Art for the Mom Cave and a Road Block

I'm sooooo excited about the art for my home office {Mom Cave}!  Here's a hint...

"Emily's Girls" by the fabulously talented Inslee.

And then there's...

My go-to frames from WalMart (inexpensive and sturdy!).

Are you getting the picture?  I framed all of my treasures from Inslee, but held off hanging them.  You see, my beloved purple office/mom cave has got some molding in the upper portions of the walls that's just gonna have to go.  I've been fighting it, because it means repairing the walls after removing the molding AND repainting {which probably needs to be done anyway}.  In other words, this on-going Home Office/Mom Cave makeover has mushroomed.  But I realize that it's better that I really do it RIGHT and make it just like I want it.  Here's what I mean...

Just as a disclaimer, all of this molding was in place when I bought the house. :)  I've managed to work around it but am now tired of doing so... you can see how it limits your options for wall decor!  The area below the chair rail will keep the molding but become all white, so my lovely purple will have greater pop on top.  That's the plan!  Thoughts??  Feel free to share!

On a side note, my blogging schedule has been a little sketchy these past few weeks while I get my People and myself into our new "normal" this year.  Thanks for bearing with me!  I plan to be back on my regular publishing schedule after Labor Day.

In the meantime, head over to Inslee's delightful online shop and check out her prints, notecards, calendars, and more!

Happy Decorating!

Arrangement Assistance

So, you've begun your collection of art and photographs, purchasing those pieces you love and framing your treasured photographs, but you're stumped on how and where to hang them.  Sound familiar?  How about hanging a piece or a group of pieces and deciding something's not quite right?  Believe it or not, art placement is an art in and of itself.  My Museum Studies seminar in graduate school spent a great deal of time on where to put what, exploring how to create a mood, hanging in multiples, dramatic effects, and the intent behind your display.  In other words, hanging your art collection is no simple matter.

David Hassel of ILevel
image from nytimes.com

Rather than leave your treasures propped up against your walls or in the closet, get them up, but maybe get some help in doing so.  NYTimes.com cast a spotlight on David Hassel and ILevel, his art arrangement and installation consulting company, showcasing one of his most recent projects and quite a challenge at that.  What I found most surprising about his company is how affordable their services really are, so affordable that the article appears in NYT's "On The Cheap" section.  For a few hundred dollars (on average) clients are provided one or two consultants, face-to-face meetings, and actual installation (hanging) services.  When you consider what you may already have invested in your art collection, the professional touch could be the answer to doing it justice.

Google art arrangement or installations companies in your area.  I found Axis Fine Art Installation here in Atlanta, but don't let the name fool you.  They are just as happy to help arrange and install your family photographs as your they are your $3000 fine paintings.  For as little as $145, Axis will send two skilled design consultants to take care of you.  Additonal trips to your home will cost a bit extra, but if your project is small solo consultants are available for an even lower rate.

If you still can't wrap your head around paying for art arrangement services, take the do-it-yourself approach seriously.  Search websites for art arrangements that you find appealing, consult design or decor magazines for images of successful arrangements, dig through books on the topic.  My go-to guide is The Art of Showing Art, by James K. Reeve, available on Amazon.com.  Reeve discusses everything from protecting your art, installing your pieces, and documenting your investment.  After all, your collection is an investment, and should be treated as such.

Trowbridge at One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane, one of my favorite online sources for affordable and interesting decor, is offering a selection of fabulous prints from Trowbridge Gallery, again.  All are quality framed pieces for under $500.  If you have wall space to fill, this is your next stop!  Be sure to click over to view all of their selections, but here is a sampling of prints for sale.

Happy Birthday, Andy Warhol

I had a different post planned for today, but when it came to my attention that today is Andy Warhol's birthday, I felt compelled to mark the occasion here.  He is by no means my favorite artist, but the art historian in me cannot dismiss his leadership in the Pop Art movement of the 1950's.  And, you have to admit, his images have a familiarity and enormous visual appeal, whether it's the pop culture subject matter, the vibrant colors, or the repetition of a single image in a larger piece.  He was an iconic cultural figure in his own right, coining the now-familiar phrase "15 minutes of fame."  The Brooklyn Museum is hosting an exhibition that runs through September 12, 2010 entitled Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, examining a period of renewed energy, inquisitiveness, and experimentation in his work.

Most of these will be familiar to you.

My personal favorite:  Butterflies, 1955

"I don't know where the artificial stops and the real starts." 

Andy Warhol

C'est Magnifique!!

There is something about vintage French posters that just speaks to me.  Maybe because they're one of the earliest forms of advertisement, but one in which the artists could showcase their individual talents.  These artworks are usually highly sought-after at art auctions, but you can get your hands on a budget-friendly reproduction at One Kings Lane.  I'm picturing one in a child's room or in your creative work-space...or on the walls in my friend's Upper East Side apartment. :)

Tip of the Week: Beauty IS in the Eye of the Beholder!

How cliche, right?  Not so much.  I recently spent a delightful evening at an Art Auction to benefit Special Olympics of Georgia.  The auctioneer travels, with art in tow, all the way from New York, his carefully "pre-selected" pieces loaded on trucks for the journey.  This year the pieces were all framed works-- which I adore--but I was hoping for a few sculptural pieces as well.  At any rate, I was struck by the same question, drifting on the surface of conversations throughout the evening:  will this piece "go" with the rest of my decor/other art pieces/paint colors, etc?  As an amateur art collector, self-proclaimed art enthusiast, educated art historian and lover of decorating and redecorating, I have a piece of advice when it comes to purchasing art for your home.

Buy what you love.

Simple, right?  I can hear the "buts" already-- but where would I put it? but what if it doesn't match? but will it look good?  The reasoning behind my advice is truly simplistic.  If you love it, you will find a place in your home for it.  If you love it, whether or not it "matches" is really beside the point (and you may find yourself parting with other decorative pieces that suddenly pale in comparison to your treasure.).  If you love it, it will look good to YOU.

William Morris wrote: "Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful."  I would venture to say that what we find beautiful also inspires us, nutures us, and comforts us. And our home is a haven for inspiring, nuturing, comforting the ones we love.  Do it.  Buy what you love, what inspires you and brings you pleasure.  All your "buts" will fade away when you do.