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MY WORLD IN FULL COLOR

Posts tagged Photography

A few years ago I came across some paintings on instagram of landscapes by artist Matt Murphy, that I loved. The California in Matt’s paintings was immediately familiar to me, and the color palettes and the energy drew me in right away.

Im always drawn to artists who have a point of view and are fearless when it comes to expressing their work with color, because it’s the language I speak in my own work.

Matt Murphy makes deeply saturated and layered paintings that in my opinion express his love of California, and more specifically the desert. His paintings remind me of the insides of stone fruit you’d find in the summer, pluots, peaches, apricots but mixed with bright blue play dough and fluorescent high lighters. His first show was really focused on the far away vistas, mountains, hills, sun sets.

Recently he had a show in Venice called Freak of Nature, that he speaks about below.

Artist Matt Murphy, copyright Diana Koenigsberg

I had a studio visit with Matt this fall that we had talked about doing for the past couple of years, and finally got around to doing post vaccinations. To see more of Matt’s work check out his instagram and website.

Portrait of Artist Matt Murphy in his studio, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2021

For my recent show, Freak of Nature, I continued my fascination and exploration of the California high desert.

From the rich hues and fluid shapes, to the endless variety of alien cacti – the desert is such a profound backdrop to explore. 
Even though I’ve been making art my whole life, and studied graphic design at RISD, the practice of painting is still very new to me. For the past three years, I’ve pushed myself to explore the world around me in full color – versus just black and white drawings.

The more I played with color, the more I realized how much of a missing ingredient it was for me, and how it fueled my path forward. 

Studio of Artist Matt Murphy, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2021
Painting surface in Matt’s Studio, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2021


For me, art is all about methodology and routine – you have to make art part of a daily practice. So that’s exactly what I did. Over time, and many many experiments, I started to create my own process for how the desert would come to life. Rather than using one single paint brush – I began connecting them together – creating what I now call, super brushes. With some as large as 60″, these super brushes became the first step to each painting that I make.

Matt’s Super brushes in his studio


Artistically, I’m influenced by so many both past and present. From Van Gogh’s sketchbooks in Arles to Calder’s ‘Circus’, I’m constantly feeding off of how people SEE the world – and then re-present back with new understanding, or texture, or whimsy. 
In terms of straight up artists who I deeply love and admire – Ed Ruscha and Ken Price are very high on my list.

I’m inspired by how their body of work expands over time – across all kinds of mediums and subject matters. 

Studio of Artist Matt Murphy, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2021
Portrait of Artist Matt Murphy in his studio, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2021


At this moment in my practice, making art is both about finding my voice and honing the presentation of my craft – all the while making sure there’s a ‘give back’ quality. I’m constantly auctioning off my paintings or using my work to raise money for needed causes in the world. As I look to nature as a source of beauty – doing all I can to help protect and give back to it is key.

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  1. Green car in foliage, 2 ) Straw hat @ Burgerlords, 3 ) Dover Street Market 4) Beverly Hills Shrub Wall, 5 ) Beautiful ladies at wedding.

Follow me on instagram @dianakoenigsberg

A couple of years ago my friends Christa and Eric and their two kids moved from LA up to the Central Coast where Christa grew up. Christa dreamed of moving back up to the Central coast with her family by the time she turned 40, and they did it!

Home of  Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee  in Arroyo Grande, CA,
Christa washing herbs from the garden. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020
Kitchen of  Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee in Arroyo Grande, CA
Christa and Eric renovated their entire house after moving in.
They did the design work themselves using Pinterest for inspiration.

Oscar and Wesley shot by Christa Renee

Oscar and Wesley getting ready for school, copyright Christa Renee

They have two kids that they are home schooling, lots of guests coming and going, and tons of projects happening all the time.

Eric and Christa's sheep, copyright Christa Renee

Lonely Palm Ranch sheep, copyright Christa Renee

We’ve gone up to visit them a few times a year since they moved, and it’s been incredible to see all the work they’ve done since they moved. The ranch is an amazing place for their kids to grow up. Spending time in nature, learning responsibility doing ranch chores and incorporating their lives into their home school curriculum.

Wesley working on the ranch, copyright Christa Renee

Wesley working on the ranch, copyright Christa Renee

Home of  Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee  in Arroyo Grande, CA,
Frittatas are a regular family meal, made from fresh organic eggs laid by the hens on the ranch. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

One of Christa's homemade Frittatas, Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

One of Christa’s homemade Frittatas, Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

Eric Pfleeger making coffee in his kitchen in Arroyo Grande, CABefore moving from LA, Eric and Christa opened Collage Coffee , with their partner Kevin. They sold their share in the business, but Eric is still pretty serious about coffee and makes a spectacular cappuccino for the guests who come by. He uses a sweet La Marzocco an industry standard for specialty coffee shops.

Some of his favorite roasters are 49th Parallel, Four Barrel, Little Wolf & Brutal. On a recent trip I brought up a bag of Devocion Wild Forest I had at Document in LA. We made some pour overs that were pretty perfect!devocion

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The view from above the valley, Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

Last year they renovated their house, and converted the tack room off the barn into a guest suite ( it’s super cozy ). Below is Christa last Winter in the new Tack room bathroom. They used the leftover tile Eric’s bought from his friend Faile for Collage to cover the shower interior..rad!!

christa_failAlso, they created a studio for Eric in the shed where he is hand silkscreening calendars and art for friends and clients. Last year they hosted 40 + people for Thanksgiving, planted lots of fruit trees and are now working on their vegetable & flower gardens… Oh I forgot the sheep and lots of other stuff… It’s a lot!!

Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee at home in Arroyo Grande, CA, co

Eric and Christa with their favorite months from the Lonely Palm 2020 Calendar. Copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2020

Eric Pfleeger and Christa Renee at home in Arroyo Grande, CA, coYou can follow along on their journey on instagram where Christa documents her family and the ranch in a beautiful way that is honest and beautifully photographed. Check out Christa’s work here – she’s a lifestyle photographer and commercial director.                  See more of my work on my website & my instagram feed.

This time last year, native New Yorker Greg Garry & Michael Jorris relocated from Soho, New York to LA for work.

Moving from a small NYC apartment to a spacious Park Labrea 2 bedroom has meant that Greg and Mike can spread out a bit, add to their record collection, have a guest room and for the first time garden! Their place is a combination of vintage finds, artwork that Greg has collected over the years, and pieces that Mike has made like the cameos shown below.

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Greg & Mike at home – artwork from Greg’s vintage collection, eye painting by Mark Gagnon

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TV & entertainment essentials

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The bar – Absolutely fabulous!

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Mike in front of his newest hobby sewing. He also makes macrame, builds stuff & gardens.

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When Greg & Mike moved to LA they had 1 crate of records…

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A corner of the dining room – at left a portrait of Jennifer Saunders of Ab Fab – at right cameos of Greg, Lucifer and Mike made by Mike.

Michael Jorris and Greg Garry at home in LA

Mike and Greg in front of the cameos created by Mike.

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Greg in a Mr. Turk dinner jacket.

Mike, Grey and Lucifer

Mike, Grey and Lucifer

 

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  1. Mercado Jamaica – 2. Casa Robert Brady – 3. Museo Dolores Olmedo – 4. Streets of Tepotzlan – 5. Chiles Enogada- San Angel Inn – 6. Ricardo Linares, Cuernavaca, 7. Cafe Tacuba – Mexico City , 8. Casa Azul – Museo Frida Kahlo, 9. Studio Diego Rivera

This month I visited Sunnylands Estate and Visitor center. It was a memorable day, touring the estate, which was the former home of Leonore and Walter Annenberg, and hanging out in incredible Visitor’s center and gardens.

The first three images are from the Visitor’s Center garden, which was designed by Landscape Architect James Burnett who, “used Vincent van Gogh’s Olive Trees of 1889 as inspiration for this masterpiece view of the Center’s unique gardens.

Burnett carefully crafted nine acres of desert, designing 1.25 miles of walking paths that meander through more than 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean area. The gardens were carefully conceived to appear different in every season with variations that create a memorable sensory experience.

The bottom 6 images were taken in the garden of the Sunnyland’s estate. The estate was designed by architect  A. Quincy Jones, and is a jewel box of Hollywood Regency architecture, filled with their original period furnishings, artwork and many historical artifacts from their private and public lives.
Sunnylands Visitor's Center, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2016sunny-cactus-horizontalcactus-pondagam_poolsunnylands_v3a4863sunny-chandeliersquiggle-sculpture_v3a4842_v3a4838_reventrance_v3a4816

May 1st was the four annual  LilySarahGrace craft fair in Hollywood, California.

Coming together again at Milk Studios, in a giant space filled with talented, generous and kind volunteers, beautifully fluffy clouds, and balloons dipped in glitter, was a day created  by two friends,  Jennifer Levy and Elizabeth Goetchius.

Jenny and Elizabeth, came together to create yet another amazing light filled day, supporting Children’s Public Art Education. The idea is simple, creating art, with children, for children. There is so much love in this event, and more specifically love for art, and respect for the importance of creating beauty in our lives. Shout out to all the artists, crafters, food makers, DJs, participants and, volunteers who made such a beautiful day possible.

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

Matthew Badger, founder & director of LSG with Jennifer Levy & her daughter Fanny Freeland

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

LilySarahGrace_ArtFair, copyright Diana Koenigsberg 2015

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