Event: Jo Malone

This event was spectacular! Robert, the manager for Jo Malone at Bloomingdale’s in San Diego CA created two themed rooms for the fragrance and art show. One titled “Kohdo Wood Day” in white, black, and lime green furnishings and the other “Kohdo Wood Night” illuminated entirely with tea lights. Guests enjoyed a relaxing atmosphere, entertaining conversations, and the hospitality at Bloomingdale’s. A Giclee print of “Swimming in Love” was purchased by one of the guests for her family law office.

 

Sketch

I created this little sketch in 1978. I imagined a vial that would hold a scent. The top would have a metal bolt with a stone dome and the tip would be crystal.

 

Portrait

When painting, the artist gets to choose what to put in and what to leave out. I decided to focus on the face and abstract the background.

 

Plant: Agave

My recent encounter with Jo Malone’s Blue Agave and Cacao Cologne inspired me to work on an image I wanted to paint of Agave.

Jo Malone was inspired by the rhythm and vibrancy of Latin music, a sparkling citrus melody of lime and grapefruit leads to an exquisite heart of the blue agava flower. She added a sensual blend of vetiver, cinnamon and the primitive rawness of cacao, make an unexpected and surprising harmony.

Agave americana have broad leaves that arch and curl with a green central band and yellow to white stripes along the leaf margins. It is one of the most graceful and largest of the variegated Agave americana varieties… many of which are near my home in San Diego, California.

 

Fusion 3 at Ray at Night

FUSION 3: A collaboration between ADAI/SDAD and the Japanese Friendship Gardens Society of San Diego.

 

Inspiration

Paintings Purchased by Art Collector in Phoenix, Arizona:
“Swimming in Love” - was inspired by an illustration by Kitagawa Utamaro (ca. 1753 - 1806). I wanted to see if I could expand on what I saw in his work by creating a yin yang with color in the man and woman. I also wanted to integrate the ocean. In addition to the koi fish a stylized seaweed is in the man’s kimono. In the woman’s dress I first thought I would do coral and then changed it to a rooted tree.

In “Koi Grouping” I wanted to explore different angles and different colors of koi. In the interior the fish swim in a moss green. The exterior is a texture window into their environment.