Australian Trendsetter

Sacred Spaces – Architecture in Melbourne

Even though architecture and design are huge interests for me, as someone who’s lived in Melbourne for many years, I often forget how beautiful and dynamic our city is. The buildings themselves as well as the landscape created through the grid layout of the streets and juxtaposition of old and new architecture really is quite fantastic – something I’m reminded of when I have friends visiting from overseas!

When I came across this video I thought it gave a pretty good impression of the kind of city Melbourne is in terms of architecture and design. Of course there’s so much more to it than can be explored here, and the fact that it has the highest density of Victorian buildings of anywhere in Australia isn’t really shown, but lots of key points are covered.

So if you’re not from Melbourne but are interested in our little Antipodean city I hope you are interested!

Melbournians and visitors alike – let me know your thoughts about the architecture in Melbourne in the comments section below!

It might seem like something only your Mum would like but look around and you will find some of the coolest interior design features botanical art on the walls. Not only this but botanical illustrations continue to inspire fashion designers, textile designers and visual artists, along with naturalists, scientists and environmentalists.

In Melbourne those with a weakness for botanical art are spoilt for places to learn how to master the art of botanical illustration themselves, admire the work of established artists or see beautiful and strange botanical specimens in the flesh.

 Top 3 places for botanical art classes in Melbourne

1. Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens offer a range of workshops and classes for complete beginners to more experienced botanical illustrators. Beginner workshops are run over 4 days and are recommended for those who’ve never done anything like this before starting the 8 week courses. There are also specialist classes such as ‘leaves in colour pencil and watercolour’ for those wanting to focus on a particular area of botanical illustration. More info at RBG
2. The Botanical Art School of Melbourne is another popular choice for fans of botanical illustration. In addition to their regular classes for beginners and more seasoned artists, the School runs master classes with guest artist teachers from interstate and abroad. More info at BAM
3. Botanical art and professional watercolour classes are also run by respected botanical artist Stefan Gevers. Stefan holds 8 week courses various locations around Melbourne such as such Altona, Newport and Laverton. Classes have no more than 10 students so you can get one-on-one assistance as you learn and develop throughout the course. For those who don’t want to commit to a longer course but want to give botanical art a brief burl first to see if it is for them, Stefan runs one day workshop that are perfect for the unsure beginner to get a taste of this special and specialised art form. More info at BAC

In an increasingly globalised world, visual arts such as fashion and interior design are at risk of becoming worryingly homogenised. As visual trends blend and take over the mainstream, unique expressions of creativity are in danger of being stamped out. Luckily, the home is one space you can stake your claim and make your own featuring a selection of personal objects and decorations and an interior design that expresses who you are. If you’re happy with your existing interior decoration, well that’s fabulous, but if you’re moving home soon you have got a great opportunity to take a fresh look at your wall colour, art decorations and overall design. In this article I hope to give you some ideas that might spark your own creativity and desire to take a personal approach to decorating your space.

Looking back at the evolution of design is both fascinating and educational for the keen interior decorator. Back in the 1950s United States retro-futurism was a concept that infiltrated maintream popular culture, with cartoons such as “The Jetsons” and later in the 1960s, on films such as the cult classic “Barbarella”. Although this type of design falls firmly in the ‘retro’ camp of aesthetics, the bold lines and modernistic forms that signify objects made in this era remain hugely popular when it comes to contemporary art decoration for the home. The ‘futuristic’ sensibility brought to these mid-century design pieces are what makes them work in contemporary interior design. Clean, rounded lines, metal, chrome and plastic fabrications look right at home with modern fixtures and home design features.

In addition to looking at design through the ages, inspiration for art decoration can come from casting your eyes towards modern art itself. The undefined dabs and splashes on colour which come together to create a harmonious, readable picture offer a wonderful way to approach soft furnishing and the arrangement of textiles throughout the home. By looking at how light is used in contemporary art installations and sculpture, we can take home lighting to a whole new level, drawing attention towards decorative features and creating s nuanced atmosphere. Minimalism in art can serve as an invaluable lesson in how to craft a simple, stark and striking interior design space. Monumental sculptures made from iron, wood, bronze and reclaimed objects, beautifully illustrate how unconventional or ‘raw’ materials can be used to create statement tables, benches and shelving. Smaller scale sculptures are also a unique art decoration which will make your space special and unlike any other.

So if you’re done with the box packing, removal services organising and have the utilities working, it’s time to move onto the fun stuff! Interior design and home art decoration are what make your home somewhere you want to spend time and invite others into. To make each space a unique and creative one, take a crash course in art history and the evolution of design and wait for your guests to be impressed with the results!

Bio: Ella Andrews is writer and blogger with flair for home decoration and home maintenance themes. Ella is constantly searching for new sources of inspiration and loves to write articles on sophisticated home decor and interior design.

Natural landscapes have been featured in visual arts since before medieval times. This tradition continues, and along with it flowers, trees and other botanical matter remain the subjects of much creative production.It’s no surprise that fine art has long focussed on trees and flowers when we consider that they are easily among the most beautiful things to be found on earth. Examples can be found in many paintings, textile arts, sculpture and the decorative arts. Happily, museums and galleries are not the only indoor spaces that can benefit from the beauty of flowers. In fact, there are a number of ways you can enjoy the aesthetic beauty of flowers from the comfort of your own home. Dried flowers for example, are easy to make and last forever. Dried flowers are durable compared to fresh and can be arranged like bouquets in a vase. The only condition is not to make them too dry, otherwise they will break in small pieces and will not be good for use. You can also press flowers in the pages of a heavy boom and then hang them, framed behind glass on your wall. Drying flowers is the most accessible and affordable way to do floral art. The drying itself requires no previous experience and special equipment. Not only this but you can enjoy the flowers fresh first, before they become transformed through the drying process. No garden or florist nearby to collect these beauties for your home? It’s no problem when so many fabulous florists deliver these days.

Those who are particular interested in flower arranging might be interested to learn more about Ikebana – the Japanese style of composing flowers. Vastly different from the European approach to combining botanical colors and materials, ikebana also uses the leaves as an important component of the visual composition. Minimalism is a key feature of this practice Another important characteristic of this arrangement is the minimalistic approach, which draws the eye to the flower in a more focussed way. This relates to the the spiritual nature of this form of flower arranging. This traditional art is practised in silence and the ikebana artist translate the natural beauty of the object in such a way that the viewer is inspired to look for beauty in every form and shape of the flower.

International and local flower shows are a wonderful, social forum for flower fans and those interested in artistic floral arrangements. Found all over the world, including Melbourne, London, Toronto and Philadelphia, these events bring together artists and admirers from all over the world. One of the biggest events for flower arts is the annual Flower Interpret Art Event. It takes place in the University of Virginia Art Museum. As the number of floral art events grow every year, the role of floral artist and arranger is gaining more prominence around the world. From knowing about flowers from exotic location, creating unique and aesthetically pleasing floral arrangements, using new technologies to help cut flowers last longer – the art direction behind flower arrangement is a skill that takes years to perfect. The lesson? Start learning now flower fans!

Bio: Daisy Hart is dedicated writer, blogger and aesthete who finds her greatest inspiration in home decorating projects. She likes to discover beauty everywhere around and this is what gives her huge motivation for her work. Her present article is focused on flowers and their presence in art.

Setting up a new home can be a daunting prospect. After dealing with real estate agents, moving companies and sorting out all the boring practicalities such as utility accounts, the next step is making your new flat or house feel like a home. On the up-side, a new space means a marvellous opportunity to have fresh interior design. Rather than doing the same old thing, why not step it up a notch and go for a seriously sophisticated interior design idea?!

Sophisticated home interior design combines a modern, elegant approach to the decorative elements and and furniture used throughout the space. Important elements to consider include the materials used, the lines which break up the space and color accents employed to create a sense of visual continuity. In fact the overall color scheme is perhaps the most important factor in creating a sophisticated home design. Selecting the most suitable colors may sound like an easy task but it often takes a professional touch to navigate the myriad colour combinations available and bring together complementary tones to create the kind of atmosphere desired.

Each room provides the opportunity to create a special atmosphere. So after you’re done with the dull house moving tasks, why not have some fun and transform each space into an environment which is aesthetically pleasing as well as practical. Starting with the kitchen, consider bright colours which reflect the fun of cooking and eating in what is considered most to be the heart of the home. Yellow, blue and red are fantastically cherry colours you can use as accents on cupboards and skirting boards that will inject the room with a lively look. Decorate with original handmade objects such as a calender, prints, tea-towels and wall art to elevate room and make it a truly unique space .

Depending on your taste, the living room can be a refined, elegant space, or a rich and homey interior, or stark minimalist space. Neutral tones and natural materials make for a quietly refined interior design. Plenty of soft furnishings in rich colours, an array of objects d’art and books create a warm, homey atmosphere. If minimalism is your thing, take inspiration from the Japanese and strip away the unnecessary elements of the interior, using black lines to draw the eye around the space..

Bedrooms are perhaps the most important space to feel relaxed in the home. Choose a color scheme and interior decorating style which truly reflects you and is appropriate for sleeping in. Blue and green have known calming effects and make wonderful bedroom wall colours. Of course if you want to do something exotic, look around the world for style tips. For example Morocco interior design is a riot of colour, embroidery and silver accents and can work well when employed in a bedroom setting.

Bio: Ella Andrews is blogger, mother and housewife, who has great flair for home decoration and home remodeling projects. She is continuously searching for sources of inspiration and motivation. Presently she contributes articles mainly on practical aspects of moving home and setting up a new house in style.

Local treasures: paperback purveyors

In an age where Kindle is king, the appeal of flicking through a beautiful book remains undiminished. Happily, along with brilliant coffee, great food and a dynamic arts scene, Melbourne is home to a terrific array of book shops that enjoy an ever loyal local fan base. I am one of them. While I’m not someone who enjoys shopping as a pastime, I can lose hours meandering through book shops in Melbourne, perusing new architecture book sand gorgeous coffee table tomes on interior design. In reality there would be at least 10 book shops in Melbourne that I could happily rant about but here are my Top 5.

Readings in Carlton. Image by Snipergirl, Flickr.

 The Top 5 best book shops in Melbourne

1. Readings – let’s start with the biggest of the independents and an institution beloved by Melbourne folk far and wide.  Although the store in Carlton is the most famous, there are six Reading retailers in and around the city and they stock not only a wonderful and varied selection of books but also boast terrific, knowledgeable staff to help you when you’re in a book bind. Apologies for the pun…couldn’t resist! Check out the Carlton branch when you’re waiting for your movie to start at Nova next time. www.readings.com.au/
2. Artisan Books – this beautiful bookshop in Fitzroy proves small is beautiful. Specialising in art, craft, design and culture, it’s where to head for books, periodicals, coffee table tomes, exhibition catalogues and craft how-to manuals. High quality books and friendly service keep this neighbourhood gem in favour with artsy types, along with the evolving roster of exhibitions and beloved beanie display in winter! www.artisan.com.au/
3. The Paperback Bookshop – this place is a favourite late night haunt of mine when I’m wandering the streets of the CBD, which, since I live there, is quite often. But it’s not just the night owl hours that make this one of my favourite book shops in Melbourne, it also has a wicked selection of fiction and non-fiction and their happy to order in books that, unlikely as it is, they don’t have at hand. Once you’ve picked up a title that tickles your fancy, head next door so you can pour over from a coffee at Pellegrini’s. www.paperbackbooks.com.au/
4. Metropolis Bookshop – situated the lovely Curtain House in the city centre, this is a Melbourne bookshop that has it all. Roomy enough that you never feel crowded and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel you really can browse for hours, it has cute design details such as an aqua register counter with Japanese style illustration painted on it. A top choice for fashion students, it has an impressive textile and design books selection with titles you won’t have heard of before. www.metropolisbookshop.com.au/
5. NGV Australia Shop – this Melbourne bookshop might seem like a strange one to name next to these smaller independents but it’s a testament to how great it is that this flashy space at Fed Square gets a mention. Not only does it have a seriously impressive selection of magazines, periodicals and books to choose from that art and design mavens like me will drool over, it’s location gives architecture aficionados something to coo over too! www.fedsquare.com/shop/ngv-shop/

Art on screen

Whether I’m at home watching my favourite sci-fi films while balancing dinner on my lap, heading out with friends to open-air screenings in the summer time or moseying off to a matinee on a quiet Sunday afternoon, not much makes me happier than a well-made flick. Which is why, after re-watching Basquiat recently, I went on a bit of a bender trying to find more movies about art and artists. From what I’ve seen, movies about art tend to be pretty good. For one thing, they often have pretty interesting cinematography and a rich mis-en-scene. Also, because artists so often live crazy, dramatic and otherwise unusual lives, these movies have pretty absorbing stories and zero in on fascinating sub-cultures and points in history.

I’ve still got a bunch of movies about art on my list I need to see, but I’ve compiled a list of my Top 7 so far. Here they are:

Frida Kahlo – Two Fridas (1939). Image by Cea, Flickr.

Top 7 movies about art

1. Pollock – this highly acclaimed film starring Ed Harris as Jackson Pollock and Marcia Gay Harden as Lee Krasner is an absolute must-watch for fans of this artist and those interested in the machinations of the creative process. Tense and absorbing.
2. Caravaggio – one of those movies about art often found in first year cinema studies courses. Beautifully shot in a painterly style reminiscent of Caravaggio’s work, it’s a film some will find difficult to watch, while others may be mesmerised.
3. I Shot Andy Warhol – more about Valerie Solanas, the radical feminist who famously shot Andy Warhol, than the artist himself, this film captures the feel of those heady Factory days and boasts an incredible performance from Lily Taylor as Solanas.
4. Basquiat – a wonderfully entertaining film which examines the New York art scene at a truly interesting time. It also has a terrific lead performance from Jeffrey Wright and appearances by real life icons Dennis Hopper and David Bowie.
5. Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon – dark, disturbing, imaginative; the tone of this biopic suits its subject perfectly. Powerful performances from Derek Jacobi as Bacon and Daniel Craig as his petty criminal lover George Dyer will stay with you.
6. Frida – if you weren’t already a little in love with Salma Hayek before seeing this film, you will be by the end of it. Funny, dramatic and tragic by turns, this movie about art and artists is a feast for the eyes and soul.
7. Crumb – this documentary is about the rude, crude, hilarious and talented comic book artist Robert Crumb. Directed by long term friend Terry Zwigoff, this doco is both uncomfortable and insightful and casts light on the craziness so often found behind creativity.