Christina Studio

I was approached to work up a commission for a hall space with a huge blank wall in need of some colour. The piece was to be influenced / designed around the colours used in the interiors of the whole house as well as interior furnishings and fittings.

The wall where the canvas was designed to go (to the right of the window) and the ceiling is painted in Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster which I used as a base for the painting. The wall down the staircase is Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon and these colours are also used downstairs together with brown leather, teak and bamboo so warmer, earthy tones were key in creating contrast in the painting.  Accents of moss/muddy green were introduced too - Dark green (Jewel Beetle by Little Greene) was used in the bathroom which is close by. The light fitting in the hall (I think you can just see it in the second photo) is black and brass. 

All of these elements were considered when starting the piece. Before starting I also created a moodboard & palette to give myself a reference to work from, and to inspire some of the shades and colours.
​

This is a 60cm x 90cm canvas. As always, a mix of collage and acrylic. I stuck very closely to the palette we chose, worked into shapes and created form through layers of paint.

I started off by developing lots of texture with collage, and then went in with a really colourful minty green base. I started building up from there and blocking in where I wanted to put the bigger shapes, making sure the composition was right. From there it was about adding detail - I always go in with a white gesso to create more contrast against dark colours. This piece was designed to go landscape, but I also think it looks great as a portrait piece - its amazing how different it looks from one setting to another!

I had someone ask me last week if I plan out pieces. My answer is very rarely - only the colour palette I'll really consider beforehand. I think the most interesting part about painting is that you don't quite know how a piece will end up, its so unpredictable and that is the beauty of it. If someone asked me to recreate any of the pieces I've done, I'd struggle, and that's what makes unique pieces of art so valuable and special. Here are some close up shots showing the texture and pattern:

I always style up paintings if I have time, just to show what it looks like in a room and to give a real idea of scale and colour - I love this used as a centre piece here! 

​This week I decided to treat myself to a lil' something to take photos with. Adding little things like a vase / candle can help add scale to your painting. 

I decided to go for this matt vase from I Am Nomad's accessory collection and a tobacco and black pepper scented candle which smells AMAZING. (Unfortunately you can't blog smells, but if you could, this would be a 10/10).

​Link to the vase is here and the candle here. 

This month, despite isolation and acclimatising to the 'new normal', I was lucky enough to have numerous commissions to keep me busy. I'm so appreciative and thankful to have a creative outlet when things are up in the air. When life seems a bit uncertain, painting can be very cathartic and keeps me going.

​The lovely Glasgow based Claire who runs I Am Nomad contacted me and asked for a commission. She has a background in retail and buying in the interior world, and created her business I am Nomad as a curated shop in her own (beautiful, period style) home. She sells anything from mid-century furniture pieces, small decorative accessories, one of a kind dining sets and beautiful curated artworks. Each product in her house/shop is chosen by her and almost all have a story behind them. I was more than excited to be part of this! 

I started off by asking her to decide which room she wanted the piece in, and what her desired colour palette was. She decided on the front guest bedroom (pictured to the left). The idea of merging a piece with the gorgeous products &  furnishings in her house made me feel so inspired.