A living legend: Gerhard Richter

I was recently browsing through images of Gerhard Richter's work and ran into this extensive series of painted photographs. The stunning visuals, achieved by applying paint over color photos, inspires with its effortless approach and rich, sensual results.

As the artist puts it himself, he isn't interested in the purity of art but in the work that forms from structures and ideas that surround him, nothing deeper than that. The end result however evokes feelings that are deep, meaningful and inspiring.

Sun, sea and submarine for the SS10 collections in New York

Ltr: Macy's , Chloé, American Apparel

Mustards are translating well into SS10 in New York. These musty yellows are paired with soft grey toned accessories or vice versa, both in womens- and menswear. Traditionally a fall color, mustard is now leading the way to a subdued colour palette for spring and brings a soft color boost to the ever so popular black on black.

Ltr: Forever 21, Chanel and Bloomingdales

The nautical direction is coming back strong for spring with Breton striped tees, sweaters, knits, dresses...you name it. Nautical themed accessories ranging from Chanel to Banana Republic and even full on themed windows at Forever 21 confirms.

Ltr: Matthew Williamson, Roberto Cavalli and Emanuel Ungaro

We also dive into the deep sea for SS10 with lots of cobolt, teal and royal blues in the collections. Sheer and draped materials adds to the fluidity and digital patterns mimick the subaquatic.

From Earth: Modern Art From Traditional Hispanic Papermaking Roots

I recently checked out an inspiring, colorful installation at the Latino Art Museum in the Pomona Arts Colony - a thriving art community east of Los Angeles. The artist, Elena Osterwalder creates a color-drenched atmosphere with her rich, handmade cotton papers dyed with organic colors.

At first the concept seems simple enough, but I learned that this paper-making tradition has deep historical and traditional relevance. The Amate paper, which is what Osterwalder recreates, is centuries old to the native Otomi people of Mexico and was believed to have spiritual and healing properties that transcended its biological nature.

Some of the natural dyes used in the installation include indigo, turmeric, campeche wood (which gives of black or navy blue colors) and cochineal - a parisitic insect that grows on cactus which gives a wide range of colors - including bright reds and purples - when dried and ground with other materials.

If there's a color you really like, you can even buy the paper for $5 a piece.

West Coast color

IMAGES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Wayne Thiebaud, East Portero, 1998, Oil on Canvas, Private Collection, © Wayne Thiebaud/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NYWayne Thiebaud, Two Kneeling Figures, 1966, oil on canvas, Collection ofPaul LeBaron Thiebaud, © Wayne Thiebaud/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Painter Wayne Thiebaud's works offer a vibrant and inspirational color palette that is unmistakeably Californian in it's point of view.

Saturated and glowing, his varied subject matter, whether he's painting cupcakes or tower blocks, or bathers on the beach, all twinkles fiercely, magnified by the bright light of the West Coast and popping with pulsating outlines, at times green, purple and bright blue.

You can see over a hundred of his optimistic, sun-kissed works at the Pasadena Museum of California Art now through January 31st.

The legacy of Kodachrome

image credits: hothardware.com, wired.com

Kodachrome's deep and vibrant palette has always offered endless color inspiration. For years, songs have been written about it and photographers have waxed lyrical about it.

However, since Kodak's decision to discontinue the production of the iconic film was announced, all we are left with is a look back at the film's unmatched quality in color photography.

The complexity of the film comes from the fact that the base was a black-and-white film that was coloured through a very detailed process.

I included examples of the film's early examples in my seasonal color inspiration research as nothing offers a more true and unique color than a photograph taken with Kodachrome.

Here's what Paul Simon has to say about it:

“Your Kodachrome slides may outlast your digital images.”

"Kodachrome, it gives us those nice bright colors
Gives us the greens of summers,
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph
So momma, don’t take my Kodachrome away."

André Paul Pinces' masterpieces

André Paul Pinces' work has been inspiring me for some time now. I love his unpretentious, almost "done-in-error" photos. I am using his imagery as part of my seasonal colour inspiration and have been especially moved by his images of food.

His Freedom Run III - Cascadia Crescent series shows a number of riders on their journey across the country - their goods, gear and views from the trip. As the artist states himself, he could be found at truck stops between Venice, California and Venice, Italy, waiting for the next image opportunity.

More of his unintentional masterpieces could be seen at: http://pincesphoto.blogspot.com/