Art that shapes mood, presence and connection
Love bees. They always pay me to a visit during the summer months and I have to work hard to escort them safely off my premises.
The bee is also an emblem for productivity, industriousness and Manchester.
That is why I’ve made it in one of the first pieces of shelf art I created. So people can look great in their online meetings surrounded by admirable and meaningful art that portrays their personality, is an uplifting, or works as a talking point ice breaker.
I’m creating painted potions. They look good, feel good (because of the textures) and they’re full of ingredients that do you good.
In psychology, it is vital to integrate the self. I feel that the painted potions I create to uplift home office scenes express all of my talents and everything I am good at and love to do.
Some might say it is brut art because I didn’t go to art school (for fine art) and sometimes I use my hands. But I taught in a world-class art school for about 10 years, and I wonder whether those years count. I probably absorbed the artistic rules and principles while chatting to colleagues about student work and the issues in the industry.
In the pictures are painted potions in the process of making. They take several days and weeks to make as I spend hours deciding how to build up the layers, aromas and textures for the desired effect. Close up. I like to use expensive fabric in my painted potions. Some of it is a bit of deconstruction another bit of it is about what they add aesthetically.
The painted potions I have been creating use helpful herbs like lavender, lemon verbena, rose and myrrh. They smell great. The painted potions also give a nod to crystal therapy as I’ve been using citrine, turquoise and other gemstones with their wonderful energy, so far. I have collected lots over the years.
One day I shall tell you about my early years as a therapist who used more fluid an unction, lotions and potions to uplift the spirits of stressed-out clients in spas salons around the world. But for now, let’s admire the notion of painted potions.
Those are the first two ways my experience is integrated within my panted potions.
Next time I shall tell you about the work I’ve been doing around the workplace wellbeing for 10 years and how that has meaning for these painted potions too.
I had an aha moment when reflecting on the look of my shop. I noticed that it was vital to make it easier for my shopping list to find things they want. So I organised the collection by Design.
You will see from the pictures that I have a collection of at least five types. There is the line of Empire framed lampshades, these are new. I also have a collection of metal trimmed lamp shades with beautiful vintage crystal inserts. The collection of drum lampshades is stunning and they are organised by their design of having a simple decorative metal trim. The classical beautiful Victorian lampshades are always popular they get a lot of likes and they are organised under Victorian lampshades, I hand-stitched and stretch these. They are a lot harder to create that’s why they are a bit more expensive to buy. And lastly, there is the collection of stunning table lamps that come already with a plug and you simply just plug it in to get your lighting. With those table lamps, there is no need to buy a lamp base. You just need a socket to plug it in.
I hope people find it easier and enjoyable to browse these unique lampshades I designed to add drama to meeting scenes. Amazing backdrops are great ice breakers and they allow the beauty of our personalities to quietly shine.
I shared a video of lux interior designer Sophie Paterson talking us through her husband’s home office decor. I love that she did dark walls and combined the look with a few pieces of antique brown furniture. You can see in this picture I am trying out shades of dark paint as I love that inky almost black look but cannot decide on red/purple inky black or blue inky black.
The video SP refers to a couple of plain and simple square/ oblong lampshades, she got redone. And in the background, you can see some coolie french bell-type shades. See my finger-pointing on the left.
I probably would have been bolder with my lampshade choice. If it were me I would have gone for the taupe shades with amber or the straw in a small oblong or round shape, made of fabric like the ones below. It’s probably that she didn’t want to take away the attention from the beautiful ornate lamp base but I wonder if something in a plain light blue to echo the light tones in the wallpaper and in the blue in the base might have tied these lovely elements together more tightly.
Both the taupe and straw lampshades are available in the shop now. Here
Here are my latest makes and recently listed in my shop.
It is of the collection inspired by the green and gold or brass Bankers lamp. I wanted to create a softer alternative so that it is a more cosy fit in homes or hospitality.
What is your favourite lighting for creating a comfortable home office space?
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