Garden Decor

Spring has sprung and you know what that means, time to get in the garden. Whether or not you were blessed with a green thumb there are many simple home decorating ideas that can spruce up the elegance of any garden.

Adding a statue or bust is one way to give the garden a little mystique. Statues add character to any outdoor space because they draw the eye and add something unique. Do you remember watching Secret Garden as a youngster? The beauty and elegance of that hidden garden came from the old, artfully distressed statues as well as the gorgeous flowering vines and trees. It’s a simple and effective way to add instant finesse to your outdoor space.

Of course, the allure of a statue loses its value in the evening if there isn’t proper lighting. One of the most personable ways to spice up your spices is to add the flickering of candlelight. Tin tea lite candle holders are perfectly simple and they still manage to glow in the garden. Any outdoor deck or veranda looks more inviting with the glow of a candle, and the tin holders cast unique shapes of light across the area.

The warmth of the candles can be added upon with the addition of incense coils. They can be hung from any structure and give the eye something intricate to look at while simultaneously giving the nose a pleasurable scent. Lavender is the perfect scent for a calming atmosphere.

Louis Icart - A Romantic Artist for the French Inspired

Looking for some French inspiration for those lonely white walls?

French Inspired home decor has been in the air lately, so I though I would share with you a few works of art by Louis Icart from my personal collection.

Having lived in Philadelphia in the 1980's, I stumbled into the I. Brewster & Company Gallery one rainy afternoon. The gallery is known worldwide as one of the primary sources for Louis Icart works. Hence my love affair began with one of the most romantic artists I had ever seen.

Louis Icart was born in Toulouse, France where he began drawing at a very early age. He was particularly interested in fashion and worked for many design studios at a time when fashion was undergoing a radical change from the fussiness of the late 19th century to simple lines of the early 20th century. In 1914 he met Fanny Volmers, an 18 year old blond who at the time was an employee of the fashion house Paquin. She would eventually become his wife, model and a source of artistic inspiration for the rest of his life.

Icart's portrayal of women is usually sensuous, often erotic, yet always with an element of humor, which is as important as the implied or direct sexuality. Their facial expressions project passion, dismay or surprise, for the women of Louis Icart are the women of France as we have imagined them to be. Eve, Leda, Venus, and Joan of Arc, all wrapped up into an irresistible package.

This spring the Pink Pig will feature a selection of Louis Icart prints in hope that they will bring some inspiration to your walls.