The quintessential guide to classic interior design, elegant entertaining & a genteel lifestyle.
(formerly Mummy's Monday Manners)
A lovely lucite sculpture can hop into your heart!
An adorable lucite bunny is tickled pink to be under the “Three Great White Egrets.” Both pieces are by artist Mara Sfara.
There is nothing like commencing a new year with a hop and some sparkle! I was on the hunt for a joyful little piece of art: a sculpture for a client in Palm Beach to perch upon a tellie room coffee table… and it had to be pink!
When I choose art, my mantra and prerequisite is that “the artwork has to speak to my heart.” So, I keep that in mind for my darling clients too.
Luck would have it that I ran into Mara Sfara, a dear friend, fellow Garden Club of Hartford member, and a stunningly talented artist. She has been featured in many art publications and notable shows. Mara is not only an exceptionally fine artist on canvas, she also sculpts brilliantly. So, I inquired, and yes! She had the perfect piece: a pink, lucite bunny, with a few sparkles. My client sparkles and adores bunnies. Mission accomplished!
Art conveys an individual's personality and interests, and can also enhance the overall visual aesthetic experience of an interior design scheme. Mara says, “Artwork is about falling in love!” Agreed. She loves her subjects in order to create art that touches one's heart. Animals, endangered species and human relationships, make her art sing.
Mara’s pink bunny sang to me- his little bent ear is so very precious. (Oh, dear. This is what happens to designers when they find the perfect piece for a client; they are tempted to buy one for themselves too!)
Lucite has higher light refraction than glass. I am attracted to the luminosity of lucite, yet did not know much about lucite sculpting. I inquired and thought you may wish to know more as well.
1.) Mara sends her sculptures to a foundry to make small limited editions of each piece. The foundry uses a process that is like bronze casting.
2.) The type of lucite that she uses is extremely difficult to work with, as it requires a perfect pour for even coloration, no bubbles, and a perfect placement. Therefore, it requires a highly skilled foundry to create work at this level.
3.) None of the pieces are the same even if you use the same color pour. Each lucite sculpture is different in size and shape. The buffing is also a long process.
Her website explains the entire lucite process and shows other pieces of her artwork.
I have always had a penchant for zebras! The fine detail work is exceptional. There is eye contact with the zebra which speaks volumes, a kind of emotional attachment. This painting was featured in Fine Arts Connoisseur Magazine, editor Peter Trippi, and Art and Museums Magazine. Perhaps, someday, I’ll commission a pink zebra for Palm Beach!
Thank you, Mara!
“Art is more about what’s in your heart and mind than what’s on your canvas.”
~Mara Sfara
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Holly
P.S. Next week we will be featuring a generous giveaway (from Mara herself) with the prize retailing for $4,200! You won't want to miss this! Make sure to follow along on Instagram where the giveaway will be announced.