Painting

I am grateful to this fabulous Virginia-based painter, Bill White for agreeing to participate in this email interview with me where he talks about his background and painting process as well as sharing some details from his long, dedicated engagement in painting from life and career in teaching painting at Hollins University. Divided Light, 1999, 32×36 inches, oil on linen Larry Groff (LG): What led you to become a painter, and what were your early years like as a student and young artist? Bill White (BW): Growing up in West Philadelphia, just after WWII and I was fortunate to have parents who were supportive of my interest in drawing and painting. My father was a house painter, and he would take me to the paint store with its cabinet of art materials and he would allow me t...

  Knuckle Sandwich, 2021, oil on linen, 48 by 36 inches I was recently introduced to the work of artist, Christopher Benson while visiting his gallery, EVOKE Contemporary in Santa Fe, NM. I was intrigued by the strength of his compositions and execution as well as the wide range of styles he has worked in over his many years of painting, embracing traditional painterly realism to abstraction. I was also shown a video of his artist talk and was taken by his many thought-provoking ideas about painting and his willingness to “question authority” by art world rule makers. In a short essay on the artist’s website, Benson states; …”I’ve always had a “painterly” approach, with brush and knife marks clearly evident in my surfaces. It’s challenging though to find a physic...

Review by Christopher J. Graham, guest contributor Installation view of Painters Paint Paintings: LA Version, Curated by Alexander Warhus, (July 23 – August 27, 2022), Nino Mier Gallery One, Los Angeles. Images courtesy of Nino Mier Gallery The press release for Painters Paint Paintings: LA Version-curated by Alexander Warhus at West Hollywood’s Nino Mier Gallery states that a contemporary painter’s largest concern is with the paint itself. Multiple painterly positions, it describes, are available in a single work. With so much freedom, the writing suggests painters can distinguish themselves based on the individual needs of their singular paintings. Space and composition are given to the reader as a common denominator, with a sense of suspension as a shared factor. These paintings hav...

When it comes to classic colour combinations, white and grey living room ideas are hard to beat. Easier on the eye than monochrome black and white, the pairing of easy-going grey with calming white combines the warmth of neutrals with the simplicity of white and makes a versatile backdrop for pretty much any style of living room, whether traditional or modern. White and grey living rooms also offer plenty of options when it comes to accent colours, which are an easy way of switching up a scheme whenever you fancy a new look. Whether soft pastels, rustic naturals, muted metallics or jewel brights, most accent colours sit equally well against a backdrop of grey and white, making it easy to make seasonal changes without the need for any major redecoration. White and grey living room ideas...

Annie Sloan, Desenio, SIMON BEVAN Whilst grey is the arguably the most popular neutral in interior design today, 'greige,' a combination of grey and beige, is being favoured more and more for its capacity to warm up an all-over grey design scheme. Greige is really the best of both worlds, combining the cooler and more placid look of true grey with the warming nature of beige. Greige is nothing new to the design world, in the 1980s, Giorgio Armani became known as 'the king of greige' for his abundant use of the colour in his designs. But a proliferation of greige paint is moving the trend to the fore. COAT sells a ready-made Greige swatch pack with five of their most popular greige paints. 'A top colour for summer decorating ...

Summer has arrived, and I am craving a good road trip — windows down, sun shining across the horizon, and good music à la Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic. This craving is the idea behind my recent piece “Road Trip”: four cassette tapes with eight miniature oil landscape paintings depicting the journey across America from the west coast to the east. All of my road trip adventures have playlists, and when I look at each of the tape paintings, I can hear the songs that kept me company on those long drives. Of course, it also works in reverse; hearing a certain song can take me right back to the I-80, singing along to half of the words as I scout the skyline. That sense of transportation into memory and nostalgia is what I am trying to evoke with these tapes. COVID has resulted in severa...

If you've been wondering 'what are the best budget bedroom makeover ideas?' You are not alone. Before you invest in designer bedroom décor, think critically, because spending a small fortune on fitted furniture does not always guarantee a beautiful bedroom. Bedroom transformations don’t always have to be grand affairs. Instead, they can be slowly curated through minimal updates that don’t break the bank but leave your sleep space feeling all the more sophisticated. Here, some of our favorite designers offer their bedroom ideas, advice and expertise for decorating a home on a budget. Budget bedroom makeover ideas Whilst it is essential to set an interior design budget and stick to it, it is also important to design a home you will love. These budget bedroom makeover ideas will h...