10 Ideas

The Holiday season is just as much about giving as it is about receiving, so cue my annual Christmas gift guide that will guarantee priceless cheer under the tree this year. Inspired by art, culture and design that have been featured on this very blog over 2013; from my Twitter and Pinterest boards as well as some new items thrown into the festive mix - here’s my curated countdown of ideas for connoisseurs and the curious alike…

1. Bring home the Bacon
2013 marks the year Francis Bacon’s triptych, Three Studies of Lucien Freud sold for a record $142.2 million at Christie’s – play auction house at home with this cushion after the artist’s Self-Portrait, 1969 available from The Estate of Francis Bacon 

2. Performance Art
Turn the WC into a White Cube with Tim Noble and Sue Webster’s printed toilet paper Wipe That Grin Off Your Face, 2013 - available at Other Criteria

3. Quality control
The good, the bad and the ugly with architectural historian Gavin Stamp - Anti-Ugly: Excursions in English Architecture and Design published by Aurum Press

4. Poolside patron
Culture cred at the cabana with Yayoi Kusama’s art towel for Works On Whatever, the annual initiative for contemporary art accessibility from Art Production Fund

5. Less is more
Five golden rings have nothing on this 1907 interlocking unisex band – available in solid brass, sterling silver and 18k gold from Wintercheck Factory

6. Mighty pink
Make a statement with Sir Paul Smith’s pen of choice - Caran d'Ache fluorescent aluminium ballpoint pen from Paul Smith

7. Big Kids
A host of celebrated international creative talent contribute to this grownup colouring book of graphic and graffiti design - Souris Hong-Porretta curates Outside the Lines: An Artists’ Colouring Book for Giant Imaginations published by Pengiun

8. Christmas Twist
“Please sir, I want some shmores” – forget the flambé figgy pudding and melt marshmallows around the fire with these handmade wire toasting forks from RE

9. Sun, sea and salt
Supersized fun under the sun – pretzel pool float from Urban Outfitters

10. Think twice…
… before refusing the brussels sprouts this year – soild milk chocolate ‘sprouts’ from Marks & Spencer

Images courtesy of The Estate of Francis Bacon, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, Aurum Press Ltd, Art Production Fund, Wintercheck Factory, Paul Smith, Penguin Group, RE, Urban Outfitters, Marks & Spencer 

Outside The Lines

If you've been inspired by Banksy’s current New York residency Better Out Than In, this new publication may be right up your street. Outside the Lines: An Artist’s Colouring Book for Giant Imaginations features over 100 black and white drawings by international creative talent that include Keith Haring, Ryan McGinness, Shepard Fairey and AIKO. Curated by LA-based author Souris Hong-Porretta, Outside the Lines is much more than a colouring book - offering a narrative of art education without the use of words - and will introduce emerging and established artistic practice across high and low culture to kids big and small.  

This post marks my first contribution to the blogging team at creative emporium Ohh Deer - check out their zany site for a variety of gifts and products designed by illustrators from around the world. I'm looking forward to writing future contributions for Ohh Deer on arts, culture and lifestyle – follow @JMVELARDI for all the latest updates from the blog and beyond.

Read my full article on Outside the Lines for Ohh Deer here.

Image courtesy of Pengiun
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