Purrfectly Wonderful Cat Lover Gifts

Got a cat lover on your holiday list and you're pulling your hair out trying to find the perfect holiday gift for them? Think art.

If you know the basic colors inside their house, you can get them a cat inspired or themed artwork for their walls and if they have a specific breed of cat such as a Siamese or Persian you can even get them an artwork featuring a kitty that looks just like their favorite feline.

A Tom Neel piece featuring a cat in a business window with a name like "Al E. Katz" or "McKitty and Sons" will lend a whimsical air to a room.

For a more realistic look a print made from one of Cortez's original paintings will make an outstanding gift. Cortez uses a technique of layering paint so it creates a very realistic effect. One of the best loved pieces in the series of paintings is "Unmade Bed" that features two rascally felines laying in a previously well-made bed that they have now ruffled up the covers and messed up the pillows with their play.

If you're not sure what the colors in their room are, you can opt for a small sculpture piece to liven up their decor a bit. The cat themed sculptures run the gamut from the realistic to the whimsical. You can get a resin cast of Bast the Egyptian Cat Goddess or a casting made of resin from an original metal sculpture.

Fun ways to present your present would be to stencil some cats on a plain wrapping paper or even gift wrap and put a little cat shaped frame with the holiday "to and from" gift message inside where the photo would go.

Update Your Kitchen

The two rooms in your home that you will spend the most time in on the average are your kitchen and your bedroom. If you feel like your kitchen is too small or not functional enough, consider a little updating in your cooking space.

First of all, get rid of the clutter. If you don't use a particular object on a daily basis- consider it clutter and find someplace to put it. You can put up shelves or even better, use a bakers rack or a standing kitchen cabinet to hold all your items. Most cabinets will have glass doors so you can see what is within and also close away the clutter.

One old fashioned kitchen apparatus that is making a comeback in modern kitchens is the hanging pot rack. The hanging pot rack is a simple, metal circle or oval with hooks that is suspended from a chain and will hold a myriad of pots, pans and even your long handled spoons and other cooking accessories. They stay up and out of sight until needed.

Stackable bowl sets and space saver storage kits not only keep your dry goods fresh, they end the clutter and space wasting of commercially packaged products. You can pour the cereal out of the boxes and into plastic containers and thereby save space and best of all, there's no mystery as to how much your kids have left in the box - with clear plastic containers you can tell just by looking.

After you create space in your kitchen, consider updating the entire look of your kitchen with new artwork for the walls. If you have a theme in your kitchen such as the sun or roosters; get an artwork or two that reflects those elements and you'll see a brand new kitchen with just a little effort!

Entertaining in a Small Space

If you want to have some holiday gatherings of family and friends are your place but you feel it is too small, don't fret - it might just be a matter of making the most use of your space.

Before you go through the trouble of replacing your furniture or adding or subtracting items, use the items you have to their biggest potential Small bookcases can do double duty as nifty places to store wine and glasses. Just use the bookshelf as normal and on the top, put a nice tray with glasses and a two or three choices in wine.

Not enough seating? Large, overstuffed pillows can do the job of providing a comfortable place to sit for guests and they can be stacked quietly in the corner until they are needed. Recycle a broken wooden chair and trim the legs to be shorter and take the back off to make a small stool. Topped with a pillow it will make a comfy place for guests to sit.

If you don't already have some shelves - they are a cost effective storage solution and will end a lot of the clutter. Another way to open your room a little more is to switch out your window treatments for lighter colors and add a mirror or two to your walls. Mirrors create the illusion of more space and depth to your room, they also reflect light and will add to the overall feel of the room.

You may have a small space but by using some of these tips and tricks, it doesn't have to feel small!

Mad for Erte

You may not know his name, but you've certainly seen his style. Erte was born Erte Romain de Tirtoff and was of Russian descent. He lived to the ripe old age of 97 and created an incredible body of work and is considered to be among one of the most influentially unique artists of the 20th century.

When he was young he moved to Paris and embarked on an art career. He was quickly recognized as his style was unique and didn't fit into any of the known categories for art. He collected patrons quickly and thus was able to develop his talents quickly and support himself through his art.

His art influenced both artists, theater and fashions. In 1915 he won a coveted position with Harper's Bazaar and designed every single cover of their magazine for the next two decades. He is considered the father of the "Art Deco" movement and he expanded his artistry to not only canvas and print but to fashion designs and created designs for some of the biggest names of the day including Joan Crawford, Lillian Gish, Marion Davies, Anna Pavlova, Norma Shearer and more.

When he was 75, Erte was encouraged to recreate designs that called back to his youthful days in Paris and they were captured in bronze and serigraphy. Once again, the Art Deco movement came back with a stronghold in many aspects of both home and fashion.

Add a piece of Erte to your walls and experience the unique vision of this talented artist. The Rooster is a gorgeous piece that shows the bold lines and bright colors without being garish that make up the Erte style.

Make Your Room Cozy

If your main room that you have your friends and family over in seems to be seriously lacking in warmth and coziness, there are a lot of little tricks you can do to make your room radiate a warm and fuzzy feeling to all who enter.

First of all, apply the clutter rule to your room. The clutter rule is if an item hasn't been used in 1 month and it's still sitting out, find a place to put the object up and out of sight. The next mood killer for a room is the lighting. Bright lights aren't cozy. Soften up your lighting in your room with heavy shades and add a dimmer light that will allow you to warm up the mood with a flick of your wrist. Candles also put off a nice warm glow that will bring an air of warmth and friendliness to the room.

Also make a central gathering point. Put your furniture a little closer to make the spot where people sit the most into a cozy conversation pit. Seating doesn't have to be formal for these gatherings. An ottoman will serve the same function as your Queen Anne chair in the corner. A table in the middle where you can share snacks, drinks and stories will make the room even more inviting.

Next pay attention to your wall spaces. If you don't have photos of your family and friends, warm up your room with some individual touches. Also, artworks depicting love, togetherness and even a fireplace scene will continue the cozy vibe you have going on in your room.

It's easy to change the entire mood of your room with only a few additions or subtractions. If you want to have the best gathering spot for your family and friends this holiday season, use these tips and make your place the number one choice for everyone to meet up!

Art for the Holidays

Do you envy the people who seem to be able to transform their homes for every major holiday? On New Years, their homes are a collection of sparkles and newness. With silver accents and white to symbolize a new year. When February rolls around they have an abundance of hearts and flowers to celebrate the love and friendship on Valentine's Day.

If turning your house into a celebration of every major holiday throughout the year is a bigger job than you truly have time for, don't fret; just pick one holiday to celebrate and turn your house into a fun celebration of the season.

The holiday season from October through December is a perfect way to get your house in the mood for the coming celebrations of family and friends. Right after Halloween, start adding some autumn touches to your room. Burnt oranges and earthy tones will further add a tone of the season to your room. You can add pillows to your sofa and touches of dried flower arrangements to continue the colors of the season throughout your room.

As you get nearer to Christmas, you can add touches of pine cones, red and green candles on your fireplace mantle and many people set out small Nativity scenes as well. Another fun way to celebrate the holiday is to change out a couple of your art pieces on the walls with pieces that ring in the holiday season. A fun snowman, excited children on Christmas morning or a dreamy winter's night watercolor will more than fit the bill.

Use these tips and give yourself a beautiful room to celebrate the holiday season in with your family and friends.

Inspiring Artworks!

Some people purchase artworks simply because they have colors that match their decor, which is a fine idea if you're looking for a particular "vibe" for your room; however if you want something more for your room - get an inspiring piece.

Morgan Weistling has a beautiful series of inspiring prints that are not only done in colors that will meld beautifully with your home, they will also be duly inspiring for yourself.The colors in these outstanding pieces are done in a good blend of neutrals that will fit into nearly any decor, while losing none of the vibrance of the artworks.

Inspirational art is a great way to celebrate the holidays. On piece of this collection is particularly striking as it depicts a small child staring out innocently outward. The writing beneath the painting reads, "He Was One of Us" to remind all who see it that Jesus was indeed one of us. Other inspiring pieces in this series depict Jesus in many other guises such as performing miracles in "Healing the Blind Man" or in a field of lilies in another beautifully done rendition. "Kissing The Face of God" is another fine print that will be truly inspirational in your decor.


If you're going to have a gathering of your family and friends over for the holiday season, put some inspiring artworks on your walls and
inspire everyone to remember what the holidays are truly celebrating.

Duck, Duck, Goose

A fun motif to have in your home are ducks and geese. They are easy to find and lend a comfortable vibe to any home space they are used in.

In early times, it was tradition for Korean grooms to travel to the homes of their intended bearing a duck or a goose, both of which symbolize a promise for fidelity. In present day, birds which are considered to mate for life such as ducks and geese are still given as gifts. A newlywed couple may receive a pair of wooden ducks or geese to display in their homes. One symbolizes the bride and the other the groom. When the couple is happy they should be displayed facing each other. When the couple is having a spat, the statues are frequently placed tail to tail to indicate the couple isn't getting along at the moment.

If you want a duck or goose in your kitchen area and you can have a lot of options. A fun little sculpture placed on a shelf by the spice rack or an artwork on the wall such as Burton Dye's "Last One In" is a whimsical piece depicting a line of geese heading for their local swimming hole.

This open edition print has vibrant colors and is matted and framed using archival tapes and materials to ensure longevity of your print. Do not hang your print in direct sunlight and it will look brand new for years to come because of the quality of the papers and materials used in putting together this artwork.

Ducks and geese a classic way to have both harmony and a little whimsy in your decor. If you want to lighten the mood in your room, go for a little duck, duck, goose!

A Sweet Gift From the Family Guy

For the person with a truly warped sense of humor, a Family Guy gift will get them grinning this holiday season.

Family Guy originally debuted in 1999 after the Superbowl and offended pretty much everyone across the board. Family Guy managed to cross in one night the line of general good taste that the Simpsons have carefully walked for over a decade.

This animated series had two very strong voiced camps, people who loved the show because it was so far ahead of its time and others who found it to lowbrow humor at its worst. Entertainment Weekly made their perceptions on the show clear by dubbing it "the awful show they just keep putting on the air". The Fox Network eventually buried the show in a variety of frequent schedule changes and the show was cancelled in 2000 again in 2002 and the cult popularity of this show led Fox to resume production again in 2005.

The plot is centered around the goings on in a very strange Rhode Island town called Quahog and a family that puts the "fun" in dysfunctional called the Griffins. The family is Peter Griffin, the father of three children who is utterly clueless but good hearted. His wife Lois who tries to keep the family together. Meg his teenage daughter who dreams of being popular and is constantly embarrassed by her family, Chris, the teenage son who fully inherited his father's clueless nature and Stewie who has become a runaway favorite with the fans - the football headed baby bent on world domination. Brian the dog is the voice of reason in the family and enjoys a good dry martini.

This print is from the "To Live and Die in Dixie" episode. Where the Griffins get placed in the heart of Dixie courtesy of the Witness Protection Program. This print is bright colored and will arrive ready to hang - it will make a perfect gift for a Family Guy fan or as Peter himself would say, "Sweeeeet!".

Art for the Comic Book Collector

You may not know what the most collected Superman comic is and you may not have a clue that Nightwing is a comic book series that depicts young Robin after he grew up and left Batman; however you can get the comic book buff on your holiday list a present they will love in the form of an artwork based on some of their favorite collectable comics.

Whether they like long time running series such as "Batman" or newer series like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" they will love their own framed artwork from a cover design.

It's easy to be a detective on your own and find out, just make a few notes of the prints available and then casually mention you saw some cover art for sale here or there you really don't remember where and mention a great looking piece like Warner Bros. Limited Edition Print:"Kissing The Knight" which depicts Batman finally kissing Catwoman after years of tension and attraction between them. Your collecting savvy friend will probably even offer up that it's from the "Mouth of Madness" story line. This print comes framed and ready to hang right out of the box.

There are also prints available from Disney and other Warner Brothers series such as Batman: The Animated Series and well known comic book artists such as Jim Lee and Alex Ross who has an outstanding print of Superman available as well as a great piece that depicts all the members of the Justice League including Superman, Wonderwoman, Green Lantern, The Flash and ten other super heroes standing as one.

If you want to get a gift that will appreciated all year round, get the collector an unusual piece for their collection.

Artwork for a Young Child's Room

If your baby has grown into a curious and active preschooler, you'll be ready to update his room into something that will let him feel like he is not longer a baby, but a "big kid".

First of all, replace his crib with a child sized bed. There are traditional head and footboard beds and also fun beds that come in the shapes of fire engines, race cars and even fully detailed castles for a princess to sleep in.

Give special attention to every item you put in the room. Though your little one may not be prone to putting things automatically in his mouth; he will still experiment with small objects and may run a little haphazardly in his room - even though you tell him to "Walk, don't run" on a frequent basis. Make sure furniture items don't have sharp corners and don't put toys with small parts, toys that have sharp points or toys that shoot in his room. You'll eliminate the three biggest causes of accidental childhood injuries just by a little preventative maintenance.

Paint the walls a bright color. White, even scrubbable paint, will look dingy in short order. Go for bright colors or even let your child have some say in the colors for their walls, they might surprise you with their thoughtful choices. The colors are stimulating and they won't show wear as quickly as lighter colors.

As far as artwork, the sky is the limit. A good framed print of a favorite movie or book character is a good choice and a detailed artwork that you can talk about with your child and make a game out of picking out objects will not only be fun but also teach your child to look carefully at his surroundings and helps build awareness and recall.

If you're ready to upgrade your child's room, make it a fun experience and he'll even look forward to nap time in his new room!

Put a Van Gogh on Your Wall

If you want something eye catching to put on your wall and you'd like something with bold colors, go to the top of the line and put a Van Gogh on your wall.

Van Gogh's art is well known for the use of bold brush strokes and vivid colors. His art was dismissed during his lifetime and a fact about Van Gogh many people don't know is that he only sold one painting in his entire lifetime. Another painting he gave as a gift to his doctor was used a shingle for a chicken coop for many years until it was discovered and later sold at auctions for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Obviously an original may not be in the cards for you but you can own a print that is as dazzling as an original. One of Van Gogh's most celebrated paintings is called "Starry Night" and it features brilliant stars with a swirling blue background. This print is matted in a cream and blue frame to further set off the print. Framed in a gold frame this will be an outstanding addition to any art collection.

If you have a Van Gogh fan on your gift giving list, there are many pieces available in the Van Gogh collection of prints and every Van Gogh aficionado has their favorite. Try a sneaky conversation about Van Gogh and see if you can find out what their favorite painting was and get them that particular print as a holiday gift, they'll be thrilled and wonder how you knew!

The print is framed under glass and archival tapes and acid free papers are used to make this artwork long lasting. It will arrive ready to hang out of the box.

Interior Tricks To Make Your Decor Look Expensive

You don't have to have the bank account of Paris Hilton to make your room look like it was decorated by a top dollar interior designer. There are a few tricks that interior designers use to give a room a chic feel and you can do it yourself for a lot less.

First of all, clear the clutter. Expensive rooms have no clutter. Invest in a cabinet or simply move it a box in the bottom of your closet. Just remove it from sight.

Next, look around your room and write down two main colors that you see and then write down two minor colors. Your goal will be to bring the main colors together and then add accents with the two minor colors. You can use your window treatments to bring in your two main colors. As for your minor colors, use them in pillows and area rugs to highlight lesser used colors.

Another way to add "wow" to a room is to add a artwork that had your minor colors in it. A large piece that can work as an impact piece is also a good trick to use if you are decorating a larger sized room. If you have a small space that you're working with, go for a small collection of three to four small artworks will look outstanding. If your budget won't allow for an original, go for a brush stroked print. The brush strokes appear on the print and when matted and framed under glass, it will look like for all the world as an original artwork on your walls. You can get a Monet in a brush stroked print or a lesser known artist.

Use these little tricks to give your room an expensive look and feel and no one has to know you really didn't spend an arm and a leg to do it.

Strange Love

There is not much stranger of a relationship than the one that is played out in the pages of DC Comics and on the "Batman-The Animated Series" than the relationship between Harley Quinn and the Joker.

The story of how they met goes that Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a beautiful blonde doctor was working at Arkham Asylum as a psychiatrist where the Joker was incarcerated for life. She was attracted to him immediately and fell in love with him completely. She helped him escape, had her license revoked and wound up a patient along side her "Mister J".

During an earthquake, Harley escaped with the Joker and they become partners in crime. Joker and Harley have an on-again and off-again relationship. During one off-again moment, the Joker tells Harley as he puts her into a rocket ship that "I've noticed some changes coming over me since you came into my life. I've been reminded what it was like to be part of a couple. To care for someone who cares for me. It's the first time in recent memory I've had those feelings... And I hate having those feelings!" With that said - he launches the rocket sending an infuriated Harley into space, but as with great love stories, he soon misses her and they wind up back together as only a comic book couple can.

If you'd like a print of your favorite dysfunctional comic book couple, Alex Ross has a print out of a well known comic cover that features the Joker and Harley in a close embrace. Alex used his own likeness for the Joker and the piece is striking. This is a limited edition of only 250 and will arrive ready to hang. Now that you know the inside story of the Joker and Harley, add them to your walls and make this vibrant piece part of your personal collection.

Send a Message - Love Will Find a Way

Adding artworks that carry a message is a unique way to get a "theme" going in your decor. If you are a true believer that love will indeed find a way through any hardship life can throw at you. Or you and your partner are living proof that hard times make good loves - there is a Paul Horton sculpture that will truly touch your heart.

Paul Horton's "Love Will Find A Way" is part of a limited edition of 395 resin cast sculptures that look and feel like the real deal. The sculpture features a detailed dog holding a brightly colored flower and a sack tied on a stick in a classic runaway pose. The dog's fur is etched into this piece in great detail. The dog and the sack and stick are all done in muted shades of pewter; however the flower rings out with a beautiful shade of red and makes this sculpture a very eye catching addition to your decor.

It has a flat base that is slightly wider than the sculpture itself and will sit beautifully on a favorite console table or on your desk to remind you every time you look it, no matter how annoyed you get with your partner, sometimes you need to step back and remember who has always had your back and you know that title of this sculpture is true, "love will find a way".

This would make a fantastic gift for a young couple celebrating their first year together as man and wife or if you have a dog lover on your holiday gift list, this piece is sure to speak volumes to them. Your sculpture will come with a certificate of authenticity and a numbered card so you know which one of the limited edition it is.

Go Wild in Your Design

If you want something to create a fun yet elegant tone to your room, consider adding a piece or two of designer framed art. There's something about monkeys that brings a smile to nearly everyone's face and now you can have a surefire smile maker on your wall in the form of a designer made pair of tiles that feature a monkey on each one.

Feng shui is the creation of balance within your room and if you use this method of design in your decor, you know the value of adding pairs of items to create harmony along with the spirit of the monkey that is said to bring wisdom and bit of good natured mischief to any room they grace.

These monkey tiles were created by the artist Swartzendruber and come in a set of two. The dimensions of each framed tile are 24 inches by 28 inches and the tiles are surrounded by filets and mats to create a real one-of-a-kind piece that will garner a lot of attention in your room. The piece is framed using archival (acid free) tape and mounted and framed using museum quality materials. The finished framed piece has a paper dustcover and will arrive ready to hang with the hardware attached. You can literally pop this set of exquisite tiles out of the box and find a place that you think they would look best on your walls.

If you want to add something to your walls that will wake up your room, add a designer touched artwork with something a little wild, like monkeys!

Gifts the Sportsman Will Love

The outdoor loving sportsman on your holiday list can be a hard duck to buy for.

A Jim Killen print will make an outstanding gift. His lifelike renderings of faithful labs carrying back ducks, mallards flying overhead, Canadian geese and other common wildlife scenes brought to breathtaking life will enhance any sportsman's den.

Most of the print series are limited editions. This means that a set number of prints will be made from an original painting and those are numbered with a unique number like 1/450 will you have purchased print number one in a set of four-hundred and fifty. Once the four-hundred and fiftieth print is sold, the run is closed and no more will be sold. This ensures that your print is a one of a kind and unique.

If your sportsman would prefer something like a Wildlife Regulator Clock. These clocks are one foot wide and two feet tall and are handcrafted from solid red oak from Wisconsin. The clock runs on a AA battery and you get a choice of several images to put in the bottom of the clock that will reflect an aspect of the outdoors that your sportsman likes the best. This clock makes an outstanding gift and also comes with a one-year warranty.

Also, consider a sculpture of a flying duck, a strutting pheasant or a regal buck with his antlers held high. All will make wonderful gifts for the sportsman on your gift list!

Things Worth Keeping

Steve Hanks does delightful artworks that are richly colored, incredibly detailed and nearly lifelike in appearance. If you are already a collector of his works, you know any piece he releases in a print will be as outstanding as the original work itself.

An outstanding piece in his limited edition print collection is his piece, "Things Worth Keeping". This print is only one in a small series of 95 prints total in the entire series. The print features a series of things that a young girl may have kept in her room until the time she grew up and became a woman.

Items such as a cherished dolls, Cabbage patch dolls, Teddy bears that look like they were loved and played with for years and years are all scattered across a young girl's bed along with all her other carefully saved toys from years gone by. In the middle of the bed is a snoozing newborn baby, who is now the most treasured part of her now adult life.

This piece is done in soft colors and the attention to detail is breathtaking. The print is done on a giclee print and will be a brilliant addition to any art collection. You have numerous matting and framing options to ensure that the print you get will meld into your individual color scheme of your home decor seamlessly. If you have someone on your gift giving list that has recently added a child or grandchild to their family, this print would be a thoughtful and well received gift.

Impact Pieces in Your Decor

Sometimes a room needs something dramatic to really wake it up. That is known as an impact piece.

You can use a myriad of items to create an impact piece. Create a focal point in your room using a sculpture on a short column and add tall plants on either side to accent it. Another way to add an impact piece is to add a resin cast medallion that is lightweight and can be hung in the center of your ceiling (also referred to as your "5th wall").

You can also use artwork to create an outstanding impact piece. The type of artwork you want to add on your wall is entirely up to you. Think eye catching and think bold. If you only have fine art on your walls, consider adding a striking photograph to your collection. Put it in a solid black frame and a simple white mat will make it really stand out in your room.

Steve Hanks has a set of three limited edition prints that feature a woman at the bottom of the stairs, the climbing the stairs and finally at the top of the stairs. These three prints hung together will make a real impact in your room and tell an inspiring story of a woman who began a journey and at the top of the stairs is looking out at a new beginning. Steve didn't use the same model for the final painting that he used for the first to in order to get the idea across that we are not the same person that the end of a journey that we were at the beginning.

Horses and Wolves - Symbols of Freedom

Nothing says freedom more than the image of a running horse or a wolf in the forest with the pack.

If you have a love of freedom or you have a real free spirit on your holiday gift list, you can't go wrong with a print that resonates one of the things they cherish the most : freedom.

Judy Larson has a beautifully done line of imaginative renditions of both wolves and horses that are sure to please. Almost all the works are limited edition series meaning that your numbered print in the series will be unique and won't be reissued. A limited edition print is as good as an original painting to many art collectors as it is unique and one of a kind.

One outstanding piece that will fit into any decor is her darkly popular piece, "Intent". It features a lone wolf between two trees in the forest and the only color in the painting is brought in through the beautifully captured fall leaves that wind around the painting.

If horses are more to your liking, a piece featuring a white and dappled running mustang will bring pure freedom to life. She also has a beautiful print of an American Indian painted pony, complete with feathers.

No matter if you want a special treat for yourself or someone special on your gift list, you can't go wrong with the gift of art.

A Cat of Many Seasons

If you have a cat lover on your holiday list that also has a quirky, fun sense of humor, you will most definitely want to put a Bryan Moon print down on your gift giving list for them.

Moon has been painting realistic cats in very unreal settings and the result is a brilliant executed piece of art that is whimsical and detailed. "The Peace Treaty" is a detailed piece that depicts an Old West setting with Native American cats exacting a peace treaty with the cowboy clad settler cats.

Another artwork that will please any Old West fan, is the "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". This piece shows the two famous outlaws at cats on horseback, looking over the horizon for the ever present posse that was always on their proverbial tails, which can be seen in this artwork.

You have numerous framing options and a choice in colors for both an inner and outer mat. You can pick the best frame and mat colors to match your interior design or the interior decor color scheme for someone else if you're purchasing this print as a gift. These are open edition prints, meaning there is no specific number being printed and at the size of 15 inches by 16 inches, they aren't a huge commitment for a wall space.

Any of Moon's works will make a fun gift for a cat lover and if you have someone who already collects his works, they will be truly purring with satisfaction at your thoughtful choice in gifts!

Bring a Different Kind of Turkey to Thanksgiving

If you have a special Thanksgiving dinner to attend and you want to give the hosts a special gift and you find you won't have time to whip up your signature dish, consider bringing a different kind of turkey to help celebrate the togetherness with your family and friends.

A gift of a limited edition print by Jim Kapser titled "Acorn Hunt - Turkey" is a beautiful way to bring a little holiday spirit along with you. As a limited edition, each print in the series is numbered and when the run ends - it is final. So you can be assured of not only giving an artwork that is pleasing to the eye but also know you have purchased a gift that is truly unique.

The piece features soft earthly colors that will blend well in nearly any decor and is an artwork of a fall woods setting with a quiet stream flowing through it. The wild turkeys are busily harvesting acorns as they fall from the fall colored trees above. The print is 17 inches by 25 inches and you need only choose the color mat and type of frame you would like to put your gift in. It will arrive framed under glass and ready to hang. If you would like to personally mat and frame this piece yourself, you can purchase the print only.

This Thanksgiving, bring a turkey that has no calories and will result in no leftovers but bring everyone that views it lots of smiles!

For the Sponge Bob Fan

Children and adults alike love the whimsical nonsense of Sponge Bob Square Pants. The theme song is infectious and the stories will make young and old laugh out loud. The series centers on Sponge Bob who lives in pineapple under the sea in a place called Bikini Bottom. He lives next door to his best friend Patrick Starfish who is a little lacking in the brains department and Sponge Bob works as a cook at the Krusty Krab owned by the notoriously cheap, penny pinching but lovable Mr. Krabs.

If you're a collector of all things Sponge Bob, you can get a limited edition hand painted Sponge Bob cel. The piece is called ,"The Story Tartar Sauce" and a brief synopsis of the story goes that King Neptune's crown was stolen and Mr. Krabs was wrongfully accused of the theft. Sponge Bob and Patrick embark on a journey to get the King's Crown back and clear Mr. Krab's good name.

Each cel in the series was produced by a Nickelodeon Networks approved ink and paint artist. Additionally, each cel features 4 silk-screened line colors, 5 hand-inked line colors and 18 Nick-approved paint colors­ and is paired with a fine-art giclee background. Each cel is matted and framed under glass to ensure longevity of the piece and mats and frames can be customized to match your individual decor.

If you want to add a sense of whimsy and fun to your art works, add one of these one of a kind limited editions to your private collection.

When Pigs Fly - Interesting Art

If you're interested in adding a truly unique piece to your art collection, consider adding art with a message such as with the whimsical imagery in the James Christian's "When Pigs Fly".

Everyone has heard the saying, "When Pigs Fly", this artwork portrays the impossible as happening and reminds the viewer that just because someone says something can't be done, doesn't mean it can not be accomplished.

This is a very detailed artwork depicting a hunchbacked person walking holding a candle. In Christensen's art, the hunchback represents the imperfect "everyman" and the candle he carries signifies his wisdom and faith. The hunchback trudges blindly forward and is completely oblivious to the flying pigs just over his shoulder and the fact that the wall behind him is changing as he walks forward from a plain stone look to a bold black and white checkerboard look.

You can have this piece matted and framed under glass and this is a limited edition run of 350 prints only so the piece you choose will truly be one of a kind. If you're looking for an outstanding one of a kind gift for someone special, you can't go wrong with a limited edition print, you can easily have the piece customized to match the decor of the recipient. If the person on your gift list has a whimsical sense of humor - this piece will delight their funny bone every time they view it.

Matt Rinard - A Little Naughty But Very Nice

Matt Rinard's works aren't for everyone but if you were blessed with a great sense of humor, his works will have you smiling upon first glance.

Matt brings a great sense of humor to his whimsical works such as in his S2 series that includes his well known "weenie dogs" and has such funny artworks as "Inferiority Complex" which features three dogs in a box next to three cats and the dogs are for sale while the cats are free. Other humorous offerings include, "Bottled Water is For Wimps" and features one of his famous dogs drinking out of a common commode.

Other works in this series include the very funny, "Bad Dog" which features a dog using their owner's ATM card. "Attack of the 50 Foot Weenie" which is a take off on some of the bad 1950's movies in the same genre and another fun piece that has a weenie dog at a fortune telling cat's domicile hearing his fortune "One Day You Will Be Neutered".

Matt's works are outstandingly fun and strongly colored. You will have a choice having the piece sent to you as a print only or you can have it framed in a classic black frame under clear plexiglass.

If you want to add to your art collection or you have someone on your gift giving list that loves "weenie dogs", a Matt Rinard artwork may be appearing on a wall near you in the future!

Give a Gift Certificate

Stumped for the perfect gift? Sometimes the best gift of all isn't one that you but one that you let the recipient have the freedom of picking out. Who knew Aunt Agnes really would have liked the photo print of a pig diving into a lake by Michael Sowa? You may not have ever guessed your father would enjoy a floral print in his den. Sometimes we can't guess the tastes of other people and if you are not one-hundred percent sure what to get someone on your holiday list, then consider getting them a gift certificate to use at their leisure.

They can use their gift certificate at any time during the year and if they want to spend it to get a print of a photo or a favorite artwork it will work at any time; all they need to do is find the item that strikes their fancy, order it with a click of their mouse and then use their gift certificate when they check out securely online. The beautiful thing about giving a gift certificate is that it is always the right size and it allows the gift recipient to choose exactly what they would like to see on their walls or on a special shelf they have reserved for a sculpture.

If you're having trouble deciding what to get for someone on your gift giving list, make your holiday shopping easy and get them a gift certificate.

Reel Scary!

If you are looking for a really cool and unusual gift for the horror movie fanatic on your gift giving list, there is a very good way to give them a thrill when they open their present from you.

Movie posters of classic horror films such as "Creature from the Black Lagoon", "Dracula", "Frankenstein" and more are all available in limited edition reproductions of the original movie house posters. The original posters are hard to come by and can cost thousands of dollars. These reproductions are made from the original posters and are printed on acid free paper to ensure they will gives years upon years of enjoyment.

This series is only available through authorized dealers for The Reel Scary Monster series and is licensed exclusively to S2 Art Group by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. You will have the choice of getting your print matted and framed or get a print only and let the recipient choose how they want to display the piece. Please order early for custom framed items as they take three to four weeks for delivery. Make sure the recipient knows there are several classic films available in case they'd like to start a collection!

No matter which print you choose, this is a gift that will be thrilling all throughout the year.

Giving the Gift of Art

Giving the gift of art doesn't have to a big and bulky painting in an enormous frame that is going to take up precious wall space in the recipient's home. If you want to give someone a gift of art, you can get them a smallish print or sculpture piece that will not be a huge space commitment on the wall and will look stylish as well.

You can choose from fine art, whimsical pieces that will bring a smile to the recipient every time they see it on their wall or go for a personalized piece that allows you to enter a phrase that means something to the both of for a truly one of a kind piece of art.

If your gift recipient is a collector of a particular artist or liked a certain animal such as cats, pigs or fish, you can get them an art piece that will meld right in with what they love to collect. Another great way to give a gift of art is to have it ready to hang. Buy the piece and have the frame, mat and glass already on the piece so all your recipient has to do is find a place on their wall for the artwork.

Sculptures can be wrapped in a pretty scarf that is a gift as well or if you got a sculpture that will allow it, put a big, fat red bow on the sculpture and watch the receiver bust into a grin.

There are so many ways to give art; if you need some holiday ideas use these tips to get the best gift for that hard to buy for person on your holiday list!

Collectormania

If you enjoy shopping for holiday presents, you probably really love the collectors on your gift giving list. They make buying gifts oh so easy!

Have someone that loves to collect horses or western art? Get them a limited edition print featuring running mustangs, cowboys on the plains or Native Americans in an encampment or riding painted war horses. There are so many choices. You aren't just limited to items that can be hung on a wall. Get a sculpture to be displayed on a desk, table or shelf. You can get them in any size. Angels, cats and even large hearts can make the perfect gift.

If you want to be sneaky and get the colors right for your friend's house. Pay a visit to them and either sneak a few shots around the house with your cell phone camera if you have one or just make a note to yourself of the dominate colors in the room and you can be assured of getting a gift that will match the decor perfectly.

Prints will arrive matted and framed under glass and ready to hang. You can present the gift of a sculpture in its own box it is shipped in or put it in a gift box of your own. Either way, your gift recipient is sure to be thrilled!

One of a Kind

If you want to give someone a gift that is as unique and individual as the person receiving the gift, give them a gift that is one of a kind.

A limited edition print is always a hit. There are limited edition prints to suit literally every taste and if your gift recipient is a clown with a whimsical taste to the austere collector of museum quality memorabilia, you can find a print to please.

The very nature of a limited edition print series makes it one of a kind. A print run may only be 100 prints in the series and each one will be numbered 1/100, 2/100 and so on. This designates that the print is number one in a series of one hundred prints and so on. In many limited editions, the print is signed and numbered by the artist making it even more of a collector's prize.

And don't think a print has to be a printed paper. Prints come in a myriad of styles and designs. You can get 3-D prints with raised sculpture like qualities and you can also get the ingenious series of Brushstrokes. These are created through a state of the art process in which artists use the finest quality oil paints to highlight each image by hand on a printed canvas making your print appear as an original work of art. Every Brushstrokes painting arrives ready to hang in a museum-quality frame, expressly chosen to compliment the beauty of the painting itself. Each frame is made of hand-finished seasoned woods. To protect and preserve its integrity, each painting is numbered and authenticated on the back of the canvas, then framed and delivered according to the sequence in which orders are received - until the edition limit is reached. If you're worried about a new edition of the print line being issued, Brushstrokes cancels all materials used in the creation of the limited editions and the edition is closed forever. That way you can be assured of giving a gift that is truly one of a kind!

Gifts That Even Make Scrooge Smile

If you want to give a gift to someone who is very hard to buy for and they tend to look at any gift as too extravagant but you want to get them something, Gallery Direct has gifts that will even make Scrooge smile.

Sculptures are usually great pieces to give for gifts as they require no wall space and most people consider them a little more "artsy" as even a reproduction will show touches of the artist. Each chisel stroke or finger push on a clay will show in the sculpture. Hunters and sports people will enjoy a sculpture from the wild wings series; game animals such as moose and deer and for the wild at heart, mustangs running in a herd will make a fabulous statement. For the person that enjoys all types of fishing, a jumping bass will make a neat accompaniment on their desk.

Should the gift need to be more personal, a sculpted herd will certainly convey your feelings to the recipient and there are also humorous pieces that will make them smile. "Messages from Wolves" is an outstanding piece that carries any message you want to write to the recipient. From the message "Dare to Dream" to "You are the Best". Whatever you want to say to the recipient, the wolves will say for you. The piece itself contains three wolves and a sycamore that is ready to be engraved with the message of your choice. This piece is cold cast from the original relief carving in the mountains of Arizona and meticulously hand-painted. This is a limited edition of 3,000 signed and numbered sculptures. A Certificate of Authenticity is included. You may include a personalization of up to six lines containing ten characters each.

If you want to give a gift with a meaning, this one is an outstanding one.

Planning a Gathering

It's easy to throw a party during the holidays and you don't have to wrack your brain, spend an arm and a leg or spend the entire time in the kitchen either.

For a Thanksgiving gathering of your family and friends you can opt to go two ways, have a smorgasbord and invite everyone to bring a dish which will completely free you from kitchen duty; or if you want to be the "hostess with the mostess" carefully plan your meal and you can make several things a day or so in advance and only have to make a glorious turkey and a few other items for a Thanksgiving Day feast.

You can make your cranberries and other cold salads a day or so in advance, go ahead and make your rolls a day before and you will only have to pop them in the oven. Make sure your turkey is defrosted the day before Thanksgiving as many a dinner has been delayed because of a rock hard frozen turkey that someone forgot to thaw for Thanksgiving Day. Fresh veggies such as corn on the cob, green beans with toppings such as bacon and Vermont cheese sticks are all Thanksgiving favs and easy to make as pie. Speaking of pie, you can make your pies a day in advance and if your guests want a warm piece of pie, simple slice and put their plate in the warm oven after you've taken out the turkey.

You can make a lovely centerpiece from found objects around your home such as pine cones, fall leaves and acorns can make a stunning centerpiece arranged around a candle. Also, add a Thanksgiving artwork to your wall nearest your dining room table to encourage more of a holiday spirit.

A little planning can help your day come off without a hitch!

Help Celebrating Hanukkah

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights and people of the Jewish faith celebrate it usually around the end of December. It falls on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or rarely early January as in the Hanukkah of January 2005–2006.

The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on. The lights are traditionally lit on a Menorah. A candle holder that holds eight candles.

The traditional story that commemorates Hanukkah is that at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.

After prayer and lighting the candles, there is usually a feast of traditional foods, breads fried in olive oil and potato pancakes are another tradition and in Israel, many eat deep fried donuts. You can also hang an artwork in the room you will be holding your Hanukkah gathering that will help set the mood, such as a lovely detailed print of a Menorah.

All of these things combined can help you pull off a great celebration with your family and friends during the Festival of Lights.

Mirrors Don't Have to Be Square

If you want to use the old trick of adding a mirror or three to a small space such as a foyer or a small room in your home to give it the illusion of being a little larger, great now you just have to choose a mirror to fit your decor!

Many people don't want a boring square cut mirror in a square cut frame on their walls, if you want every piece on your walls and in your home to perform a function of contributing to your overall decor, you're in luck! There are a huge number of mirrors to choose from and they range in shapes and sizes from small to large and come with scrollwork, round, circular and in unusual and whimsical frames. If an ethereal mood is what you're going for in your decor, try a mirror that has a moon frame. A crescent moon forming a half circle around a round cut mirror within will add an elegant and serene look to your room.

In a foyer, go for a tall skinny mirror that will catch as much length as possible and when someone enters your foyer it will give the full illusion to the eyes that the area is much longer than it appears and the area will feel a lot more spacious. If you're using smaller mirrors to decorate a room - put them around a room and they will randomly expand the room in the mind's eye and give a feeling of more openness around the room rather than using one large mirror in one place only in the room. Either way works but if you have a very small space, several smaller mirrors will perform the same trick that one large mirror will perform without calling any attention to themselves besides looking beautiful on your walls.

An Apple a Day...

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie, "Snow White" is when the evil queen assumes the form of an old woman selling apples and gives a poisoned one to Snow White, who eats it and falls into a deep sleep that can only be awakened by a kiss from her true love.

This scene has been brought to life by artist John Alvin in this limited edition series of 195, each is signed by the artist. John has designed and illustrated some of the world's most recognizable cinema art. He has worked on movies such as E.T. - the Extra-Terrestrial and has produced many special editions for Lucasfilm Ltd.'s Star Wars phenomenon.

Alvin is known for both his design of the Star Wars Concert and Star Wars Tenth Anniversary poster which are highly sought after by collectors of Star Wars Memorabilia. Disney sought Alvin out to produce their limited edition prints for some of their classic movies such as Snow White and the results have been breathtaking.

If you need a cool gift this holiday season and you have someone that loves the classic Disney movies or they just love to collect "the bad guys" in their collection, this print would make an outstanding gift for them. The print titled, "The Fairest in the Land" is size 20 inches by 15 inches and comes in your choice of matting and framing. The piece itself is outstanding in its rich colors and details and you can even see the detail of Snow White's face in the apple as it is being handed to her by the evil queen in disguise.

Get your own signed and numbered limited edition print or make the collector of film memorabilia on your gift list very happy this holiday season with this rare and unusual gift!

Fall Style

You don't have to be stuck with the same room winter, spring, summer and fall. You can plan your decor to reflect the cool and breezy style throughout the fall months and change it as the seasons go with just a few changes.

It's easy to get bored with your decor. Looking at the same couch, same tables and same chairs along with the same art on the walls can get really dull and you can feel the twinges of cabin fever during the winter months if you don't do something about it. Making a seasonal centerpiece is one way to add a little seasonal pep to your room. Use falling leaves, pine cones and other readily available items to make a beautiful centerpiece for your table and arrange it around a yummy pumpkin scented candle for a little more season feel.

Move your artworks around on your walls and add a seasonal piece too. Robert Duncan's "Fall in the Kingdom" is a great addition to your walls. This print has all the rich earthy colors of fall and will meld nicely into nearly any decor.

Other additions you can make are to add homey touches such as a handmade quilt draped dramatically on a sofa or chair, whether of your own design or a gently handed down heirloom is up to you; quilts add a wonderful sense of warmth to a room. Soften your lighting and you will find your room instantly changed to a cozy and warm room for the fall season.

A Must Have for the Tim Burton Fan

Think ahead to the holidays and put this little number down on your gift giving list for the Tim Burton fan.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" was a wildly popular film about different holiday towns that didn't really know each other existed and when the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington gets bored being the King of Halloween, he walks all night and winds up standing before a circle of trees with doors on them and then goes inside one door and finds Christmastown full of snow, lights, presents and the mysterious "Sandy Claws". Jack decides he wants to celebrate Christmas and take the place of Sandy Claws for a night and a lot of mix-ups ensue in the form of scary Christmas gifts, dead animals for hats and other "tricks" from Halloweentown.

This Tim Burton animated classic delighted both children and adults alike and the magic has been captured in a Framed Giclee Triptych: "Trick or Tree". A triptych is a series of three artworks that when placed together form three distinct pieces of one whole piece together.

This print edition is detailed available in two styles, paper and canvas. Fans of the movie will be thrilled to see that the three deckle-edged giclee prints on paper and mats are printed with the pattern from Sally's-rag-tag-dress - the other version of this set is printed on canvas and the dress pattern is not used on the edges of the canvas edition.

This fine art Limited Edition Giclee is limited to approximately 100 works and the triptych when framed is approximately 20 inches by 50 inches. If you're looking for an unusual and unique gift for the Tim Burton fan on your list, consider yourself Sandy Claws this year and give them an artwork that will thrill them this holiday season.

A Sexy Gift

"She's not really bad, she's only drawn that way". That's one of the most quoted lines from Walt Disney's ground breaking animated film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?".

In the movie, Jessica Rabbit was the wife of famed and soon to be framed star of Toon Town, Roger Rabbit. She was a combination of Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall and Jane Russell and even her hair style was borrowed from another real life siren of the screen, Veronica Lake. The voice of Jessica was brought to life by Kathleen Turner, another sultry siren in her own right.

While animated characters interacting with real life actors was nothing new, Jerry of Tom and Jerry fame had danced with Gene Kelly in 1945's Anchors Aweigh, however Jessica made history because she was much more complex than the previous 2-dimensional characters seen in animated films. Every detail was paid to her lights and shadows and even the sparkle of her dress was achieved through the creative use of a plastic bag that was scraped with steel wool and then had a light shining through it requiring three layers of animation. The only scene that Jessica's dress actually sparkles is the nightclub scene as at the time, doing special layered effects like this to an animated film, even a Disney film, was too costly and time consuming.

This stunning scene is available as a limited studio edition giclee print titled, "Sultry Siren of Toontown" and will make an outstanding gift for anyone that loves to collect scenes from their favorite movies or if you just want a bit of movie history for own walls, as this was the first full use of computer animation used in a major animated film. The giclee print is vivid and bright and is printed on premium-quality, acid-free paper with a printer specially modified for fine art reproduction.

Awesomely Ozzy

The Osbournes took what seemed to be the average family with a husband and wife their son and daughter and followed their adventures for a few years. This series turned out to be a wildly popular television series for MTV and the Osbournes proved anything but average. The Osbournes consisted of legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne, his no-nonsense wife Sharon, daughter Kelly who followed in her father's footsteps and son Jack.

The series followed Ozzy's struggle to stay clean and sober and then recovery from an accident he suffered while riding a 4-wheeler on his estate that resulted in numerous broken bones and near death for Ozzy, Sharon's battle and eventual victory over cancer, Kelly's struggle to make it as a recording star in her own right and beat a drug addiction that had taken hold of her life and Jack's attempt to stay sane through it all.

The series made new fans for Ozzy who already had a legendary legion of dedicated hard rocking fans from his years as the lead singer for Black Sabbath and then as a solo performer. A great addition to any Ozzy Collection would be a 24kt Ozzy Osbournes Framed Gold Record : "Crazy Train ". This gold record is part of a limited edition of just 2500 pieces in the collection and each 24kt Gold Plated Record is beautifully matted and framed. They are framed under glass with an aluminum frame.

If you need a great gift or you just want something rockin' for yourself, this will make an unusual and hard to find addition to your collection of Ozzy and rock-n-roll memorabilia.

A Christmas Gift for the Hostess

Think ahead to the holidays and you can have all your Christmas shopping done well ahead of time and even surprise the hostess of your holiday party with a special gift.

It's simple to get your shopping done early. Make a list of everyone you know and like. Include people from work, neighbors, people who perform services such as your postal delivery person or the person that delivers your newspapers and also people from your church and any clubs you belong to. It can turn into a very large list very quickly.

Next, beside each name, write "Card" or "Gift". Take your budget strongly into consideration. It would be great to get everyone a gift but for some budgets it is just not possible. Then, from your "Gift" list whittle down who will get homemade gifts such as cakes and cookies and who will get purchased items. Now you know who you need to buy for. Keep this list with you so you can make notes and purchase items as you find them - on sale is even better - and then you will have the majority of your holiday shopping completed by the time the holidays do roll around and you can enjoy them instead of fighting the traffic and the people in a rush to shop.

For your favorite hostess that throws the Christmas party you truly look forward to attending every holiday season, give her a gift she will treasure for years to come in the form of a Thomas Kinkade piece of framed art. "Memories of Christmas " is a beautifully done open edition print that is complete with a quote that reads,"May your Christmas memories be filled with love of family and the warmth of home".

This will make a gift she will look forward to hanging on her wall every holiday season and may perhaps keep up to keep the giving spirit of the holiday season flowing throughout the year.

Waiting on Halloween

Have you ever thought of adding a piece of Halloween art to your decor? It doesn't have to be all scary skeletons or witches. There is a very charming piece by the artist Steven Hanks titled "Waiting on Halloween" that features two children sitting on a huge carved pumpkin in their costumes waiting for the chance to go out trick or treating. The original piece was done in oils and the details captured in the print are breathtakingly beautiful.

The colors in this vivid print are outstanding and will blend with nearly any decor. You will get your choice of mats and frames and it will arrive ready to hang. If you enjoy hanging seasonal artworks in your home, this one will take you from Halloween right through to the beginning of winter with its fall feel. If you have someone special in your life that is a huge fan of Halloween and they tend to "spookify" their homes all throughout the year, this print would make an outstanding gift for them and will most likely be a treasured piece on their walls all year round.

This particular print is an open edition meaning there are no set numbers of prints that may be made off this artwork and each one is hand signed by the artist. If you love to collect personally signed pieces or you have someone special that does on your gift giving list, this would be an ideal treat to give for the upcoming holiday season.

Halloween only rolls around once a year, give a gift that will be a real treat or just treat yourself to a fun artwork that will add a sense of whimsy without being loud or blaring in your decor.

Add Some Splashes of Non-Color

Sometimes all your interior needs is a little non-color to make your decor a little more alive. No matter if you've gone Shabby Chic or with a modern looking Eames theme in your interior, a splish here of white or a splash there of white will make your decor brighter and more welcoming. White is often jokingly referred to as the non-color as it is comprised of no colors just as black is comprised of a combination of all colors.

When you think "white" what do you think? Clean, calm and open. Those are all feelings you can bring to your room when you use primarily white pieces at regular intervals around your room. You can use items like white vases holding brightly colored flowers for a great contrast or choose white pillows to set off your sofa.

Also look towards your walls for help. A primarily simplistic piece that is mainly white such as David Brega's framed art print "White on White" is a cool choice that will incorporate the basic colors of your room along with adding that necessary bit of whiteness to your decor. The piece is a simple bucket with eggs on a country barn half door. The print is matted in a cream mat and is further accented by a sturdy frame in your choice of color.

If you're looking for an economical way to brighten up your interior, look around your room and switch out a few items in the non-color.

Go a Little Surrealist in Your Collection

Surreal art is often misunderstood as only being on the border of being ridiculous but often it is thought provoking. Surrealism got its start as both an artistic movement and a way of thinking that gained great popularity during the 1920s.

It has its roots in Dadaism which basically angled that traditional art should be placed with something out of the ordinary and create an entirely new piece that made the viewer see both the artwork and the added item in a new light. Surrealism took that a step further and incorporate traditional art techniques to showcase things and ideas both tangible and intangible.

Much as Virginia Wolf used "stream of consciousness" writing; automatic drawing using pencils for sketches was used frequently by artists who let their deepest subconscious dictate what was displayed on the canvas. Other surrealism aspects were later based on Jung's theory that all humans possess an innate ability to interpret the "true" meaning of images.

Both Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso practiced early forms of surrealism in some of their most imaginative works. Another fun piece that is very surrealistic is Hanna Kay's surreal "Tree and Pipes" which is a neat journey through a series of tangles tree roots and industrial pipes that creates a puzzle like image. The piece is a limited edition print and can be framed to match your decor.

If you want to add an artwork that will most definitely become a conversation piece to your collection - add a surreal piece!

Limited Edition Sculptures Make Great Gifts

With the final quarter of the year upon us, many people are starting to think holiday gift buying thoughts and if you want to get someone a gift they will truly adore - check out getting them a limited edition sculpture.

Sculptures are idea art pieces to give as gifts because they take up no wall space and are not a space commitment besides a little bit of table top or shelf space to display them. Unlike a print, a sculpture is also a more intriguing gift for many people as the artist actually handled the piece and worked on it. For people that enjoy collecting a particular artist's work - this is always a selling point.

Sculptures can be whimsical, serious or thought provoking. If you're giving a sculpture as a gift - choose wisely as someone with a rather serious nature probably won't be as appreciative of a sculptured dog with "Bad to the Bone" emblazoned on it as your practical joke loving uncle who would absolutely love such a gift.

Another way to give a sculpture as a gift is to give a set of sculptures as a wedding gift. Many cultures consider the giving of pairs as a wedding gift a sign of your belief the union is a good one and the giving of pairs is said to being luck to the new couple. A great item to give any pair of newlyweds is a limited edition sculpture called "The Lovers". It is a stylized pair of cats that are displayed closely together and their inner bodies form a heart between the two pieces.

Make an Impact

Sometimes to really make a room "pop" you need to add something to it that is unexpected and lively.

Once you have your decor in place the way you want it, start looking for something that will serve as an impact piece. You will have a lot of choices. Commonly used items include a console table in front of a window with a truly large and elegant plant. If you have a decidedly brown thumb, consider a large painting of a plant over your sofa. Something bold and beautiful. If you prefer realism, go for a portrait of a fern or a basket of brightly colored flowers; should more artistic be your goal, use a painting full of large brush strokes that give the impression of a plant but also does the duty of delivering bold colors to your room.

You can also use sculpture to add a touch of whimsy to your room as in artworks by Govinder Nazran pieces that features stylized depictions of dogs and cats.

Another type of impact piece that works well in any room is a sculpture. Whether you want a resin made Venus De Milo or you'd like an original hammered metal or traditional stonework piece is entirely up to you. If you use smaller sculptures, you can create balance in your room by using two of them on each side of a sofa or console table. If you plan to use one large sculpture, display the piece on a single column or small,sturdy table towards the center of the room or in the center of a wall area in the line of sight with the entrance to the room. This will have the psychological effect of allowing the eye of the viewer to travel to the impact piece first and then back again and you will have created the feel for what you set out to do - make an impact!

Wow Your Guests with a New Painting for the Holidays

Are you one of those fun people that loves to decorate your home for every holiday? For Valentines your home is awash with hearts and flowers complete with a wreath full of hearts on your door. You celebrate spring with bunnies and chicks all around. Bright spring flowers and regularly change the wreath on your door to reflect the changing holidays and seasons.

Halloween finds your home with spooky ghosts and pumpkins all around along with a spooky door decoration and maybe even a welcome mat in front of your front door that now reads, "Boo!". Which brings you around to probably your most favorite holiday of the year, Christmas.

The time to get out the lights, decorate the tree with your finest ornaments and while you're at it - add some seasonal artwork to your walls. Nothing says Christmas time like a Thomas Kinkade artwork and his piece, Christmas Moonlight is a tastefully done scene of a cozy snow covered chateau with a fire in the fireplace and lights on inside will bring an air of delight to your holiday decor. A fun way to add to your art collection is to try to add a new piece of holiday artwork to your seasonal collection every year and in a very short time you can have a wall's worth of artworks that are made just for the holiday gatherings.

Holiday season is just around the corner, start planning your decor and get togethers now so you can have a long and enjoyable holiday season.

Add Warmth to Your Kitchen

Just because it's getting colder outside doesn't mean your house can't be warm and inviting all year round. One of the secrets to creating warmth is to use colors that mean cozy comfort.

Blaring reds and bright yellows aren't warm, they are exciting for certain but they don't bring a feeling of coziness. The colors you want to add are maroons, forest greens, browns, and touches of purple work too. Add items to your room that reflect a warmth. Think hugs and other warm fuzzy feelings and you'll be in the right track. Speaking of hugs, you can hug your kitchen area with a wall paper boarder that goes around your room. You can choose flowers, herbs or Americana themes to project the warm and welcoming feeling you're looking for.

You may not have a fireplace in your room but you can create warmth by creating a cozy conversation corner in your living room. Turn a couple of pieces of furniture towards a corner and put a table. You can also get a portable bar and serve up a great wine for impromptu gatherings. If your budget won't allow for a bar, you can use a two-shelf bookshelf in the same capacity.

If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, add a big fuzzy rug and some large pillows. It makes a casual and cozy sitting place for just yourself with a good book or add a friend to enjoy the fireplace with.

You don't have to break the bank to make your home into a cozy gathering place for your family or friends.

Art - Pretty Functional

Artworks are more than just pretty pieces to hang on your walls. They can also be used as functional pieces to tie in colors, harmonize the room or add balance. There are a lot of great tricks you can do with various artworks to make them perform the dual function of looking great on your walls as well as tying together colors and patterns.

If you have a soft decor that done in a French Country style, consider adding a rustic floral design or country look rooster such as a Charles Wysocki open edition print of a rooster pulling a cart full of country fresh items. The Rooster Express is done in two different styles to match any taste. You can choose to have the print or a canvas reproduction. The prints are double matted and framed; the canvas artwork is framed and both pieces are done using archival tapes and papers as well as arriving ready to hang.

Another great way to incorporate colors into your decor is to use an area rug that catches some of the main colors in your artworks on your wall. This will really make the color scheme in your decor flow.

You can use artworks so many ways to make your room look brighter, livelier or just add a whimsical touch to show your own personal sense of humor with your choice in artworks. Use these tips and brighten your interior!

The Secret to Making Your Room Seem Larger

If you have a room that seems small and dank, there are a lot of little tricks you can do that will make your little room seem a lot larger.

First of all, get rid of your dark areas in your room. Darkness makes spaces seem smaller. If you have dark draperies, trade them in for lighter color window treatments. Dark colors make a space seem smaller while lighter colors open up the room and give the illusion of more space. Next, say goodbye to clutter. Nothing makes a room seem small like knick-knacks. It's great to have personal collections around to make your room more "you" but draw the line between collection and clutter.

Another trick to opening up a room is to use mirrors. They are fantastic for giving the illusion of more space. Place a mirror or even a pair of mirrors on the wall that is the furthest away from the doorway to the room. When someone enters the room their eyes will catch the mirrors on the far side of the room and the illusion of more space will be played in the brain.

Another way to open up a room is to make use of your "5th wall" or your ceiling. Adding an object of interest such as a ceiling tile collection in a lighter metallic color will keep the room from feeling closed in. Decorative ceiling textures such as lightweight medallions made out of resin that can be painted to match the ceiling are also a fantastic way to open up your room.

You don't have to knock out walls or completely redo a room to give the illusion of more space. Use these tips to make your small space seem larger this weekend!

Add the Art of the Most Famous Living Folk Artist to Your Walls

If you want to add a touch of whimsy to your decor, go folk art! Folk art is a little raw, usually done with a sense of humor and is always the perfect compliment to any interior design.

Warren Kimble has become a wildly popular folk artist that is highly collected across the world. Kimble works in a 200 year old barn that he uses as a studio and shares the space with a number of farm animals such as cows, sheep, pigs and a number of chickens. He finds the barn studio inspirational for his folk art paintings that encompass farm animals, houses, landscapes and every day things such as chess boards and backgammon boards. His original pieces are done frequently on old signage boards and other pieces of salvaged wood. Add a print or two to your walls for a fun touch to any decor.

One print that will easily match nearly any decor is the open edition print "Gone Fish Inn" which is a recreation of the original piece that is done on an old hanging inn type sign. The print is done on acid free paper and framed using museum quality tapes (archival). All you have to do is pick the type of frame you'd like your piece in. If you really want your artwork to stand out, choose a slightly darker frame than the edges of the artwork. It doesn't need to be the same color, just darker in a complimentary color will work beautifully.

Using Art to Create Balance in Your Decor

Whether or not you subscribe to the beliefs of Feng Shui or you merely want to add some of the elements of Feng Shui design to your room, you can start off by using one of the main principles which is to create balance.

One of the easiest ways to add balance to your decor is to think "pairs". If you are hanging artworks, make it a pair that goes together or even better a diptych which is a pair of paintings that actually make up one whole painting when placed side by side. Diptychs are made to be placed on the walls as closely as possible while still allowing a sliver of wall space to come between the artworks showing they are together but also separate.

Instead of one lamp on one side of your sofa, opt for a pair of lamps; one on each side. Additionally, your items don't have to match exactly. There is a neat pair of prints by Warren Kimble that are titled "Barn Door I" and "Barn Door II"; both of these are in irregularly cut frames that add interest to the piece as well. One side of the interior of the frame faces outwards on each of the paintings and when used as part of a set they will bring a nice sense of balance to your walls. They could also be incorporated nicely on each side of a doorway or side by side behind a small occasional table.

Other pairs for your room include pairs of pillows on each side of the sofa, bamboo plants and pairs of candles for further balance in your room.

Picasso Art Prints

Most people associate Picasso with the cubism style artworks he produced. Cubism is a very interesting style of painting where a common object such as a chair or cat or other everyday item is broken into sections and examined in detail in different areas of the artwork.

This was the reason disjointed faces and violins with pieces around a painting were prominent in some of Picasso's early pieces as he painted in the Cubism style. What many people don't know is that isn't the only style Picasso used. He also painted a good number of portraits of everyday people living life as he experienced it.

Picasso was known as a fiery tempered and hard to live with man who was able to see the beautiful in the most common of objects and everyday situations.

Sleeping Peasants is not done in the Cubism style and many people upon viewing it may not believe you when you tell them it is a Picasso. This framed art print is done in neutral colors and will easily match any decor. The print will arrive framed under glass and is mounted, matted and framed using archival tapes to ensure your print stays as beautiful as the first day you got it. The artwork is finished with a dustcover on the back and ready to hang. If you need a great gift for that hard to buy for person on your holiday list, consider giving them a Picasso for their walls this holiday season.

Fantasy Art Makes a Great Gift

For many people, thinking of a fantasy art piece is equivalent to the artwork found on a Sci-fi novel cover and involves space creatures, planets, and exotic monsters; but fantasy art is much more than that.

Fantasy art is a realm of the whimsical and magical and can encompass a myriad of subjects. Fantasy art makes great artwork for children's rooms. If you have a little princess that is into fairies, you can get a great piece of a fairy circle or dancing fairies to delight her every day. If your little man of the house enjoys dragons, kings, or pictures of faraway lands that never were or everyday creatures doing impossible things such as pigs flying- he will enjoy a fantasy artwork.

A fantasy artwork is also a great way to add to a friend's collection. Many people collect themes such as mermaids, cats, fairies, and others. A fantasy artwork is a great way to give a friend a piece to add to their collection in the form of a mermaid painting for a friend that collects the watery sirens or perhaps a dancing cat painting will bring a smile to their face.

The artworks, whether they are oil painting replicas or matted and framed prints; will be covered with a dustcover and ready to hang right out of the box. If you want to add a touch of whimsy or a conversation piece to your artwork collection, consider adding a fantasy piece!

Dragons for Your Home!

Dragons have long evoked feelings of majesty and respect. Dragons are thought to bring joy and luck to any household they grace and in the realm of Feng Shui, dragons placed near doorways are thought to remove negativity and repel anyone wishing to cause the resident of the home harm.

All that aside, nothing looks more magical than a dragon. A piece of dragon art can fit in any decor from Shabby Chic to the austere Modern Eames style. There are a good number of choices for adding dragon art to your home. Go for a replica painting which to the untrained eye will look like an original apiece as even the brush strokes are plainly visible. A print matted and framed under glass will also look fantastic.

If you feel you have enough artworks hanging on your walls, think sculpture. A small dragon sculpture will look wonderful on a shelf by a winding ivy plant that mimics the curls and turns in the dragon's body or consider placing a pair of dragon sculptures on each end of a shelf or by a fireplace if you're using a Feng Shui method of decor in your room as the pair of dragons will bring harmony and balance to your room.

Don't feel that you're locking into having a green dragon on an artwork either. If you want a painting featuring a dragon but you're a little tired of seeing green dragons with yellow fire and not much else - check out the burst of color in Tiefeng Jiang's signed and numbered serigraph on canvas: "Dragon Bride". This outstanding piece is bright and will make a real impact on your decor.

When you're looking to add something to your room and you want a piece of art that is both magnetic and regal, consider adding a dragon to your room - it's a lucky choice!

Add Monet to Your Interior

One of the lines from the movie, "Clueless" has the main character describing another character in the movie as, "She's Monet, she looks great from a distance but up close, she's just a mess!" and at first glance many people feel that way about impressionist art.

Monet had a unique style of using dots of color to form complex and detailed paintings that aren't apparent and if you stand very close to the piece you will see dazzling uses of a complex palette of color, however if you stand back - the colors will form a beautiful woman in a field of poppies- as in one of Monet's most well known pieces,Poppies.

You can get a Monet for your walls in a few different styles and each will make an outstanding addition to your decor. First, you can add a replica oil which is produced on artist grade canvas and then stretched and framed. If you enjoy having fine art pieces in your home or you're looking to collect items, this is the option you should choose.

Prints are also a great way to showcase your artist taste. A print is a print of a painting that is matted and framed and looks exactly like the original without the detail of brush strokes as it is a flat design. Prints look fabulous in any art collection and either type would make an elegant gift.

If you're wanting to add some softness of color and an interesting piece to your art collection - go Monet!

Warm Up Your Interior for the Coming Cooler Days

If you're looking to bring some warmth into your decor, look towards your walls as well as your colors in your room.

First of all, bring light into your room. If your window treatments are dark and dank it's going to translate just that way into your decor. It's okay to use heavy fabrics to keep the chill out but go for lighter colors and patterns. Also, to bring more warmth into the room, add splashes of color in the form of pillows on your sofa, love seat and/or chairs. If you have a tropical themed throw, drape it across your sofa for a casual and stylish look.

Next, add living plants. Even if you're thumb is decidedly brown you can easily grow bamboo or a bonsai palm tree. As long as the plant has water and sun, it will grow. If you feel even a bamboo would be in danger of your plant caring skills, go for silk plants, they are made from blends of different silks and fabrics to lend a very realistic look and whether real or manufactured, greenery will bring a warm touch to your room. Get a tall tree - real or silk is your choice- for your corner spaces. Good use of your spaces equals good decor.

Small sculptures placed in three or four places around your room will allow your design to flow. Think palmetto or palm tree, shells or other beach and tropical artworks. Use your wall space to bring a tropical air into your decor. You can use gorgeous tropical prints and even if you live nowhere near a beach, you'll get the feeling that there is one just outside from the warm, tropical feeling within your home.

Walt Disney - Not Just for Kids

If you want to add a touch of whimsy to a room and you aren't sure where to start, think Disney. No one has fired the imaginations of more generations than Walt Disney with their outstanding animated films.

When an animated film is made, clear sheets of acetate or plastic are used called "cels". Originally, these cels were completely hand painted with 24 cels rendering one second of film time in an animated film. If the character was going to move in an animated film the cels would have to drawn, one on top of another and then photographed in order to give the impression of movement when the animated film was played. Disney's early films were hand painted cels and each one is a work of art. Nowadays, the movement is done mostly by a technique called "tweening" where the artist hand paints the character in one motion and then hand paints the character in another motion and a computer will fill in the movements necessary to make the character move from point A to point B with sheer fluidity of movement.

Whether it is to commemorate a fun trip to Disneyworld or you want to start a collection of your own Disney cels make cool additions to any wall space. If you're looking to purchase a cel you will have three distinct types of cells to choose from.

Sericels are the recreated images of animated characters. The images are silk-screened onto the acetate cel and the result is an image that is vividly striking. Sericels are usually released in collectable limited editions.

Hand-Painted Cels are the crowning glory of any Disney collection. If they are from older Disney films they are often recreated by hand as a replica of the original cel as many of the originals cels from the earliest movies no longer exist. However, these cels are inked and painted by hand and what you get is an image from your favorite Disney films all your own.

Lumicels are limited edition prints that are from the wildly popular Pixar line of films. Pixar animation is done almost exclusively through digital means and a lumicel will bring your favorite characters to life. The lumicel is motion activated and with a movement in front of the framed cel, lights and sound will be activated. Some lumicels have snippets of information about the piece and others have spoken tag lines by the characters themselves or short songs from the Disney movie. If you want an impact piece that will make your guests stand up and take notice - a lumicel is a very fun item to have on your wall! Best of all, until activated, it will sit quietly on your wall and look exactly just like all your other fine artworks as there are no moving parts and the speaker and volume control are hidden from view.

If you're looking for a fun gift or you just want to add something whimsical that is also fine art to your walls, or you are a collector of Disney memorabilia; check into a framed cel or two for your decor.

What Are Giclee Art Prints?

Giclee (usually pronounced "zhee-clay") is a process that was created in the early 1990s as a cost effective alternative to producing artwork prints through other methods such as screen printing. An ink jet is used to produce a giclee print and when a fine artwork is created as a giclee, none of the crispness of the colors are lost and you get a very high quality art print.

The process of giclee was originally created to "proof" art prints to see if the print renderings were ready for mass printing but it was soon discovered the proof was as good as what was produced. The term actually describes any high resolution ink jet printer produced print. Most giclee prints are made with archival inks that are fade resistant and with pigments that hold their light fastness for years to come. Just as serigraph represents any fine art that was produced through silk screen printing methods, a giclee print was produced digitally through the use of an ink jet printer.

Giclee has leveled the playing field for artists who want to mass produce their artworks through prints. Many fine art collectors enjoy the fact that lesser known artists are now able to put their work out and make more of a name for themselves in the previously closed print field that was only open mainly to artists who either were household names or could afford to pay for expensive lithography or serigraphy printing of their works.

Add a giclee print or two to your collection; the colors are crisp and bright and for a great example of how giclee printing can capture the most subtle in tones and shading, check out "Ruby" by Alberto Ahumada; this piece has a limited palette and the giclee print picks up all the subtilties of color within this outstanding print.

Great Gifts of Art for Cat Lovers

We all have someone in our lives that we love but they are so hard buy gifts for; it's not because they are picky - they are the type of people that if they want something they simply buy it and usually want for nothing.

If your hard to buy for friend is a lover of all things feline, you can't go wrong with artwork as a gift. A limited edition print makes a great gift and one that the recipient will think of you often when they glance on their artwork hanging on the wall. A limited edition is a set number of art prints that are made and numbered. In come cases the prints are also signed by the artist increasing the value of the piece. A framed print that is not a limited edition is usually a mass produced from an original artwork and with the printing methods of today, including textured papers that appear to show brush strokes, a fine art print is an outstanding piece to add to any decor.

Should your gift recipient have a whimsical nature, there is a great cat themed print called "Lickin' Whiskers"; it features a small cat licking his chops in the window of a fresh fish market. The size is 15-inches by 18 inches and won't be a huge space commitment on the gift recipient's wall space. As with all the pieces, the print is framed with care using archival tapes to prohibit degradation of the piece from the acid found in many tapes and papers. The print will arrive fully framed under glass and ready to hang on the wall. If you know the basic colors in your friend's decor, you can match it perfectly with the wide array of framing options.

Make this holiday season a memorable one, get your feline loving friend an artwork for as a special gift and they'll be purr-fectly happy with your present!

Why Buy Art Online?

Buying products on the Internet is becoming more and more commonplace. You can get everything from groceries to your prescriptions to automobiles purchased and delivered over the web. One of the biggest reasons that Internet shopping has grown so much over in recent is the sheer convenience of it. You get more selection than you'll get even in the largest local fine art store and you also have a chance to browse at your leisure when you're not at the mercy of traffic, store hours or crowds.

Because of the huge number of choices, you may log on thinking you might purchase a painting to match your sofa with a lot of red tones and not only find the perfect artwork for that purpose you may run across the perfect cat painting that will make a perfect give for a friend when holiday time rolls around.

Adding even one piece of fine art to your walls can jump start a boring decor into something special. If you're interested in having a collection of art, find a theme or color scheme you like and add pieces as you go. If you have a minor color in your room that you want to bring out, choose an artwork with that color as a major theme and hang it on a nearby wall to help the minor color flow through your decor.

Shopping online is convenient and your choices will increase and you're more certain to find the artworks you want to begin or add to your collection in your home.

Make Sure Your Prints are Made Using Archival Products

Prints are a great way to have fine art around you home that not only looks excellent, it will retain its good looks for years to come if you made sure your print was made using archival products. If that's not a term that is familiar to you, basically it means will your print last? If your print was produced using archival quality inks and archival tapes were used in the matting and framing process - you can count on it.

Paper is naturally acidic unless treated to render the paper with a neutral Ph of acidic content; many commercially produced inks are also acidic unless archival inks are used which are also processed to removed the naturally acidic nature of the inks. Natural pigmented inks work perfectly for producing prints by either serigraphy or giclee methods but must be sealed. The framing process for a print is very simple. The artwork is taped down to a backing piece using archival (acid free) tape then a mat is placed over it. The mat is to protect the print from touching elements of the frame that naturally contain both acidic properties as well as iron.

Both can be degrading if allowed to directly interact with the surface of a print - but cause no harm if simply separated by a mat board. The matted print is now slipped into a frame with a glass front and a sturdy backing is placed over the whole and held in place by either small framing staples or small nails.

Under glass and out of direct sunlight; your print will be protected from breakdown by both direct sunlight and naturally occurring acidic properties and will continue to look fabulous on your wall for years to come.

Andrew Wyeth's rare interview and only TV appearance on The Today Show. Here's a link to currently available Wyeth Framed Art.