Love this. My ex found a rolled-up Hopper in a wastebasket at a flea market many years ago (granted, the ex is an art dealer in prints), proving...many things, I guess, but mostly that if you look in unexpected places you might find unexpected treasure. xo
Love the Laredo women and agree with you 100% on art. One place to find great art that holds and increases its value is New Art Editions. It’s a free website that alerts one when there’s a benefit edition print by a blue chip artist. I’ve gotten works by Nan Goldin, Faith Ringgold and Carrie Mae Weems there. They also show original works for sale by their readers.
I have wood carvings of three charming frogs, each playing a different musical instrument, that I found at a yard sale once. I (regretfully, in retrospect) did not buy the other three because I thought someone else would love them. I also cherish a signed poster of my lamented friend Bruce McCall's delightful cover (one of very many delights from him) of various gorillas auditioning for the role of King Kong.
My very wise friend says never hesitate on a piece of art you have fallen in love with, lest someone else swoops in and gets it. (this just happened to another friend of mine who is very sad about it). And while some people might think they could do what the artists in the AVAM do, I tend to look at Sargents and J. L. Davids and say, I could do that, then I do! Currently working on a Caravaggio right now. (Judith and Holnefernes) Good times!
A good bathroom is worth more than the finest jewelry, even without having bad juju attached to said jewels.
I found Little Me in a used book store when I was a sophomore in college and it blew my mind. I didn't know that was a thing writers could DO. Why don't more people know about this hilarious book? I'm going to go find it and read it again. Thank you for reminding me.
Patrick Dennis is a beloved writer of my youth, yet often problematic, especially when it comes to gay characters. The Black gay poet in Tony is just AWFUL. I think Little Me is, strangely, his sweetest book? (I always laugh when Belle reports huffily that her rival, Maria Montezuma, attempted to make an assignation with their director in order to curry favor with him, and Belle knows that BECAUSE SHE WAS IN HIS ROOM WHEN MARIA MADE THE CALL.) At any rate, read the Dennis biography, Uncle Mame, if you haven’t.
I don't have much money and I don't much prize possessions, but I dropped 30 bucks at AVAM on a Rev. Albert Wagner on cardboard and wherever I go it's coming with me.
The state-run folk art stores in Mexico were where I started collecting because it was so affordable and I might be buried with those five wooden women.
My prized art possession is a Ralph Steadman poster I got for $1 in the early 80s from an ad in the back of Rolling Stone Magazine. After using thumbtacks to hang it as I moved from apartment to apartment, I finally spent several hundred in the late 90s to get it framed. It brings me great joy!
Love every single bit of this. I picture Laura the docent introducing her goslings to the door painting on loan from herself. I remember my art major friends discovering door panel and sheets of Masonite for painting. Who could afford canvas? Some beautiful work I would love to see again.
We have such a mishmash of art and chachkies. I like works done by my friends. My friend Alex Kuo is an astonishing writer, and I have a really cool photo piece by him that I cherish. His best book is White Jade, if anyone is interested. I have paintings that friends have done of our dogs, and works by my MIL, who was a fine watercolor artist.
This past year, as I entered my 50’s, I also invested in some art that I loved. Two paintings by a friend that I had framed, and multiple pieces by Stevie Oliver who does cyanotypes. I LOVE her work. Then I made my own cyanotypes at a workshop with her and I framed them too!! My favorites by Stevie are the women and the moons.
PB has a bad reputation, but the items I bought there 16 years ago when I had to fill some rooms fast have held up well. Ditto, Crate and Barrel: I have a now 34-years ago-old sofa that has aged quite well. When I zhushed up my living room two years ago, the designer was keen to toss it, but it’s in great shape, comfortable, and pretty to my eye.
I was at a gallery opening once which John Waters had loaned an original Warhol to. He explained that he had bought it in the 60s or 70s (I forget the year he mentioned) when he was broke but he just had to have it. That was a pretty lucky fixation.
Loved this post and could not agree with you more----the art you shared was so inviting and joyful for me----AND definitely indulge in the best sheets/towels/bedding/bathroom amenities as possible---so many ART gems have been found on trips, in markets, at restaurants---things that MOVE me and make me smile. Looking forward to seeing you in January @ WIP !!xoxoxox
Love this. My ex found a rolled-up Hopper in a wastebasket at a flea market many years ago (granted, the ex is an art dealer in prints), proving...many things, I guess, but mostly that if you look in unexpected places you might find unexpected treasure. xo
Love the Laredo women and agree with you 100% on art. One place to find great art that holds and increases its value is New Art Editions. It’s a free website that alerts one when there’s a benefit edition print by a blue chip artist. I’ve gotten works by Nan Goldin, Faith Ringgold and Carrie Mae Weems there. They also show original works for sale by their readers.
Nan Goldin! Faith Ringgold! I swoon, I stan.
Nice collection!
I have wood carvings of three charming frogs, each playing a different musical instrument, that I found at a yard sale once. I (regretfully, in retrospect) did not buy the other three because I thought someone else would love them. I also cherish a signed poster of my lamented friend Bruce McCall's delightful cover (one of very many delights from him) of various gorillas auditioning for the role of King Kong.
Bruce McCall’s work is delightful. I was so surprised to discover he was a writer as well as an artist. So talented!
My very wise friend says never hesitate on a piece of art you have fallen in love with, lest someone else swoops in and gets it. (this just happened to another friend of mine who is very sad about it). And while some people might think they could do what the artists in the AVAM do, I tend to look at Sargents and J. L. Davids and say, I could do that, then I do! Currently working on a Caravaggio right now. (Judith and Holnefernes) Good times!
A good bathroom is worth more than the finest jewelry, even without having bad juju attached to said jewels.
I found Little Me in a used book store when I was a sophomore in college and it blew my mind. I didn't know that was a thing writers could DO. Why don't more people know about this hilarious book? I'm going to go find it and read it again. Thank you for reminding me.
Patrick Dennis is a beloved writer of my youth, yet often problematic, especially when it comes to gay characters. The Black gay poet in Tony is just AWFUL. I think Little Me is, strangely, his sweetest book? (I always laugh when Belle reports huffily that her rival, Maria Montezuma, attempted to make an assignation with their director in order to curry favor with him, and Belle knows that BECAUSE SHE WAS IN HIS ROOM WHEN MARIA MADE THE CALL.) At any rate, read the Dennis biography, Uncle Mame, if you haven’t.
I don't have much money and I don't much prize possessions, but I dropped 30 bucks at AVAM on a Rev. Albert Wagner on cardboard and wherever I go it's coming with me.
The state-run folk art stores in Mexico were where I started collecting because it was so affordable and I might be buried with those five wooden women.
My prized art possession is a Ralph Steadman poster I got for $1 in the early 80s from an ad in the back of Rolling Stone Magazine. After using thumbtacks to hang it as I moved from apartment to apartment, I finally spent several hundred in the late 90s to get it framed. It brings me great joy!
Love buying cool and unique pieces of art.
I love tchotchkes. I don't have an infinite number (no room) but I love the ones I have and I love looking at other people's tchotchke.
Love every single bit of this. I picture Laura the docent introducing her goslings to the door painting on loan from herself. I remember my art major friends discovering door panel and sheets of Masonite for painting. Who could afford canvas? Some beautiful work I would love to see again.
We have such a mishmash of art and chachkies. I like works done by my friends. My friend Alex Kuo is an astonishing writer, and I have a really cool photo piece by him that I cherish. His best book is White Jade, if anyone is interested. I have paintings that friends have done of our dogs, and works by my MIL, who was a fine watercolor artist.
Very fancy! That’s so awesome!
This past year, as I entered my 50’s, I also invested in some art that I loved. Two paintings by a friend that I had framed, and multiple pieces by Stevie Oliver who does cyanotypes. I LOVE her work. Then I made my own cyanotypes at a workshop with her and I framed them too!! My favorites by Stevie are the women and the moons.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBZGoDFOf69/?igsh=cGRscGV0dDB0NTZh
My work: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLLjc5gxjPN/?igsh=MThsM2JtZDBkNGZxYw==
She’s more local to you than me - you should try your hand at it! It was broadening. (I’m down here in Pasadena. She’s up past the zoo.)
Love the art, all the examples! But you also have fabulous taste in furnishings. That blue lamp in one image is delightful. Is it vintage?
For complicated reasons, that was a room I had to furnish FAST. The lamp is from Pottery Barn, circa 2009. As is the bedside table.
Thank you so much for those details!
PB has a bad reputation, but the items I bought there 16 years ago when I had to fill some rooms fast have held up well. Ditto, Crate and Barrel: I have a now 34-years ago-old sofa that has aged quite well. When I zhushed up my living room two years ago, the designer was keen to toss it, but it’s in great shape, comfortable, and pretty to my eye.
I was at a gallery opening once which John Waters had loaned an original Warhol to. He explained that he had bought it in the 60s or 70s (I forget the year he mentioned) when he was broke but he just had to have it. That was a pretty lucky fixation.
Loved this post and could not agree with you more----the art you shared was so inviting and joyful for me----AND definitely indulge in the best sheets/towels/bedding/bathroom amenities as possible---so many ART gems have been found on trips, in markets, at restaurants---things that MOVE me and make me smile. Looking forward to seeing you in January @ WIP !!xoxoxox
Yes, buy good bedding! We spend a third of our lives in bed!
You have me pondering. Most of the art I own I love because it evokes a memory to a time & place.