A Bigger Picture

A Bigger Picture is a new exhibition by British artist David Hockney, which will be held at the Royal Academy between 21st January and 9th April of this year. His stunning landscapes, which are inspired by the Yorkshire countryside, employ an exciting array of colours in order to portray the transition of seasons. But what is particularly special about these works is the involvement of technology in their creation, as many of Hockney’s landscapes have been created using his iPad. This really is a must-see collection and I can’t wait for the exhibition to open.

Images courtesy of the Royal Academy

Metals & Nature

Walking up this staircase would be like climbing a tree. It has everything, from the roots to the branches. It was designed by Metals & Nature (found at www.custommade.com) and I love it. I really like the feel of the photo too – it looks worn and weathered, fitting with the natural theme.

Louise Dear

Louise Dear paints for one reason and one reason only: ‘to create beautiful paintings’. It’s a pretty good reason, I think we’ll all agree. Her use of colour is incredible and, despite the abstract nature of her paintings, her characters are so lifelike. Through her use of colour, she seeks to stimulate our senses and emotions – and she succeeds. The energy exuded by her paintings matches the energy she puts into creating them; Louise throws, rubs, pours and drips inks, dyes, glitter and glosses on to primed aluminium sheets and then sands, scratches and distresses them. The process seems violent but the outcome is beautiful. There are in fact many words to describe Louise Dear’s paintings: beautiful, vivacious, expressive, powerful. But, more than anything, they are FUN!

www.louisedear.com

Les Arbres à Manger

Have you ever seen anything like these before? They are “arbres à manger” or, in English, eating trees. Designed by the French company Smarin, they bring a sort of architectural beauty to finger food. The party dishes were created in collaboration with the Michelin star chef Mauro Colagreco and were inspired by movement and nature. They’re made from raw natural wood and come in three different sizes with 20, 50 or 100 skewers. If I have party, these guys are most definitely invited!

Carl Kleiner and Evelina Bratell

I have always considered cooking to be an art; the beautifully decorated puddings, quaint canopés and elaborate dishes that chefs can conjure up are often exquisite. But after seeing these striking images, which are the outcome of photographer Carl Kleiner‘s collaboration with stylist Evelina Bratell, the notion of cooking as art takes on a whole new meaning.

Volcom

A scene worthy of an art gallery but hidden in the Volcom changing rooms.