New Oppotunities and Relationships

In my last post, I spoke of new opportunities that I would go into more in a later post. I'd like to share them with you now.

 

 

Recently I was contacted by James De Lorbe, Founder and Chairman of MADE: In America. This unique non-profit educational organization, headquartered here on Capital Hill in Washington, has been exploring ways to support American artist through a new initiative: American by Design. Since it's inception, MADE: In America had concentrated on supporting vulnerable industrial sectors, such as the American furniture industry and emerging sectors that includes organic growers and craft producers. The organization has already been recognizing the outstanding workmanship of artisan furniture makers such as Keith Fritz, whose signature pieces embody the best of American design, by presenting them with the William Thornton Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship. The award has been presented annually at the United States Capitol on the fourth of July since 2010.

In my first meeting with Jim, I was honored to learn that when he spoke with design professionals about the emerging initiative, it was suggested he talk to me for guidance on the new initiative. For each of their initiatives, MADE: In America recruits leading subject matter authorities to serve on a special advisory council. Members of the council provide guidance and expertise in designing and creating programs that address pressing needs in the sector to be served. After our initial meeting, Jim asked if I would consider serving as the National Chair for the new arts project and assist in recruiting members. I'm pleased and honored to take up this challenge and look forward to working with Jim and everyone at MADE: In America bringing much needed attention to American artists.

I've always been passionate about promoting companies that offer American products. In this struggling economy we are experiencing, I feel it is more important now than ever to support businesses, both large and small, that are dedicated in offering you the best of made in America.

For more information, you can go to www.madeinamerica-usa.org.

Courtesy of The Salmagundi Club, NYC.

 

On a second note, I'm also honored and proud to have been accepted as the newest member of The Salmagundi Club of New York City. The Salmagundi Club is one of the oldest art organizations in the United States. Many important American artists such as Howard Pyle, N C Wyeth and William Merrit Chase have been members of this exclusive and well regarded club. I look forward to becoming involved with the Salmagundi Club and broadening my professional profile in the NY market and throughout the United States.

For more information, you can go to www.salmagundi.org.

                                                 John Matthew Moore Fine Art and Home
                                                                     202-306-2852

Global Inspirations.

2014 has gotten off to a terrific and busy start which is why I'm just now writing my first post of the year. There are many new opportunities and plans for the coming months that I will be speaking of in upcoming posts.

But first I thought I'd talk about how my travels influence my work. A few months ago as I was leaving a client's home, and my client called out to me, "Have a nice vacation". It made me stop for a second. You see, I was leaving in a couple of days for Mexico City. It has never occurred to me that the trips we take are vacations. When I travel, I'm spending every hour photographing and absorbing images that inspire me. Long days are spent visiting museums, studying architecture and just walking around the cities. I've had the opportunity to travel to many cities throughout Europe, Asia and South America so I thought I'd show you how these trips find their way into my work.

For example, a trip to Amsterdam was spent photographing tulips and orchids at the Keukonhof Gardens.

 

Carnival de Nice with Yellow. 

 

Ad Rem.

 

 

Paphiopedilum

 

 

Cymbidium

 

 

On a trip to London, we spent the afternoon strolling around Hyde Park where I came across a gem of a garden which I painted for Lauren Liess for her room in the DC Design House, 2011.

                                                                   The Secret Garden.


Even the swans and geese were immortalized.

Three Swans.

 

                                                                       Three Geese.



A museum in Berlin housed some of the most beautiful ancient architecture. A Byzantine capital photographed for the painting below was just one of many subjects I added to my collection.

                                                                     Byzantine Capital, #1.

Other cities we've traveled to include Stockholm, Moscow, and Istanbul. I'm looking forward to painting new works inspired by these and other cities.

And finally we're just back from a whirlwind trip to Beijing. I'm only just starting to process the images and subjects I photographed there. I've always been a lover of anything Chinoiserie and can't wait to get started on new works inspired by traditional Chinese art. I'll talk more about that trip and it's inspirations soon.

                                                              www.johnmatthewmoore.com
                                                                            202-306-2852

With Warm Christmas Wishes.

A few years ago we had the opportunity to fly to Stockholm, Sweden in December for one of our long weekend European trips. My first impression of this amazing country was it's beautiful landscape. As we were descending for a landing, I looked out my window and saw one of the most amazing scenes I'd ever seen. The bare birch trees were thick and ghost-like against the snow covered ground. There were many wonderful memories I took away with me of that beautiful country and city, but my first impression was the strongest.

So for that following Christmas I wanted to recreate a piece of that memory. As luck would have it, I had a dwarf spruce tree that had given up after a long, hot summer. I took the tree and power washed the needles off and spray painted it white. Every year I decorate the tree differently. This year I opted for a white theme. I purchased a number of reproduction plaster intaglios from a dealer in London and wrapped and bowed each intaglio in chocolate ribbon.

Every time I look at my tree, I think of our trip to Sweden.

 

 

I hope this Christmas if full of wonderful memories for you and your loved ones.

With warm wishes,
Matthew

                                                        www.johnmatthewmoore.com
                                                                   202-306-2852

Custom Lighting

For years now I've enjoyed taking found objects and antiques and making them into lamps. It's a great way of having a 'one of a kind' that you won't see everywhere. After weeks of looking for a perfect pair of lamps for my dining room buffet without much luck, I came across a pair of candle sticks that I'd discarded in my basement some time ago. Their original finish was rusticated and didn't work for the dining room so I decided to give them a faux verdigris finish.

                                                                 The original finish.

                  

                                                         First I painted them a dark grey.

 

 

                                                        Then gold was applied randomly.

 

                                    Then they were painted with a dark green verdigris glaze.

 

 

And finally after several layers of lighter greens that were glazed on to simulate the 'dripping' of the verdigris and an umber glaze to give them an aged effect, I now have a perfect pair of candle stick lamps for my dining room.   I even dripped candle wax on the sleeves for a more authentic effect.

 

Another lamp I made for my dining room was made from an 18th century curtain rod finial.

 

I have two other examples of lamps that are for sell. The first one is made from an 18th century balustrade. It stands at 29" tall and retails for $350.00.

 

And finally, I made this lamp for my study out of an 18th century piano leg. It has a dark ebony finish on the upper and lower caps with what looks like Rosewood on the column. I have two other legs that can be made into lamps for $950.00 each. They finish off at around 37" tall.

 

If you would like to purchase either of these last two examples or speak with me about creating a perfect lamp for you, please feel free to contact me. Also, it's not too late to purchase that piece of artwork for Christmas. Or better yet, forward this posting to your significant other and have them purchase the artwork for you.                          

                                                                                  

                                                          
                                                  www.contact@johnmatthewmoore.com

                                                         www.johnmatthewmoore.com

Green and Whites.

I've just completed a new set of Green and Whites for the Limited Edition Print Line.  I always love painting white flowers.  They're actually more difficult to paint than the bolder colors that I'm more known for.

When I paint a Green and White series, I try to bring in different textures and tones from creamy ivories to creamy greys.  The yellow-golds and deep greens always bring the subjects to life.

Not only are the originals available, but this set is also available in limited edition prints.

Gardenia  18" x 22"  $1850.00

Limited Edition Print  16" x 20"  $350.00

Edition of 75

Magnolia  18" x 22"  $1850.00

Limited Edition Print  16" x 20"  $350.00

Edition of 75

White Parrot  18" x 22"  $1850.00

Limited Edition Print  16" x 20"  $350.00

Edition of 75

Camellia  18" x 22"  $1850.00

Limited Edition Print  16" x 20"  $350.00

Edition of 75

This is a similar grouping commissioned by a client in Kalarama.

This grouping is shown in my exclusive hand finished frame of Antiqued Ivory and Crackled Green.

If you would like to commission an original, purchase an original or a limited edition print, please feel free to contact me at contact@johnmatthewmoore.com.

Anatomy of a Tulip...Painting

A client recently contacted me concerning a commission.  She had a brochure from a show I did several years ago and was at a place to commission three tulips for her home.  Although I've done these same Parrots before, these new works would be of a different size.  When I photograph my subjects, I may have photographs of the same subject that will be similar but slightly different.  For example, I took multiple shots of these same tulips from different angles, different times of the day, and over a period of a couple of days.  This allows me to complete more than one work from a single subject.

My client was very interested in the process of how I achieve my final results so I thought I'd take this time to show you pics of these works in progress.

First and foremost, I start with the sketch.  Since my work is scientifically correct, this is probably the most important step.  Once I have the sketch that I like, I proceed to laying down color.  Since I work transparently with gouache, the colors that are first laid down will dictate what direction the colors laid over will be.  In other words, with these three tulips, the reds have yellow undertones so Cadmium Yellow Pale is the first color.

 

There are several steps to this stage.  The first pic above shows the Rococo with a light wash of the yellow.  The Flaming Parrot and Orange Parrot below show a strengthening of the yellow stage with more layers of the same yellow and adding Permanent Yellow Deep and Cadmium Orange.

Once I have the yellows laid down, I start to add the Spectrum Red and Permanent Green Deep.

There are many stages at this step to slowly deepen the colors to where I want them to be.  Finally once I have the colors to where I'm happy with them, I start to deepen and shade the colors to give them that photorealistic quality my work is known for.

 

Rococo.  22" x 26".

 

Flaming Parrot.  22" x 26"

 

Orange Parrot.  22" x 26".

Each painting takes many painstaking days to complete, but I wouldn't be happy with anything less.

These three works are being mounted in one of my favorite frames, an exquisite Louis 12K white gold hand finished moulding.

I'm extremely pleased with the outcome and hope I've given you a slightly better idea of my process.

If you would like to speak with me about commissioning a work or art or concerning an available work from my website, please do so at contact@johnmatthewmoore.com. 

 

 

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

A common problem for homeowners and designers alike can be finding that right mirror for their space.  There are many wonderful antique mirrors to choose from but sometimes your needs are a bit more specific.  You may need a certain size or possibly a particular style and you just can't find it.  This is where having a custom mirror made works beautifully.

A few months ago I was visiting with a client showing her samples of frame styles I'd designed and one in particular caught her eye.  She asked if it could also be used as a mirror.  She needed a mirror for her guest room and felt the sample I showed her would be perfect.  After weeks of detailed drawings and many hours of hand cutting and painting decorative carvings, she now has her mirror.

This moulding is based on an 18th. century Italian table.  I took the same decorative elements and finish to produce this profile.  Many different looks can be achieved from this one sample simply by changing the colors or elements.

A corner detail.

 

The mirror hangs over a Swedish style chest in the same creamy finish and ties in the greens of my orchid paintings from around the room.

 

When looking for a mirror for my own entrance hall, I wanted one with lots of impact.  Instead of an antique, I opted to design one myself.  It is a typical Dutch style moulding with a custom painted panel and 12K white gold trim.

 

As you can see, I have a mixture of traditional and modern elements in the hall so I wanted the mirror to bridge both styles.  I hand stenciled the walls with an oversized geometric pattern in a pearl glaze over Farrow and Ball's Hardwick White.

 

A close up of the painted and gilt finish.

 

Another frame I designed is based on an antique French chest has a wonderful grey painted finish with 23K gold carvings.

 

You can custom this finish in so many ways simply by changing the color.

 

Other samples below show just a few of the many styles to choose from.

 

A Dutch moulding with custom painted panel and 23K ripples.

 

A 23K Louis 16th 5" moulding.

 

An antiqued 12K white gold Italian style example.

 

A 23K Art Deco Step.

 

And finally three more profiles from my exclusive collection.

 

I love the look of decorative mouldings simply painted as in the example below.  It is such a fresh take on a traditional style.

 

 

A crusty, crackled ivory painted finish with 23K inner cove.

 

 

And finally a profile of acanthus leaves in my signature French Ivory finish with layers of umbers and creamy greys.

 

And remember, the mirror itself can be left clean or antiqued depending on your needs or where it will hang.

So if you are looking for that perfect mirror, please feel free to contact me at contact@johnmatthewmoore.com.