Shopping for art The right piece of art can make a room pop
Monet's "Garden Path at Giverny" is reproduced by hand-painting through overstockart.com.
Be brave with your art selection; opt for one of Gustav Klimt’s symbolic pieces as reproduced to look and feel like the original.
The art that you choose for your home will be one of the major focal points in your decor. However, the range in styles, mediums and colors is endless and can make the task of selecting the right piece or pieces very challenging. There are guidelines that will help you to narrow down the search. My first rule is that you love what you buy. Price is not necessarily a factor … a painting from a new artist can make as big an impression as the well-loved masters. Art is highly personal; go with what speaks to you, and it will light up your home.
Take colors into consideration, as they set the mood for a room. Generally, you will want calm, restful shades for the bedroom, a scene that de-stresses you and prepares you for sleep. The living room is the place to hang artwork that complements your personal life interests. More vibrant hues and quirky subjects that fire up your imagination welcome guests into your world. Think about dramatic pieces for the dining room that tell a story, images that beg to be discussed, as they will draw out convivial conversation with family and guests.
Before you buy, take the time to scout out art galleries and sales, other people’s homes, magazine layouts and the Internet. This will help to educate you about what’s available, and you will discover what excites you. Then take the dimensions of the wall or space where you intend to hang the art. Follow the shape of that space with your art to achieve balance. Fill a long hall wall with either a wide, narrow painting or line up a series of smaller pictures. Don’t be afraid to fill a wall with a large painting. And keep the balance with art hung over a fireplace mantel.
To learn more about what’s on trend in the art world today, I spoke with Amitai Sasson, vice president of marketing and development for www.overstockart.com, a busy and informative online site that sells reproductions of the most popular masters, including Monet, Renoir, van Gogh, Klimt and Degas. Their goal is to make copies of the most famous and sought-after works of art that look and feel as the artist intended. The replicas are each hand-painted in oils so that the smell, texture and shine are reminiscent of the originals. Sasson believes that fine art is not just for the rich, and prices range from around $250 plus framing to higher for custom pieces. Frames link the art to the wall, and best complement the room’s style. The site has frames and a tool whereby you can pick a room and see how your painting choice will look hanging on the wall.
Shown here, a traditional, neutral living room is brought alive with French impressionist Claude Monet’s “Garden Path at Giverny.” The famous setting is bursting with color and rendered in a size that fills the space majestically. Looking at a completely different style, the colors and form of symbolist painter Gustav Klimt’s brilliant painting “Malcesine on Lake Garda” are echoed in the shapely orange chairs and floral display beneath it.
“Our living spaces change over time,” said Sasson, “and so can our art. Be daring with your art. Move it around, make a big statement.” And one final point: Be sure to light your artwork so that it is seen to advantage. This can be achieved with spots or ambient light. Enjoy the process. It is exciting!
Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.