Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you .....
- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
This was one of my favourite songs many moons ago and it still makes my heart miss a beat when I think of my first love singing it to me . (Listen to it here)
Nicholas Wilton painting the house in his studio.One of the finest houses I've seen is the one above by Nicholas Wilton . He is one of the 20 artists who have created unique houses to be auctioned off in aid of The Ritter Centre. This is an organization that serves low income families and the homeless in San Rafael, California. Nicholas has written about the progress of his house on his blog, starting here . It is well worth reading to find out the ideas behind it and the meaning of the symbolism.
I love the fact that Nicholas has scratched words into the paint to form sentences which spiral up around the sides of the house. These words are often used by the homeless to describe their experiences.
Threshhold : Folded with Blue and Umber by Kate Hunt at the Cadogan Contemporary.
Hello There. Matted Graphite on Paper by Elaine Thompson
How interesting! Love your house, and SO remember that song! Wilton's work is awesome and very worthwhile!
ReplyDeleteI love sketching houses,
ReplyDeleteThank you for finding these very different ones. I shall have fun wandering through new blogs.
The word verification for this comment is housna!
Home is where the heart is. The same subject, uniquely developed by each artist. I enjoy these post so much Robyn. Thank you.
ReplyDeletei'm loving these houses...LOVING THEM!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love "It was Five Years Ago Tomorrow" by Gray !
ReplyDeleteSuch an intriguing visual statement...
Hugs, Robyn!
How I adore houses. I used to collect them until all the little houses threatened to engulf the big one.
ReplyDeleteI love the house made by Nicholas and the meaning behind it, thanks for the links.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted a house that grows up through the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteI adore this post. That was a favorite song of mine too. and when you read my post on the coaching blog you will understand why these houses hold so much meaning for me.
ReplyDeleteI just followed the links. Love em all. thanks for the intro to these artists.
ReplyDeleteyes! a great song! and a wonderful post. lovely theme of the house. thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteA marveous collection of homes and the CSN song is a heartwarmer every time...it's been awhile since I popped over and I'm so happy that I did.
ReplyDeleteOn the last day of January I send you a Happy New Year wish!
I love Nicolas Wilton's work but was not familiar with his house. And what a house that is! Had no idea from the first picture just how large it is. Thanks for the other links too!!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh. i love nicholas' house... all of these houses are wonderful, but his is very, very fine indeed!! xo (a fellow lover of this song : )
ReplyDelete"when we see an open door, we enter..." each artist here presents their own individual unique way to express house..home..dwelling in poetic ways
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention on your wonderful blog..great job in all ways..
ReplyDeleteUnique,and fascinating,,each and every house.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed spending time discovering(not all for the first time)these great artists. Thanks Robyn, for yet another fabulous post.
Aaah yes, the song!
I think we all just love the idea of having a little den all our own.....Lovely post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of houses. The comfort and safety of the idea of Home. And this project is wonderful. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletei love that song too robyn! i'm thinking i may need to play some crosby, stills, nash & young in the art room today. i love houses as subjects in art. my favorite here is the two piece one on wheels but they are all wonderful. as always, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAs always you charm us with finding the most intriguing artists.
ReplyDeleteAnother post of greatness! I don't know how you find all these connections for your posts, but I'm sure glad you do. Your blog serves as one of my "online encyclopedias." A "go-to" site. Thanks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteone of my favourite bands robyn 'csny' i love woodstock (one of their numbers)
ReplyDeleteand love the houses :)
l lenjoy drawing and using houses in my art work. i also love taking images of houses, they can tell you so much about the person that lives there ect! i love your blogx. I also wanted to say l to live my art and when not doing it, l am thinking about itxlynda
ReplyDeleteand let's not overlook those exceptionally cute paws at the end and their Michaelangelo moment.
ReplyDeleteI was feeling "over it" with house iconography, this post has rekindled my enthusiasm. Thanks, as ever, Robyn!
wv: acramfr
maybe an adjective for those charming creatures?
There is something so appealling about houses in art. Thank you for introducing us to these wonderful artists. Particularly love Nicholas Wilton and Maurice Gray.
ReplyDeleteJacky xox
Soon to start my journey back to France, grabbed 5 minutes to visit your blog. Ahh that Graphite on paper it is adorable. Best wishes Blu ...
ReplyDeleteArtistUnplugged, I had forgotten the song and heard it again whilst shopping the other day. Now I love it all over again.
ReplyDeletePenny, its strange how often the word verification echoes the topic.
Leslie, I loved drawing houses as a kid and what I find so interesting now is how many artists use and develop those childlike drawings in their art later in life.
Paula, ditto!
DJ, "It was five Years Ago Tomorrow" got me thinking too. Hugs :-)
Pamela, that can happen so easily!
Ro, I have been following the progress of Wilton House and thoroughly enjoyed each step. I'm totally in awe of Nicholas' paintings so I knew the house was going to be phenomenal.
Lisa, such fun!
Suki, I'm holding thumbs for the perfect house for you. It's there......you just have to find it!
Cat, glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks Merci33. Happy New Year to you too.
Seth, its spectacular isn't it? I would love to be able to read all the scratched messages on all walls of the house.
Lynne, I knew you would know and love that song!
Donna, thats the joy of it. Each artist interprets the house in a different way.
Nicholas, I'm so delighted that your house is gracing my blog. It lifts my spirits every time I look at it. Thank YOU.
Babs, glad you enjoyed them. I had fun gathering all the houses together.
Annie, ....a den or a hidey hole .... that takes me back. As kids we would spend hours making dens under blankets, in cardboard boxes, under bushes, up trees ... you name it!
Leanne, it's a great idea isn't it? :-)
Julie, I was feeling very nostalgic with this post too.
Thanks Dosfishes.
Renee, I enjoy finding the connections and even better I'm thrilled that others enjoy them on my blog.
Megha, I had the woodstock L.P too!
Lynda, thinking about it is a great substitute for when you aren't able to create your art for whatever reason.
Melanie, go and look at Elaine's site to see the most wonderfully whimsical houses. Its impossible to get bored with her house iconography.
Oh!! Oooohhhh!!! Love these!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many such clever artists about Robin - I love all the houses you feature.
ReplyDeleteAn old lady in our village lived on in her house for years, alone and very eccentric, not liking anyone calling. When she died and the house was cleared out it had a tree growing through the kitchen floor and out of the roof. Your pictures reminded me of it.
Robyn - Lovely collection of sketches and paintings of houses. I liked them...Thomas
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment, your blog is WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. I have worked in the homelessness sector for ten years. It is fantastic that these artists want to raise the profile of homelessness. I could talk all day about the importance of this kind of work....
ReplyDeleteAre you in my brain?? I've been gathering artists for the next issue of my zine which will be called Shelter, and be all house/home artwork!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful finds. Looking forward to exploring. I've enjoyed reading Nicolas Wilton's blog and seeing this house coming together.
ReplyDeleteHouses are often featured in my work. Aside from walking my dog, there are so many days when I never leave my house. No wonder I'm so into houses.
these are wonderful creations and for such an important purpose. Thanks for sharing the work of these artists with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robyn, I really LOVED this! Gray's work got me so excited. I think it's opened up another room (pun intentional) of possibilities for me and of course "Our house" is one of my favorite tunes as well.
ReplyDeleteI love house art. For a class I took once, we had to make annotated drawings of rooms in a childhood home - I did my grandparents and it was a wonderful experience - all my cousins loved looking at it too.
ReplyDeleteI have been following Nicholas site for quite so time...wonderful! I followed the links and had a great time...thank you. By the way your header is just great!
ReplyDeletesmiling.
ReplyDeleteBIG like the house
became in the second photo,
like the way these make me feel.
Robyn, thankyou for two fascinating posts! This and the previous one have held me captive for ages!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes! This song...sigh!
ReplyDeleteAnd the song and your post relate to my feeling that one's house doesn't have to be a big one...more like a snails house...a shell or shelter....
A beautiful post!
Wonderful posting Robyn. It is funny to go to a South Africans Blog to read about my home town and the Ritter house! Hope all is wonderful with you.
ReplyDeleteDear Robyn, I am intrigued by these artists, especially Nicholas Wilton. I love his house, the details painted on it and the blue man like a star on the top. Thank you for your very kind words this week. They were very comforting. sending blessings, roxanne
ReplyDeleteA great post Robyn. I have not read through the other 43 comments, no doubt everyone has enjoyed this post as much as I, so much so that I have included some aspects in a recent post, linking to you and thanking you for introducing me to the work of Nicholas Wilton.Shelter is a very interesting concept and one to which we can all relate.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by!! Glad you liked the "guided tour"!!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful blog! There is a resonance here. -Jayne
ReplyDeleteOh I love all of Crosby, Stills and Nash!! What a jog down memory lane...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful houses and your sharing of the history and stories once again open my eyes into worlds that I don't know.
What a treat Robyn. So much wonderful work. I particularly loved Maurice Gray's creations and in particular He Looked For A Way In And She Looked For A Way Out. Tremendous work and excellent job in finding them.
ReplyDeleteI dont know how you do this but with EVERY post you truly inspire me- maybe in different ways- sometimes just to be a better blogger. But today I feel like just picking up my brushes & things & getting to work. This house is so beautiful & especially like the picture of the artist working on it- he is so into it. And it inspires me - thanx Robyn for this.
ReplyDeleteHey Robyn!!
ReplyDeleteThe song is wonderful and the post is terrific! I just adore your blog.... it's amazing!!
Manuscripts! Houses! "What will she think of next?" -they all wonder. Truly you are the internet art curator extraordinaire!
ReplyDeleteMaurice Gray has found his voice in these amazing houses - they are just wonderful and I want them all xxo
ReplyDeletelove kate hunt's folded houses...
ReplyDeleteand the whole post. House is such a concept for modern woman... so much commercialism too, it flourished with the ideal images of kitchens and appliances, and the so called "soap box" commercials we rarely know now, but that began a whole notion in the women who bought boxed cakes and other "wonders" to make life "easier"...
where did all that come from?
thanda. Hope you are well and say hello to the monkeys from me.
Very fine indeed! I love all of these, but especially the photo of the man adding the text around the bird..
ReplyDeleteElaine Thompson's art rocks! I wish I could afford to own one.
ReplyDeleteutterly delightful. I love yellow birds and the very last picture entitled hello there is so so lovely. thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete