Spotlight: Heather Day

Hi There !

I am crushing on artist Heather Day today.  In search of the perfect piece of art for a new project I am working on, I came across her work.  In a round about way,  I pulled up Norton Factory Studios in Oakland, CA.  While out there this past November and found a hub of artists all in one place.  Her pieces spoke to me the most.  I love their colors and movements.  I was hard pressed to find one I didn't like !  So I pulled an image from her site and added it to my design board for this dining room I am working one and it made the room.  

Heather, born in Hawaii, currently lives in the Oakland / San Francisco area, received her BFA in painting and Art History from Maryland Institute College of Art.  I particularly love her layering technique and as described by her "each mark creates a series of expectations similar to a conversation and tell a story."  She further described she is influenced by Cy Twombly and de Kooning which I see in her work.  Large or small (all grouped together), these pieces will no doubt made a big impact in your space.  (They did at the Google Offices - congrats to Heather by the way !)

Meet Heather.

photos from her site by Emma Fineman

 All of her work is gorgeous.  Fan of abstract art?!   Take a look at some of my favorite pieces, images compliments of her site.

Near San Francisco?  Check out Norton Factory Studios.

A piece similar to this will make the dining room I am working on.  First of all - you absolutely can layer busy art on a busy wall paper !  A piece like this with a light, neutral background visually calms the paper I feel.  The incorporation of blues and mints (as seen through the doors to the living room) help tie all the 'pop" colors together.  L O V E !!! 

Happy Monday !

Spotlight: Heather LaHaise

Hi.

Wanted to take a minute to showcase Heather LaHaise, currently showing at Slate Interiors on Central Avenue in my hood - Plaza Midwood.  If you are an abstract art lover and dog lover, she's right up your alley.  Meet Heather . . . hailing from Columbia, SC with her husband Jeff, son Walker and dogs Charlotte and Teeny.  I actually came across Heather, I want to say a year or so ago, when I saw her home in Apartment Therapy (here).  Her style in both her home and work is simply beautiful, clean, artistic, collected, nothing fussy, real.   Meet Heather . . .

photo courtesy of heather's site

photo courtesy of heather's site

 I love all these pieces . . Take a look and head over to Slate this month to check out in person.  Mekenzie went by the other day to shoot her current work showing.   I love the abstract mix of her pieces, most of these having a beautiful subtle pastel palette.  Imagine on a dark backdrop.  Being an animal lover, dogs especially, sign me up.  

A little bit more about Heather from her site . . . and read a little more here, from Dog Art Today.

Beginning with Snoopy as her favorite muse, Heather has been drawing and painting dogs since she was a child. She often chooses “the underdog” as her subject and equally loves rescue pups, senior dogs and strays. “Dogs have no pretense, just an innate desire to please and a lack of self-awareness that makes them beautiful.“

She attempts to balance abstractionism and realism in her portraits, using an expressive layering of paint and a graphic use of space. Planes of uneven color, gestural marks and calculated drips mark her style, and dogs are often the focus of the finished piece. While the dogs may give her a voice, she strives to transcend the singular category of dog art.

Heather’s work has been featured in the New York Post, Modern Dog Magazine and HGTV among several other publications. Many notable blogs such as Dog Art Today and Design Milk have featured her work as well.

Interested in a commission piece, you can contact Heather at

Heather@HeatherLaHaise.com

Happy Friday !