But I think she will recover completely too.

This is Pina and Willy in their nest in my studio:

How cute is this?


If you like to read more details about our pigeon family soap you can do so in the Pigeon Tales, a diary about a whole pigeon gang that roams our balcony and their daily drama that is going on, tales of love and hate, jealousy and fights, tenderness and intimidation.
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Thursday, April 8, 2010

A spacious Livingroom with a spacious Landscape

This is a wonderfully spacious livingroom, unspoiled and uncluttered. I love it how the interior designer left room to play with. I played a little bit with this arena and virtually placed a different painting on the wall because it seems as if this painting has been made for this wall.
The painting itself consists of 5 panels - painted on silk.The speciality of this painting is that you could hang each panel for itself because each is a landscape for itself. Btw - it was inspired by the terrific landscapes of the river Li in Guangxi, in the South of China. If you would like to see more details please check this link.You can find more images from the original landscape here.

 original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

"Guilin"
(from the Magic Landscapes series)
 

Polyptych, 40" x 65", silk
©Petra Voegtle
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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Two Art Quilts on the Wall

I have shown one of the quilts several times already. But this time there is the possibility to hang two of my works which fit very well together. As an example I chose this livingroom with a wonderful huge window which lets in a lot of light. This livingroom is reminiscent of a sunroom which I absolutely adore because it gives a feeling of having an inside garden where you could grow a lot of nice plants. Plants turn a room int something vivid.

The original art on the wall made the room a bit too conservative - I would prefer a bit more exotic touch, especially as the colour palette is quite subdued. But check for yourself. I have added a pic from the original room...

 original image source from http://www.getdecorating.com

the original image

The following image is the silk art quilt Buddha and you can read more about it here. It is an unusual piece as it consists of 2 top layers instead of one. In a way it is 3-dimensional.


"Buddha" 
38" x 34", Silk Art Quilt
©Petra Voegtle
Details of the second art quilt you can find here including detailed photos.

 "Apsaras"
52" x 69", silk art quilt
©Petra Voegtle
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