Tuesday 20 December 2011

Kai Samuels-Davies

We have just hung two tiny oils by Kai Samuels-Davies in our little dining room. We first saw them on the Cold Store stand at Tent, and were both really taken with the sensitivity and quality of the marks.

"His portraits focus on moments of solitude and self-reflection. Cinematic themes often arise in his paintings giving them a sense of being fragments of a larger framework of thoughts." - the Cold Store

Kai is originally from New York, and now lives in Bodega Bay on the West Coast. His website has beautiful images of recent work, and also some very inspiring photos of his studio and environment - it seems a very long way away from East London!


The painting above is called 'Of the Unconscious'. I really like the dreamy far-away feel...

...although it was actually the little milk glass which first caught our eye - it's so perfect - like a tiny detail from a Dutch still life. 

'So Long As Nothing Happens (i)'

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Pont 13


This is my new favourite space - a 1920's ferry, which has been beautifully restored and converted into a wonderful restaurant, out on the docks in Amsterdam.

http://www.pont13.nl/Home.html


The feel is still very industrial, with lots of the fittings left intact. The light quality is wonderful - big wintery skies and views out onto the water. And there is a delicious lingering smell of woodsmoke from the huge stove.




The feel all around is of real working docks - no fancy marinas or designer houseboats here. A really inspiring place.