The Great David Hockney

COFFEE BREAK

Now that's what I call a Pumpkin Meringue Pie...

Source PINTEREST

Master Illustrator Antonio Lopez

  This is the hot book of the month of the Master Fashion Illustrator Antonio Lopez.

He was born in Puerto Rico on Feb 11th 1943 but raised in Harlem. His mother a seamstress would ask him to draw flowers for her embroideries and he also helped his father who made mannequins to apply make up and stitch their wigs. At the age of 12 Antonio was awarded a scholarship to the Traphagen School of Fashion that had children's programmes, then in high school he was encouraged to attend the High School of Art & Design. His studies continued at The Fashion Institute of Technology. His career as a fashion Illustrator was born, and his talent was immense.

In the early 60's he began free lancing after working in newspapers for fashion Magazines such as Vogue, Harper Bazaar, Elle and Andy Warhol's Interview. In the 70's he moved to Paris with his creative partner Juan Ramos , the duo became a dynamic force in the world of Fashion. With their innovative rich Illustrations ,  Karl Lagerfeld, Gianni Versace and Yves Saint Laurent were just some of the designers who collaborated with them. Lopez launched the careers of models Jerry Hall, Jessica Lange, Grace Jones and others.

This is just a small round up of the talents of Antonio Lopez, this book is filled with his illustrations, paintings, mixed media journals and more. He lived a very creative , fun, and full life, and charmed so many. His legend is encapsulated in this wonderful book,Well done to the Authors Mauricio & Roger Padilha and Rizzoli publishing house who  reignited his mastery for all of us who did not get a chance to know him.

Hope they do an exhibition London of all his work. The book can be ordered on Amazon, not yet released in England.

What an Illustrious Life  xo

Images via

www.theantoniolopezbook.com

Acrylicious

 Modern Acrylic Designs by Alexandra von Furstenberg

1970's Lucite Game Table via 1stDibds

Pair of 1950's Lucite and Wood End Tables via VandM

Lucite X Chair with Clint Greggory Cushion via VandM

Triangle Lucite Lamp with Zebra Shade by Clint Greggory via VandM

Set of Albrizzi Ice Buckets via VandM

1960's Lucite and Black Patent Leather Dinette Set via 1stDibs

Shades of red and pink Screens by Emmanuelle Moureaux

Kodachi Aroma Sticks Stand by Emmanuelle Moureaux

"There Is No Chair"  Red Chair Quan via Jia Moderne

1970's Italian Lucite Candle Holders via 1stDibs

Acrylic , there seems to be so many different types of names for this plastic , Lucite being my favourite,  something to do with the quality and colouring and how wears with time, that is why I leave the technical data to the experts.

What I do know is that here are so many beautiful ways to use this material as shown above, I always like Lucite/Acrylic for its light but yet durable quality. The way it reflects light and seems to be complimentary to finishes like brass, leather , wood to name a few, or Just with bold colours that offset strong lines in a modern design. It inspires me, maybe ill contact one of these designers to customize something for me.

Plastic is fantastic xo

Resources.

www.alexandravonfurstenberg.com

www.1stdibs.com

www.emmauelle.jp

www.jiamoderne.com

www.vandm.com

Murray Fredericks

" The Photography is not a documentary, I don't even call it landscapes as such. It's about space, it's about the mind's relationship to emptiness and a visual representations of that" Murray Fredericks

 Australian born Murray Fredericks is no ordinary photographer, he sets of on solo journeys to remote locations for weeks at a time, with only the horizon line as his point of reference, using time-lapse sequences to shoot these surreal and magical images.

He deliberately avoids any animal, natural or human features that would give his work a sense of scale to his pictures. His work connects you to earth and draws your vision to infinity, solitude and fortitude, it is yet very human and otherworldly at the same time.

Whether shooting in Lake Eyre Australia or a remote glacial vastness of Greenland, both with constantly changing weather, storms, rain, Aurora Borelis , the Sun, the Stars and the Moon are what keeps him company.

Watch the Salt Documentary a fascinating look into his journey that the final product speaks volumes of. I encountered his work in London Hamilton's Gallery Murray's where owner Tim Jeffrey's had hosted his first solo UK exhibition, I was so enchanted that I bought a piece on the spot, not something I have ever done, but oh so worth it, I stare at the beautiful horizon everyday and it brings me a sense of peace and lightness.

Click on the Short TimeLapse sequence called Iridium it is mesmerizing, he also has been featured in National Geographic and his works sit in the private collection of Elton John,Valentino and National Portrait Gallery amongst many others.

www.murrayfredericks.com.au/projects/salt/video/Iridium_733.webm

www.murrayfredericks.com.au

To buy or view his work contact Hamiltons Gallery his representative in London,

www.hamiltonsgallery.com

Looks like My Soul x

DI∆MOND ST∆R

Chinese Splendor

Raise The Red Lantern via National Ballet of China

Yellow Chinoiserie Wallpaper via NSR Handcrafts Co.

Wedgewood Jasper Conran Chinoiserie Green via Matching China

Raise the Red Lantern Film by Zhang Yimou

Midnight Blue Chinoiserie Wallpaper via Made in China

Mint Green Chinoiserie Wallpaper via de Gournay

House of Flying Daggers Bamboo Forest

Ralph Lauren's seems to have China on his mind, this is my favorite  collection in years.

I see some influence from Bernardo Bertolucci's wonderful 9 Academy Award winning film The Last Emperor which had incredible costumes, music and set design.

Also the colours in this collection made me think of Director Zhang Yimou films, The stunningly visual House of Flying Daggers with its incredible vibrant Jade Green Bamboo scene, the reds and blacks from both Hero and Raise The Red Lantern which was also made into a Ballet by China's National Ballet.

On 8.8.2008 Zhang Yimou directed the unforgettable Beijing Olympics opening Ceremony. So wish I could have been there.

Here are some links to view clips of these wonderful movies,

The Last Emperor www.criterion.com/films/254-the-last-emperor

House Of Flying Daggers www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLkedDMb8vI

Raise The Red Lantern www.youtube.com/watch?v=vivaoPZhIH8&feature=related

Hero www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFhXDZhUZI

http://www.ballet.org.cn/en/home.htm

www.ralphlauren.com

Hassan Hajjaj

I fell in Love with Morocco when I went on holiday as a child to Tangiers, the mysterious and exotic fragrances filled my young senses, the colours , hustle and bustle, charming people and food stayed with me forever. I always have a soft spot for artisans from that region and one of these has caught my imagination.

A mix of Andy Warhol and North African sense of humour with streetstyle makes Hassan Hajjaj's work unique and wonderful. Born in Larache Morocco in the 60's and moved to London in the 1970's were he found his creativity of mixing his North African vibe with the western world.

Hassan has an incredible amount of talents photographer, artist , furniture designer, think recycled tables out of street signs, fashion and the list goes on.He has decorated Riad Yima in Marrakesh and the hilariously named  Andy Wahloo in Paris owned by Mourad Mazouz of Momo's and Sketch in London who is a big supporter of unique talent and thanks to him I discovered Hassan's work.

If you are in London you can see one of Hassan's pieces in Harrods were at the moment there is a pop up exhibition called Inspiring Morocco or go to his studio in East London.

Click below to Play Thé a La Menthe by La Caution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=crrKWEVetUM

www.hassanhajjaj.com

www.riadyima.com

www.momoresto.com/restaurant/paris/andy-wahloo/about/

California Niemeyer

While researching all of Oscar Niemeyer's work on the week of his passing I stumbled upon these images.

This 1963 Californian Mid Century Modernist house has an incredible history, It was commissioned by Film maker Josef Strick and his wife Anne after meeting Oscar Niemeyer in a film festival in Brazil. It was a complicated commission as Niemeyer was not allowed to enter the country because he had connections to the Communist party, regardless that he had designed the United Nations in New York. Not putt off by the challenge he cleverly designed the house via Aerial photographs and Topographical surveys. How is that possible! There was no internet or fax in those days all by mail from California to Brazil!

Oscar your genius will never be forgotten.

Que Marvilha xo

Sourced via The189.com, Architectural Digest

HERMES SPLENDID VISIONS

The First Step in The New Century : Party of Princes Paris 2000

Colour and Fantasy Paris 2004

Indian Fantasies (Colour) Paris 2008

Year of Africa : The Traveller's Room Paris 1997

Argent Contemporary Paris 2011

Travel the world with the stupendous windows of Hermes Paris. Pure Creative genius! I think I will make this into another series, there are so many to choose from.

I wonder if they hire more than one team to do the window displays. What an amazing job, wish I could do that. I shall investigate this further, in the meantime enjoy your journeys.

www.hermes.com