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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: outdoors

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro

08 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Featured Artists

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

animal drawings, animals, Anthony Scutro, art, artist, artwork, black and white, carving, craft, design, eyes, Four Word Progress: A Group Change of Perspective, frog, Haida, illustration, jersey city, Native American, new jersey, orca, outdoors, owl, ox, pipes, skulls, snake, Summer Dawn Hortillosa, symbolic images, The Jersey City Independent, theme, Two Doors Salon, wood

If you enjoy traveling through a piece of art and taking a trip among the unique mind of the artist, then you will love Anthony Scutro’s work. Intricately detailed, his illustrations express various thoughts, themes, and ideas that are briefly connected to the whole. You imagine the artist living and breathing through its production, as the time and patience clearly shows with the final product. One can say Scutro really has a knack for layering, by building numerous worlds within one main portal the viewer gets transported to new levels in a constant flow. Tunnels of imagery and ink filled visions lead the way, proving that the paper has a life of its own.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro
The artist in his studio

Living in Jersey City, New Jersey, the artist works as a freelance film editor and enjoys all aspects of the outdoors. Having went to grammar school with him, I can say he is an interesting individual with many talents. Scutro started drawing at a young age when he didn’t have much else to do and was inspired by the work of a stone carver at a sportsman show his parents took him too. He was intrigued with the Haida style the man was exhibiting, which is also known for its wildly themed drawings of animals much like the style Scutro has developed. “I would always draw animals and loved how they had one amimal morph into the next. I thought it would be cool to do my own spin on it…Animal shapes tend to fit into each other and I also can distort them to make it work,” he states.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

In some cases, the artist also ties his works together by a certain theme. You will notice the owl above filled with skulls, the orca filled with black and white animals, and some others not included here like an octopus contained with eyes.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro
Power

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro
Nature

Scutro is always trying to reinvent his work and challenging himself with new ideas. He is now experimenting with other types of imagery outside the realm of animals such as devoting a work to interesting people he knows. “I try to show someone’s life in a picture. I interview them and write everything down, and then depending on what I think is more important to that person, I make it bigger and design it so you follow the path between the light and the dark and get a blueprint of that person’s life and what they love,” he says.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro
Long Island Girl

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro
Could Have Done Better

Besides drawing, Scutro also enjoys the art of carving and has continued to create Native American peace pipes. He says it all started when his friend showed an interest of having one incorporated into his wedding. Upon looking for one he thought would make a great gift, he was unsatisfied and decided to make one himself. This favor for a friend eventually developed into a hobby where he now masters his craft.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

“Pipes are just really fun to make…They’re made out of antler and wood that’s aged for two years or more and some of them also have tubing and plumbing fixtures so there’s a modern edge to it. They’re all built, painted, and have things carved into them and then I use a nontoxic protective seal so it can be preserved,” says Scutro. I have seen this pipes first hand and I have to say they are really beautifully made. You can tell he loves the process and puts so much care into his work.

There is so much to explore in Scutro’s work and I believe there will be much more to come from this artist. You can view more of his work on his website and contact the artist himself to commission a piece. He has recently exhibited his work in various art shows including Two Doors Salon in Hamilton Park, NJ on June 7th and being a part of Four Word Progress: A Group Change of Perspective in Jersey City, which recently had its opening reception this past July 9th.

Featured Artist: Anthony Scutro - © Anthony Scutro

“I simplify life through my art by making it black and white because life never is actually in black and white. My work tells a story of a person or place or mindset through a puzzle of images.” ~ A. Scutro for Four Word Progress

{All quotes taken from The Jersey City Independent June 3, 2013 article by Summer Dawn Hortillosa}

Inspiration Photo Friday: Finding a Way

28 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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Tags

advice, bellmore, earth, life, meroke preserve, motivation, nature, new york, outdoors, path, patience, positivity, strength, success, trees, woods

There have been plenty of times in my life when I thought things couldn’t get any worse. Just like most people. Staying positive and being strong has helped me move past these road blocks as well as having patience. Sometimes you just have to stop and breathe to see the bigger picture. Know that everything happens for a reason.

This photo was taken a few years in Bellmore, NY at the Meroke Preserve.  I have always loved pathways, whether they be a bridge, a road, or just a simple trail, they remain one of my favorite things to photograph. Its become such a connection to my life, the will to keep moving forward.

You may not see a clear path in this shot, but I do. The trees are silently guarding it and the sun is delicately lighting the way. Nature always shows you where to go. Sometimes you have to look a little deeper and really think about the best way to move forward in life. Don’t let anything or anyone get you down. Be positive, stay motivated, and kick ass. Hopefully, just like me, you will always find a way to succeed.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Finding a Way - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Designing Your Great Outdoors

03 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Guest Posts, Janet Majors, The Great Outdoors

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

awning, budget, colors, design, fabrics, gazebo, landscaping, natural sound barrier, outdoor space, outdoors, patio, seating, space, trellis, umbrella, water feature

Whether you live in a house, condo, or an apartment, you probably have some outdoor space. From a lush but boring lawn to a barren balcony, you probably have something. However, knowing how to spruce up that space can be challenging. Especially if you’re limited in terms of actual square footage or money. Here are some tips:

Come up with a plan.
Whenever you simply begin throwing paint around or purchasing furniture and accessories without any thing more than a vague vision in your mind, you run the risk of ending up with a space that embodies the term hodge-podge. This goes for an indoor and an outdoor space. Before you get down to the nitty gritty, take some time to think it through. Come up with a clear image of what you want the space to look like. Do some research into materials, prices, and the like. Having a plan will ensure you get the gorgeous outdoor area you deserve.

When you’re planning, consider what you want to get out of the space.
Do you want your outdoor space to be an area for partying the night away or an outdoor retreat for relaxation? Knowing what you want to get out of the space will help you design it properly. For example, if you want to relax rich, comfortable fabrics and materials will be ideal while if you want to entertain you’ll want to make sure to have plenty of seating.

Designing Your Great Outdoors
Photo Credit: Amy Kimball Events

Take into account the elements.
When planning your outdoor space you’ll want to think about how much sun, wind, and water the area is regularly exposed to. If you get a lot of sun you’ll want to make sure all the materials are fade resistant so your space won’t look dull after just a season or two. In addition, you’ll want to find ways to work in shade such as an umbrella, gazebo, awning, or trellis. If you live a rainy area you want to make sure all of the materials you use are mold, mildew, and rust resistant and possibly consider screening in part or all of the space to make it more usable. If you have your fair share of wind you’ll want to make sure your accessories and furniture are weighted down. For example, get cushions that actually tie to the chairs to keep them from blowing around.

Think about the neighborhood.
Another important element to consider when designing your outdoor space is the noise level. Do you live next to a busy road? Do you have noisy neighbors? If noise is a concern there are a couple of things you can do. One, use landscaping to act as a natural sound barrier – trees are great for this. Two, install a water feature because the sound of running water will act as white noise and drown out other (less pleasant) sounds.

Designing Your Great Outdoors
Photo Credit: Rocky Mountain Rock and Trucking

Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Your outdoor space is an extension of your indoor space and should express your personal tastes. Use colors and textures that you enjoy. Outdoor materials including furniture and area rugs come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. If you can’t find the exact shade your looking for, many materials (ex. wicker) can be painted or spray painted.

Designing Your Great Outdoors
Photo Credit: Houzz

Getting creative is especially important if you’re working on a limited budget, with a small space, or with a rented space. For example, if you rent, you may not have electrical outlets in your outdoor space and because you rent, you may not be permitted to add them. Luckily, there are a variety of lighting fixtures and options that run on batteries alone.

If you are dealing with a small space, you’ll want to get furniture that serves multiple purposes such as an ottoman that can serve as an extra seat or with a lid that flips over to make a coffee table. Furniture pieces with casters are great too because they allow you to move things around to fit different purposes. Casters come in all different styles and colors so don’t worry about them looking too industrial or utilitarian; here are some great caster options. All in all, just remember that when you run into an obstacle, don’t give up – just think outside the box.

Designing Your Great Outdoors
Photo Credit: Decoration Trend

Put natural features to good use.
Before you start constructing your outdoor space, take a good look at the natural features the space offers. Sometimes brining in a second (or even third) pair of eyes can help you spot things you’ve overlooked or grown accustomed to. For instance, a hill or raised area can be an excellent place for seating or a gazebo because it offers a good view of the rest of the space. A tree can serve as natural shade or an extended tree branch can be used to hang a chandelier from.

Designing Your Great Outdoors
Photo Credit: House Beautiful

Keep your budget in mind.
Know what your budget is from the beginning. There are things you can do to keep your costs down. For example, buy patio furniture in the off season when stores are offering great clearance deals. In addition, you can do some landscaping (ex. mowing the lawn) yourself. Another idea is to build your outdoor space in stages rather than doing it all in once. For instance, maybe the first season you do some major landscaping, the next you purchase one or two pieces of furniture, and the third season you purchase a few more items.

Written by Janet Majors

Outdoor Goodness

15 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

brick, classic, cottage style, decor, flowers, garden, greenery, herbs, landscaping, nature, outdoors, patio, plants, rocks, shabby chic, slate, stone, traditional, trees, yard

Outdoor Goodness

Here are some more outdoor inspirations for all of you who love nature. Take time to appreciate what is around you and create a beautiful space in your backyard, porch or patio. Summer is here so enjoy it!

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

Outdoor Goodness

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