Venetian Red

I'm continuing with my December theme of Pattern and Decoration with a blog recommendation. It seems appropriate to be recommending Venetian Red near Christmas. I first came across this blog on Robyn's Art Propelled. The name intrigued me at first because of the Venice reference, but it's the content of the blog that hooked me and keeps me returning.

The duo of Christine Cariati and Liz Hager started the blog as a vehicle to share their " individual and collaborative perspective on the collective creative endeavor". Their posts dig more deeply into their influences and the ideas that spring from their examinations. There are many posts that focus on design, textiles, ornament etc. It is a treasure trove for the artist interested in pattern and decoration. Since I found it I've been making quick visits and reading posts here and there. I've decided to take a more structured approach and start at the beginning. This is going to be my Christmas holiday treat.

Christine's intimate paintings include birds, insects and flora presented in a "stylized theatrical format". Her background as a textile designer is evident in her use of pattern, line work and exquisite detail . She explores "the ways in which we re-imagine nature, finding beauty in chaos and wildness".

The intimate scale, subject matter and use of pattern parallels my own interests. Christine notes that her work can be "held and read like a book". I appreciate this about her work because it reinforces my need to keep the size of my work to dimensions that allow me to physically hold the work as I paint it. I wonder if Christine uses an easel or does she also need to physically hold her work as she created it.

Liz Hager's work is diverse in material usage - paint, wood, fabric, metal and paper. Like many artists who work in different media she feels that certain concepts require specific materials. See her Botanica series where she prints on various metals with the choice of metals dictated by the image. Her gouache Imaginary Textiles ,which I love for their colour and energy, connect me to a time in my life where my spare time activity was doodling textile designs. This summary just brushes the surface of her work.

Back to Venetian Red.... I've never used this colour in my work but I'm happy to report I have another connection to it. I 've seen the murals of Pompeii. Venetian red is everywhere.

What remains of these murals create spontaneous abstract works that are achingly beautiful.