happy holidays/

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. I decided to post a very rare picture of my own house today. We kept the holiday decorations simple this year. Just wanted to let you all know I am taking this week off from the blog to prep for all the exciting projects that are starting early next year. Can't talk about anything now, but I have a couple of things up my sleeve... Have a Happy New Year. I'll be back on January 3, 2011.

handcrafted modern/limited edition prints

One more image from Handcrafted Modern that I have decided to print up as a limited edition print. A couple of friends have made a request for it but I have been thinking about it anyway. This one will be 18x24". All the better to let lost in all the stuff on Gropius' desk.

handcrafted modern/limited edition prints

As many of you know my book, Handcrafted Modern, came out in october of this year. But I would venture to guess many of you do not know that there a few of my favorite images from the book that I have made available as limited edition prints. At the moment, these framed prints are hanging at Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, but here is a gallery of what is available. Most are 16x20". Shoot me an email if you are interested and I'll give you more information. info@lesliewilliamson.com

jb blunk residency/benjamin britton

A view of benjamin britton's studio at the jb blunk residency.

jb blunk residency/benjamin britton

Spent a rainy Sunday morning up at the jb blunk residency with current artist in residence, Benjamin Britton. After a really quick edit of the portraits I shot, I really think this is my favorite thus far...

gordon onslow ford/painting studio

Yesterday was one of those really good days. I was invited to tea at Gordon Onslow Ford's house by the co-founder and director of the Lucid Art Foundation, Fariba Bogzaran. I have been dying to see Onslow Ford's home since I shot JB Blunk's home for Handcrafted Modern. I can't share too much of the scouting images I shot, but this is one of my favorites from his painting studio. His studio had been meticulously maintained as it was when Onslow Ford was alive. I love all these words tacked to the wall. My favorite? "Harmony in a world of shallow depth."

jb blunk residency/beatrice pediconi

another from beatrice pediconi's time at the jb blunk residency. I find myself looking at this image and wanting to just sit in this chair for a really long time.

jb blunk residency/beatrice pediconi

Just getting ready for another Blunk open house this weekend. In all the craziness of the book launch and subsequent events I realized I never shared any of the images from the last artist, Beatrice Pediconi. She wanted a more informal portrait so I shot her getting ready for her open house in the studio. As I was documenting how the house changed I wandered into the bedroom and found what you see in the second shot. I could not have set up a more perfect monochromatic shot if I tried.

henry varnum poor/crow house

I was madly looking through all the images I shot for HC Modern for the self portraits I did in mirrors and such and I ran across this image. Some thing about it made me stop. Maybe it is the red chair or the quality of light coming in the window or those two lovely little pictures on the wall. Did I notice those when I shot this? I don't remember that sea scape, but how I love it now...

harry weese/columbus, indiana

First Baptist Church by Harry Weese. Weese built more than 5 building around town in Columbus. Frankly, I was not familiar with him. Looks like I am going to have to do some research...Have a good weekend!

Eero Saarinen/ Columbus, Indiana

How would you like this to be your bank? Yeah...me too. Another of Eero Saarinen's buildings in Columbus, Indiana. It is a perfect time capsule too - the interiors are pretty much as designed. When I drove into town for the first time I saw this bank lit up at night. My jaw dropped...I stared for awhile and got a honk from the car behind me (oh...is that light green???). I mean come on....look at those lights! And in the safe deposit area, the doors hinge in the middle (bottom image).

Eero Saarinen/ Columbus, Indiana

Eero Saarinen's North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana. What is there to say? The pictures say it all...damn fantastic. Alexander Girard did the interiors. I found the dark wood and concrete a bit of a surprise. Not many churches really feel like sacred spaces to me. This room is the most sacred space I have ever been in.

my current obsession/

Back in California and happy to have just missed the snow that fell in Indianapolis last week. This week I will share the images I shot in Columbus, Indiana and the treasures of modern architecture there. But today I had to share this image. For some reason, this was the image I was thinking about the entire plane ride back. I shot it in Eero Saarinen's North Christian Church in Columbus - it was just a little side meeting room there. I keep staring at it trying to figure out why I like it so much. It is kind of perfect in its absolute genericness, but I think it is something more. Frankly, I'm still not sure what the obsession is all about. Any thoughts?

eliel saarinen/columbus, indiana

I have been in Columbus, Indiana this week photographing a truly amazing house, but this town is a discovery as well. This is a door detail from an Eliel Saarinen church here. And look at the door pulls! And just to make you drool, across the street from this church is a 10 ft Henry Moore bronze sculpture. I can't wait for my private architecture tour tomorrow. More to come...

handcrafted modern/outtakes/zeisel

I found it interesting that Eva Zeisel really did not have a lot of reference books. I asked her about it and she said, "what do I need with books when I have nature? Nature is my inspiration." There were a lot of books in the house, though. I was told they were her daughters. I did notice this little drawing that I liked. I think it was by Eva but I am not certain. And then I found this book. It seemed to sum up what she told me. I decided the book "Landscape into art" MUST be Eva's...right?

handcrafted modern/outtakes/zeisel

I wish this was a better picture (I took it on my iphone late in the day), but I HAD to share this beautiful wine glass. Of course one of Zeisel's designs. I seriously fell in love with this glass when I saw it. The stem and foot of the glass is solid so it has a wonderful feel in the hand. I told Eva's grandson, Adam, that if this glass was in production I would buy it in a second!