Color Field Painting & The Work of Sam Gilliam

In the Contemporary Art Seminar course I am taking now, I recently learned about an art movement that I hadn't heard of before: The Color Field Movement. It started in the 1950s after Jackson Pollack died. Willem de Kooning became the biggest name in Abstract Expressionism and an emerging artist at the time named Mark Rothko pioneered Color Field painting to resist influence from Kooning.

The blocks of pure color without any representation of anything "real" is what I like. Here are some of my faves:

Morris Louis, "Alphia Pi" 1960

William T. Williams, "Trane" 1969

Sam Gilliam, "Ionesque" 1965

Within the Color Field Movement emerged a Black man from Mississippi named Sam Gilliam. Gilliam received his B.A. in fine art and his M.A. in painting from the University of Louisville in Kentucky.  He was the first to remove paintings from the boundaries of the canvas frame. He was inspired to do this by observing laundry hanging outside his Washington studio. His drape paintings were suspended from ceilings, arranged on walls or floors, and they represent a sculptural, third dimension in painting. Gilliam states that his paintings are based on the fact that the framework of the painting is in real space. Gilliam's draped canvases change in each environment they are arranged in and frequently he embellishes the works with metal, rocks, and wooden beams.

Sam Gilliam in W Magazine last month

Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam

Sam Gilliam

Because the art I study seeps into my subconscious, I notice how it shows up in my own artwork. I have designed bags inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics, Abstract Expressionism, and most recently, over the weekend, I painted canvas seats and added leather patches; inspired by the Color Field Movement.

My Color Field inspired benches

My Egyptian Hieroglyphics-inspired clutch

My Abstract Expressionist-inspired hobo bag

Does art history seep into your work or style? 

Honored to be Represented in the Everyday for Women Ad

Available at http://www.thejayeveryday.com/shop.php

Can you spot my daughter and I? Miss Jordan and I are honored to be included in their powerful collage that represents beautiful and inspiring women of all walks of life.
Learn more about Everyday For Women in my interview with the proprietor from several months ago here:  http://lota-n-c.blogspot.com/2012/02/everyday-fragrance-for-women.html

Color!

Source: munaluchibride.tumblr.com via Jackie (Munaluchi on Pinterest

Inspiration from World-Renowned Choreographer, Fatima Robinson

StyleLikeU Closet Interview With Fatima Robinson from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

Streets of New York

I used to attend college (FIT) and work in NYC for about a decade in the corporate fashion industry. Now that I live in the boondocks of South Jersey, I only get to the city about once a month...sometimes less. So I'm always hyped to be in my home away from home when I make the trek. Check these images I took on my way to be filmed for The Jane B. Show.












The dress was just in some window that was not a boutique but possible at office or gallery. Hard to tell as I was rushing by.
The girl on the subway platform was there as I got off the A train. She was just so NYC cool, I NEEDED to snap her.

The ballerina photos are not mine but I saw them the same day posted on FB by a friend. They were taken in NYC as well. Learn more about The Ballerina Project at http://ballerinaproject.com/

NEW! Authentic & Creative Bookstore

Get my most highly recommended books on everything from personal strength, creative projects, business, finance, style and spirituality.

Inspiration: Henri Bendel | Handbags - Disturbed Stripe Hatbox Wheelie

Henri Bendel | Handbags - Disturbed Stripe Hatbox Wheelie
makes me pine for a trip around the world...

Inspiration: Sade's Baby Father

Vibrant, juicy colors! Sade is still super sexy (at like 50!). And the song ROCKS.

Beach Beauty

http://www.stylepage.com

If You Are What You Read...

This is me in a nutshell.

From top to bottom:
The Fashion Book by Phaidon
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Alchemist by Paul Ceolho
Never Get a Real Job by Scott Gerber
The Ellements of Personal Style by Joe Zee and Maggie Bullock

Tall Painting by Holton Rower

Textile designers, fashion designers, graphic designers, artists! If this doesn't inspire something DOPE, there is something seriously wrong.
Awe-inspiring!

Inspiration: Design Seeds

This is one of my FAVORITE sources of inspiration. As a designer, color is key. And it's not just a matter of choosing a hue or two to design your collection with, it's about making color choices that complement one another beautifully to evoke a feeling of cohesiveness and create a certain mood in your collection so that ultimately the wearer feels amazing and looks amazing in your designs.
See some recent color stories here:

Find more delicious morsels of design inspiration at Design-Seeds.com.

DIY Decor: Make YOur Own UltraFly Lampshade

I'm such the home decor AND diy fanatic so of course I find this project to be so me. I hope you dig it to. Super simple but ultra-fabulous. Check it out then please be sure to take pics and show us your finished version.

Make your own Fall 2010 Lookbook!

You don't need to be a Von Furstenberg to decide what's haute! Put together your own collage of fall's best looks from an array of designers. Use it as inspiration as you get dressed for work in the morning. Have one for "date night" options. And it is a MUST that you create a badass one for your Sasha Fierce alter ego (or maybe only Bey and I have that???) It's YOUR moodboard, do what you want with it. Just never, ever, ever, have a "I don't know what to wear" moment again!
Get yours: http://www.polyvore.com/