That’s Handy…
Maximalism and the art of kitsch is EVERYWHERE at the moment, with the Bloomsbury Group and traditional European folk art being the main inspirations for artist’s hand painted worlds. Jewel colours, intricate pattern and flora and fauna abound! The good news for the art savvy among us is, with a little bit of paint and vision, you can create you very own rain forest on your living room wall, or entwine snakes around the base of your favourite lamp. But for those of us who don’t know our way around a paint brush, do not despair! We have you covered. We have created a list of some of our favourite artists working in murals and hand painted home wares with a nice sprinkling of Sulis artworks that will be sure to add some Maximalist magic to your home.
This little oil is absolute perfection, with a Mid Century twist on naive folk art and a joyful palette, this one certainly has a Maximalist charm that can’t be ignored!
This artist has taken the grey of a metropolis and given it a slap of gaudiness and we are pretty happy with the results!
To Sarah Devely, anything is a canvas and to wonderful effect! Her unapologetic use of pattern and colour combined with quality vintage furniture and frames really is something special!
Follow Sarah @develeyatelier
Let’s take a welcome break from reality and dive into the miniature world of Amy Balfour. This artist creates the most magical worlds with folk pattern at their heart, hand painting dolls houses and the floors, furniture and walls inside. Too beautiful to let the kids get their sticky fingers on, you say? We might be inclined to agree!
Follow Amy @amyfitzgeorgebalfour
Talk about nuts! This piece ticks all the boxes with buckets of texture, colour and movement as well as being a handsome size. We’re sure this one won’t be around for long so go, go go!
Gideon Kolb (1913-1984) - Austrian School 20th Century Oil, Flora No. 1
The delicacy of Felicity Buchanan’s designs is breath taking. Felicity goes all out to create visual feasts by framing her watercolour designs in hand painted frames in astonishingly intricate patterns. We adore the themes of flowers, animals and sea creatures.
Follow Felicity @felicitybuchanandesigns
What joy! What abandon! What life! It’s safe to say we love this ridiculous thing here in the Studio. If only we could all dance off into the night completely naked
Table laying has become quite the art in 2023, one that it seems Italian company, Les Ottomans, has very much mastered. With their vast array of hand painted plates and table ware, your dinner parties will never be a dull affair!
Follow Les Ottomans @les_ottomans
Tess Newall has been a favourite in the Studio for a while now, with her whimsical take on the motifs of Charelston, the home of the Bloomsbury Group. She adds her own twist using delicate floral patterns and a carefully curated palette. You can get your hands on anything from wallpaper, lamps and curtains, to a fully hand painted fireplace or mural wall!
Follow Tess @tessnewallstudio
With the reign of the checkerboard still well and truly in full swing, we can’t get enough of these ballsy frames from Spring Furniture. We particularly like the ones that are on the wonk because nothing says Maximalism like a bit of madness!
Follow Spring Furniture @spring.furniture
The framing of this watercolour, with no mount, highlights the wonderful jumbling chaos of these autumnal brambles. A perfect mix of Maximalist composition and folk subject matter.
Richard Edward Clarke (1878-1954) - Framed Watercolour, Autumn Leaves
Something a little more delicate from us with this cool toned gouache. It still has tonnes of character with cubist nods and wonderful texture in the paint. Simply framed, this painting speaks for itself.
Loose gouache, muted yet eye catching colours in a Bloomsbury palette, vintage frame, this piece has it all. Plus the figure is an accurate representation of how we are feeling on this grey Monday afternoon…
Baron Avro Manhattan (1914-1990) - Mid 20th Century Gouache, Standing Nude
Nellie Gilson of Cambridge House Design has some serious gumption when it comes to her colour choices. The child like joy her array of candlesticks, lamps and lampshades bring us is almost too much…but in the spirit of maximalsim, more is more and you can never have too much.
Follow Nellie @cambridgehousedesign
Cubist line work makes this modest still life burst with movement and fun. We think its simple framing makes the colours sing out and brings a softer edge to this vivacious pice.
Sarah’s vast collection of lampshades are all completely hand painted, which, when you see the amount of designs she has available, is pretty astonishing! We really enjoy Sarah’s more subtle take on hand embellishment, but her statement red candy stripe shades have got to be some of our favs.
Follow Sarah @sarahblomfieldstudio
We know, we know. We are massively late for the World Cup! But this Mid Century oil is just too good not to share with you all. The clashing colours and swirling lines of these chap’s football kits have us hooked! This is a real statement piece.
Lorna Dunn (1920-2016) - Contemporary Oil, The Football Team
