The Independent's Great Art series
Art & Contemporary Imagery?
An ode to the serene beauty of the Scottish wilderness, this exquisite print captures the enchanting Roseroot herb poised against the natural majesty of Ben More, Isle of Mull. Stylized in the distinctive sinuous curves and elegant motifs characteristic of Art Nouveau, the piece interweaves flora and landscape to create a symphony of colour and form. Foregrounded are delicate clusters of Roseroot, their soft pink blooms gracefully arching towards the sun, set against a verdant backdrop of layered foliage and vivid orange flowers reminiscent of a painter's wild garden. These botanical elements, vibrant yet soothing, seem to pulse with life against the geometric solidity of the cliffs. The rocky terrain is rendered in a mosaic of cool blues and greys, creating a striking contrast to the warm, lush flora. Harmonious and organic, the partitioned rocks take on an almost tessellated quality, a testament to the union of natural form and artistic interpretation. Receeding into the distance, the tranquil blues of the sky and waterscape meet, their subtle gradations and gentle undulations suggesting both the calm and the power of the sea. This dichotomy is mirrored in the softness of the distant hills, shaded in misty blues and purples that invoke the vast and mysterious Scottish landscape. This print offers a journey for the eyes, inviting the viewer to explore each element and appreciate the serene beauty of Scotland's unique flora and formidable cliffs. An art piece that not only serves as a decorative addition to any space but also a reminder of the timeless allure found within nature's own gallery.
Mosaic ideas for your home
Designer Sam Gensburg has created this special packaging for beer bottles — in this example, the adorably-named “Southern Bells,” — that can be transformed into a tone-accurate xylophone.
As the sun dips towards the horizon, casting an ethereal glow over a majestic landscape, this exquisite print captures the ineffable beauty of Ben More, a revered member of the Scottish Munros. Featuring an Art Nouveau style, this piece evokes a sense of enchantment, with strong organic lines and an inviting, warm palette that brings the Scottish highlands' natural splendour to life. The foreground is adorned with rugged terrain, with textured rocks and untamed foliage rendered in a mosaic of autumnal hues that suggest a rich tapestry of Scottish wilderness. Moving towards the tranquil waters that mirror the golden skies, each stroke contributes to a harmonious interplay between light and shadow, lending depth and motion to this serene setting. Dominating the middle ground, the eponymous Ben More unfolds its sloping contours in a dance with colour and form. The mountain is depicted in a series of elegant, flowing lines and shades of cool blues and whites. These cooler tones contrast magnificently with the warmth of the setting sun, creating an exquisite balance that beckons the viewer to immerse themselves in this otherworldly panorama. The crowning glory of the piece is the sky, a spectacular canvas of golden orbs that suggest a celestial body in full splendour. The luminescent circles vary in size and intensity, imbuing the heavens with a dreamlike quality that resonates with the soul-stirring beauty of dusk. This striking print, part of our 'Scottish Munros' collection, embodies the pure essence and spirit of Scotland's landscapes. It is a testament to the melding of nature's grandeur with the stylised vision of Art Nouveau, making it a captivating addition to any space that yearns for a touch of mystical beauty and a continual homage to the highlands.
Mozaicon was started by a group of Romanian fresco artists who came together in 2008 to create the mosaics for the Patriarchal Cathedral Complex in Bucharest. After the initial project, only one o…
Anyone who has spent much time in Philadelphia, and espescially in the South Street area, has seen an Isaiah Zagar mural. Made of broken, rejected, and custom made tiles, his murals cover the side…
Not many homes are adorned with a mosaic wall, but for the small handful that are, the design has lent itself quite nicely to the decor. Often times mosaic walls are featured in a single color, but there are some that still demonstrate the design’s traditional beauty, which involves well thought-out pictures and geometric shapes. […]
Ever since Charlemagne had succeeded to a firm scope in strengthening his empire, he selected Aix-la-Chapelle as a place of residence and called around him artists of all kinds both from the former Western and from the Eastern Roman empires. The artists were engaged in decorating and adorning his fortresses, and it was here that a new style, the Romanesque style, based upon classic architecture, and very strongly influenced by Byzantine mosaic art, which stood then at its utmost splendor! I recently came back from Italy with a bag of inspiration and splendor in my eyes. Some of which include the antique Romanesque architecture, the Roman triumphal columns, as well as the breathtaking interiors of cathedrals and basilicas. Therefore I thought of today’s article as a brief yet precise pedagogy of the Romanesque Period, catching a glimpse of some of the most interesting mosaics of that time.
Throughout history vaulted ceilings were used to ornament cathedrals and basilicas and make a space look larger than it is. In architecture, the main function of vaults was to give resistance to walls and ceilings. There’s a wide variety of vaults such as the Barrel Vault, Groin Vault, Rib Vault and Fan vault. This variety took ceilings to another dimension and more than art covering four walls with a roof. Therefore, Mozaico thought of taking you on a journey of renowned to less known monuments , spreading through three continents and two thousand years of history. We start with the contemporary art of magical stained glass ceilings made by Daniel Buren to conclude with the fairy land of India, the Taj Mahal.
Her single-thread portraits are quite incredible, but Kumi Yamashita also makes shadow art and not just any shadow art, but silhouettes cast by simple...
It’s a sort of maxim in design that moderation is always best, but sometimes, taking things to extremes can have magical, even mind-bending, results. Case in point: this home in Venice Beach, California, which is (almost) completely covered in tile. This outrageously colorful space is the home of two artists, Cheri and Gonzalo, who besides creating paintings have made it their life’s work to cover their entire house, inside and out, with mosaic tiles.
The drawings of animals that you can find here, have been decorated with the mosaic technique with 9th grade students. After observing the decorations of the buildings of Antoni Gaudi, and in parti…
Depictions of fish and fishermen can be found in the colorful floor mosaics at the sixth-century C.E. basilica at Horvat Beit Loya, but they were
"the aim of every artist is to arrest motion…" -Faulkner
The idyllic Cheval Blanc is a love letter to French savoir faire
Porcelain and glass tiles for universal use
My tips for things to do in Coimbra include must sees and hidden gems. Explore its history through art, architecture, gardens, squares and museums.
Once, they beamed optimism from walls all across the Eastern Bloc. These murals depicted Socialist progress, and allowed the great Communist leaders to look down on their people from everywhere. But now, they're fallen into ruin. Check out the disintegrating beauty of great Socialist murals.
French artist Niki de Saint Phalle met both her master and her destiny when she first visited Barcelona’s Park Güell in 1955. Impressed by the works of Antonio Gaudi, she knew she, too, was destined…
Redesign your contemporary living space with SICIS mosaic collections, Vetrite and our luxury furniture and fabrics,100% Italian design.
El arte es fundamental en cualquier civilización. En el momento que las más elementales necesidades humanas se han cubierto tales como, comida, vivienda, leyes y religión, los habitantes empiezan a...
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum opened in Antep in September 2011, giving the world famous mosaics collection a new and modern home. When I visited its precursor in 2008, I was the only visitor in the small museum. It was just me, a few guards, and tens of millions of polychrome tesserae arranged in geometric and […]
Yesterday I showed you my shopping from the quilt festival, and today I'm going to show some of the quilts that caught my eye. At the end of this post I'll include a link to my friend Julie's blog because she took different photos from me. This was my favourite large quilt. It's called "Good Vibrations' and was made by Ansa Breytenbach. she was inspired by the Beach boy's song - Good Vibrations. My favourite small quilt was "Chirpy" by Rosemary Rush. She was inspired by Jane Sassaman and I love Jane's designs. I love Sue Spargo's designs too, so naturally loved "Jungle Walk" by Annie White, based on Sue Spargo's Folktales pattern. The hand stitching on Annie's quilt is just perfect. Cheryl Houston from All things Patchwork shop made this very effective geometric design. I love the simplicity of just using blue and white. I liked this quilt by Anu Hills. The blocks were made for a fat quarter challenge back in 2009. The quilt contains many memories. I loved this "Plus size" quilt by Robyn Croft. It's her own design, and she quilted it on her domestic machine. There were many other quilts that I liked too, but I encourage you to pop over to Julie's blog and look at the quilts she loved at this show. Here's how Auckland looked at 7am today. It's about 20C today = 68F. A lovely day. That's a Cabbage Tree on the left - cordyline australis
These are stickers!
The Derveni Papyrus has recently been inscribed as one of the works for protection within the Memory of the World Register by UNESCO. Named as the ‘Most Ancient Book in Europe,’ the history of the text’s discovery and decoding is almost as interesting as the content contained within. When the papyrus was discovered by chance in Derveni (near Thessalonika), Greece in 1962 the document was badly charred.
Covering an indoor and outdoor space equivalent to half a city block, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens glisten with creativity, urban renaissance and a hint of madness.
More: www.theoi.com/Gallery/Z49.5.html
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