 Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue Two words. Lola Donoghue. Let that sink in, because if you haven't heard of Lola Donoghue by now, today is your lucky day! Lola Donoghue is an Irish artist who hails from Galway in the West of Ireland, and creates visually stunning compositions of abstract and contemporary art - her work is held in private collections all over the world.  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue, Aperture of Distinction iii I have personally been an avid fan since first laying eyes on a limited edition archival print titled “Aperture of Distinction iii.” To my surprise and great honor, I was fortunate enough to land an interview with the in-demand artist this month, whose contemporary works sell out in record time. In fact, she’s garnered so much global attention from art aficionados, interior design studios, and celebrities alike, that Hollywood came calling – well, the new Hollywood, currently known as Netflix. Marvel showcased Lola’s artwork in Iron Fist – an American web television series created for Netflix by Scott Buck, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name - as well as in the hit series Jessica Jones by Melissa Rosenberg. So, what is it that has people clamoring to get their hands on an original Lola Donoghue work? Lola’s paintings are deeply personal, often reflections or interpretations of what surrounds and inspires her. Best of all, she embraces accidents and lets them dictate the painting as the artwork evolves. Through an alluring subtractive process, the work begins with a lot of colour and bold vigorous brushstrokes, then works itself backward. Intrigued yet?  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue, Lead Lined Diamond Perhaps her personal biography describes it best: Imbued with a painterly, ethereal quality, her work is characterized by a predominantly white-on-white palette, layered with a mix of muted colors and splashes of bright neon. Her work is light and fresh and the compositions are a delicate balance of intricate linear forms and concentrated layers of colour… Her work makes a statement on the social milieu, an interpretation and exploration of everyday contemporary culture and society, representing the unseen internal emotions without the distraction of meaningful images. Hidden in the subtle, delicate washes are details, renderings that draw the eye and hint at the exploration of the unconscious, clashing narratives and the tension and balance that exist therein.  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue “I tend to draw inspiration from everyday life, magazines, fashion, an Instagram feed, a conversation or even the way someone is sitting in a chair,” says Lola. “Sometimes I use a sketchpad and do some colour studies on smaller sheets of paper, testing colour combinations and playing with variations of composition. I save a lot of photos that I like to my phone and I print those out and pin them around my studio. Something will resonate with me and I would research the topic until I happen to start painting. The photos and colour studies are all part of my process, once I get painting I could end up going in a very different direction, but the initial work and research helps me to focus, especially at the beginning of a collection. I firmly believe that productivity is the key to success so it’s head down and get to work once I start.”  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue, Blue Landscape There hasn’t been an ounce of time in Lola’s busy schedule to exhibit. “I have lots of interest from Galleries but timing hasn’t really suited yet. I sell everything online; it sells out very quickly so I never have work to exhibit. I would hope to exhibit in the future once the timing and the fit is right,” she says. “I tend to work on 15-20 canvases at once and generally finish the body of work at the same time. Before I had children, I would complete a collection in a couple of months, but now they tend to dictate my hours!” The hardworking mother and creative powerhouse does find the time though, and when she does, it’s magical. “I love using glazes and washes,” she says. “I start with lots of color and vigorous brushstrokes and then work backwards using thick and transparent layers of paint to allow the under painting to shine through. For me, working on a large canvas is very freeing. There are less constraints, more room to be expressive and I feel less inhibited by them. Once I have stretched a canvas and primed it ready for painting, I am itching to get at it. It’s my favourite part of the process where anything can happen, I might have a plan but I tend to let instinct take over. I suppose you could say that my pieces are part plan, part creative accident! Abstract work lends itself well to this.” As a former teacher and admirer of art, she’s kept a close eye on up-and-coming artists and greats like Berning and Craighead. “There are so many artists I admire throughout art history, but a few contemporary’s whose work I am loving at the moment are Tina Berning, Brooke Wandall, Tine Isachsen, Dorris Vooijs, Lisa Brannichfeld, Daisy Patton, Danny Fox, and Jason Craighead.” Lola’s artwork starts at €400 and goes up to €5K – roughly $472 to $5,899 in American dollars. When prodded to name a celebrity who has purchased her work, she shares, “Sia has bought four of my paintings. She is probably the most famous person to buy my work and she didn’t mind going on the waiting list either!”  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue You’ll be as befuddled as I to know, that Lola didn’t intend to become an artist at all. Art was always her favorite subject in school, but she never thought it was possible to make a living at it. A podcast by Danielle Krysa aka the Jealous Curator offers an in-depth look at the elusive yet gracious artist many of us have come to adore. Here is an excerpt from the 50th episode titled “lola, don’t be precious”. “I always knew I had a desire to paint but as the years went by, I just, I suppose I lost my confidence. I was drained creatively from teaching, you know, it’s such a rewarding job but it’s difficult...and then as the years went by I just lost it, I lost my mojo. And I just thought, it was too late then, really, I had kind of resigned to the fact that I’m not really, I can’t call myself an artist anymore…just life kind of happened, and I don’t know why I stayed away from painting so long, but I did. I was coming up to ten years teaching, and it was still niggling in the back of my mind ya know that I hadn’t… I came out of college with a first-class honours degree in both my degree year and the post graduate diploma, and I literally just didn’t do any of it then, I taught and didn’t have my own practice or anything like that…so we were out one night and Trevor, there was two paintings, well they were more drawings ya know at our table in the restaurant, and Trevor said to me ‘Could you draw that?’ and I said ‘Yeah I could I suppose' and he said ‘I’ve never ever seen you drawing or painting or doing any kind of art in all the time that we’ve been together. And I said yeah. And that just struck a chord with me ya know…and I said oh my god, I just haven’t done it, it’s just gone, and then he said, ‘You know, you have a gift and you’re just not using it’ and so the subject changed, and we continued on our conversation, but the next day the seeds were sewn so to speak, and I picked up a pencil and just started sketching…That seemed to ignite the fire again, and that’s where it all started.”  Photo Credit: Lola Donoghue Just a few short years later, Lola’s work has evolved into a sensational collection of acrylics, oils on canvas, and dramatic prints. We are told she is finishing up maternity leave and ready to get back in the studio, so keep your eyes peeled for her new collection. You can follow Lola’s work on Instagram @loladonoghue, see it on display in the Fancy Schmancy online gallery – which is by the way an Amy Puchaty Communications favorite - or purchase it online at loladonoghue.com. Cheers and happy viewing, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter
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 Zoey Handler is ready to put an end to her decade-long rivalry with Gordon Meyers. They’ve traded the top spot between valedictorian and salutatorian for years, but all that’s over now. Right? But after a crazy graduation speech prank gets out of hand, suddenly their rivalry turns into all-out war. Time to make peace with a little friendly payback. Step one? Make him believe they’re now friends. Step two? Show him the time of his life at an epic graduation party. Step three? Don’t fall for his tricks. Step four? Absolutely, positively, do not kiss him again. So what if he’s cute? (Okay, hot.) So what if he’s charming? (Heaven help her, tempting.) So what if he apologizes? (That has to be fake.) She knows the real Gordon. And no matter how much her heart begs her to stop, there’s no turning back. Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one epic party, complete with every high-schoolers-gone-bad shenanigan, and two rivals who discover maybe they could be something much more...if only they’d stop fighting long enough to notice it. Author, Molly E. Lee - also my super talented sister - strikes again with a clever and heartfelt look at teen romance. This is the second standalone in the Grad Night Series: Love Between Enemies, and it releases January 8th!!! The book will be available soon at the following online retailers: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kriqh2 Barnes & Nobel: http://bit.ly/2ALgu7g GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Aay5UW If you are dying to get your hands on some of her other works now, Molly E. Lee has the first book in the Grad Night series, and books from the Love on the Edge series available here. Cheers and happy reading! AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Photo Credit: Saatchi Art, Angie Jones, Courtesy of Pantone Can't get enough of Pantone's 2018 Color of the Year? Yeah, us either, and since the creative folks at PANTONE sent us an incredible package of assets to share with you, well, we couldn't resist doing another post. After all, #UltraViolet deserves one! You can read yesterday's take on this majestic hue here. For now, let's dig a little deeper, shall we?  “We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination. It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”   Don't be surprised when your interior designer runs over to your house with a bag full of swatches and paint chips in the this very colorway, shouting "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life." Yes, it may conjure images of the artist formerly known as Prince, or that fun-loving kids character from the 90's, but Pantone's purple pick is so much more than that, and just like Prince's music, it has the power to transform.  Photo Credit: Saatchi Art, Angie Jones, Courtesy of Pantone It even has a hint of nostalgia in it. Case in point, my own mother's first reaction to the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year: “You’re turning violet, Violet! Just like Violet Bueareguard, in the Willy Wonka classic, this color deserves some juicing. With its blue undertones this color can be paired with many color palettes. A sophisticated neutral, that can make a statement with magenta, lime, and turmeric yellow, or a subdued mood with a petal pink and mint. Just try to think of a color this won’t go with....I can’t think of one.” Maybe that's where I get my writing skills from?  Photo Credit: Saatchi Art, Wendi Turchan, Courtesy of Pantone Even butter LONDON, the bon vivants of beauty...cultured, confident, expertly curated, divinely distinctive, and authentically inclusive, got in on the fun!     And let's not forget Room Copenhagen. Specialists within brand extension, they hold licensing agreements with some of the world’s most well-known and loved brands such as LEGO, Star Wars (Disney) and Paul Frank. Room Copenhagen’s lifestyle products allow consumers all over the world to engage with their favourite brands on more levels of daily life, and are currently offering the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year paint chip coffee cup for sale if you're so inclined. IMHO, the perfect gift for a graphic designer, artist, or someone who thinks Ultra Violet is all the rage.  Few things get me as excited as writing about homes, fashion, and art, but color, the wonderful, freeing, enchanting, transformative world of color, definitely does the trick! Last but not least, here is the true story behind Pantone's color choice from the experts themselves. "Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own. Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets. Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world. The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection." Cheers and happy coloring! AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Hot of the presses folks! Inman News just published my article on the top 10 tips for selling a home during the holidays. My latest post presents a strong argument for selling a home during the holidays, relying on top agents and resources from Realtor.com, Forbes, Sotheby's International Realty, and more, to not only give you the scoop on how to list this holiday season, but why you should. You can read the full post here if you are a subscriber to Inman News. I have included a couple of excerpts from the article below. Enjoy!    As mentioned above, you have to become a member to read full content on Inman News, but if you are a real estate agent, or simply looking to get into the real estate business, Inman News is a great place to start. They have various levels of membership so everyone can receive relevant and informative industry news regardless of price point.
Real estate industry professionals from around the world turn to Inman first for accurate, innovative and timely information about the business. Known for its award-winning journalism, cutting-edge technology coverage, in-depth educational opportunities, and forward-thinking events, Inman is the industry’s leading source of real estate information. Cheers and Happy Holidays, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Inman News, The Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  Photo Credit: PANTONE, Color of the Year 2018 PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet Pantone just released their 2018 Color of the Year and we are here for it! The dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple pick, known as PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet, is said to communicate "originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future." Yes, yes, yes! This is just what 2018 is begging for! I mean, we could all use a little more ingenuity in 2018, am I right? Who's ready to put 2017 to bed? Anybody, anybody? Yeah, us too. While it has been a record year at Amy Puchaty Communications, we can't help but get excited for what's to come in 2018 - visionary thinking and all - and this mystifyingly moody, yet Ultra Violet shade will undoubtably keep us inspired. Architectural Digest seems just as intrigued as we are, and quick to show us how to decorate our homes in Ultra Violet with these fabulous tips here. Whether you use it as an accent, soften it with complimentary tones, or embrace a moody theme, more power to you! Pantone describes the color saying, "Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own." Inspired yet? We sure hope so. Here's wishing everyone a limitless year ahead and . . . Cheers to Pantone's majestic Ultra Violet hue! AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter  1548 La Via Favorita Edwards, Colorado, is currently listed for $19.5 million. Photo Credit: LIV Sotheby's International Realty. If this was your view would it be hard to let it go? Featured today on SecondShelters.com, I was fortunate enough to get the inside scoop on this iconic estate, currently listed for $19.5 million by Malia Cox Nobrega and Barbara Scrivens of LIV Sotheby's International Realty. 1548 La Via Favorita is the treasured personal residence of Thomas the Train toy tycoon Dick Rothkopf – an active supporter of early childhood education, who has served on the board of the Ounce of Prevention Fund since 1998, and was chairman of the organization for three years. A prominent figure in Vail, he currently serves on the board of the Vail Valley Foundation and the Vail Youth Foundation. Rothkopf built the property in 2008 to accommodate his large family and many guests, focusing on authentic Tuscan design, and materials that exude warmth, comfort, and security. Now he says it's time to let it go, mostly so he can be closer to his children and grandchildren .  The scenic retreat offers postcard views from nearly every room and sits on its own mountaintop nestled on 142 acres, bordered by another 88 acres that Rothkopf turned over as restricted open space, for a total of 230 private acres, just minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts. It also comes complete with a luxury sedan and personal driver to escort you to any destination of your choosing.  The best part? Nobrega says, “Although it is very proximate to all the action it feels remote. The timeless character of the property is so incredible and means that an owner will never need to renovate the residence. They will just update appliances and things of that nature, but otherwise it will be gorgeous 300 years from now with normal maintenance.” The jaw-dropping family compound is also ideal for corporate retreats featuring private hiking, snowshoeing, ATV, and snowmobile trails right outside your front door.   Want more? Check out the photos and full story here.
Cheers, AP Amy Puchaty is a luxury real estate writer and communications specialist whose marketing campaigns and copywriting work has appeared in numerous print and digital publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Denver Post, and Dallas Business Journal. Why Amy Puchaty? Because it’s selling season. Follow Amy at www.amypuchaty.com #AtHomeWithAmy #AmyPuchaty #LuxuryRealEstateWriter |
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