This artwork will stand the test of time.

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Art is in the dirt. Literally. Artistic duo Christoph Brach & Daniera ter Haar are creating gorgeous artwork by digging in the dirt and playing with mother nature’s spoils – vegetables. Raw Color is a creative cooperation exploring the natural wonder of vegetables through visual research. In the image above (from the 100 percent juice project), the power of natural color turns a three dimensional ingredient into a two dimensional icon. Raw Color No. 2 applies strong vegetable pigments as juice cartridges (who needs ink for printing?!).

My favorite project is Raw Color No. 3, a photographic investigation of the visual structure of vegetables. These vivid pieces of artwork would be perfect to lounge on the walls of restaurants, or maybe even my kitchen. Either way, it shifts my perspective of vegetables – now I am ambling through an art gallery in the product aisle and winding through an art supply store at the farmers’ market. I may even be inspired to make a bit of agricultural art myself.

(Thank you Design for Mankind for the introduction to Raw Color.)

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Each week here at EcoSalon, I beg my favorite bloggers and designers to hand select a beloved green product, whether it’s a finish, furnishing, or accessory. The end result? An endless anthology of aesthetically perfect products for your perusal.

This week we are graced with the presence of Francine Gardner, from Art De Vivre and Interieurs. Art De Vivre is “a blog dedicated to the full enjoyment of life and all it has to offer.” Interieurs is a design studio and lifestyle store that will make you drool, brimming with style – a mixture of modern and found industrial gems. The eye candy is almost unbearably gorgeous.

This particular piece of aesthetic overload, the Industrial Credenza/Console, is a functional furnishing made of reclaimed components. The furniture, accessories, and lifestyle products from Interieurs are lovely – and they’re just the beginning. Salivate through the Interieurs Project Portfolio, or peruse the Inspiration Gallery (click on “View all inspirations” to linger through the stunning images).

(A special thank you to Ania Palermo from Interieurs for her keen eye and beautiful product suggestions.)

The post Handpicked: Art De Vivre & Interieurs appeared first on EcoSalon.

Each week here at EcoSalon, I beg my favorite bloggers and designers to hand select a beloved green product, whether it’s a finish, furnishing, or accessory. The end result? An endless anthology of aesthetically perfect products for your perusal.

This week we will meander to India with Gagan from Of Peacocks and Paisleys. Gagan was born and raised in India, where she grew up with an innate sense of appreciation and value, and an early distaste for waste upon moving to the United States (in India, nothing that can be repaired or salvaged is ever thrown away).

Gagan has selected a handful of Indian handicrafts that she wants to bundle up and carry home with her during her next trip to India, “because they pack so much color in light, fold-able, and carry-able sizes.” These gorgeous items are handmade with materials on hand by Indian artisans. The gorgeous Wildflower Wonderland wall hanging (detail shown above) is woven of sari and kurta borders (click here for a glimpse of the full patchwork tapestry).

The lovely Gagan couldn’t leave India without a couple of Indian folk art paintings. Vidushini’s United Forever II depicts the union of the creative forces in the universe in the unique Madhubani style (on the left). Brajeswar Pattnaik’s Sailing II (on the right) is painted in the traditional Patachitra style (crushed stone colors on tussar silk).

If you want to peruse a little more Indian folk art, this website will satiate your craving. You can catch up with Gagan at her blog (don’t miss her graciously hosted, beautiful home tours).

The post Handpicked: Of Peacocks and Paisleys appeared first on EcoSalon.

Each week here at EcoSalon, I ask my favorite bloggers and designers to hand select a beloved green product, whether it’s a finish, furnishing, or accessory. The end result? An endless anthology of aesthetically perfect products for your viewing pleasure.

This week I am honored to host Kim Derby. Does Ms. Derby’s name sound familiar? It should, dear reader. Kim was previously an editor at EcoSalon, and now we are graced with her words once again (check out her past posts and clever conversations). Kim has an immense talent for molding her keen wit and discernible style into amusing and informative articles.

Kim has handpicked a collection of charming little pieces of artwork.

“They’re quaint, clever and petite. I’m a big fan of ‘less is more’ and clear the clutter, but in my opinion there’s rarely too much art,” says Kim.

I agree completely. Deana Bracken, the director of Green With Glamour, designed this vivid and vintage artwork. From left to right: Black Cat Wallpaper Silhouette ($55), Scottie Wallpaper Silhouette ($45), and Boxer Fabric Silhouette ($65).

Come back tomorrow for Kim’s inaugural re-introduction post. Welcome (back) Kim!

The post Handpicked: Kim Derby appeared first on EcoSalon.

Each week here at EcoSalon, I beg my favorite bloggers and designers to hand select a beloved green product, whether it’s a finish, furnishing, or accessory. The end result? An endless anthology of aesthetically perfect products for your perusal.

This week it’s the modern pacific musings of Isla Schmidt from Somace. Isla is charming, creative, and brimming with outrageous talent. She is one third of the inspired Somace trifecta (including Edward Macey and artist Kaypee Soh). The Somace blog and store have a few things in common – including fresh design, vibrant color, and sweet nostalgia laced with a dose of the Pacific (the team is located in beautiful Hawaii).

Isla has taken the time to handpick her favorite artwork from the swoon-inducing collection of Kaypee Soh. If you haven’t seen this brilliant collection yet, I dare you to pick your favorite – there are so many to love. Ms. Schmidt chose this gorgeous print of Diamond Head – the iconic Waikiki landmark, “Kaypee Soh is a genius when it comes to scale, color and texture. I just love the way he takes something we see almost every single day (which is already beautiful), and turns it into a piece of magic. His Diamond Head piece is one of my all time favorites, it’s exactly how I feel and dream Diamond Head to have been…”

Mr. Soh’s collection of artwork is already perfection – and he offers custom colors, sizes, and printing options; perhaps natural ink and dye printed on bamboo paper and framed with recycled wood suits you? It certainly suits me – I am the satisfied and gushing owner of two Kaypee Soh wonders (so you can believe me when I tell you his artwork makes me weak in the knees). Don’t even get me started on the pillows, fabric, wallpaper, and store full of lifestyle delights.

Catch up with Isla (and Somace) through their blog, on Facebook or Twitter, or even while perusing the latest issue of Sunset magazine.

The post Handpicked: Somace appeared first on EcoSalon.

I wish I could tie August around my wrists, carrying the satisfaction of whimsical sunsets and anticipation of impending fall with me year round. There is something about natural rope that insinuates the nautical splash of coastal bliss that only summer can nurture. Go ahead, get tied up and roped into these gorgeous commodities.

Clockwise from top left: Haus Interior Rope & Nickel Accessories, SHINE Rope Artwork, Tanya Aguiniga Unraveled Cotton Rope Necklace, Simplemente Blanco Sisal Knitted Pillow, Anthropologie Coiled Rope Knob, and Tanya Aguiniga Jersey Knot Bracelet.

(Top images from Marie Sturges and Mel Yates.)

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Can paintings live outside? Would it be possible to have a garden live within a painting? In an exhibition called Inside Outside, Fabric 8 challenged local artists Daniel James Burt and Romanowski to re-think painting from an outdoor perspective. The artists jumped right in (jumped right out?) in creating unique indoor and outdoor found object and plant assemblage and sculptures.

Beautifully integrated into the artwork are bits of chia pet plants and air plants that derive their water from the air, requiring little to no maintenance. The artists collaborated with Flora Grubb Gardens to determine exactly what type of plants would be best suited to this new art environment. “We do not have green thumbs,” Fabric 8 co-founder Olivia Ongpin explained, “So we knew that if we could keep these pieces alive, anyone could.”

Fabric 8 started out as an Internet business selling unique items by urban independent designers. Their small retail store located beneath a San Francisco Victorian residence in the Mission has now expanded to include a gallery in the back as well as a backyard garden gallery. When I stopped by earlier today, they were preparing the space for a wedding reception over the weekend.

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