Car sitting a 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

April 13, 2018 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Photo Romi Cortier — 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

The Spirit of Ecstasy, 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

I was recently asked to car sit a 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow…. say what? Yes, it’s true. She said to me, would you mind car sitting for me, for an entire month… but you must promise to drive it at least once a week. Well, I’ll do my best. Can I take a few photos and maybe some video footage? Sure she said.

During that month I booked up every weekend with activities for this gem. I did a professional photoshoot, a casual shoot with a friend for our social media (seen below), a pro video shoot for our tv pilot Artful Living which took an entire 12 hour day to complete, not to mention the slew of still photos I snapped for this article. I can’t wait to get the video footage to our editors so that I can share more of this cars fascinating history with you.

There’s something so Dynasty-esque about this era of Rolls Royce, especially when driving through the streets of Beverly Hills. If I could tell you the amount of times tourists stopped to take photos and video of us while filming, especially on Rodeo Drive, it was totally surreal. And while we were parked and shooting video at the Beverly Hills Hotel, four different tour busses stopped to take photos and chat us up. Talk about feeling like a movie star, this car is a total head turner.

Lets be honest, it’s all about the dynamic paint job on this car, it’s so gangster. It looks the same way that It did when it rolled off the showroom floor in 1976. The car has been fully restored, including its paint job and upholstery. Only 2,000 Rolls Royce’s were built in 1976. The gentlemen at Charles Agapiou, LTD. in West Hollywood told me that there might have been a couple more produced with the same color palette, but through all of my online searches, I can’t find a single one. So I wanted to put this pristine beauty on full blast for your viewing pleasure.

If you happen to see this beauty rolling around the streets of LA or Beverly Hills, be sure to wave and say hi to the owner. She will absolutely love it!

Melanie Engle and Coco, aka Malibupom, 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Romi Cortier

Romi Cortier and Coco, aka Malibupom, Beverly Hills, Ca., Photo Melanie Engle

Interior Design

Pink takes center stage at HD Buttercup

March 28, 2018 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Pink at HD Buttercup, Spring 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

On a recent visit to HD Buttercup, I was wowed by all the shades of pink furniture. Sofas, bar stools, dining chairs, accent chairs, all ranging from subtle to striking. I’d never seen so much pink furniture in one room… clearly pink is making a comeback in 2018.

I’d heard about Rose Quartz, but Millennial Pink? What a beautiful soft shade of pink, something reminiscent of the pastel tones from the eighties. But it was paired with copper, giving it an extra burst of fire and freshness. And now’s there’s also Blooming Dahlia. A smoky shade of pink with hints of coral, reminding me of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Rapture Rose and Spiced Apple are much more saturated tones of pinky red, and red with brown undertones, respectively. In fact, at a glance, they remind me of great shades of lipsticks. I love that Pantone chooses so many rich trend colors each season, and I’m also very elated that designers and furniture manufacturers are embracing these colors, making furniture more fashionable.

A rule of thumb to keep in mind, trend colors don’t last forever, so if you find yourself drawn to these colors, or they’re in your personal palette that suits your coloring, I highly suggest snapping them up while you can. Otherwise, having these items custom made can be very very expensive.

Art

Kehinde Wiley’s Portrait of President Barack Obama

February 25, 2018 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Presidential Portrait of Barack Obama, Kehinde Wiley, Oil on Canvas, 2018

Artist Kehinde Wiley and President Barack Obama, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Official Portrait Unveiling.

President Barack Obama’s official Portrait by Kehinde Wiley was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Monday February 12th, 2018. The portrait has been met with criticism by some, and applauded by others. I for one am a huge fan of Wiley’s portrait. That said, I wanted to try and wrap my mind around some of the controversy that I’d seen on social media from those who felt it wasn’t ‘on par’ with the tone and tenor of previous Presidential Portraits. So I decided to do some research…

John F. Kennedy Presidential Portrait, Elaine de Kooning, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

William Jefferson Clinton, Presidential Portrait by Chuck Close, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

What I discovered is that President Barack Obama wasn’t the first to buck classic portraiture for his official portrait. Both John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton are represented by the avant-garde artist of their day. As is frequently the case, stories on social media are tailored to reinforce a specific point of view. Namely, that Obama was wack for choosing such an outrageous artist that didn’t represent the traditional norms of the office. When taking a closer look at the ‘norms’, one can clearly see that there’s been a broader range of painting styles presented at the Smithsonian over the years. Follow the link below to view all of the Presidential Portraits from the last century.

Artnet News: 100 years of Presidential Portraits

I’ve been a fan of Kehinde Wiley for over a decade, and was thrilled to see his paintings on the tv show EMPIRE. It’s a brilliant choice to have a fictional character like Lucious Lyon, a black music mogul, fill his home with the art of such a highly regarded black artist, thus supporting those at the top of his community.

Here are a few more examples of Wiley’s work.

Starlit Nights, Kehinde Wiley, Oil on Canvas, 2013 — Starlit Nights, Oil on Canvas, Kehinde Wiley, 2005

LL Cool J, Oil on Canvas, Kehinde Wiley, 2005

Jean de Carondelet III, Oil on Canvas, Kehinde Wiley, 2013

As an artist, I absolutely love the magnificent size of his paintings, as well as the lusciousness of the background behind his subjects. His ability to beautifully render skin tones is out of this world, and to quote Obama: I was struck by the degree to which they challenged our ideas of power and privilege. Kehinde juxtaposes contemporary urban culture with centuries old postures and wallpaper like backgrounds.

When I composed my own painting of President Barack Obama in 2011, I also chose a lush green background to represent his emotional life. I wanted my image to be reminiscent of a gothic stain glass window with the presidential seal as his halo. My overall theme was about the religious fervor surrounding the election of our first African American President. The ionic column represents democracy, with the red and blue states being represented on their respective sides of the column, blue on the left, red on the right.

Obama and the Tree of Knowledge, Oil on Canvas, Artist Romi Cortier

For Wiley, he wove chrysanthemum into the greenery of the background (the official flower of Chicago), and Jasmine for Hawaii, as well as African Blues symbolic of Obama’s heritage. Like the fictional character Lucious Lyon, President Barack Obama chose one of the finest artist from the black community to forever represent the first African American President in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. It was a bold choice that I absolutely applaud, and I believe it will certainly pass the test of time. Great men must be ahead of the curve, not behind it, paving the way for others to follow.

www.kehindewiley.com

Art

The Buddha’s of Artist Metis Atash

January 25, 2018 romicortier@yahoo.com 1 Comment

Buddha by Metis Atash, L A Art Show, 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

Buddha by Metis Atash, L A Art Show 2017, Photo Romi Cortier — Buddha by Metis Atash, L A Art Show 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

Buddha by Metis Atash, L A Art Show, Photo Romi Cortier — Buddha by Metis Atash, L A Art Show, 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

LA Art Show, Romi Cortier, Recio Young, JD Miller, and Melanie Engle

The Buddha’s of artist Metis Atash took the L A Art Show by storm. Covered in nearly 20 thousand Swarovski crystals, her Buddha’s radiated light in every direction, enticing patrons to take countless photos and videos of her sculptures. JD Miller of the Dallas based Samuel Lynne Galleries, was a fantastic host on both days of our visit to the art show.

We were there opening night, and then again on the fourth and final day of the show. Opening night was fun and very conversational with several gallery owners and artists. Therefore, we didn’t make it to every booth. So we returned early Sunday morning and made our way to the booths that we’d missed. Our last stop was back were we’d begun… at the Buddha’s!

Atash sculpts in fiberglass, covers her creations with acrylic paint, and then meticulously bathes each piece by hand in upwards of 20,000 Swarovski crystals. The completed works can be an homage to icons like Chanel, Lichtenstein, Warhol, or Hirst, with a zen vibe rooted in Daoism. Her artwork has been exhibited in select galleries throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, and has been featured in Vogue, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and Haute Living. And most recently her work has been seen on CNBC’s the Secret Lives of the Super Rich.

If one of these beautiful creations is in your future, then reach out to Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas and tell them Romi sent you.

Samuel Lynne Galleries, 1105 Dragon St., Dallas TX. 75207

214 965-9027

METISH ATASH

Travel, Uncategorized

My Best Sunsets of 2017

December 31, 2017 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Sunset at The Pearl Resort, Fiji, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

Sunset at Catalina Island, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

Sunset in the Pacific Northwest, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

Sunset at Laguna Beach, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

Malibu 2017, Photo Skyler Campbell — Sunset over Malibu, 2017, Photo Skyler Campbell

Sunset over Malibu, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

Moon Festival, Chinatown, LA, Photo Romi Cortier — Sunset at the Moon Festival, Chinatown, LA, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

My best sunsets of 2017 takes a look back at some of my favorite moments throughout the year. Any sunset that makes you stop and take notice is a great day in my book, and if it happens to take place on a special occasion, then it’s a an added bonus. With a year full of Breaking News alerts 24/7, it’s nice to take a moment and focus on what was beautiful and right in the world.

The Fiji sunset on January 2nd, was one of the most serenely colorful sunsets I’ve ever seen. There was the finest mist of rain coming down on that 80 degree evening, adding a little extra moisture and magic to the reflected light of the sunset. I’d forgotten that I’d started 2017 in Fiji, so this image is a beautiful reminder of one of the best vacations I’ve ever had.

Sunset on Catalina Island was an amazing day for two reasons. I’d surprised my fiancé with a Helicopter ride to the island, which was fantastic because he’d made friends with the pilot while taking this photo below, who then invited him to sit up front on our trek across the channel. This made his first chopper ride an experience that kept him grinning for hours afterwards. The chopper flew at about 300 feet above the ocean, making the 11 minute journey both quick and thrilling.

Recio and Romi, Helicopter transport from Catalina Express, Longbeach, Ca. 2017

Part two of July 4th in Catalina was getting the news about the surprise early birth of my great nephew Cannon, as the fireworks began over the bay. Someone randomly played the Dynasty theme song on the beach as the fireworks exploded overhead…. magic!! Who could’ve ask for a better day.

Sunset in the Pacific Northwest was taken a few weeks later when I went to visit Cannon, the newly born little nugget. It’s hard to believe that I have three great nieces and nephews at my age…. who knows, at this rate I might get to see some great great nieces and nephews before my days are done here on planet earth. What makes me most happy about this news, is that both of my sisters are now enjoying being grandmothers at such early age.

Sunset at Laguna Beach was a day set aside to celebrate my fiances birthday by doing what he loves most, hanging out on the beach. This was his first time visiting Laguna, which has always been a special place for me because of its fantastic art gallery scene. Sue Greenwood Fine Art at 330 N. Coast Highway is worth the drive down from L.A., and is a must see.

Sunset over Malibu Beach was a very special day, as it included one of the most beautiful beach parties I’ve ever attended, with a very small and special group of people.

Sunset at the Moon Festival in Chinatown was a happy accident. I went there to capture a few beautiful Chinoiserie buildings for my Artful Living archives and voila… celebration! It was magical, fun, and incredibly colorful. I felt like I’d opened a beautiful fortune cookie giving me an unexpected gift.

I thank you for reading Where Art Inspires Beauty, and I hope you’re able to make some of your own magic in the coming year. May 2018 bring you riches beyond your wildest dreams, and most importantly, beautiful sunsets.

A Design Diary by Romi Cortier