Decor Arts Now

Forget stylish or chic.  I want to be described as exuberant.

It was while reading a book on exuberance (Kay Jamison’s Exuberance: The Passion for Life) that I discovered the work of Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley.  Wilson Bentley is the reason we know that each snowflake is unique.  On January 15, 1885, at age 19, Bentley discovered how to capture the beauty of  snowflakes on film.  His technique is still used today.

Known as a photomicrograph, he worked outside in the snow, catching each snowflake on a blackboard, quickly transferring it to a microscope and then photographing it, all before it melted.  During the course of his lifetime, he took over 5000 images of snowflakes, like the ones shown above.

Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley at work

Calling snowflakes “snow blossoms” and “miracles of little beauty” Bentley said that “no words can convey…the intense enjoyment, the almost countless thrills, these winter studies have afforded me.”  Jamison claims that it was this “exuberance that gave (Bentley) passion, stamina, and a lasting voice to speak out for small beauties.”  My kind of guy.

And I think a series of beautifully framed snowflakes by Bentley hung grid-style would look smashing decorating the walls of your chic lodge.  You can purchase prints of his work here. 

Yuji Obata’s beautiful photography of falling snow flakes is directly inspired by Wilson Bentley.  His work, available at Danzinger Gallery, is another gorgeous option for your winter abode. 

Detail from Homage to Wilson A Bentley #4, 2005-2006.
Edition of 10, Yuji Obata

Obata experimented for 5 years until he was able to capture snowflakes in free fall (as opposed to Bentley’s images on a flat surface) without the means of digital or any other manipulations.  Here are a few more examples of his work.

Obata’s snowflake images also are available in what may be the ideal coffee table book for your luxe lodge,  his book Wintertale.  Signed and unsigned copies can be ordered at Photo-Eye Bookstore.

The ‘luxe” lodge look is right on trend, with fabric and wallpaper introductions by Schumacher getting lots of attention in the blogosphere.  What I especially love about these images from the Schumacher ad campaign is that works by both artists would fit right in with the look despite the fact that the artists are separated by about 100 years.

I guess exuberance is always in style.

Photo credits: Bentley snowflake images are in the public domain, some, including images of Bentley himself, are from Wikipedia, the Jericho Historical Society and the Snowflake Bentley website.  Obata images from the Danzinger Gallery website, except for the detail which is from the Studio Visit.  Room shots from the Schumacher Luxe Lodge Ad Campaign.

My guys left me after I cooked them a feast this past week to engage in typical caveman behavior: deer hunting.

Son Chris already “took his buck” (as they say) the previous week when he shot a running deer (hitting a moving target is apparently a very big deal).  He is quite proud that he bagged an 8 point buck.  To appease his male ego, I posted a photo to Facebook.

It’s not a particularly pretty photo, and since we are all about the pretty here,   I won’t repeat the image.  If you do click over to see it, please remember to friend me.  I need all the friends I can get, since my all-male family members regularly abandon me for testosterone-filled, outdoor pursuits.

This time, however, I so wish I was with them.  Apparently the guys decided Chris should mount the head of his trophy buck. Ick and double ick.

It will not hang anyplace where I will see it.  l do my level best to avoid his bedroom, leaving that difficult task to the cleaning lady. She is worth every penny.

If only they had asked…. I would have been happy to display the mounted antlers alone—so chic!

Alas, my male offspring do not have me on speed dial for decorating advice.

These antlers look great decked out for the holidays. I like them “undressed” too.

Photo credits: 1.Pinterest without a good source (help please) 2. Milkandhoney.com 3. Styleathome.com 4. Dragonfly designs  5.  Chris Court for the December 2012 Martha Stewart Living, 6. Elements of Style blog,