Art: Colorful & refined Art by artist Starla Halfmann - Serie Charmed

Be inspired by this colorful and refined art by artist Starla Halfmann from her serie Charmed. What a delightful colors to see! Be Inspired .......

More about the artist. 

Starla Halfmann is a professional Austin artist and Texas native. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Design Communications from Texas Tech University. Her art and design interests are varied but her focus is on pushing the limits of impasto style paintings combined with mixed media. Intuition, emotion and a spiritual connection all play an integral part in the creation of each painting.

"I love what I do and try to maintain a child-like wonder in my work. I grew up on a farm in West Texas where the only access I had to art was a "P" encyclopedia. At four years old, I would thumb through "Paintings" thinking "Anyone who can do this has got to be happy all the time!" I chased butterflies, collected shells, glass, rocks, - whatever I found interesting and beautiful. My grandmother's antique broaches and lace scarves were intricate treasures. I felt magic all around me. My parents and their friends thought I would be a vet because I loved animals so much - one of the reasons why I paint them so often. What I find funny is even when I'm not creating a painting with animals they still show up hidden in my abstract paintings. On most days, I still feel that magic and wonder when I paint. To be able to create freely and express oneself fully is truly a joy and blessing that I never want to take for granted."

Currently, Starla's work is featured in Anthroplogie, Greenbox Art + Culture and Skyline Art Editions.

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Sources: Starla Halfmann and Starla Michelle/Pinterest

Fashion Photography: Elegance & Style in Black & White

Wish you a fashionable & stylish day!

Photo found on Twitter. Source unknown.

Flashback: Tom Ford F/W 2022

 
Would like to share with you today a flashback from the colorful collection of Tom Ford F/W 2022 in colors like radiant red, pink, purple, turquoise, green, cobalt blue and black. Citing COVID-19-related delays, Tom Ford said he was not able to present his Fall 2022 collection during New York Fashion Week. Instead, he dropped a look book during Paris Fashion Week. Earlier I wrote more blogs about this inspiring fashion designer, SEE HERE Be Inspired ......

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Sources: TOM FORD and Guild Magazine
Images courtesy of Tom Ford

Wishing you a peaceful day ........

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Source: unknown 

Dovima with Elephants by Richard Avedon, 1955

I am a huge fan of the stunning photos from fashion photographer Richard Avedon. Below you will find some gorgeous photos from Dovima shot by Avedon. She was a Supermodel during the 1950s and reputed to be the highest-paid model of her time. ”Dovima with Elephants” was one in a series of pictures Avedon began making in Cirque d’Hiver, Paris, in August 1955, has become an icon. The gown was the first evening dress designed for Christian Dior by his new assistant, Yves Saint-Laurent.

Dovima with elephants, Evening dress by Dior, Cirque d'Hiver, Paris, August 1955

When it took place, New York-born Avedon was 32 and had been a professional  photographer for ten years. He had been recruited to work as a staff photographer for Harper’s Bazaar in 1945 soon after completing his military service, by the influential art director Alexey Brodovitch. Avedon, with his enthusiasm, inventiveness and instinctive visual flair, soon established himself  as a significant new voice in fashion photography.

The model chosen for the Cirque d’Hiver shoot was known as Dovima. Her real name was Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba, but she created her professional name from the first two letters in her three given names. Tall and slender, Dovima epitomised 1950s style and was said to be one of  the highest-paid models of the period. She and Avedon often worked  together and Dovima later commented that the two of them ‘became like mental Siamese twins, with me knowing what he wanted before he explained it. He asked me to do extraordinary things, but I always knew I was going to be part of a  great picture.’ For this particular Harper’s Bazaar shoot, Dovima was asked to pose close to four circus elephants. The shoot took place on a hot summer’s day. Avedon later recalled that when he entered the area where the elephants were kept, he saw that the animals were beautifully lit by natural light. ‘I saw the elephants  under an enormous skylight and in a second I knew … there was the potential here  for a kind of dream image.’ 

Richard Avedon, selfportrait

Avedon went on to become one of America’s most celebrated and influential photographers, particularly for his fashion and portraiture and was still creating new work up to his death at the age of 81 in 2004. About Dovima: ‘She was  the last of the great elegant, aristocratic beauties,’ said Avedon, ‘the most remarkable and unconventional beauty of her time.

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Source: A.G. Nauta Couture
Photos: courtesy of Richard Avedon

Wildlife Photography, Humor & Animals: The hilarious Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

I guess you've noticed already that I love photography and animals. I couldn't resist to share these nice and funny wildlife photos with you. Don’t need to tell that animals do the funniest things. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards showcase the funniest candid shots of the wildest creatures for our amusement. Be Inspired ........

Now that’s a happy owl! Image by Edward Kopeschny / Barcroft Images.
Ontario, Canada: A snowy owl looks very content as it smiles for photographer Edward Kopeschny.

I am a reptile, hear me roar! Image by Anup Deodhar / Barcroft Images. 
A colourful reptile holds up a twig as it is pictured looking like a warrior with a powerful stance.

A frog appears to have a big smile for the camera.

Hello! Image by Philip Marazzi / Barcroft Images. 
Manitoba, Canada: A mother polar bear takes a nap during the day whilst her cub is full of energy and gives the camera a wave.

Did you forget something? Image by Brigitta Moser / Barcroft Images.
Little Karoo, South Africa: A meerkat appears to look like it’s just remembered it needs to be somewhere.

Just one more bite… Image by Barb D’Arpino / Barcroft Images.
Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada: Eastern Chipmunk stuffing her cheeks with corn until they looked ready to pop.

The perfectly-timed shot. Image by Adam Parsons / Barcroft Images. 

A bear appears to have wings growing from its head in a photo taken by Adam Parsons, September 2015.

Hmmm, maybe you should take it again. Image by Megan Lorenz/Barcroft Images.
Cape Coral, Florida: Wide-Eyed Burrowing Owlet posing for selfies in front of a GoPro in Florida, May, 2015.

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Source: Photos via Lonely Planet. 

Bedroom Idea: Elegant & refined bedroom by interior designer Melanie Turner

I adore this project by Melanie Turner Interiors. It's an elegant & refined bedroom designed by interior designer Melanie Turner. The gray tones combined with soft white, salmon and touches of gold make this romantic bedroom so warm and inviting while remaining luxurious. Love Melanie's choice of the iron canopy bed, the gray floral wallpaper as well as the Chinoiserie curtains. Beautiful, isn't it? Be Inspired .......

Melanie Turner: beautiful gray bedroom with gray floral wallpaper, framing iron canopy bed accented with white headboard and gray bedding. The bed is flanked by mismatched nightstands with vintage urn alabaster lamps and a white sheepskin bench. The bedroom windows are dressed in pink Chinoiserie fabric, curtains Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Blush Conch Fabric. 

More about the interior designer
Inspired by fashion and borrowing a palette from nature, Melanie Turner’s curated interiors possess a timeless quality that celebrate architectural details and classic design. She is an advocate for not only surrounding yourself with beauty but also living beautifully. Art and collections are signatures of her edited designs. Balance, scale, light and subtle color, or lack thereof, all factor into her residences, creating a timeless effect. MTI’s design projects are located throughout the United States and Mexico. Melanie’s passion for designing beautiful interiors transpires into sophisticated yet, unassuming spaces that change the way people live.

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Source: Melanie Turner Interiors

Flashback: Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2024 Menswear, Part 1

Would like to share some fashion photos from the inspiring menswear collection from Dolce & Gabbana for their season S/S 2024. Lots of beautiful combinations to discover ...... I will publish 2 blogs, this is Part One. Earlier I wrote more blogs about Fashion, SEE HERE 

The fashion designers

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Source: Dolce & Gabbana
Photos: courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Color Inspiration: Happy Yellow (03)

Yellow is one of my favourite colors as this color really makes me smile. Yellow looks also so cheerful and sunny. :-) Would like to share with you some delightful yellow photos for architecture, fashion, flowers and interior design. Just enjoy the beauty of yellow ...... Earlier I wrote more blogs about Colors, SEE HERE This is a repost of my blogpost of 26-09-2015.

What a lovely yellow spiral staircase. 

At the beach in yellow.

A yellow chapel in Santorini, Greece.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Lovely in Yellow.

Sunny Yellow.

Yellow coiffeur shop.

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Photos found on Pinterest and Google+.