When Styles Collide

[akirlu]

Well, the tree is decorated, and the fireplace still works. How's that for cosy? I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling the Very Modern wall clock with the Swedish Traditional tree, but what is life and art but the deafening collision of conflicting influences? Hope you're safe and warm and well fed wherever you are this Solstice night.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

The statuary is also a deft touch . . .

Looks most festive!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Yep, it was the, what is that? It's too long for a bust. Whatever it is, that's what stuck out to me.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

I call it an odalisque. It was a directed exercise in my life sculpture class and I'm particularly pleased to finally have a mantel broad enough to display it safely.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

You made that? Wow, that's good.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Sculpture is probably my strongest suit, art-wise. Pity I could never find a way to make a decent living out of it.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Well, the odalisque is plaster and therefore a bit fragile -- it would be tricky to pack it away just for the holidays even if I were inclined. I grew up with nudes in the house -- both parents believe in original art -- so it wouldn't normally occur to me to edit it out. Besides, it's one of the very few remnants of my days as an art major, so I have a certain sentimental attachment. Most of my sketches and things fell victim to bad storage and black mold.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Oh, for me, it wasn't that it was nude, but that the light is on it, making it the whitest thing in the picture.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

You're right the light does make it stand out. (One of the things that pleases me about having painted the walls a color -- they started out white -- is the way the sculpture stands out against it now.