Amy T. Won: Behind the Art

Anjie Cho March 15, 2015

AC: Please tell us about your art!

AT: I'm in love with our natural world, and I believe that if we take the time to explore it and look hard enough, there's much amazement and magic to be found. My hope is to create art that are like enchanting windows to the small and big adventures in life.

I'm currently working on an Explorations series of work, which straddles the line between the real and imagined, between abstract and representational. The current collection is called Journey Through The Seven Seas and is inspired by my own physical and perceived watery adventures. The pieces range from small watercolors on handmade paper framed in shadow boxes to larger acrylics on canvases.

(Display from 'Explorations Part 1: Journey Through the Seven Seas', Amy's traveling art show featuring paintings on handmade paper in vintage and found frames which will be at Artists & Fleas LA Feb 21st and 22nd.  ) — (Display from 'Explorations Part 1: Journey Through the Seven Seas', Amy's traveling art show featuring paintings on handmade paper in vintage and found frames which will be at Artists & Fleas LA Feb 21st and 22nd. )

*("Moonrise over Seven Seas", Watercolor, acrylic and casein on handmade paper. )*

I just started the second part of Explorations, entitled "Getting Lost" which are larger pieces about plunging into the unknown, getting lost in a world of wonder and the unmapping and unknowing of our inner and outer selves. I'm really excited about this body of work and while I can't show you much, here are a few teasers:

How do you think art can set the tone for a space or home?

Art is the quickest way to personalize and create character within a space since it can reveal much about the home owners' tastes and what they are drawn to and like to surround themselves with. Choosing the right art, in the right size, can really strengthen an existing room theme and take it to another level of interest and intrigue. It's also one of the most effective ways to set the stage for a desired mood or atmosphere depending on the size and subject, color, texture, medium and choice of display or framing.

Large pieces of art that take up a significant portion of the wall are like windows into another world or clear statements of style. Smaller pieces of art grouped together in the popular gallery style can show taste range, layer and cultural depth, allowing the home owner to curate a selection of images and objects that tell a story or create a certain mood.

Photo credit: William Waldron — Photo credit: William Waldron

What do you think people should look for when purchasing art for their home?

I always think that people should prioritize choosing art that resonates with them rather than just because it suits the color scheme and texture of the space. While the latter is important, selecting art that first means something to you adds a special layer of your own character and personality to your space, making it more interesting and joyful to inhabit.

Think of art as the little reminders of qualities you like to surround yourself with-do you like to come home to cheerful joyous color because you're stuck in a drab cubicle all day? Abstracts in your favorite colors that lift the spirit might be your thing. Do you live in the city and yearn for a window into an enchanted forest as a mini reprieve to your daily life? Then perhaps an oversized painted woods scene or landscape tapestry to adorn the walls. Do you love the whimsy and carefree spirit of childhood and hope to infuse more of that into your life? Choosing naive-style art by your favorite artists would be a wonderful reminder to stay young at heart always.

Photo credit from left:Lola Donaghue, Print by Dan Isaac Wallin, Gouache on Paper by Kelly Louise Judd — Photo credit from left:
Lola Donaghue,
Print by Dan Isaac Wallin,
Gouache on Paper by Kelly Louise Judd

When choosing art, the most important part is to consider the size of the wall it's going on and what furniture and objects will form the 'vignette' around it. It's always helpful to think of the art wall as a 'story' -what is it saying? How do you want it to feel? What is the mood you are trying to create? Make sure the art is proportional to the wall it's on, breaking rules of scale only if you are confident in the resulting drama.

Consider color and texture, though it's not necessary to match the art to the furniture and furnishings unless you're trying to design to a particular mood or theme. Consider whether it is framed in glass (usually heavier) and make sure that this would work in your space. Think of different types of art, not just painted ones-try tapestry, area rugs, flat sculptures, maps, masks, vintage book pages and so forth.

What do you suggest people should look for when purchasing original art?

Price is one of the first things people think about when purchasing original art, after deciding if they are drawn to it. There are many artists who offer emerging collector prices on some of their art for those attracted to original art but unsure if they can afford the high prices. These can be studies or experiments that are not in gallery-ready, finished quality. Pieces like these can be a charming addition to your collection, beautiful in the honesty of their imperfection and transparency of process.

Make sure to ask if the art is created on archival materials and what the suggested care for it is. Original watercolors framed in glass should be displayed away from sunlight and moisture. Are the oils or acrylics varnished? Is there a warranty for damaged frames?

Is the piece signed by the artist? Does it come with a Certificate of Authenticity? Some folks like the extra touch of receiving one as assurance that the piece is what it claims to be.

Shopping for original art is a fun process, let your heart guide you and if an artist's work resonates with you, make sure to stay in touch, their future pieces might appeal as well.

by Anjie Cho

Amy T. Won is the artist, storyteller and enchantment-seeker behind The TreeSpace Studio, where she shares her explorations and painted mementos of our wonder-filled world. You can also find her adventures on Instagram (amytwon) and Facebook (The TreeSpace Studio) or take a peek into her inspirations on Pinterest (Amy Won).

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10 Real-Life Tricks for Creating a Calm, Peaceful Home

Anjie Cho March 13, 2015

featured on Good Housekeeping and Country Living by Lauren Piro

Life is too hectic for your home to not be a quiet respite from it all. We asked interior designers, professional organizers, and (of course!) real moms for their easy, practical advice on creating some breathing room each and every day.

Allow some space for mess.

You won't have a completely spotless and tidy home all the time (sorry to break it to you). But you can contain the clutter by having a dedicated space for it.

"Maybe you have a homework table for your kids, where they can throw backpacks and books," says feng shui expert Anjie Cho. Or, assign just one bin for forms and bills, or a basket where your family can drop bags, scarves, and whatever else they bring in every day — and know exactly where to find them later.

...read full article

by Anjie Cho

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6 ways to get cool with color, without painting

Anjie Cho March 9, 2015

featured on Chicago Tribune, by Barbara Ballinger

Almost like clockwork at the start of each year, top paint manufacturers debut their new color schemes and trot out their "it" colors. Coral Reef, Springtime Dew, Guildford Green, Pink Ground; so tempting — and sure to perk up a home, especially in the winter doldrums.

Conventional wisdom says paint is the easiest, least expensive quick-change artist in a homeowner's tool box. Problem is, as with much conventional wisdom, it's not quite so simple. "It's a big commitment to paint walls," says New York City architect Anjie Cho. Choosing a color after painting swatches or taping paint chips to a wall, checking them out during day and at night, buying brushes, rollers, drop cloth, primer, sand paper, tape, and finally applying one or two coats of the winning shade obviously takes time.

And then — the color may look different once it covers an entire wall or room because lighting and furnishings affect results. "I often see what I call 'a paint chip gone wrong,'" says San Francisco designer Claudia Juestel, adding, "As a general rule, when applied to four walls, a light color looks lighter and a bright color appears brighter than the small paint chip or swatch."

Of course, you can hire a professional painter or color expert who understands the nuances, but they can be expensive. The new wisdom about paint, in a world where the hot hues you spot on Pinterest one day can leave you with painter's remorse the next: Tread carefully when it comes to trends. "Their appeal may be fleeting," says Juestel. She advises picking a palette — walls and furnishings — that works with your home, amount of light, and personality. "There's no color that's bad or dated, but a combination of colors can appear so. Mauve or blue-gray by themselves are fine, but if you put them together they can scream '80s."

The other new wisdom? If a dose of trend is what you need to make your place feel updated, adding color is still a solid place to start, even if you stick to a low-commitment approach. Here are alternatives to inject 2015 colors without painting, then repainting when new palettes debut:

1. Think artwork. Art is among many design professionals' favorite sources of color. If your budget is tight, Cho suggests making your own masterpiece atop canvas — a solid or abstract, as one client did. Or go online and have a favorite photo printed in a large scale atop canvas. Los Angeles designer Mae Brunken likes to frame wallpaper, usually from Flavor Paper, in a large white museum-style frame in her office, and changes it out regularly. Los Angeles designer Erica Islas used similar white frames to showcase colorful children's artworks on off-white painted walls in clients' living room. She introduced more color with guitars on an opposite wall, sea foam rug underfoot, and blue and green pillows atop a blue sectional.

2. Add greenery and flowers. Greenery and flowers — even a single orchid plant — can inject color.

3. Play up accents. A colorful throw, Sari, pillows, lamps, vases, headboard, towels can all add color, and sometimes texture, says Brunken. Even many kitchen appliance companies now offer their products in a rainbow of hues. Keurig's 2.0 brewer (and a multitude of other products for the kitchen) comes in Pantone's 2015 color of the year, Marsala.

4. Showcase one colorful chair, chaise, or ottoman. It doesn't have to be an expensive sofa or all your seating, but one new upholstered or slipcovered piece can make a difference. Florida designer Holly McCall enlivened her neutral-colored office simply by painting her IKEA chairs with Annie Sloan's Antibes green chalk paint.

5. Judge a book by its jacket. They don't all have to be serious and leather bound, or wrapped in original, maybe, dusty jackets. Brunken likes the idea of covering your books in vivid tones or sophisticated white for a wow background effect. The idea takes time if you do it yourself, but there are companies that do the work for you; one color wrapping them by the foot.

6. Focus on the 5th wall. Chicago designers David Kaufman and Tom Segal begin a blank room's color scheme with the rug choice. "It's the grounding for the design, figuratively and literally," Segal says. "It sets the tone, palette, and from there you can select interesting fabrics." Certain rugs also add a handcrafted, knotted touch, says Christopher Frederick, president of Organic Looms, whose rugs are made in Nepal. For a sleek, hip, almost boutique hotel-style black and white bedroom, Chicago designer Aimee Wertepny went with a rug that's a "neon-electric-teal-vintage-electro-mod pop of color for the otherwise monochromatic palette," she says.

Still want to paint?

Here's how to get color with a longer shelf life, from Jackie Jordan of Sherwin-Williams:

• A color of the year is often trendy. You don't have to use it for an entire room, consider it in small doses.

• Pick a color after placing a swatch or panel of it behind a sofa or by the room's trim or floor so you see how it really will look. Go a bit darker rather than lighter. Pick the color one chip down from what you initially thought.

• Also consider neutrals, for a more subtle change. Kilim Beige has been the company's No. 1 color choice for several years; Accessible Beige is a popular newcomer, and Light French Gray is expected to become another classic.

• Easier to go white? Not so fast, since there are so many variations — warm to cool, with pink to blue undertones.

• Don't forget the right finish. Flat for walls and ceilings conceals imperfections, is durable and washable. Trim represents more of a personal choice, but best in satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss, depending on how bold you want to get.

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by Anjie Cho