Welcome to the Summer Issue of ARTful style! From the front cover to that last page, we invite you to find where the beauty of art intersects with the joy of summer living! As you will see throughout this issue, we focus on sun-filled gardens and outdoor spaces, bold acrylics and the art of living well that celebrate Nature’s glorious tapestry of color and artistry.
Collectively, the ladies of ARTful style LOVE any opportunity to gather! (The recap of our Gallery 2175 industry event on Pg. 14 says just that!) However, we remind you that hosting an event need not be relegated to your dining room or require the finery stored until the holidays! Nothing brings people together or feels more indulgent than a meal served outdoors. Break out your best tableware and silver … most beautiful linens … add etched crystal stemware and glasses, and offer artfully crafted bits, bites, and sips, and suddenly you are lolling about in the sunny fields of Tuscany. In the “Summer Setting ARTful style” spread, we bring forth our vision laid with the “good China” and highlighted by cf + home’s newest collections: the stunning “Modern Peony” and “Cool Cowboys” patterns by Carrie Fell on custom-etched crystal and fine linen textiles. (P.S. A light Rose champagne or wine really brings it all together!)
Summer also means gardening! In this issue, we touch on outdoor spaces and the innate confluence of art and nature. Carrie leads you into her own garden sanctuary and illustrates how cultivating a carefully curated outdoor space begins with an introspective focus on tending to beauty. She shows how, with a focus on the larger canvas of a natural environment, you can turn your backyard, terrace, patio, or deck into a tapestry worthy of Monet! Finally, we wish to introduce collectors Tricia and Frank McDonald and a few of the stories behind cherished pieces and an art collection spanning two decades. Like beautiful perennials, their friendship has flourished.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, gardener, summer adventurer, or someone who simply loves to savor life’s beautiful moments, there’s a little something this season for everyone. As we embark on this sun-kissed journey together, embrace the beauty abundant all around us, in every form, celebrate the spirit of creativity, and revel in the joys of summer. “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.” Well said, George Jung. Well said.
One more, let’s begin with the art.