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Silvia works from her home studio in Yarraville, Melbourne. With doors leading out to the garden and a flood of natural light, the studio is a space where Silvia is surrounded by all the things she loves: art from other artists, textiles and objects that are special to her.

Painting and drawing since she was a young child, Silvia remembers her mother teaching her to draw. “She loves flowers and I guess that’s where I got my love of flowers also. It was the first thing she taught me to draw. I think I was around five at the time and I recall it so clearly. I love this memory.”

Silvia’s journey to working as a full-time artist has been a long one. After studying interior decorating and design, she pursued a career in the field for over 27 years. “I would incorporate my artwork into peoples’ homes and spaces in the form of murals and commissioned canvases. I didn’t have much time to paint with my interior decorating work, so it was only occasionally I could provide my own work to clients.” When Silvia made the bold decision to paint full time, she realised it was something she had been longing to do for a long time. “Painting makes me fully present. It’s meditative, calming and joyful. I feel alive when I have that brush in my hand.” Silvia held her first solo show after 18 months of painting full time, completely selling out on opening night.

Silvia draws her inspiration from many sources. With a love of colour, she is particularly interested in the colours found in nature, fashion, old movies, design and textiles of the 50s and 60s, Japanese textiles and the works of people such as Orla Kiely and Marimekko. “I am inspired by handmade items and artisans. I love pieces that have meaning and a story. I do a lot of research along with visiting galleries; Heide gallery is my favourite!”

Silvia has immersed herself in creative experiences, always sketching, painting and taking short courses in metal work, folk art painting, knitting and “anything creative”. Her painting and drawing skills developed through great teachers at high school, art mentors and painting and drawing classes she attended since moving to the West. “In particular, a chap named Darien Pullen, who runs art classes in Melbourne’s West. He’s an extraordinary artist and encouraged my stills.”

Silvia’s love of colour is clear to see through her stunning still life works. Using acrylics, impasto and ink, she builds her work up in layers. “I use washes and make a lot of stencils to create my work. It’s tedious and takes a lot of time. I plan all my work with sketches and colours and sometimes a mood board.”

“I create art with all my heart and soul. There’s a little piece of me, my energy, in all my work. I hope to bring joy and beauty into people’s homes and lives through my work.” 

See Forman’s range of beautiful Silvia Rotundo works here!

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Inspired by nature's landscapes and ever-changing cloud formations, Chloe Planinsek creates harmonious and fluid abstract paintings that bring a sense of calm and happiness to a room.

While Chloe studied art during her VCE years, painting was not a focus for her at the time. When she did begin to paint, it was for her own home. As she began to paint more, she enjoyed the process of creating, wearing gloves and painting with her hands while listening to beautiful ethereal music. ‘As a lot of my artwork was inspired by the clouds above, I felt it was a nice time for me to connect to the world above and beyond us.’ It was an organic way for Chloe to explore painting, allowing her to feel connected to the canvas and give the painting a certain movement that she loved. As her work evolved, she wanted to try different styles and began to use brushes, opting for large brushes and gestural strokes. 

From 2010 Chloe started painting commercially and by 2012 she was painting full time. As she describes, it was a slow and expensive process. 'I used to exhibit at the Decoration & Design interior trade fairs in Melbourne and Sydney. This was back when there would only be one other artist exhibiting there! It was a great way to meet industry professionals though, and I still work with many of them today, which is really nice.' Chloe now paints, prints and supplies her own designs to the architectural and interior design industry throughout Australia. She has painted countless commissions based on her sold pieces, adapting the colours to suit her clients’ needs.

Chloe loves to paint at home. ‘When we built our house, we did have a designated room for a studio, however I ended up turning it into a formal living room (which we never use, but like to look at!).’ Instead, Chloe paints in the family area of her house, wheeling her supplies in on a trolley and putting it away afterwards. Although unconventional for an artist, the space gives Chloe a flood of natural light and the ability to paint away while her husband watches TV in the same space. 

Clouds have been the biggest inspiration for Chloe’s work as they are soft, gentle and beautiful to look at and she loves the feeling of calm they bring. A dash of metallic gold is often featured in Chloe’s paintings as she loves the ‘touch of magic’ and life it gives the work. Recently, Chloe’s works have been inspired by architecture and nature and are more bold and abstract. These large artworks sit comfortably in, and bring impact to, an architectural home or space.

Chloe’s career highlights have been diverse and as she describes, ‘It all depends on how we measure a highlight. I think if something makes me feel extra happy, then it is a highlight.’ Early on, highlights for Chloe included features in magazines and commissions from large property developing companies. Now, the everyday happiness that her work brings is the greatest reward. 

She loves working closely with clients through the commission process. Working with Benjamin’s Kitchen (the Alphington pan-Asian restaurant) was one such project and was a definite highlight for Chloe. The soft cloud-inspired mural covering the restaurant walls, originally commissioned by Alexandar Pollock Interiors, was shortlisted for a design award. After finishing the main restaurant downstairs, the owners commissioned Chloe to paint both private rooms upstairs. ‘Meeting and working with the owners has been so lovely. They are so hospitable, and their Asian fusion food is incredible, and worth the drive!’

Chloe also loves working with interesting and creative people in the interior world.  ‘Nicole of Rent Fine Art is so great to work with and we are in touch nearly daily! She lets me paint freely to fit her brief, so it is nice to have that trust with her and the freedom for my painting. Meeting Forman’s Kara and Nick was a big highlight. I absolutely love working with them and feel they bring so much joy to so many people! Having their energy in my weekly life is so much fun; they feel like my extended family.’

Check out our beautiful range of Chloe’s paintings here!

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"White Swan" - an original artwork by the paper cutting maestros of Melbourne Mondocherry, box framed by us in Tasmanian oak and styled to perfection by Richard Hall & Son.

Each feather in this glorious creation is handcut, individually painted and embellished and painstakingly placed into position by Clare & Joy of www.mondocherry.com.au

We have to physically detach Clare from each artwork when we are about to frame it.

Photo credit goes to www.gemmola.com.

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Who wouldn't love to be strolling around the 6th arrondissement in Paris holding a huge bunch of peonies! The latest instalment in the Carla Loves Photography Jeune Fille En Fleur series is absolutely the stuff of dreams.

Cool, hip and sassy, "I Believe In Me" is my latest favourite girl by photographer Carla Coulson and she IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW.

Numbers are limited so if you love her don't leave her hanging.... unless it's on your wall .  Click here to view this GLORIOUS print.

For our overseas followers please head directly to https://carlacoulsonprints.com to purchase.

My entire house is going to be covered in Carla's flower power army, bringing me flowers every day. Heaven!

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