‘Hitch Hiker’ Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 1’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Echo Chamber’, Acrylic, Ink & Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Peeper’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Micheal Muller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Garden Party Crasher’, Acrylic, Ink, and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael fuller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier‘Attacker 2’, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Archival Photograph Paper, Michael Miller & Sage Vaughn, Photo Romi Cortier
I LOVED the recent art exhibition of Michael Muller and Sage Vaughn. I’ve been aware of Sage’s paintings for years, but I’ve never had the opportunity to see his work in person. This recent exhibit featured Vaughn’s painting over the photographic images of Michael Muller. Most images were 48″ x 60″ and some as large as 60″ x 90″, ranging in price from $16,000 – $22,000. I was elated to see so many red sold dots on the pieces.
Over the last decade Sage has had multiple solo shows, from New York to London to Germany and Geneva. There have also been several group exhibitions from Los Angeles to London, San Francisco to Belgium… it’s safe to say, Sage is everywhere. I wish I would have known about his work a decade ago, as it might have been a bit more affordable. But that’s what drives prices up: the international solo shows and a list of top notch collectors.
Below are a few more images of Sage’s work from his web site www.sagevaughn.com.
I’m not Trying to Forget, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Paper, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.comThe Gazer (R Prince) 2014, Oil, Acrylic, Ink and Vellum on Canvas, Sage Vaughn, SageVaughn.com
As an artist, I’ve been very enamored by Sage’s use of the Butterfly, combined with his drip paint technique. Below you can view a YouTube mural making video that I created in 2014 inspired directly by his paintings. I have no idea if he’s ever seen my work, but I do hope that he would be flattered and not offended by my interpretation of his beautiful fine art.
Halloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierVintage crystal bowl with silver trim, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierVersace Wine Decanter, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble with Skull Ornaments by Kurt Adler, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Bowl by Alessi, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Romi CortierHalloween Table Ensemble, Artful Living with Romi Cortier, Photo Recio Young
Here’s some inspiration for your Halloween table ensemble, with an upscale vibe. I’ve been collecting gorgeous goodies for years, and it’s so fun to pull them out and mix and match them.
I started with a black brocade table cloth made from two yards of fabric from International Silks and Woolens at 8347 Beverly Blvd, LA, Ca. 90048. Next up I used a vintage Silver Tray from my mother’s estate, dating from the early 1970’s. I love this vintage tray and use if for all of my parties. It also makes a great serving tray for bottles of wine, or chilled bottles of sparking water.
I picked up the rectangular vase at GM floral for about $20, and filled it with roses from Trader Joes, cropping the stems to about 3 inches. On the foreground of the tray are two Skull Christmas ornaments by Kurt Adler, each retailing for $15. I also used 3 vintage Art Deco tumblers filled with tea lights from Ikea. And lastly on the tray are black sparkly butterflies also from GM Floral.
For a little height on the table I used two skull candle sticks by DL & Co., each about $90, with gold candlesticks from Target. I also used two Reed and Barton Martini glasses to serve colorful M&M’s and Candy Corn. Two other items on the table that I absolutely love, include a Versace wine decanter with frosted medallions and a smashing bowl by Alessi known as the Cactus Bowl. I frequently use this bowl as a fruit bowl, however, with colorfully wrapped candy, it adds so much sparkle to the table (about $120). The glass votives on the table I picked up at Marshall’s or TJMaxx for about $2 each.
The secret to this successful ensemble was mixing and matching items of the same color, either chrome or silver. By doing this, it allows all of the colors from the candies and flowers on the table to totally pop. Some items are certainly more upscale and expensive than others, but it’s the art of mixing and matching that make this Artful Living at its best.
79th Annual Chinatow Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier
The 79th Annual Chinatown Moon Festival was a happy accident for me. I’d recently gone to LA’s Chinatown to do a little research on Chinoiserie Architecture, when I noticed that many of the buildings were trimmed in neon. I can only imagine how much work it must have taken to do that, so I promised myself I’d come back the following Saturday right after work, so that I could see the neon at dusk. Well, when I arrived there were signs and banners everywhere for a festival. I asked the parking attendant ‘what festival’? The Moon Festival he exclaimed. Ugh, I thought. So many people everywhere… maybe I’ll come back another day. I’m so glad that I decided to stay.
As the evening progressed, it got more and more enchanting. Children were everywhere laughing and screaming, throwing confetti into the air. There were performers on stage including a contortionist. Food trucks were parked along an alley way, so I dove into a rice and raw salmon burrito wrapped in a paper thin shell. Overall I spent nearly nearly 2 hours at the festival, soaking in the pure joy of it.
Have you ever heard of the book The Artist Way? It helps people get in touch with their creativity, and one of their exercises is to have an ‘artist date night’ with yourself. Well, the annual Moon Festival turned out to be my artist date night. There’s something so wonderful about being a silent observer, letting an evening evolve as it may. After I left the festival, I took the long route home through downtown LA, via Broadway. I finally saw the iconic Bradbury Building at 304 S. Broadway, an 1893 landmark with a skylit atrium. Next up was the recently restored Eastern Columbia Building at 849 S. Broadway. It’s a smashing 39 story blue terra-cotta structure that looks absolutely divine at night. I literally was stopped at the light and looked over and voila! There it was.
Eastern Pacific Building, Los Angeles, Photo Romi Cortier
Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying then getting lost in your hometown, all by yourself. No rushing from place to place, just enjoying whatever pops up in front of you, letting the evening unfold. If you haven’t done this lately, I highly recommend it. You just never know what you might discover in your own city, or more importantly, about yourself.
Coca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angles, Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi CortierCoca Cola Building, Los Angeles, Ca. Photo Romi Cortier
The Coca Cola Building in Downtown Los Angeles is a Beautiful example of Streamline Moderne. I’ve seen photos of this building online for years, and finally made the trek into the industrial area of downtown LA to see it for myself. There are so many beautiful details that I discovered in person. One surprise was the color of the building. I’d assumed it was bright white, however, in person it was a soft tan color with the striking red and black stripe along the bottom.
Built in 1939 by architect Robert V. Derrah, who also built Crossroads of the World in Hollywood – considered to be America’s first outdoor mall, the permanently moored streamliner features beautiful porthole windows, a catwalk and a bridge. It was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1975, number 138. I absolutely love the attention to details with the rivets around the windows, and along the top of the building. And that lone door near the rear is pretty amazing too.
I would love to see inside one of these days, but tours are not allowed inside the building. I recommend checking it out on a quiet Saturday or Sunday to avoid heavy traffic along Central Avenue, 1414 S. Central Avenue to be exact. Oh, and in case you wondering… yes, they still produce Coca Cola at this location and it’s surrounding buildings. Maybe that’s why there aren’t any tours, Trade Secrets!
I’m thrilled to announce the debut of my new TV pilot Artful Living with Romi Cortier! The concept has been years in the making, inspired by my multiple DIY mural making videos on Youtube, of which I have over 1,500,000 views. Yes, that’s 1 1/2 million views!!
Artful Living with Romi Cortier is a celebration of Art, Architecture and Interior Design. As an artist and a purveyor of good taste, I want to focus on what’s right and beautiful in this world. There is so much to be explored, and that’s our concept for this show. Interviews with designers, artists, architects, scholars, all threaded together by the history of the built environment. Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, Post Modernism… they’re all words we’ve heard, but what do they really mean? I’ll help you understand that in my show, and I’ll also show you some fun DIY tricks for things that you can do around your own home.
Romi Cortier and Coco, aka Malibu Pom on the set of Artful Living, Photo Recio Carrington Young
And did I happen to mention that my co-host is the cutest white Pomeranian you’ve ever seen? Her name is Coco, aka Malibu Pom, which is the name of her Instagram page. (Hey, this is Hollywood and all the cool pups here have their own Instagram accounts). But what’s even more fun is that she actually LOVES riding around in the car with the top down, cruising Rodeo Drive and brunching at Villa Blanca. If there’s a camera around you can bet Coco has a smile on her face… and with that cute mug she makes friends everywhere she goes.
Coco, aka Malibu Pom, Rodeo Drive, Photo Jacob Kelso
In this pilot episode you’ll learn a little bit about the history of Palm Springs and some of the hallmarks of mid-century modernism. You’ll also see a beautiful mid-century inspired table setting that I created, which was done in front of a mural that I’d painted earlier that day. The Mural was inspired by the drawings of Saul Lewitt whose work I’d seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I like to think of Op Art (optical illusion art) as an art movement that dovetails nicely with mid-century modernism, because it has it roots in the early 1960’s.
Romi Cortier on the set of Artful Living, Palm Springs, Ca., Photo Recio Carrington Young.
Here’s a close up look at a few of the details on the table. The plates with the platinum dots are from my personal collection of Bernardaud (fine china from France), and the crystal glass is by Reed and Barton available at Bloomingdales.
Table setting for Artful Living with Bernardaud plates and glasses by Reed and Barton. Photos Jacob Kelso
Here are our two cameramen making the magic happen while on set in Palm Springs: Willy Lazlo and Jacob Kelso… it takes a village, especially when it’s over 100 degrees!
Cameramen Willy Lazlo and Jacob Kelso, Romi Cortier, and Coco aka Malibu Pom, Palm Springs, Ca., Photo Recio Carrington Young
And lastly, here’s a great photo from our wrap party with our editors Antone Hammers and Amanda Bliss Taylor. They were hands down an extraordinary duo. Antone was our story editor and created the rough cut, and Amanda created the finished product complete with a final polish. And most importantly, meet our producer Recio Carrington Young of Red Carpet Recio Productions. He pulled together this amazing team, spent countless hours with our editors choosing music, directing cuts, and creating the overall tone of the show.
Antone Hammers, Romi Cortier, Coco aka Malibu Pom, Recio Carrington Young, and Amanda Bliss Taylor. Artful Living wrap party, Beverly Hills, Ca.
We’d really love your support and hope you’ll check out the pilot while it’s available on Go Indie TV. Please follow the link below to watch the entire 22 minute pilot for free.
