2013 Design Trend: Emphasis on Art

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

- Coco Chanel

Nothing breathes soul into a space more than a piece of art! Update your interior by selecting art that echos today's popular design trends.



Orange

"Zinnia"
20" x 30" Watercolor on Paper
Price upon request

Not just for pumpkins, orange is the hot color trend with interior designers. Add a pop of this happy, spicy color with a piece of art...small or large!

"Tuscany I"
8" x 10" Watercolor on Paper
Price upon request

 

Ah Paris!

"Paris Impressions" Plate Collage
Set of 6 plates
Available for Pre-order



The birthplace of romance and haute couture is always in fashion. Let your imagination travel to the City of Light by adding a piece of Paris themed art to your favorite room. C'est magnifique!

Join Me for Art Fair on the Square

Visit me at Booth # 85
Silhouetted against classical architecture near the bubbling fountain, I will set up my outdoor gallery on the northeast corner Lake Forest's historic Market Square. I will be showing a wide variety of watercolors, etchings and monotypes. I hope to see you there!

 

"Sailing School"

"Sailing School"

 Forest & Bluff Magazine Cover
August 2013

Limited Edition Prints Available

A Year in the Garden

For years, I have been a member of the Chicago Botanic Gardens. I first discovered the Garden when I was a teenager, snapping photos of the burgeoning landscape for a high school photography project. I witnessed the installation of the Linneaus statue in the Heritage Garden and watched flocks of geese take flight from Evening Island. Over the years, the CBG has evolved and grown into a welcome retreat and recurring source of inspiration for me. I have spent many days exploring the grounds, admiring it's bounty and beauty and drawing from the flora and fauna for many of my paintings and prints.

This year, I will attempt to chronicle one year at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Each month, I will visit the Gardens and create a drawing, painting or print that captures the essence of Gardens through the seasons.

I began this creative journey in January.

"There is a slumbering subterranean fire in nature which never goes out, and which no cold can chill."

     - Henry David Thoreau

For me, January is a month marked by solitude and contemplation. The hustle and bustle of the Holidays is past and the new year offers time for reflection and new beginnings.
Inspired by Zen philosophy and Thoreau's "A Winter Walk," I decided to start my year in the Japanese Garden. Work is now in progress.

A Trip to Italy

I am happy to share these images of a series of monotypes inspired by friend's recent trip to Italy. Similar in style to my other "Travelogue" pieces, these works are created with water-soluable inks and pigments. Produced on parchment and an imported hand-made paper, these pieces reflect the age and beauty of Italy.





 

Something New for 2013

Starting a new year is always exciting and really gets my creative juices flowing. After the success of my show, Hop On! last October, I have been busy thinking about my goals for 2013 and the direction my art will take. I have started creating pieces for a new series of paintings and monotypes, titled "Travelogue" that will expand upon the images and techniques that I used in my travel postcard series.


One exciting new direction that has received tremendous reponse is my "La Tour Eiffel Triptych." This series of 3 works reproduced on aluminum panels were created using a process known as dye sublimation. During this process the dyes used to print a reproduction of my original painting were heated, causing them to vaporize and permeate the surface of the metal before returning to solid form. The result is a unique reproduction that is less vulnerable to fading and distortion over time. The aluminum panels are fabricated to stand off from the wall, creating a very sophisticated effect. Each panel measures 16"w x 17.25"h. This triptych has been created as a Limited Edition, only 15 sets of 3 panels will be produced. I plan to produce the center panel in a limited edition of 50.

"La Tour Eiffel Triptych" Center Panel

"La Tour Eiffel Triptych"



I was so pleased with the beautiful color and the preservation of detail present in the original works.

I am planning on creating more aluminum wall panels this year.

 

To see more works from the "Travelogue" portfolio, visit www.stephanietoral.com

Happy New Year!

2013 is here! Like so many of us, as the new year begins, I am taking time to reflect on the past year and plan for the future.

I ended the year with a solo show in October, titled "Hop On!" at the David Adler Music & Arts Center in Libertyville, IL. This show was a retrospective show, chronicling my 16 year career as a watercolor artist and printmaker. The show featured many pieces that were loaned to the show by my collectors as well as new monotypes and watercolors.

Thank you to all of the collectors who loaned pieces to the show! Seeing these works again after so many years was like reconnecting with old friends. It was heartwarming to hear my clients speak of how they missed their pieces while they were on loan. Creating art that fills the soul and makes one smile is one of my greatest passions and I am touched by the support and enthusiasm of my collectors!

I have another solo show at the David Adler Center scheduled for October 2013. It was an absolutely fantastic venue and Amy, Ellen and Dianna were absolutely fantastic to work with! XO ladies!

 Below are a series of monotypes created for the show.

 A monotype is a unique process which uses a variety of painting and printmaking techniques. These one-of-a-kind image were developed on a flat plate and transferred to paper by hand and by using a pin press. 

 To view more of my work please visit www.stephanietoral.com