IN THE NEWS: PAUL WISEMAN'S BELVEDERE HOME FEATURED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN

Kirsten Honeyman, blog writer for TWG Design Journal, recently published an article about Paul Wiseman's Belvedere Island home in The Mediterranean Garden, a publication of the international Mediterranean Garden Society. The non-profit association was founded in Greece in 1994 and acts as a forum for everyone who has a special interest in the plants and gardens of the mediterranean climate regions of the world. The forum operates through the quarterly journal, The Mediterranean Garden, with articles and book reviews written by members; through its web site; and, on a more local level, through events organized by branches formed in the countries where members live and garden. To see photographs from the article, go to the Mediterranean Garden Society website.

Photo - Doug Jones

FIELD TRIP: ROBERT OGATA AND DAL HENDERSON STUDIOS

Robert Ogata painting hangs in an SF apartment designed by The Wiseman Group Architectural Digest (April 2010) Photo - Matthew Millman

Kevin Peters, CEO and CFO of The Wiseman Group, was recently in Fresno, California. Kevin's sister, Valerie Chase, was in town on business, and Kirsten Honeyman, TWG : Design Journal blog writer, was having a garden party. Two good reasons to venture into the Central Valley!

Kevin Peters, CEO and CFO of The Wiseman Group, and Valerie Chase listen to Robert Ogata discuss his art Photos - Kirsten Honeyman

Kirsten arranged visits to two local artists' studios to help her out-of-town guests get a feel for the cultural landscape.  First stop was Robert Ogata's studio in downtown Fresno. Kevin already had some familiarity with Robert's work as there is a piece hanging in a San Francisco apartment designed by TWG. Robert's work has been available in the Bay Area at both Chandler Gallery and SFMOMA's Artists Gallery.

The group captivated by Robert sharing his ideas

The studio is housed in a vintage brick building previously used as a bus barn. The interior is quite spacious, and Robert has created a pristine, peaceful setting in which to do his art.

Fred Hunter of Dreamscape Santa Barbara and Kevin with Robert

Robert graciously explained his approach to his work, his creative process in doing his painting series, and his artistic methods. It was a delight to listen to his sophisticated discussion of the importance of following one's vision and staying true to oneself, especially in our present world of stimulus overload. He is a natural educator and an inspiration.

Robert in front of some of his newer pieces tagged to head up to SFMOMA's Artist's Gallery

Though he is 79 years of age, Robert is a prolific artist and still works five-and-a-half days a week. As a result his studio is a treasure trove of amazing works. Ready to buy a piece? Good luck narrowing it down to the one thing you want!

"Draw Partner" -- a work on paper in the dining area of Dal Henderson's home

After a nice mediterranean lunch at Meze House in the Tower District, the group headed to Dal Henderson's residence in Old Fig Garden. Dal and his wife Suzanne toured everyone around their studio/gallery/art camp home. Suzanne is a children's art teacher and runs summer art camps in their back yard. Dal is multi-talented, able to do both fine art and custom construction. As a result, they live in a jewel-box house of colorful artwork and creative design.

Praying mantis sketched in chalk on the door of the bathroom used by summer camp kids

"Specks", an acrylic piece reverse-painted on plexiglass, lighting up the master bedroom

Spencer Honeyman of ReVive Holistic Design Collective under a large acrylic entitled "62"

Kevin in the guest room next to one of Dal's large acrylics, "Flap"

Dal talked at length about his approach to his art and his unwillingness to be constrained by conventional ideas about what art is. For example, he has a series of works on paper which are digital prints created with PhotoShop. He views the computer as a legitimate art tool and sees working with it as part of the historical progression from the use of pigment, to oil paint, to acrylic, to digital color.

Dal explaining his use of the computer to make colorful works on paper

Among Dal's paintings and three-dimentional pieces, many in the group were drawn to his renditions of a simple cardboard box. Dal chose to work with the box image as a familiar cross-cultural motif. The various representations play with the notion of convention and constraint on the one hand and "thinking outside the box" on the other. He has created paintings of boxes, has cast small cardboard boxes in bronze, and uses the box motif in several of his prints. Dal will be showing at the 1821 Gallery in Fresno for the months of October and November.

"Red Flap" --  work on paper

"New Box" -- cast bronze

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IN THE NEWS: BEAUTIFUL BELVEDERE

View of the SF Bay from Belvedere Island Photo by Doug Jones

Paul Wiseman's home in Belvedere is featured in the April 2013 edition of Pacific Horticulture in an article written by TWG blogger, Kirsten Honeyman. Be sure to visit the Pacific Horticulture website to read about the historic residence and see photos of the gardens.

Entrance to the guest room framed in gorgeous succulent plantings Photo by Kirsten Honeyman

CHEZ PAUL: A DAY WITH PAUL WISEMAN

[This article first appeared on Kirsten Honeyman's lifestyle blog, La Dolce Vita California, and is reprinted here with her permission.]

Drawing - Kristi Reed

What a plum assignment! After writing about Quinta Fay (a historic ranch home in the Central San Joaquin Valley) for Pacific Horticulture, the magazine asked if I would be willing to write another article. I gladly accepted the challenge of finding a worthwhile property to feature. It had to be a unique home with a noteworthy, water-wise garden.

My search ended when, through mutual friends, I was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of Richard Snyder, attorney and erstwhile law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. After talking with Richard about the home he shares with internationally-known designer Paul Vincent Wiseman, I had a feeling I had found just the property I was looking for. I eagerly accepted his invitation to come visit them on Belvedere Island, north of San Francisco in Marin County.

The Mediteranean-style home of Richard and Paul Photo - Matthew Millman

Meeting Paul Wiseman for the first time, it quickly becomes obvious that one is in the presence of a great natural talent. As the day of my visit unfolded, his genius for interior design, gardening, and cooking revealed itself in waves.

Here's the short version of my perfect Marin day:

8:30 AM   Paul and I head to the Marin Farmer's Market. There he picks out flowers, french bread, fresh salmon, and spring vegetables for our gourmet lunch later that afternoon.

Paul picking out yellow tulips, sold with their bulbs attached Photos by the author, unless otherwise indicated

Paul gathering brussels sprouts

Kirsten pulling hard duty Photo - Paul Wiseman

9:45 AM   On the way home from the market, we make a quick detour to the couple's Mill Valley "home away from home," a charming house in a shady redwood canyon, already owned by Richard when they met one another. They have kept this home as a get-away -- as though one really needs to get away from Belvedere!

[Check the list of magazine publications at The Wiseman Group website to see coverage of this home in Architectural Digest, September 2010.]

Stone buddha heads have sprouted moss in the moist redwood canyon

10:15 AM   After a short ten-minute drive, we are back at the Belvedere house unloading market bags of fresh produce.

Munder Skiles market bag hangs at the back door

11:15 AM  After Paul whips up a delicious breakfast, Richard, a voracious reader, retires to his study; Paul heads out to tend to the garden; and I am left to happily wander their lovely home, camera in hand, soaking in its sophisticated decor, marveling at the views, and envying the lush succulent garden below.

The airy living room with its comfortable custom seating designed by Paul

Cozy window seating in the living room calls for relaxing with a good book -- if you can take your eyes off the view!

On the terrace next to the dining room, the view across the San Francisco Bay to Angel Island can be enjoyed outside

Large, healthy hybrid aloes, Aeonium, and Senecio flank the entrance to the guest room

A carpet of mixed succulents beautifully sets off large Aloe plicatilis

A wonderful mix of Aeonium and Graptoveria line the front walk

3:00 PM   After tweaking a few areas of the garden and making them even more fabulous, Paul heads to the kitchen to cook our late lunch/early dinner.

Richard and Kirsten raise a glass as sailboats catch the afternoon breeze on the Bay Photo - Paul Wiseman

Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, served with fig and olive tapenade on grilled market bread

Super-fresh salmon fillets, glazed with Just Like Grandma's red pepper jelly, and topped with perfectly cooked asparagus

4:00 PM    After we munch on crispy bread topped with olive and fig tapenade and arugula salad, Paul serves the market salmon and thin spring asparagus. In a perfect ending to a lovely, simple meal, Richard serves a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee he has roasted himself paired with a slice of homemade pear tarte prepared by Paul.

5:00 PM   I finally force myself to get in the car and drive home to Fresno, leaving Paradise behind. It's a hard life, but someone has to live it -- even if only for a day!

View to the west across the upper terrace, comfortably appointed with teak furniture from Munder Skiles

View of Sausalito from the upper terrace

Tip: Check the Pacific Horticulture Society website for their publication about this stunning home...

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