Go Figurative

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How great that one of my things to do while working is blogging?! My colleagues decided to put my in charge of trying to recruit new artists under our representation. I've been fortunate enough to intern with this great company for the past semester and it's been such a great learning experience for me. I've been meaning to do a Go Figurative post so this seems like a great opportunity to get the word out and hopefully start relationships with new artists who might be reading this blog.

This is an oil painting (that's right, painting) by American David Eichenberg

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But first the facts. Go Figurative is an art company based in London that specializes in selling art to corporate clients and private collectors. It was started in 2008 by my colleagues Janine C. and Sally P. and has grown exponentially since. Go Figurative (get it? like go figure? Ha!) promotes a range of figurative art from painting, to photography, to graphite, to sculpture. We really do it all. We see it as our mission to get contemporary artists out into the public sphere. Right now is a very exciting time at the office since we are in the process of moving from our building on Liverpool Street to a more open gallery environment on Old Street near Shoreditch. Although we will still run as an art company working at computers and running to meetings with prospective clients, we are definitely toying with the idea of displaying some of our artwork on the walls so that everyone can  enjoy and appreciate all of our artists' hard work. We are also going to participate in the First Thursday event in east London where art galleries are open later so people can explore the contemporary art scene at night. It's going to be a great experience and I cannot wait.

David Downes does thee wonderful cityscapes that I can't get enough of. They're so full of life!

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We are also getting ready for the Affordable Art Fair Battersea which is from 15-18 March. I know I sound a bit like a giddy school girl, but I can really not wait to help out there. There will be various artists and galleries selling work that can be no more than £4000. We've been to the one at Hampstead and sold quite a lot of work so it was a really great opportunity, and we'll hopefully have a similar experience.

I see a lot of Anita Klein's work around London and I just love her use of line.

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I think what I'm most excited about though is our recent success with the Savoy Hotel. One of the artists that we represent, McAlpine Miller, has been commissioned to do a series of portraits for their famous Thames Foyer. The Savoy is finishing up a refurbishment of their a large part of their hotel and this includes the Foyer. He's already completed one of the portraits and I think it is absolutely wonderful and will really bring the tea room into the 21st century. Right now there are a few older paintings which are fine and inoffensive, but I think these are really going to be beneficial for all. I really love the way his paintings don't seem to need a light source since they exude their own glow. Here's an example of the type of work he does (note: this is not for the Savoy).

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See what I mean? I love the overlay (underlay?) of comic images. I don't know what technique he uses, but I personally find it very interesting and Lichtenstein-esque.

This beautiful work was recently sold. By Alan Coulson.

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We represent a range of artists from different backgrounds, ages, genders, and nationalities. Since we are a business we are constantly striving to grow while still retaining our great relationships with the artists. I've actually been put in charge in recruiting fresh new artists to add to our arsenal. If you are reading this and think this is a great company, as I do, then please visit our website at www.gofigurative.com. If you have any friends that are artists this also might interest them so please spread the word. From where I'm sitting, only beneficial things can come from getting in contact with Sally and seeing what happens. Again we're looking for any age and from any nationality or medium. As long as your work is of a figurative subject, you're probably just what we're looking for. Whether you're an artist or not, you should still check out the website. We also run an online gallery where other artists upload their work to be sold and shown to the world. If you have any other questions please contact me if you would like any other information. Thanks and keep being creative!

Happy Leap Day!

*insert frog joke with accompanying "boing" sound effect* I just wanted to write a quick note today because how often is it Leap Day? Well I mean it's every four years, but you get my drift. It sort of just feels like a fake day all day. I don't know if I really remember the last time it was leap year although I should because I was 16, but I guess 16 year-old Carly had more important things to do than focus on whether our year had an extra day or not. Apparently in Great Britain there's a tradition that on the 29th of February it is custom for women to propose to men. Like it's against the "rules" every other day of the year? Oh well, I kind of like the tradition. I don't think we have that in the States, but I could be mistaken. Is it only a British thing? Are there other cultures you know of that have something similar? I'm really more excited for tomorrow since that means it's March. That's right. In 30 days I turn 21! I'm kind of freaking out because I'll really be in my twenties soon, but I'm ready to make my 21st year the best one yet (and now I sound like some uber-happy cheerleader, but you get my drift).

Portobello Road!

It's just so nice to get a moment to breathe! Phew. These past couple of days have been pretty busy from schoolwork to work work and everything in between. Amanda and I decided to actually do something this weekend since our time in London is slowly winding down. Yikes. I don't think I'll ever be ready to leave this place. We decided to go down to the ever famous Portobello Road Market on Saturday. Now it's really no secret that I love Disney films. Not just the cartoons either. I was brought up on such gems as Mary Poppins, Blackbeard's Ghost, That Darn Cat, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks just to name a few. Seriously the entire time I kept singing the Portobello Road song from Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It's been going through my head since this weekend so I even figured out how to put music up in my post so everyone can sing along.

That's Casey with the pink dress and green/grey coat on the right

So much fun. I went with Amanda and Casey and we just sort of walked around. I absolutely loved the market and I could have stayed there all day. A few weekends ago we went down to Camden Market which was fun, but I just felt like there were too many people and too many stalls selling the same generic stuff. It was just too overwhelming and I still haven't grown a backbone to haggle correctly. Portobello was much more my speed. Things might have been more expensive, but I'm willing to pay more for good quality things with history than less money on something that will break in a week. The shops smelled of history and I almost died. All of the sellers were really nice and I just kept thinking that it would so great if I had my own little London home that I could furnish with all the wonderful candlesticks and tchotchkes that were around there. I also saw a lot of Wedgewood (some of it was fake but whatever). And I love Wedgewood pottery, I think it's so pretty and delicate while still being interesting and regal. I might have been in Carly heaven. I had to reign in my spending so I only got a few things (some for me some for others).

I picked up this Cadbury chocolate tin from Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation that I'm using as an earring holder while I'm here since I've been living out of plastic bags for the past multiple weeks. I just loved how kitschy it was. I also like thinking of The Queen as a younger person at beginning of her reign. It's so nice to leave with a bit of English history to take with me. I also found this fish necklace which is completely up my alley. It moves like a real fish and I just can't get enough of his fishy lips. I've yet to wear it out because it doesn't lay quite as I would like, but maybe I'll go more for the three dimensional accessory look. We'll see how that goes and hopefully soon.

I really hope I'll be able to go back and just take my sweet time looking at all the antiques. On Sunday we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum which was a lot of fun. Fun fact: Did you know that they have a central hallway dedicated to sculpture and a large majority of these sculptures were Rodin's? 'Cause I didn't and I was so excited to see them all and appreciate just what an amazing man he really was. Hope everyone's weekend was great!

I'm Obsessed!: Top Gear

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This post is a long time coming. I feel like it's been awhile since I've done a "I'm Obsessed!" post and I thought I would get back into the swing of things by mixing my love with living in London. I am completely and totally obsessed with Top Gear. My American friends might not even know what this is so I will enlighten you. Top Gear is a television show that originated in great Britain that specializes in cars. I know what you're thinking. A car show? Seriously. Give it a chance. I probably wouldn't have found this if I hadn't been talking to my friend Kelly back home about cars. He was trying to explain the mechanics of them, but he suggested I should probably just watch this. Imagine a stew of Monty Python and Car Talk and you've got Top Gear. It's on Netflix, which is great for me since I've been watching it nonstop. Some of the first few series might be a little slow for some people who are not completely car-obsessed, but the later series has a lot of races and challenges that are just really fun to watch. The commentators (Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May) have this great chemistry that just makes you feel good all over. Even when they bicker it's such a good laugh. Then there's the illustrious Stig who drives fast and might be half-machine. It's also made me much more aware of cars and what I want/lust over for my future. As of right now I'm thinking of a yellow Fiat 500 since they just recently came to the states and I love the little power and size. In London, there are so many fantastic super cars zooming around that I think I might be in heaven. So whether your're a boy, girl, mineral, or vegetable, you'll enjoy this. It's just something relaxing, yet informative, to watch before you go to bed! Love my Top Gear Boys!

The Day After: Valentine's Day

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Hello everyone and welcome to another rendition of the day after. I hope your Valentine's day went smoothly and lovely. Personally I don't really understand the holiday because why in the world do we have to designate a day to tell each other we love them. Shouldn't that be every day? I feel the same for days like Mother's and Father's day. I love my parents. They know that since I tell them a lot so why do I need to stress about giving them presents on one specific days when I'll send them little gifts (usually metaphysically) all the time? This year came and gone and lo and behold... I did not have a "valentine." I decided that instead of being cynical Carly, I would take my life into my own hands and do something. So after class, I got on my nice black and grey dress (I'll do a picture post later), did my makeup well, played with my hair until I decided that down was the best choice at the time, and I was ready to go out on the town!

I took the tube from Holborn to Green Park switching at Oxford Circus onto the Victoria line and it was only a short walking distance to my destination. Once I saw it, literally this wave of warmth and wealth moved over me. I opened the doors to Christie's Auction House on King Street and climbed the stairs to the auction room. It was my first art auction ever and I had a really nice time. I was completely by myself and didn't know anybody there, but at the same time I felt very at home. Everyone was there to either buy or watch the money fly. I could not believe the sums that some of these pieces went for. The star of the night was this Francis Bacon portrait.

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Want to take a guess on how much this went for? 3 million? 8 million? Nope this Portrait of Henrietta Moraes from 1963 went for £19,000,000!!!!!! And I was there! I looked today on the website at the results and after taxes and auction fairs (I'm guessing) it was a little more than 21 million. That's an absurd amount of money. They were just going back and forth and it was so exhilarating, and when it was all done, I just felt like applauding (I know a bit childish). They were going back and forth arguing over £500,000 like it was child change because when we're talking prices that high it is. It was just such a lovely time, and I can't wait to go back again. I didn't get a real seat in the auction room, but I stood outside in the anteroom with a whole gaggle of other arty people. Drinks were free and I got a beautifully printed catalog as well. Now this is going to sound soooooo cheesy, but it almost seemed like I was spending a night with my valentine: art. Yep I said it, I was in love, and I don't care who hears it!

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I ended up leaving early after a bunch of the big ticket items since I hadn't really eaten that day and was starving. I came home, made myself some baked ziti, ate it, and finished off a good half of a bottle of wine as an end to the celebration. It was one of the best Valentine's Days I've had in quite some time. I just went to bed happy and content and happy to be in such a great city like London. How did you spend your day of love?

Hey Look What I Did!

I'm so proud of myself right now. I gave this little bloggy blog a makeover. All by myself! I finessed a little html code here and there and voila! I'm really happy with it since it mixes what I think Framed Personality should be. What do you think? A little more chill than the pretty in pink theme from before. It feels so good to be independent and accomplish things in your own way and your own time!

Hey Mama Welcome to the 60s!

So it's the weekend, which is wonderful! I guess by now it's the end of this wonderful time of the week, but who really cares. It's been pretty laid back. Friday I went to Queen Mary College on the East side to spend the night with my very good friend Missy. It was quite a fun time and I hope to do it again very soon. It's so nice to have her so close as opposed to back home where I'm in PA/MA and she's all the way to the west in Minnesota! Saturday, I felt a little under the weather so I stayed in bed for a large portion of the day, but then at night Amanda and I went to see a play. I absolutely love that she works for a theater promotional firm so she's able to get a lot of free tickets and she graciously invites me along. Last night we saw Hay Fever written by Noel Coward. It was very funny and very British which made us feel very sophisticated. I'll do another post about all the shows I've been seeing here later. After the show we were in deep need of some really greasy food so we stopped by a pub and got some fish 'n' chips and a hot spiced cider which was absolutely delicious. The entire night I was rocking a pretty voluminous top knot which Amanda thought was a hoot and a half, but I felt very chic (and a little happy that the height of my hair might be obstructing the view of the person sitting behind me). I got home and took a nice lovely bath with one of my new Lush bath melts (more about my little surprise package later).

Today has been another low-key day so I thought I would get a little post done. Amanda and I are planning on going to Primark which might be the best shop in the whole wide world! Of course I had some time to get ready and whenever I have time, I usually try to play with something different with my hair. A lot of times this will turn into "I just wanted to feel pretty!" cry fests that all of my friends laugh about, but not today! So I did this. I've been getting so much inspiration for what I'm finding on Pinterest especially all the hair pictures that are up there (if you want you can follow me here I'll be sure to follow you back!). Anyway, I came across this pic of a girl with a bouffant shape in the back with a braided headband. I basically got out my trusty comb and started to tease away at the crown of my head. I then smoothed it all back and pinned it into this lovely 60s beehive shape. I was so in love. I could have left the bottom part of my hair down (which I think I'll do at another time). I decided to do two small braids instead and pin them into a headband shape. I'm really happy with the result! Amanda opened the door and thought I had busted a nut loose or something, but I'm really digging the vintage vibe and she can stuff it.

Seriously? I feel like a million bucks and just wish I could go back to the time of Hairspray and go go boots. This might be a new look for me, but we'll see. I'm still toying with the idea of getting a fringe while here. I think I'm going to do it, hopefully this week. What do you think? I haven't had real bangs since before I was 10, but I think I want a change, and I love my long hair too much to cut it off. Anyway, since we're not doing anything too exciting today, I kept my outfit pretty simple with my staples of Gap jeans, a j. crew cardigan, and a asymmetrical green top. It's from Gap from a couple of years ago, but I really love the subtle color and details so I've been wearing it a lot recently. I wanted to showcase my hair/neck so I chose these bird earrings from Francesca's Collection. And since a lot of my neck is showing, I went with a small (and cheap) matryoshka necklace from Forever 21. I'm pretty happy with the outfit especially since I paired it with my favorite pair of Big Buddha shoes to pull everything together. It just feels nice to have another outfit post up. Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos as well as the state of our room, but these things happen when you share a small washing machine with six other girls. Hope everyone else had a good weekend and have a great week. I know I will!

I Read a Book!: Picture of Dorian Gray

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I really just miss reading. It's so relaxing and let's you get away from the real world for an hour or so, but unfortunately we don't always have the luxury of time on our side. Luckily, I'm in school, so a lot of times I have required readings that I find more fun the tiresome. While in London, I'm taking a London in Literature class which is absolutely fascinating! It basically takes novels and authors starting with Dickens and seeing how the City itself is shown on the pages. Our first novel was Oliver Twist, which I unfortunately did not get to finish. Huge bummer right? It actually wasn't that bad and surprised me with the wittiness of his writing. I liked it a lot more than Great Expectations which I could not get through. How am I suppose to have any emotional reaction to a boy called Pip? Anyway, this past week we had to read Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Now I'm going to get up on my soapbox for a moment and tell you why this is such a phenomenal book. I'm not going to give a whole lot a way because I really feel like you should go pick up this right now and read it straight through. It is Wilde's only novel and it is packed with wonderful ideological views about hedonism and enjoying the finer things in life. The novel surrounds the life of a young Dorian Gray who is apparently very attractive and very impressionable. One of his admirers/friends is a painter and paints a portrait of the young man that captures his beauty in such a way that it's surreal. The picture is given to Dorian as a gift. At the same time Mr. Gray gets closer and closer with the aristocrat Lord Henry who shows him the way to live a rich life. He is very influential and Dorian in this life of no consequence. It isn't until he begins to commit a series of sins than he realizes that his portrait that has been sitting in his room has begun to change. With each wrong doing it grows uglier and older as the real Dorian remains the same (you should have known about this already from gossip or something so I feel like I'm not giving anything away). The entire book is basically a downwards spiral for the man's soul.

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Here are just some of my favorite quotes (most from Lord Henry):

"...there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

"But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins. Intellect is in itself a mode of exaggeration, and destroys the harmony of any face."

"Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love: it is the faithless who know love's tragedies."

"And beauty is a form of genius--is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation."

"Be afraid of nothing...A new Hedonism--that is what our century wants."

"Always! That is a dreadful word. It makes me shudder when I hear it. Women are so fond of using it. They spoil every romance by trying to make it last for ever."

"Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed."

"It is only the sacred things that are worth touching."

"Beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the privilege of the rich."

"Life has always poppies in her hands."


In class we talked about the idea of decadence as being something that happens right before the huge crash of society. For some reason that imagery with this book and society today was so jarring I loved it. Are we too decadent? Do we not care about our actions as long as we enjoy ourselves? I love having a good time as much as the next gal, but is it too much? Gives you something to think about right?

He's such a dandy ain't he? Oh Oscar.
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I've already talked my father into buying a copy of this on Audible and I encourage all of you to do the same. It's such a wonderful read and is probably one of my top ten favorite books. It has an almost Frankenstein feel of destruction to it and I love me some Frankenstein. Go get your Reading Rainbow on!

You Gotta Love: Steve Martin

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Because you do right? I know I've talked about things I hate as well as things I love. I think I'm going to try this post periodically about famous people I love and people I feel that everyone should love as well so I don't feel like a complete freak. The first man on our list is Steve Martin.

Now it's no secret that I love comedies. But specifically, I absolutely love comedies from the seventies and eighties. You know, when SNL meant something more and those stars went on to do great and hilarious things. Now funny enough, Stevey here was never officially a part of the cast of SNL. He has just been a host 15 times (yeah that's right) over the last 3 decades. Funny funny man!

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Why else should you love him? Three words: hair and banjo. His hair is one of my favorite things about (yep its superficial). Even now he still has a pretty hefty head of hair at 66. It started as that wonderful pewter color and slowly transformed itself into the snow white of today. He also is a wonderful banjo player. And it is a proven fact that banjos are the coolest! I haven't bought his newest album yet, but I really love the songs and I just love his fingers flying over those strings.

He also just happens to be in one of my top ten favorite movies of all time: The Jerk. If you haven't seen this yet, than I'm sorry but we probably can't be friends. I guess my love of Steve started with my mother since it's probably her favorite movie. I didn't know much about him, but I did know that he was born "A poor black child." Full of political incorrectness, it's such a quintessential 70s comedy that you just have to love it. Bernadette Peters is there for Christ's sake! Navin Johnson might be my childhood hero. There's just too many great scenes. His thermos! Shithead! Pizza in a cup! Disco! The Opti-Grab! Cat Juggling! But I think the scene that might sum up my love in completeness is this:

But seriously, if you haven't seen this already go watch it. Without fail, he's always going to make me laugh and I think that's all any of us really need. So go out and watch a clip (Two Wild and Crazy Guys!) or a movie (Three Amigos!). Whatever your Steve Martin fix might be go out and grab a handful and then go for seconds because it's impossible to get enough of this guy. So much love!

P.S.-Maybe it's because I just watched the Muppet Movie for the umpteenth time while taking a bath the other day so I'm super on the Steve Martin bandwagon.