Easy Guest Room Decor

The fine line with a guest room is that you want your guest to be very comfortable but you don't want them to wear out their welcome and become a roommate! All joking aside, you can make a cozy guest room that just needs a guest to be complete the picture and it's very easy to do.

First of all, you need a bed, you don't have to go all out on a orthopedic mattress since this is a bed that won't be slept upon every night. Something comfortable and budget friend is more than adequate for a guest room.

Then you will want to make the room comfortable. Softer colors in the palette such as greens, blues and soft browns are all relaxing and will lend an element of coziness to your room. Most guest rooms have no more than two windows and you can get a comfortable and two matching sets of curtains without spending a lot of money and the fact you're carrying the pattern from the bed to the walls via the window treatments will lend an air of continuity to your pattern and color choices. You can continue that color splash through the room by putting artworks that feature mainly pastels and soft colors.

The closet can hold a couple of extra blankets and a pillow or two to have handy if you need them. Another investment that will pay off when you have company stay for a few days is to have an small chest of drawers for your guests to use and an armoire can do double duty of providing extra storage as well as a place to stash a television and a CD or DVD player.

Just these few elements will make your guest room a great place to visit and you won't have to do anything to prepare for your guests except welcome them into your home.

Dorm Room Comfort

You're going to have a challenge to create a comfortable living space out of your humble dorm room. By standard, dorm rooms are small and there isn't a lot of room for moving things around so you can get maximum benefit of your dorm room for studying, relaxing and living.

You will need to give careful thought to every item you put your room or your side of the room if you have a roomie and make sure that you have a place where you can do your studying and your living for the school year.

A loft bed is a fabulous choice as it has a bed on top and a full desk that will hold a desktop computer, printer and other items that are a necessity for doing school work. It's much faster to do your initial project research on the Internet and then back it up in the library and one of the best things about a loft bed and desk set is that you don't give up any additional floor space.

You can also get an armoire for your television. It will do the duty of holding your television in the space on top and the drawers below can hold extra clothing and personal items. Shelving is another consideration. Floor space is a prime commodity in a dorm room so use your walls as much as you can. When hanging shelves, use a stud finder to hang your shelving in a sturdy area and your items won't come crashing down later.

If you've never owned a closet organizer, time to invest in one. You can pack in two to three times the amount of clothing and shoes in the same amount of space if you are organized about it.

As far as your walls, put up photos of your family and friends, use fine art posters and anything that will keep you from being homesick and inspired to keep studying and achieving great grades!

The Eternal Bloom

Love flowers but detest the fact they don't stay beautiful? One way to ensure that you have beautiful blooms all year round is to use artworks with your favorite flowers in bloom on your walls and as sculptures. If you feel like silk flowers are well, cheesy and don't look good in a room, you can put other items in your room to give the feeling that Spring is in the air all year round.

Whether you want to use a large artwork on your walls or a collection of smaller artworks clustered together, either way will give your room a great lift. Another way to add life to your decor is to change out your window treatments to a lighter fabric or even show your love of flowers with a floral print. It will open your room and make it even more bloom friendly.

You can sprinkle your love of flowers in bloom throughout your decor by also using items with flowers on them. Small trinket boxes, a rose in bloom decorating a lamp on a table. Use items with flowers on them throughout your room. Instead of a plain shelf, go for a scroll worked one that has a floral motif sculpted into the wood.

Make your home into an eternal garden, its easy to do and you'll have the room of your dreams all year round.

Helping Your Child Sleep Through the Night

When your child makes the transition from the crib to a "bid kid bed"; your toddler that could normally sleep through almost any noise made in his presence may suddenly become a fitful sleeper.

Make sure he's not too hot or too cold first of all. Toddlers can't always verbalize that they are uncomfortable but you can quickly tell if he needs more covers or less.

Other children get frightened by shapes and shadows on the wall. Making sure no lights are coming in through his curtains will eliminate that problem and another solution is to give your child a night light that comes on when the lights go off. You can also turn on a light in his closet and leave it on although some children are more disturbed about having their closet door opened in their room when they are trying to sleep than the original lights and shadows on their walls from cars outside on the streets.

You can also give your child a comfort item. This can range from a favorite toy to a favorite blanket and some parents use focal point as the comfort item. Using a focal point means giving the child an item such as a print or poster to look at until they fall asleep. A limited edition artwork from Disney is a great choice and you can choose prints from several of your child's favorite movies, Many of them are detailed and have a good deal for your child to look at in the artwork.

It's easy to get your little one to sleep through the night if he's previously been a good sleeper. Just get him into a routine such as a bath and then brushing teeth and then a story every night and he'll soon settle in to his new bed and will be sleeping the entire night away before you know it.

Your Master Bedroom

Your master bedroom needs to be a place that you can truly relax. You can easily transform your master bedroom from just a room with a bed into an abode of comfort and tranquility.

Get adequate storage in your master bedroom and you'll see an immediate change in the feel of the room. Shelving and a larger chest of drawers is a great way to do it. If you want to have a television in your master bedroom but you don't want it shown all the time, an armoire can do good double duty of holding your television as well as other items and when you don't want your television showing in the bedroom, you can shut the doors to the armoire and your room will reclaim its clean lines and look.

Keep it relaxing and cozy in your artwork as well. Get rid of busy artworks or posters that are extremely bright. Replace them with cozy, relaxing pieces and one in particular that will lend a element of simplicity, is an Andrew Wyeth print titled, "Master Bedroom"; this piece is simplicity at its best. It depicts a simple bed in a simple room.

Fluffy pillows and a new comforter on the bed will also lend an air of relaxation in your room. If you don't already have one, invest in a chaise lounge chair and place it by a window; it can be very relaxing to spend a little time in the sun just relaxing or reading. Taking a few minutes just for yourself to unwind and relax will go a long way to reducing your stress.

Make your master bedroom a place to relax and unwind, it's easy to do and the benefits of being able to relax and get a good night's sleep are enormous.

Art for the Bathroom?

Many people might jokingly say an unattractive or unwanted piece of art they receive as a gift (usually something Aunt Edna painted herself) and the recipient might say that "This will make a great artwork for the bathroom".

However, your bathroom is another room that you will spend time in and it should look at good as the rest of your house. There are some tricks you can use to make your bathroom look as elegant as the rest of your home.

First of all, defeat the clutter. Our bottles and cans of personal grooming products can start taking up valuable counter space and since you use them pretty much every day you want to keep them convenient as well as not taking up space. A standing cabinet that fits over your toilet fixture is great way to get rid of the clutter as well as keep your personal items as well as towels and wash clothes handy.

Up the elegance factor of your bathroom with matching towels and a coordinating toilet tank cover set. Your bathroom is one place in your home where you can have a little fun. If you love sunflowers, use them as a motif in your bathroom.

An artwork that reflects your personal tastes or something fun will be a good addition to your bathroom. You will spend time in your bathroom every single day, make sure it's as comfortable as the rest of the rooms in your home.

Living Room Trends 2007

Clean lines and a sleek look is coming into decorating fashion for 2007. Many people are making the change from the French Country look to the sleek modern Eames type of design.

Bright colors and minimal clutter are the hallmarks of the Eames design. You can usually work with most of the items that you have already in your room it's just a matter of removing a lot of the things that you tend to have out on table tops and on shelves for a French Country feel.

On a wooden shelf with a French Country feel for example, you will have a bouquet of dried lavender with a ribbon around it, a photo in a metallic scroll worked frame and perhaps something along the lines of a fern or a ivy plant. In an Eames design that wooden shelf would become very simple affair with the dried lavender replaced with a modern art sculpture and the plant would be replaced with a simple line drawing of a plant in a simple black or white frame.

You can even keep your overstuffed, super comfy sofa, just replace cover it with a single color fabric slip cover and then replace those piles of pillows with just one or two pillows in a contrasting color. Colors such as dark green, true, red, black, navy blue and white feature prominently in Eames design.

See how easy that is? Take each element in your room and you can make it over into a simplistic design and attain the style you want. You can keep your living space on the cutting edge of interior design style without spending a lot of money.

Horse Art for the Horse Lover

Horses have long been symbols of strength and valor; nothing evokes an image of freedom more than a running horse.

Whether you need a gift for a equine loving friend or you are the lover of all things horse-related; add a piece of art to your decor. Many people make the mistake of purchasing art they think looks good with the colors in their decor rather then featuring subjects that they like.

If you enjoy horses, add some horse related art to you walls and sculptures to your shelves. There is no reason that you can't have your favorite subject depicted on your walls. If you have been lucky enough to have owned a horse, you will be familiar with the teachings of J. Rarey that took the then controversial attitude that horses were actually intelligent animals that didn't need to be beaten and broken into submission. Rarey used methods that included low voices (hence whisperer) and repetition techniques to train his horses and he proved that horses respond better to being trained through love than through fear.

A beautiful piece that is bright and full of life is an artwork by Nancy Cawdrey titled "The Horse Whisperer" and it features a rider gently leaning forward to coax her horse on. This would make a great piece for any room in your home and when paired with a mat and frame to really make the piece stand out; you'll have the first piece of fine horse art in your collection!

The First Impression

The old saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" is very true. If you want to make sure that your home will make a lasting, positive impression on everyone that enters, make your entry way something to sing about.

If your entry way isn't a large area, make good use of your space. A tall hall tree with a storage space and a backing mirror will do a world of good. The bench storage area will keep the area clutter free, the hall tree will have a place to hang coats of not only your own but your guest's as well and the mirror will do that neat little decorating trip and open up the room by eliminating the wall to the eye of the viewer and the reflection of the mirror opens up space in the mind of the view.

Wall sconces providing soft light is another way to create a cozy welcoming feeling. If the corners of the room aren't displayed in bright lighting - a small room won't feel small; it will feel cozy instead. Shelves with a plant, either real or silk is another way to lend a warm feeling to your entry way.

Add an interesting piece of art to your area. Make it one of the first things people see when they enter your home. It can be a heavily brush stroked reproduction of an Old Master's work such as Rembrandt in a wood and gilted frame or it can be something from a modern artist that is full of bright colors. If you want to make it elegant and serene - go for a beautiful rendition of your favorite flowers in bloom showcased in a still life artwork.

Your home should be a reflection of yourself all the way through. If your entry way feels cold and unwelcoming - use these tips to make it a cozy abode your guests are entering.

Don't Collect Cats - Collect Art!

Are you one of those people that loves art so much that your friends tease you that you're going to wind up as one of those crazy ladies living in a house with about eighty strays because you are so kind hearted and can't turned a feline face away?

Instead of filling your house with actual cats, make donations to your local animal shelter in the form of money or necessary items such as cat food or cat litter; if you are short on cash and live on a tight budget - offer your time and clean litter boxes, administer medicine and just give the cats companionship in their cages. Even the proud and solitary cat enjoys human companionship while they are waiting to be adopted.

Another way to celebrate your love of the feline world is to collect cat related art. Cats are mischievous and clever creatures and a lot of the art that is done with a feline theme is often whimsical such as "A Hungry Cat Ate Up the Goat" and has a tongue in cheek sense of humor. There are so many choices in feline art, it may be hard to narrow down the first piece in your collect.

A group of small pictures with a central catty theme on your wall will lend an artsy feel. Plain black frames will make your artworks really stand out. Another way to bring the fun spirit of cats into your room is to use small sculptures. A small sculpture is often a brilliant way to make sure of decorating space that was unused otherwise. They can go on tabletops, in curio cabinets or simply on a shelf.

Make your room a catty paradise. Use your love of cats to build a room that you can truly love and be comfortable in.

Tips For Making an Impact Piece Sing

An impact piece is one that is the focal point of your room and can be a real conversation starter.

If you're putting together your room and you want to add an impact piece, it's not difficult to do but if you want your piece to bring a real impact to the room, you need to know the tricks for making your impact piece really sing out in your decor scheme.

Contrast will go a long way towards making your impact piece a focal point. A large sized print such as Arleta Pech's hand signed reproduction of her piece "Pink Lemonade" features light pink roses in a light white vase in high contrast to a dark background that really makes this piece have a genuine impact from the first glance. You can further the impact by having the piece framed in a large sized frame.

You can further highlight this piece on a wall by putting a small sconce lamp over it with the light shining down to illuminate the whites and light hues used in this piece. The light will pick up the brilliant light hues and draw a striking contrast to the dark hues.

If you want to use a sculpture as an impact piece, it's very easy to do. Take the main color used for the sculpture and place it on a piece of fabric in a contrasting color. If you don't trust your color judgment, go for a deep, rich black or a stark white as your display option. The contrast between the sculpture and the fabric will bring the eye of the viewer in and draw attention to the piece - thus creating your desired impact.

Elegant Sculptures

If you're looking for a way to make your room pop with a little more life. Add a sculpture as a centerpiece of the room.

It doesn't have to be a ten-foot tall sculpture with a fountain flowing out of it to make an impression in your room, it's all about how you display the piece. One great way to show off your sculpture, don't just plunk it on a table and expect it to light up the room - you have to unleash the power of the sculpture in your decor.

If you have an art deco type sculpture, for example like Govinder's limited edition sculpture piece, "The Eternal Kiss" that features to two stylized art deco style elephants with their trunks curled and facing each other in an eternal kiss. This is a powerful piece that will do best when placed on a small occasional table in your room and under a light source. A floor lamp is a great way to highlight your sculpture. A floor lamp that features more than one light is an even better way to show off your piece, you can use one light directly on the sculpture and then use the other light for the room itself.

Put your sculpture on a contrasting color of fabric. A sculpture that is mostly gray will look absolutely riveting on a bright red or black fabric. It doesn't have to cover the entire table - just enough to highlight the sculpture is more than enough.

A Great Gift for Mom

Instead of another bottle of perfume or yet another plant to take of, get your mom a gift she can enjoy all year round in the form of an art piece. Whether you go for a painting or a sculpture, you can get something that will make your mother think of you every time she glances at your gift.

It's easy to choose a piece of art for your mother. You can go two main routes when choosing. Either go by the colors in her home and choose a piece that will fit in with her decor. For example if she has a lot of beige and earth tones, go for a piece that will compliment those colors in her room.

The other way is to get a painting based on the things she likes. If she has a passion for roses, a painting of a beautiful bouquet of roses that will bloom forever more on her wall would make a fabulous choice. If she has a whimsical sense of humor, consider a piece that is has some smile factor to it.

A sculpture is another great piece that gives mom a lot more mobility and she isn't stuck just displaying it on a wall. A sculpture can be displayed on a table or a shelf and you can get all types of sculptures from two kitties that when pushed together form a heart to remind mom you love her even when you're not there; to a funky resin dog for the mom that is still as spirited as can be to a beautiful flying dove.

No matter what you choose, art always makes a fabulous gift.

Perfect Display Tactics

You can have the best looking piece of art and then ruin it by displaying it badly.

A classic print such as a Matisse or a Renoir won't carry the same impact in your room if you display it in a simple black plastic poster frame. A print is still a valuable piece of art and especially a limited edition. Display your art in frames worthy of the artist's name. A heavy wooden frame will make your friends question whether or not the Van Gogh on your wall is an original. An expensive looking framing job will go a long way to making your art look even more classic.

Bad lighting is another mistake many people make then they are displaying their art. You can have a glorious painting that has all its fine details lost in dim lighting. Prints should not subjected to extremes of direct, bright white light; however they look fabulous when in a brightly lit room. A light aimed in the direction of your artwork but not shining directly on the piece at a close range will show your art at its best.

It can't be stressed enough to match your colors in your room. A bright red artwork in an earth toned room is going to look absolutely garish. Another way to have a great art piece is to use a reproduction piece from a line called Brushstrokes. They are unusual prints that are printed on canvas and then accented with heavy brush strokes to give the illusion that you're looking at an original artwork. These can be hung in a frame or since they are gallery wrapped, on their own as even the sides are printed!

Remember these tips, good framing, good lighting and match your colors in your decor - and your art pieces will also lend an air of elegance to your interior.

Art for Meditation

In this fast paced world, it can be difficult to relax and many people have actually forgotten the fine art of relaxation and actually must learn to do it.

Meditation is a wonderful way to teach your body to unwind and relax. There are many different disciplines of meditation and one will be right for you. The most basic type of meditation is a combination of visualization and deep breathing.

Flooding your body with oxygen through deep breathing is calming in itself. The technique is to breath in through your nose and exhale long and slow through your mouth. A deep breath or two will relax almost everyone and it's a good idea to take a couple of "cleansing breaths" before you start your meditation.

Make your meditation session your own. If you enjoy music, put some on. It doesn't have to be Eastern Indian; if you enjoy country and western - put a slow song on. Remember, this is relaxation for you and you need to do what you find comfortable. Many people enjoy sitting in a sunny spot and allowing the sun's warm rays to bring their relaxing touch to a meditation session. Another helpful way to get relaxed is to create a focal point. A good way to do this is to have a painting or sculpture to concentrate upon and start letting your thoughts wander as you do your deep breathing.

Meditating daily for about twenty to thirty minutes has been found to help lower blood pressure and increase oxygen levels in the body. If you've been feeling stressed and you aren't sure you even remember how to relax, take up meditation and you'll find that you can feel alot better about life in general and yourself in particular.

Perfect Newlywed Gifts

It's hard to find a good gift for newlyweds, you want to get them a gift that sends your best wishes for their new life together, however you don't want to get them a toaster or something impersonal like a gift certificate.

Instead opt for a gift that will carry a lot of meaning and add a touch of art to their home - give them a sculpture. A sculpture is way to give them a gift on several levels; you are giving a great way to spruce up their decor, you're giving a gift with a meaning and it's all wrapped up in a nifty piece of original art.

A great looking piece that will convey well wishes for the new couple is found in the Govinder limited edition sculpture titled "The Lovers". It features two artfully sculpted cats that have a space between their front legs that form a heart when the two cats are pushed together. They may be displayed separately or together. A limited edition makes a very special gift since only a certain number of the piece are produced it's a good way to give a unique gift that they can count on as one of a kind, as each number in the series is numbered as unique.

If your newlyweds are using the principle of Feng Shui to decorate their love nest - they will appreciate the fact that this piece comes in a pair. You can also give this gift with a lovely plant such as a bonsai or other slow growing, long living plant that will your new couple years of enjoyment.

Giving a gift for newlyweds is easy when you give the gift of art.

More Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Decor

One of the main reasons so many people don't redecorate their rooms is not that they don't know how or they don't have time; it's the money factor. If you use the following tips, you can spruce up your decor and make some outstanding changes without spending a lot of money.

First, look at the basics of your room. Check out your big furniture pieces. Strip off any pillows, throws and items off table tops - you can put back some of it after you re-do your room.

If you have a boring beige decor, hop it up a little with color. Delegate your beige and brown pillows to the guestroom and replace those boring pillows with colors that pick up little used colors in your room. It's a great way to meld a decor.

Shelves can do so much for a room. Aside from getting rid of clutter on table tops and giving a look of organization to the room, they can also be very useful for developing a sense continuity in your room design. The straight lines of the shelving will travel in the mind's eye along the line of the walls and ceiling and help ring your decor together.

A sculpture can enliven a room too. Choose something bright and fun - a real conversation starter such as a Govinder sculpture. There is no trick to choosing a sculpture, simply choose a piece that you enjoy looking at.

Decorating With a Flair

If you're tired of your boring old living room, you don't have to run out and purchase all new furnishings to give your room a new life, just add a little flair.

Flair for a room can come in many forms. Add an area rug to add some life to the center of your room. Make a cozy gathering corner for you and your friends by placing an area rug in the corner of your room and then adding a set of chairs and a table in the area. The rug will create invisible boundaries and help this area of the room seem separate from the rest.

Another way to add flair to a room is to add a splash of bold color. You can add color in subtle ways by changing out your pillows on your sofa to something bright and lively. Add a piece of artwork in your room that is vibrant with color such as a hand pulled seriagraph by Phillipe Bertho.

A simple yet brightly colored table cloth on an occasional table or a table runner on a coffee table are both excellent ways of bringing more color into your rooms and giving the entire room more life.

Last but not least, living plants that are vibrant in color such as a flowering hibiscus with its beautiful pink and white blooms will make an outstanding statement in your room. Silk plants are also a good decor item if you have a decidedly brown thumb where plants are concerned. Either way opt for lush green leaves and bright flowers for your room - you'll love the pick-me-up your room gets from adding just a touch of bright color.

Gifts of Bad Art

No, we don't mean art that is poorly done or lacking in talent. We mean art that is done with the rebel or rebel at heart in mind. If you know a truly free spirt that marches to the beat of their own drummer - the gift of a thoughtfully chosen piece of art just for them will make a beautiful sentiment and show you really know what they like.

Govinder has a really fun piece titled, "Bad to the Bone" it features a stylized cat with bold colors emblazoned with a skull and cross bones. There is an image of a dog stamped on his side - in the fashion of WWII planes that stamped a mark for every enemy combatant they shot down.

Other pieces that are purely wild at heart include a free, running horse that embodies the spirit of freedom at its finest. Consider art with symbols that stand for freedom and free thinking such as wolves and dragonflies, both are common messengers that bring freedom with their presence.

Consider a limited edition piece. Limited editions are more than reproductions of original artworks, they are limited to a certain number, usually determined by the artist and then only that number of prints or sculptures is produced. Each one is given a unique number in the series and the final piece has been produced. The edition is over.

It's easy to find a piece of art that will embody the free thinking on your gift list - it's just a matter of narrowing down to a single piece that can be the difficult part when you have so many choices!

Gifts for Elephant Loving Friends

Everyone knows people that are crazy about their cats and dogs and collect items that are dedicated to their favorite breed of canine or feline, but what about your friends that collect items dedicated to more exotic?

If you have a friend that loves all things elephant, there are some excellent ways to give them a unique gift that they will adore. With the old adage,"An elephant never forgets"; you can give your friend a gift of a date book or appointment book in a beautiful leather bound case.

A new writing pen with an elephant motif is another great gift. You can include a beautifully designed elephant print scarf. Jewelry with an elephant inspired design is now readily available. An elephant brooche is a beautiful way to show your know what your friend really likes.

For the elephant lover that doesn't really wear jewelry or have need of a pen and appointment book, try a piece of elephant inspired art. Govinder has a gorgeously detailed piece that is exotically elephant inspired. In a limited edition of only 250 pieces in the series this reproduction of his original piece is full of detail and will absolutely "wow" anyone that loves elephants.

Titled, "Mother and Child" this extremely detailed piece features a stylized mother elephant in a protective hugging pose over her baby. Both pieces are carved with tribal looking markings and this piece measures roughly 13-inches tall so it won't be a big space commitment and will bring an air of true elegance where it is displayed.

The Rich History Of Oil Painting

Any kind of art buff is sure to come across hundreds and hundreds of oil paintings in their lifetime. If you happen to be a fan of the look of oil paints, then you would probably benefit greatly from a look into the rich history of this painting method. Over the years, the paints as well as the artists may have changed, however the beauty and the depth that only an oil painting can provide will always stay the same.

In a nutshell, oil paint as the basis for all oil paintings consists of a drying oil that is rich with small pigments of color. This is a slow-drying process that happens to date way back into years as early as England in the thirteenth century. Some of the different ingredients to have been used in oil paints over the years include castor, linseed, soybean, safflower, walnut, poppy seed, hemp seed, sunflower and pine nut oils.

The beauty of oil paints for many artists is the sheer fact that these paints are so slow in drying that they can last in the open air to be used for several different sessions on the same project. Fans of oil paintings are also sure to agree that this is a medium with one of the best ways to blend colors.

A short list of artists who have been known to create some of the most incredible works of art with oil paints include Antonello Da Messina, Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, Giorgio Vasari, and Jan Van Eyck and you can get many of their masterpieces available through realistic prints on canvas.

Art For The Newlyweds

When you get married for the very first time, you are more than excited to begin your new lives together. After all, you and your partner are going to be able to build on something wonderful and new that you have created together. Hopefully, along with your marriage you will be able to move into a brand new home or apartment. In this case, you might even want to look into some incredible framed art pieces or sculpture to add to your living space.

While it is not always necessary to completely agree on everything as a couple, the same really does go along with your art purchases. After all, a mix of your two personalities and tastes is exactly what brought the two of you together in the first place. When you are on the hunt for pieces of art to express yourselves in your home, there is nothing wrong with looking for items that speak for the both of you.

Some newlyweds will actually set up online gift registries for certain home items and gadgets that come from various department stores. Well, for the couple who happens to live and breathe art, there is nothing better than a gift registry of fine art and sculpture, which happens to exist at Gallery Direct Art! As your family and friends are beginning to prepare for your wedding, they can shop online from the comfort of their own home for artwork that you have already selected as a couple.

This is the perfect way for everyone involved to be completely satisfied. All of your friends and family members will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will love their gift, and you, the happy couple can enjoy the artwork for many years to come.

A Gift Idea For The Finicky Art Connoisseur

Sometimes, nothing is worse than having a hard time when trying to figure out what kind of a gift to give the art lover in your life for a special occasion. Do you have a relative who is celebrating a landmark birthday? Perhaps you have a close friend who is going to be getting married or even moving into their very first home. No matter what the occasion may be, if they are into art, then it should be a "no brainer" when it comes to the gift that you should give.

Even though you may already know that the gift recipient that you have in mind loves various forms of art, sometimes it can be quite a bit harder than you would think to come up with the perfect gift. For example, you might know the particular style that they are fond of or even an artist or two that they really enjoy collecting. Yet, art is never something that you can end up picking out for somebody unless you happen to know them really well, that is, well enough to read their thoughts when they lay eyes on a certain piece.

For such occasions when you cannot seem to choose something for your art fanatic, the best possible option is a gift certificate for Gallery Direct Art. You can choose a gift certificate in any denomination, from $25 on up to $500. This way, you can be sure that they will be able to pick out just the right piece to go in their home or office space.

Art And The Cozy Home

Have you ever had the chance to visit a home where you felt comfortable and cozy from the very minute that you walked in through the front door? Unfortunately, this is not a feeling that you can experience with every home that you visit, however it is quite possible when you stop by a home that is decorated with wonderful country artwork. If you have ever been in a home decorated with such a style, then you are already more than aware of the calming and soothing effect that such decor can have on the human soul.

If you are looking to bring some of that same country feel into your current living space, you can do so with the simple addition of one or more of the wonderful works available by artist Warren Kimble. One of the most celebrated folk artists of his time, Warren Kimble is very well known for his use of exaggeration and incredible, bold color. Whether you are a fan of nautical themes, cats, beautiful Vermont landscapes or fruits and flowers, you are sure to find a bevy of Warren Kimble designs that will speak to your soul.

The nice thing about many of the pieces created by Warren Kimble is that they really stand the test of time. You can rest assured knowing that a Warren Kimble that is purchased today will look just as incredible in your living space twenty years from now. All you have to do is find the right piece for your home and your personality and you are sure to become hooked on this artist!

Treat Your Art To A Custom Frame

If you are spending a good deal of money on a particular art piece that you are simply in love with, then you are certainly going to want to make sure that you have a wonderful place for it in your home or office. Any time you are looking for the best possible way to display your art, you should really think about having it framed. Of course, you could always take your art once you receive it off to a framery to have the work done. But, that can take quite some time and you may even end up having to pay all sorts of extra shipping costs. In addition to that, there is usually nothing worse than having your treasured art in your possession one moment, only to have it off to be framed the next.

When you make your art purchase from Gallery Direct Art, you can choose the option to have your painting or print custom framed and then delivered to your home or office. Included in this beautiful framing service, you will get your purchased print along with a stunning, solid hardwood frame moulding, and picture glass. You will even receive all of the hardware for hanging so your artwork is ready to place in your desired space from the very moment that it arrives.

Custom framing is the perfect choice for the savvy art fan. You will also find that custom framing can be just right as a gift for anyone on your shopping list.

Is Size An Issue When Choosing Wall Art

You know that it looks odd, but you are not quite sure if you should say anything. Is this the feeling that you have gotten in the past when you lay eyes on a gigantic piece of wall art on display at the home of a close friend, acquaintance or relative? This is often times something that you will come across because many people are not exactly sure of the right size they should choose for the walls in their home or apartment. Lucky for you, since you have seen the damage that the wrong size can cause aesthetically, you can look into finding a couple of tips that should help you to choose the right size wall art or sculpture every single time.

Unless you are a complete wiz, the chances are very good that you are not going to be able to eyeball the position of every piece of art that you will be placing in your home. Some people will go ahead and begin measuring in order to find the right size for every sculpture or painting. While this may work for some folks, others really need a bit more of a visual aid to ensure that they are making the right choice.

So, you are thinking of purchasing this incredible painting that you have found online. In order to see if it will be the right size for your wall without overpowering it, you can always take a piece of paper measured and cut to the same size. Go ahead and tack this up to the wall in the position that you desire, then take a look at it from several different angles to see if it will work.

Put A Little Something Different On Your Wall

Have you ever just wanted to make a statement through your interior decor choices? Such a statement can be very easy with a smart and savvy art selection for any one of the walls within your home. Certainly, you are going to want to make a bit of an art choice that will speak of your tastes and personality. However, there is nothing wrong with stepping outside of the box every once in a while and doing something that is a little bit different than the type of art that you would normally choose for your home, apartment or even the office.

Sometimes, something as simple as a terrific grouping of framed art can be just the thing to change the entire look of a room. You are guaranteed to see that a wonderful grouping can be a fabulous way to draw the attention to that area, making a nice focal point for anyone who lays eyes on it. Finding a trio of framed prints by one of your favorite artists might be a whole lot easier than you would think, especially when you take into account how many amazing choices are available for shopping online.

If you happen to be a person who is somewhat animated, you can always go with a bold splash of color with your framed grouping. Although cartoon-like images might be the first thing to come to mind, there is no reason why you cannot have a selection of sophisticated pieces that really pop with color!

Time To Hang It Up!

So, you have no problem at all when it comes to choosing all of your favorite art pieces to decorate your home with, but how are you with your hanging skills. After all, a painting is only as good as the look that it has once it is on your wall! The last thing you want is to have an incredible framed print or oil painting that you have been dying to get, only to have it hung up in a crazy manner on one of the walls within your home, apartment or office space. Luckily for all of those people who aren't sure how to hang up their wall art, there are a couple of tips that you can follow to ensure a great look every time.

Do you have a problem when you are trying to find just the right position to hang a piece of art on your wall? Sometimes it can be confusing when you are trying to figure out if you have something position too high or too low. A nice rule of thumb to go by is making sure that the center of the piece is right about eye level for the average adult. Certainly, you will have to tweak this tip from time to time depending on the size of the painting itself as well as the height of your room of choice.

Another good thing to look for is the amount of lighting that you have in the area that you are thinking of decorating with wall art. The last thing you want is for your precious piece of art to get lost in a room without proper lighting. In this case, you can always use accent lighting to boost the look of the wall space!

Getting Your Children Interested In Art Early On

Have you happened to notice that your child seems to be taking quite an interest in how their room is decorated at home? Sometimes children are longing for something a little extra in terms of expressing themselves through their decor. When you find that your son or daughter is looking to have a say in the design and decor that goes into their bedroom, you might want to let them explore and see what happens.

It is true that you are never too young or too old to be interested in art. As a matter of fact, introducing your children to art at a very early age can help them tremendously in terms of creativity. Because art is such a lovely way to express yourself, it is no wonder why so many children become interested in all of the aspects of art. When you find that there is a gallery showing in your local area, why not see about bringing your child along with you? Don't be afraid to talk with them about all of the colors and different styles on display!

When it comes to their room at home, a terrific idea is letting your child choose the color palette. In addition to that, you can always go the extra mile by letting them choose some incredible framed prints to hang on their walls. They might even be interested in a couple of small sculpture pieces. Art can be a great way to not only open up your child's mind, but a terrific way for the two of you to bond as well.

Canvas Art Could Be Your Favorite Accessory

You do not necessarily have to be an art expert in order to know what works and what doesn't within your living space. Many times, people like to purchase art solely because it speaks to them and not just because somebody told them that they should like it or buy it. Once you find a certain style that you happen to be very fond of, you just might find yourself on a bit of a spending spree until you have gathered up quite a collection. When it comes to great choices in wall decor, you could see that canvas art will be one of your favorite choices.

Having a nice collection of canvas art in your living space can speak to you on so many different levels. You will have the feeling of comfort each and every time you lay eyes on your chosen pieces of canvas art. In addition to that, each particular piece is almost guaranteed to spark up all sorts of interesting conversations with the guests who have a chance to visit your home.

With some many artists choices available, it is no wonder that canvas art is so popular with those who love to use art to express themselves. You can always go with something breathtaking such as a Monet or even subtle with a Van Gogh. Still life, portraits, florals and more are all waiting for you in the incredible world of wall art. All you have to do is find enough room on your walls at home to display everything that you purchase!

We're All the Same But Different

No one captures the beauty of diversity better than James Rizzo. His whimsical creations have been delighting collectors for years now.

He is best known for his 3-D artwork where he typically made an etching then printed it twice and hand colored it. One etching was then placed on top of another one and slightly moved over so the other etching could be clearly seen underneath. Windows in buildings, photos, picture frames and various other items would be cut out of the top artwork so the bottom artwork could shine through, enhancing the 3-D appeal of the artwork.

His other serigraphs include the highly detailed, "We're All the Same But Different" has a huge number of individuals with each one doing something different. All of the individuals in the artwork are at a party and each one is wearing something different and drinking something different from everyone else. There are people with flasks, glasses and bottles. This would make an outstanding addition to a living room or a central piece in your bar area.

This serigraph would make an equally good gift if you're looking for an unusual gift for a special friend. When you have a serigraph matted and framed at Gallery Direct, only museum quality archival items are used. The print is protected from touching the mat and therefore no acids can exchange in the papers so there is no break down of the papers used for both matting and the serigraph itself.

With the dark black outlines, a simple black frame would be outstanding for displaying this piece.Choose a double mat that picks up different colors in the piece and you'll have a memorable piece of art for your wall.

Yes, The Little Things Count

When you're pulling together the entire look of a room, you can use small elements in your design to make the entire look blend and flow as a whole.

When you're adding pieces to your room. Consider the design impact of every single item you bring into the room no matter how small or needed purely for function. For example, if you find you need shelving, a great addition to any room are ornately scrolled brackets. You can do so much more with them than you might think. They can be used as focal points on walls, used for pure function to create shelving that is very individual to your decor, used to set off a fireplace mantel, draw attention to a doorway or highlight an artwork on your wall.

Another way to add a "little" flair to your room is to add a small mirror or even better a small collection of mirrors. Mirrors can do the job of adding the illusion of space to your walls as well as adding some character to your decor. They also reflect light and will automatically brighten a room.

Small statues work wonderfully in most rooms. Put them on a shelf or on a table beside a lamp. If you have a small collection small statues or sculptures, display them in a lighted curio cabinet for extra impact in your room.

There are so many ways to use small items to make your space more "you". If you have a love of small dogs for example, a small lithograph of your favorite breed will meld beautifully into your decor and your interior will still have your personal design stamp.

Spring is Coming Soon!

Spring will soon be upon us and if you don't have time to go till up your yard to make a garden area, a great solution can be the creative placement of planters around your yard. Not all plants do well in planters but you can make a glorious springtime presentation in your yard if you choose your plants wisely. Whether you choose small, medium, large or extra-large planters, you can make a great display.

In a small planter, put delicate looking violets. For as fragile as they look, they are really quite hardy plants and if you're the type that doesn't remember to water your plants on a regular basis, violets are very forgiving. If you'd like something a little aromatic, try planting some lavender. It has a delicate scent that attracts hummingbirds in the early morning and late afternoon hours as well as butterflies and bumble bees. Two herbs that make a nice presentation in a planter are Rue and Feverfew. Both will produce a lot of leaves and masses of small delicate flowers.

Wild flowers also look nice in planters. When you buy the mixed packets, you are never sure exactly what you'll get but generally they begin blooming in the mid-to late spring and continue until the late summer. Bulb flowers such as tulips and jonquils do very well in planters and if you live in a cooler climate, they will thrive. In the winter, many people advise to dig up your bulbs and wrap them in dry paper and store them in a cool, dark area like a basement or a cupboard in your utility room.

Bring the blooms of spring indoors to your walls with a beautiful piece of artwork that is literally dripping with fresh colors. A gorgeous piece with flowers all around will bring the freshness of spring into your home.

Need More Space? Shelve That Idea!

It's no secret that wall shelves can do wonders when you are looking to add some extra storage space to any of the rooms within your home. While this is true, wall shelves can also be wonderful when you are looking to find great ways to give your decor a little boost.

A great way to set off a wall shelf set is to display a single sculpture or perhaps a set of framed artworks. A single piece on a shelf will lend the idea that the piece is not only unique but also valuable. If you want to further enhance the illusion, choose a reproduction print that is printed on canvas and enhanced with brush strokes. To all but the trained eye, this type of print often is mistaken for an actual artwork. Other people just don't like prints and prefer an artwork on canvas. Printed reproduction piece or not. Many of the canvas pieces are signed by the original artist, just like the original painting as well, increasing the value in many cases of the reproduction piece, especially in the case of a limited edition run where only a set amount are numbered and signed.

If you want to add a touch of "you" to your room. Put a collection of sentimental photos or items on a wall shelf. You could include your now-grown children's first hand prints cast in plaster beside their own children's hand prints to show off both your kids and your grand kids. Other fun items include vacation photos, weddings and more. If it has sentimental value, include it.

Decorating A Room with Large Walls

Making a small room seem larger is a well-known and often used decorating trick. A less used but much needed skill when decorating your room is the ability to make a large wall with high ceilings seem cozy without making the room seem closed in or substantially smaller.

Putting up a large impact piece is one way to break up the monotony a large wall can sometimes bring to a room. A replica piece such as a Claude Monet classic Poppies done in a huge 42-inch by 53-inch artwork will make a stunning impact piece on your wall. The brightness of the piece with an elegant museum quality frame will not only give you the impact you seek for your wall space but an artwork that will last for years upon years to come because it is made from archival items. The print is also printed on canvas and then brush stroked to with a heavy bristled brush to give it an air of realism.

Claude Monet is a still a very popular artist for collectors, however he wasn't as popular in his day. In fact, his first showing of his impressionist art was so ill-received that a near riot ensued and his first outing as a professional artist was considered a total and absolute flop. Undaunted and completely believing in his style of expression, he continued to develop his loose style of painting and eventually influenced an entire generation of painters and continues to be considered the Father of the Impressionist movement to this day. If you don't want to do a huge impact piece, an alternate route you can take is to create a large impact piece from many smaller pieces.

If you have a large wall that is giving you a headache trying to incorporate it into your decor scheme, use these tips and use your wall to give your room some impact!

A Gift to Thrill the Little Girl Within

No matter if she's five or fifty, you'll have to agree most women have a youthful magic inside. If you have a gift to purchase, no matter if she's young or old, she'll cherish one of the best loved lines from the movie, "Cinderella"; "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes".

This wise bit of prose is immortalized in a beautiful sculpture by Dusty Horner. This piece takes the shape of the Pumpkin Coach from the famous Bibbity Bobbity Boo" scene where Cinderellas Fairy Godmother turns Cinderella into a beautiful Princess. Her Rags turn into a Ball Gown, a Pumpkin transforms into a Coach to whisk her off to the Princes Ball, and several Mice are turned into the coachmen. Cinderella, is surrounded by her friendly birds, and you can still see the magic effects twirling around her!

The entire piece is set in clear a clear resin that mimics hand blown glass and it topped with a golden top to resemble a pumpkin. The non-roll base will keep your sculpture where ever she chooses to display it.

To make the sculpture within highlight, display this piece either under a lamp or with a light shining behind it. It will cause the pieces within to catch the light and appear to glow from within. If you want to give a gift of magic, even for the little girl that still resides within yourself; this will make a wonderful addition to your room.

Thinking Ahead to Spring

Feeling a little winter-weary? With so many days of snow and ice, the world of white outside can leave you longing for the warmer and more colorful days of spring. Even though outdoors doesn't acknowledge it just yet, spring is indeed on her way and it's never too early to start planning to make a few changes to your decor.

You can begin to feel a little housebound when it's too cold to go outside for extended periods of time and you can get a little tired of watching television and checking your email. Use your time to plan some updates to the room you are in the most, your living room.

If you feel your living room is a little dull and boring. You can brighten it up with just a few splashes of color. A new valance with a bright background color and add a couple of new pillows to your sofa or love seat that also bring a bright color of your choosing into the room. An area rug is another great way to add a splash of color to your room and bring up little used colors and mellow out colors that might be getting overexposed in your decor.

Another fun way to bring in spring is to add a painting full of life. It doesn't have to be a springtime floral scene; you can add wild dancers in spicy costumes or a whimsical cat looking out of a shop window. Many people enjoy adding a large painting over their sofa that mimics the season outside. Consider a reproduction of a countryside view from your childhood days when life was a lot more simple.

Use these tips and update your room to a fun spring feel - remember warmer days are on their way!

Rhymes With Orange

Well nothing rhymes with orange but the color orange is fast becoming one of the most popular colors to use in interior decor this season.

If you want to be on the cutting edge of this design season but the thought of doing your walls in orange is just too much. Opt for some orange accents around your room.

There are many shades of orange that you can use. From a darker burnt orange to a light melon orange - you are sure to find a shade that will blend nicely into your existing decor. Window treatments that have light colors can be brought up to date with the simple use of a light orange sash. You can further balance out your window treatments by adding a matching valance of the same color across the top of your draperies.

Pillows are a fast way to add splashes of color in your room. Add two different shades of orange, one light and one dark to your soft and love seats to help bring the orange into your decor. Table runners are another fun way to incorporate a color quietly into a room. Match a coordinating color in a vase or opt for a clear vase and a flower arrangement that highlights the color orange. If you aren't a plant kind of person, you can add an orange-hued lamp base with a neutral lamp shade.
A piece of art that highlights orange as a main color is another way to bring the color around your room.

There are many ways that you can bring orange into your room without opening a can of paint. Use these tips and you'll be on the cutting edge of style.

There's Still Time To Get a Valentine's Day Present

If you've been searching high and low and you still don't feel like you can find the perfect Valentine's present, there's always the gift of art.

Something for your sweetie's desk or in a living room where it will be seen and appreciated often is a great way to say, "I Love You". If you have someone that is the apple of your eye, let them know it with a limited edition resin sculpture reproduction titled "Hearts" by Roark Gouley. He has designed an outstanding sculpture piece that consists of a bright red heart that has an apple stem and coloring and has a big bite taken out of it.

This would make a fabulous gift for your Valentine. Pair it in a basket with a bottle of wine, some cheese and some crackers and perhaps some chocolates. Your honey will get a big smile out of your gift. When this piece is displayed, whether at home or at the office, your Valentine will relish giving the details of your fun gift and how it was given with a little romantic Valentine's feast.

There's still time to do something for Valentine's besides the same old candy and flowers. If you're looking to do something a little different this year, give your Valentine a holiday to remember and a lasting mementos to be cherished year after year.

Cats and Cats and Cats

If you have a love of the furry feline population, you will probably have a small collection of cat-inspired items around your home.

Having items that you collect around your room will help make your decor uniquely "you". Even the most cozy French Country interior decor can leave you feeling flat if you don't incorporate a few personal items here and there to make your interior pop with your own special personality.

Since you love cats, why not put a cat inspired doorstop by the doorway? A pair of carved cat-shaped bookends is a great way to show off your book collection as well as bring more of your own personality into the room

There are cat-shaped planters that can hold all types of plants, including cat grass and catnip for your furry friends. Another fun way to incorporate your love of cats into the room is use a whimsically feline-inspired piece of art. Romero Britto has a gorgeous piece titled, "Mona Cat" and it is a take off on the classic "Mona Lisa".

Romero Britto has made a definite impression in the world of art. His style unique and his closest comparisons have been to Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein. The "Mona Cat" is limited to a 300 print limited edition and each one is hand signed by the artist. This piece will make a wonderfully light-hearted addition to your cat lover's decor.

Artful Additions With Wallpaper Borders

Sometimes, you will find that you have a room or two within your home that needs a little something extra. You might have a good amount of furniture in the room, and you could even be content with the color scheme that you have chosen for the walls. However, there could still be something that seems to be missing. You should know that there are still options that you can enjoy in terms of wallpaper borders for just about any room in your home.

Certainly, you could be thinking that the idea of wallpaper borders are a little crazy due to the fact that they were used quite a bit by many homeowners over the past couple of years. Even though they seem to have been overused by many, there are still amazing options in wallpaper borders that can make your kitchen and dining room sparkle. Some of these wallpaper borders can be found in the beautiful collection by a talented artists named Warren Kimble.

Henny and Penny is a stunning and fun eclectic wallpaper border that is just right for any country home, especially if you are a fan or collector of hens! This high quality wallpaper border is made from quality pre-pasted paper in a nice blend of colors including black, red, wheat and white. You will be pleased when you see just how simple it can be to transform a dining room or kitchen with a little bit of help from such a nice wallpaper border. It could even lend to a spark in creativity, leading you to work on other rooms within your home!

The Works Of Romare Bearden

If you are on the lookout for some truly amazing pieces of art that speak of the rich African American culture, then there is really no question that you will enjoy the work done by Romare Bearden. This talented artist is well known for many of the beautiful pieces that he created during his full love enjoying the creation of art and other aspects of the world including history, performing arts, music and more. By bringing a stellar piece of artwork by this master into your home, you will be opening up a whole new world for you and your family.

An amazing visual artist, Romare Bearden is known for works rich in bold color, different mediums and more. As a matter of fact, you may even find that there is something just right in his collection of art for just about any kind of collector. When thinking of bringing one of his pieces into your home, you need to be prepared for a good deal of conversation. Everyone who lays their eyes on a Romare Bearden is usually very moved and feel compelled to talk about it.

A smart addition to any home that enjoys music and the arts would have to be the Romare Bearden framed art print entitled Showtime. This piece is true to Bearden form, complete with some of the most stunning colors that the eye has ever set sight on. After you hang this piece in your family room or other area of your home, you are sure to be inspired to create and live your life to its fullest!

Great Wall Decorating Ideas For Your Dorm Room

When you are a college student, you are probably looking for a couple of great ways that you can spruce up your dorm room. Often times, these rooms are very stark and bland and can use a whole lot of work in order to make it feel like your own. However, sometimes it can be tricky when it comes to decorating your walls due to some of the restrictions that there may be for using nails and other ways to hang pictures. As long as you use your best judgment and pick some smart pieces and innovative ways to hang them up, you should be able to decorate your dorm room with little or no damage at all.

If you have a few posters that you would like to hang up, then you might want to look into some of the double sided adhesive tapes or even a kind of adhesive art dough that comes off easily without causing any damage to the wall. You could even cover a large section of a wall with a nice cloth tapestry for an incredible, dramatic look. When you find that you would really like to add something such as a shadow box or a framed print that requires a nail, it is important that you keep in mind that it may need to be fixed with a little bit of spackle later on when you move out.

As far as the dorm room that seems to be a bit too cramped, you can always give the illusion of a larger space with the simple addition of a beautiful mirror. The Antique Floral Motif decorative mirror is a classy way to add a little something extra to the wall of your dorm room. The design is just lovely enough to go with just about any style and it is even affordable for those on a student budget!

Making Over Your Child's Room

If you find yourself becoming inspired by one of the many popular home makeover shows that you have watched on television, you might end up wanting to start the project of making over your kid's room. Whether you have a boy or a girl, such an undertaking can be a very fun and rewarding experience. All that you really have to do is have a little bit of decorating know-how, a great budget and a fun idea and you will see your son or daughter's room shine in no time!

Perhaps your child is a huge fan of some of the popular Walt Disney characters. If so, then you can go ahead and choose a theme that you can work with and build it around something like a picture. For example, think about how much fun it can be to set up a bedroom with a wonderful marine theme based on the movie Finding Nemo! The Finding Nemo Crush Hour giclee print is a terrific piece that you can choose in order redesign your child's room. You can use this print to choose several different colors that are just right for a festive marine setting.

Choose some fabulous paints and nice fabrics that give the feeling of the sea and you should see that everything will begin to fall into place. You might even want to think of the addition of a beautiful fish tank in the room on top of a stand or dresser depending on the age of your child. Once you are finished, you are guaranteed to see that this will be one room that you can be proud of and your child will enjoy it with all of their friends.

Freshen Up Your Room For 2007

With January 2007 already winding down, you may have found yourself letting a few of those "resolutions" go already. If you still are goal oriented towards updating your interior design. You can change the look of your room with just a few simple changes.

First of all, look around your room and make a note of the two main colors in your room. Then look around your room and make a note of two lesser used colors. Now choose one of the main colors to lessen and choose one of the lesser used colors to use more of - this alone will create a new feeling in your room. Consider changing out your window treatments or if you don't want to change them complete, take the lesser color and add it in the form in the shears underneath your main draperies. This will subtly bring the color up in your room.

Another way to add color is to use pillows to bring the lesser more attention throughout the room. Put them on the sofa, chair and some people like to make a stack of three in graduated sizes will make a neat use of a corner space. Area rugs will also bring the use of colors into your room.

You can make the new color scheme flow from your floors with area rugs to your room itself through the furniture with pillows and in your window treatments. If you want to further send the color around the room and balance it, add an artwork or two to capture the colors and make them flow seamlessly around the room.

And those are just a few ways to change the look and feel of your room without spending an arm and a leg to get the look you want.

Art Collector? Be Wary When Buying From Unauthorized Dealers

Collecting art is a passion many people enjoy. Buying art online has become a convenient way for many people to expand their collections and find new artists to collect. When you decide to start collecting a particular artist or type of art, you need to be aware that not all online gallery dealers will guarantee the validity of their artworks they purchase.

Gallery Direct Art will guarantee that every single artwork we sell has been approved and authorized by the artists, publishers and distributors that we represent. We ensure the high quality and authenticity of every artwork that we sell. Safe arrival of every piece along with mint condition is guaranteed with every order.

Unlike many of the authorized gallery artwork dealers on the Internet, we also have a brick and mortar store that has been in business since 1988. Gallery Direct Art takes great pride in not only being able to provide thousands upon thousands of artworks to our customers but we enjoy giving each and every order personalized service.

We have agreed to the uphold the integrity of the art we sell by not selling below issue price or current retail. Furthermore, we never sell or offer art from secondary sources. All artworks come directly from the artists or their authorized representatives. This keeps the quality and market value of your artwork at a competitive rate.

If you're interested in starting to collect art or you want to add some pieces to your existing collection but were wary about buying online, consider making your purchase through us, you'll love the quality and the peace of mind from buying from an authorized gallery dealer.

Art From Disney - Always a Classic

Looking for something unusual yet classic for your walls? If you're bored with floral artworks in vases and you really aren't into landscapes, consider adding something a little bit different to your walls in the form of one of the prints from Disney.

You will have a great selection to choose from as many artists are represented. A Disney authorized artist that stands out in particular is Tricia Buchanan. Tricia Buchanan was inspired to become a Disney artist from a very young age and even wrote Disney Studios at the age of 11 to ask how to become an artist, Disney sent her back a packet of information.

She went on to work on the Simpsons, King of the Hill, Dilbert; as well as Disney Studios. She has some excellent prints available in limited editions. Her authorized Disney creations are done in a poster style that is both classic and unique.

A real standout piece in the collection is the work entitled "Hula Your Way to Hawaii" and it features some well known Disney icons. Mickey Mouse is playing a ukulele while Minnie Mouse does the hula in a grass skirt while a large ship passes by in the background. There is a smoking volcano in the background of the piece just to add a little more island mystique to the piece.

Add something whimsical and fun to your art collection, add one of Tricia Buchanan's fun designs that incorporate some of the best loved Disney characters of all time.

The Feeling and Color of an Avantdil

If your tastes run towards artworks that tell a story with vibrant colors and dashing figures, you will find the work of Avantdil will fit the bill for what you're looking for.

An exception piece is found in the artwork titled, "Tango Argentina". This large sized print measures in at 40" x 40" and it is part of a very limited edition that is hand numbered and signed by the artist himself. There are only twenty prints in the entire series and it is printed in the style of embellished giclee on canvas.

The artist's style of this painting is impressionist but it also has elements that make up cubism and abstract as well. The colors are rich and detail in this richly stroked piece will lend something new almost every time you gaze up on this impressive piece. The giclee on canvas gives the artwork a very authentic look and with the texture on the canvas, many people will assume it is an original piece.

Avantdil is a popular artist that is collected far and wide. Some of his notable patrons include the United States Ambassador to Georgia, the Governor of the Republic of Adjaria, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, and the President of International Lyons Club.

If you don't already have an Avantdil in your personal art collection, consider adding this vibrant piece as a beautiful impact piece to your decor.

Canvas Prints Are Hot

If you've always shunned getting artworks that were made into prints because you didn't like the look and you prefer a little bit of texture with your art, consider the newest generation of prints that are produced on canvas.

Artworks printed on canvas lose none of the brilliance of the original. With modern technology, the original artwork image can be digitally enhanced to transfer to the canvas just as sharp as the original image. The canvas is then stretched and framed just as with an original artwork. To add to the realism of the reproduction, the piece is finished using varnish with a wide and large bristled brush that will leave impressions of brush strokes hither and yon throughout the piece.

You can get all types of artworks from old masters such as Renoir and Monet to newer generations of artists such as William Trost Richards. If you prefer to have originals in your art collection but you don't wish to fork over the cash an original by Picasso might cost, consider getting a museum quality print.

Additionally, when you order one of these prints you will have several framing options. A good rule of thumb is to put a heavy brush stroked canvas in a heavy frame, the two pieces will compliment each other beautifully. It's easy to choose type wood hue for your frame, you can either choose a color within the painting to bring out or if you prefer that your artwork blend with your entire interior decor, choose the frame as near to the colors of your wooden furnishings in the room.

A Little Martini 101

The martini is one of the best known cocktails in the world and no matter if you prefer yours shaken or stirred, everyone has a very strong opinion as to what concoction makes the very best martini.

There's a great debate on where the origins of the martini come from. The most widely accredited claim goes to the martini being a descendant of the Martinez, an older, sweeter cocktail consisting of two ounces of sweet vermouth, one ounce Old Tom gin (a sweetened variant), two dashes maraschino cherry liquid, and one dash bitters, shaken with ice, strained, and served with a twist of lemon. The Martinez is stated to have hailed from Martinez, California, where a plaque commemorating the birth of the martini can be found at the intersection of Alahambra and Masonic streets.

If you'd like to commemorate your love of this world renowned libation, consider getting one of Thomas Stiltz's beautifully recreated giclees titled, "Martini Magic". This piece is printed on canvas and tightly attached to frame boards giving this a beautiful gallery wrapped look. To frame or not to frame is entirely up to you. The reproduction captures the realistic beauty of the original oil painting that depicts two realistically captured martinis sitting with a shaker nearby. This would be a wonderful piece of bar art to add to your decor. The size is an impressive 30-inches by 20-inches and the narrow spectrum of dark and light tones used will make it easy to blend into any decor.

Whether you need a great gift or a new addition to a room of your own, this piece will fit in, whether you like it shaken or stirred!

The Love Letter

Nothing could be better for Valentine's Day than an artwork depicting the innocence of a childhood love letter. The masterpiece by Bob Byerley is available as a hand signed and numbered limited edition is titled "The Love Letter" and is reproduced as a beautiful giclee print.

It featured a girl in her teens grinning as she reads a love letter while her younger sister dies laughing in the background. The colors are rich and the whimsical feeling of the painting will delight everyone that sees this work. The painting is 16-inches by 20-inches and there are only 350 in this series, once those are sold, there will not be any more. If you're looking for a gift for someone that is both beautiful and fun for Valentine's Day, consider this painting as they will be thrilled and it would be even more special if you happened to have been childhood sweethearts as well.

As with the other artworks here are at Gallery Direct Art, you get to choose your matting and framing options. If you know the decor for the home you are buying this for, get the frame in a color to match the wood in the room it will be hung in. If you don't know or arent' sure, a good rule of thumb is to match the frame to one of the darker browns in the artwork itself so it will be self-matching and will blend easily into any interior design.

Give the gift of a fun memory, all girls remember that first innocent love.

What is The Color of Passion?

The artist Hessam Abrishami knows and his outstanding work of art has even released on a hand signed and numbered limited edition giclee on canvas. The piece is titled "Color of Passion" and it features vibrant colors and is a really striking piece. If you're looking for an impact piece for your room, this would make a great choice.

Giclee prints on canvas look like an original artwork. If you want the look of an original artwork without the cost, a giclee print is the way to go. Giclee in itself is a very interesting process for creating prints. 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.

This particular giclee is printed on canvas and then mounted, creating a large finished piece that measures 30 inches by 60 inches. The vivid colors will lose none of their impact in the translation from original to giclee and best of all, this limited edition giclee is signed by the artist just like an original piece!

Add a Kingly Piece to Your Walls

Simon Combes is an amazing artist that turned his love of big cats into a large part of his art that he creates. He has a stunning work available in a 150 run limited edition. The piece titled, "In His Prime" depicts a young male lion leading his pride from a muted and dreamily colored background into a bright and sunny plain. You can feel the steam from the African day and the sheer heat that is depicted in this piece.

Simon Combes great up in Africa and has a first hand knowledge of his favorite subjects, big cats. His beautiful animal portraits and sweeping landscapes earned him honors from The Society of Animal Artists, the Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show and the Florida Wildlife Expo. In the early 1990s, Combes set out to paint a series of the world's largest cats for The Greenwich Workshop, a project which eventually resulted in the trade book Great Cats: Stories and Art from a World Traveller and included in the book is a collector's portfolio of limited edition prints.

His artworks are collected all over the world and he's a prized artist in both private and public collections. Part of Combes' mission is to raise awareness about wildlife conservation through his art. He is a large contributor and has served on the councils of several wildlife conservation organizations.

Now that you know a little more about this amazing artist, help the big wild cats stay wild and support his art by adding a limited edition piece to your own personal collection.

Immortalize an Endangered Species

The sad truth is, some animals that we have known all of our lives may not exist when our children have children of their own. One artist in particular is working to try to change that.

The Artist Robert Bateman is an internationally known artist that was even commissioned to create a painting that served as the wedding gift for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles from the people of Canada.His work is also represented in the collection of HRH The Prince Philip, the late Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Bateman has had many one-man museum shows throughout North America, including an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; most of these shows have drawn record-breaking crowds.

He has a beautiful limited edition giclee print titled,"Salmon Watch - Spirit Bear". It is a large piece measuring about 24-inches by 36-inches and is rich with color. Bateman's realistic portrayals of his wildlife subjects are outstanding in their clarity and colors. This artwork in particular is breathtaking and is only available in a limited edition of 180 prints.

Bateman's art reflects his commitment to ecology and preservation and he has worked tirelessly since the 1960's to educate the public through art and public appearances of the importance of environmental and preservation issues. Many of his limited edition print runs are used as fund raising efforts towards helping endangered species, such as the Grizzly Bear depicted in this artwork.

Enhance Your Decor with Custom Framed Art

Livening up your interior can be as easy as adding a piece of custom framed art. Getting a custom framed artwork begins with choosing the piece itself. A good way to choose art for your decor is to pick a subject you are interested in or even collect. If history is your interest, consider getting an artwork that features a historically significant location that you've enjoyed learning about; if you have a collection of cats - consider getting an artwork with that as a theme.

Another way to choose an artwork is simply by the colors reflected in the piece. Before you start looking at artworks, sit down in the room you're going to be choosing a piece for and close your eyes for a few minutes. Open your eyes and look around - what are the two major colors in the room? Either or both of those will be the main color in your artwork. Now look around, what are a couple of the lesser used colors you want to bring up in the room? If you have a primarily off-white and dark beige room with dark red accents; you will want to choose an artwork with off-white or dark beige and you can further blend the artworks into your decor by choosing a piece that has a dark red accent within the piece.

Now comes the fun part, once you've chosen your artwork, you will want to choose a mat (in most cases, unless the artwork is on a canvas which needs no mat)or a double mat and a frame to match. The frame is the part most people feel a little "stuck" at; but in reality - it's the easiest part of your artwork to plan. If you're going for a wooden frame, look around your room and note the color of the wood used for your furnishings. Get as close to that color and grain of wood as you can in your choice of frame. If you want to opt for a piece with more of an impact on your wall, go for a darker stained frame that won't call attention to itself apart from your artwork.

Make Your Living Room Un-boring

Is your living room boring? There are a good number of ways that you can liven up your living room without spending an arm and a leg.

First of all you can do a lot with color. Many people get into using colors in the beige spectrum to the point that they overpower the room and make it into one dull place to be. You can make your room pop by adding a little color.

Add a framed print over your sofa or largest wall in the room and make sure the artwork is brightly colored. It doesn't have to be a huge piece to add a good influx of color into your room. A good rule of thumb for picking a piece that will match seamlessly into your decor is to use a piece that has an undertone of a color that is already in your room and then let the bright colors in the piece jazz up your decor.

A good piece for any room is Simon Bull's hand signed and numbered limited edition print of his original artwork titled "Bright Morning Dew"; this piece depicts a light-drenched brilliantly colored orange-red poppy with hints of sunlight glistening in dew on the petals. It's a beautiful reproduction of the original artwork and the fact it is a hand signed limited edition will make it a very special addition to your walls.

You can further extend the colors of the artwork into your room by using pillows that carry some of the brighter colors in this piece such as the orange-red of the poppy flower as well as the vibrant green of the stem and leaves.

Enjoy Primitive Art

You don't have to living a cave to enjoy primitive art. The sharp black lines and bright pigments used to create these reproductions inspired by neolithic cave drawings will meld nicely into any decor scheme. Alision Dearborne has captured the look of the primitive style with a touch of modern design. She has two outstanding prints that will look marvelous on your walls.

The first is a piece titled, "Freeing the Souls" and depicts two maize and light yellow colored bison running and three wild horses running the opposite direction. The colors used in the horses run from the same scheme as the bison along the color palette to a gorgeous gray-blue. Bold black lines accent the delicately drawn hooves and legs of all five animals in this piece.

The second piece is done in complimentary colors to the previous artwork and is titled, "Jewel". This beautifully done artwork features a running wild horse done in muted tones of brown and golden yellow with a vibrant gold and purple background.

Displayed together on a wall, these two primitive artworks will liven up your decor and bring a beautiful splash of gentle color. Both of these artworks are part of hand signed and limited numbered edition. This means not only are you getting a one-of-a-kind piece with a unique number, you are also getting an artwork that was signed by the artist herself.

If you want to add artwork to your decor that are a little different from the run of the mill flowers on tables in vases and landscapes - go primitive!

Artful Gifts of Love

Still stumped for a great Valentine's gift? If you don't want to give something as cliche as a bottle of perfume and your honey isn't a candy and flowers type of person - give them the gift of art.

Consider a limited edition print as a very special gift. Limited edition prints are exact copies of the original artwork, no matter what medium it was created in; that are produced in a limited number of prints. There's no "average" number in a print run - it may be as few as 39 or as many as 2500. Each print will have the number that it is in the series such as "4/39" denotes that this print is the fourth in a series of 39 total prints.

A limited edition print with a love theme would make for an ideal Valentine's present. Choose a classic print by a well known artist such as Erte's "Heart" that features a stylized figure of woman with a cherub in tow within a heart. The black background creates a stark contrast for this piece and it will add a nice impact to any room it is displayed in.

Erte is best known for his work as the artist for Harper's Bizarre, and his easily recognizable style makes him a highly collected artist. This limited edition print is printed in a lithograph style and once matted with archival materials and framed under glass; it will give enjoyment for many Valentine's Days to come.

Add an Unusual Angel to Your Decor

If you collect angels or simply enjoy their presence in your decor, adding an artwork that encompasses the magic of the visual image of an angel will bring a special feeling to your room.

You can take it a step further from the realistically painted angels to something a little more high-brow and incorporate one of the fantastic prints of the famed artist Jean Cocteau. Cocteau was born in 1889 and created steadily until his death in 1963. He had an unmistakable style that consisted of clean lines and using the least amount of visualizing to create stunning pieces, much of which is left up to the viewer to interpret.

The Cocteau "Angel" graphite on paper is an original work of art that is signed and dated by the artist. It would make an outstanding addition to any art collection and a fantastic piece to jump into the world of collecting art with.

Jean Cocteau worked in not only pencil (graphite), but also crayon. Amazingly, he didn't take up easel painting until he was in his early sixties. He experimented with painting as he had with every other medium and incorporated not only paint, but also pipe cleaners, hairpins, candles, matches, thumbtacks, lumps of sugar, and stars made of pasta, just to name a few.

Add a real angel and a real artwork to your decor. If you prefer to have original artworks instead of prints, go for the best with a Cocteau.

Amish Art - Plain and Simple

If you want to add some plain and simple artworks to your walls, go for a small collection of Amish inspired art. No group of people define simplicity in living better than the Amish. Though they shun the outside world as much as possible, their influence, especially among handicrafts such as quilting, can't be denied.

There are a number of different groupings of Amish communities and each one follows their own set of rules. Some completely shun electricity while others allow modern conveniences for certain circumstances. The goal of the Amish is to live simply. Men who wear two suspenders when only one is needed can be seen as vain by others in the community. Women that have too many ruffles in their bonnets may also be seen as vain.

The Amish have been depicted in numerous artworks and there is an outstanding collection of prints by Jacob Miller that depict everyday Amish life. "Airing the Quilts" which shows a group of women that are hanging their quilts up on clothes lines to air out or "Maple Syrup Time" that shows a woman gathering syrup from a maple tree while her husband looks on, both show necessary day-to-day duties that the Amish perform often portrayed in a beautifully done artwork. The colors are sharp and simple. Each of the prints in this series is matted in a cream and black mat with a simple black frame further offsetting the artwork.

This grouping of artworks will tell a wonderful story on your walls of the simple, Amish way of life in full, vibrant color.

Choosing an Impact Piece

Now that you've finished redecorating your room, do you feel like the room still needs a little something? You made your room flow by choosing complimentary colors throughout; you added accents of color to your sofa and chairs. You redid your window treatments and even changed your lighting within the room, and yet your design still doesn't "pop". It could be that you need an impact piece.

An impact piece is a piece in your room, usually of art, that draws central attention and is also a great conversation piece. Now, what you choose to use for an impact piece is entirely up to you. It can be anything from a terrific piece of sculpture or a brilliantly colored painting. Just remember, nothing dull here - you want color, you want sass and you want your impact piece to deliver an impact.

A diptych will make a fabulous addition to your walls. Diptychs are simply two halves that make up one large painting. They are best displayed with just a bit of space between - so they are individual artworks that create a whole. The Marsha Hammel limited edition print" Song and Dance Diptych " is a great example of a diptych that can also deliver an impact. The print is rich with color and has a huge number of details that will create a fun conversation piece.

Add an impact piece if you feel your room is a little dull, you'll see your entire room awaken from just the addition of a good conversation piece.

Give a Little Love

If you've been searching high and low for a great Valentine's Day present and you want to give something that says "love" consider a work of art that conveys the message in a beautiful way.

Feng shui is a very popular style of decorating and if your gift recipient is into the Asian style of creating balance within each room of their home, you can incorporate an Asian themed artwork nicely with a heartfelt sentiment of love.

An outstanding piece by Tiefeng Jiang is the vibrant piece titled "Feng Shui (Love)". This is an interesting piece as it is a serigraph on canvas and looks like an original artwork as most people do not expect to see a reproduction on canvas artworks. There are only 179 pieces produced for this series and your piece will come numbered as to which number in this limited edition your artwork is.

The size of this artwork is 40-inches by 30-inches and for an even more feng shui appeal, use smaller artworks or hanging sculptures on either side of this serigraph to continue the theme of balance within the room that the decoration art of feng shui is working towards.

Art makes an outstanding choice as a gift for Valentine's Day. If you want to give a gift that the recipient will think of you everytime they see it, give the gift of art.

Choosing Art For Your Home Made Easy

When you're putting together your decor, you may feel a little intimidated about choosing a large artwork for your walls. It doesn't have to a Renoir reproduction to add a touch of style in your room. What it does need to do is make you feel comfortable with the subject matter depicted and the overall essence of the artwork.

An easy way to find a painting that will meld right into your decor scheme is to look around your room and write down two main colors and one or two secondary colors you've used in your design scheme. Try to incorporate an artwork with at least one of the main colors and one of the secondary colors and you'll have a large piece that will go well with your room off the bat.

Go for a frame that looks nice but isn't too ornate. Large, heavy wooden scroll worked frames are certainly elegant but they can detract from your artwork, particularly if it is done in colors that are of the lighter variety.

For a soft look in your room, go for the blended softness of watercolors. For a sharper and more modern look, the bright colors of an acrylic masterpiece can't be beat. Prints translate well to any of the three main mediums, watercolor, acrylic or oils. It's all just a matter of the look you want to convey in your room.

Use these tips and choose a new artwork to ring in the New Year and a new look to your room!

Boys Are Stupid, Throw Rocks At Them

Okay it's not a popular sentiment, especially with Valentine's Day coming up soon; but if you want to add a piece of whimsical art that will bring a smile to everyone's face that views it - go for a Todd Goldman poster.

The artwork "Boys Are Stupid, Throw Rocks At Them" has been reproduced into a 24" x 36" open edition poster. The print features a cartoonish figure with blue eyes running away from rocks that are flying through the air towards him. It is printed on fine art lithograph paper and if you frame it under glass using acid free materials and keep the piece out of direct sunlight - it should retain it's good looks indefinitely. If you have someone who has recently been through a break up and won't have a particular Valentine to call their own this year, this poster would make a fun gift to lift their spirits and bring a smile to their face.

Additionally, you can get this piece framed if you choose. It would look great in a low-key black frame that will set off the fine black lines used to create this piece.

Todd has an entire line of artwork inspired products. His "doodles" appear on many different products from shirts to pajamas to watches. His poster print is proving to be very popular and if you enjoy collecting art - put Todd Goldman down as an artist's name to remember as you're going to be hearing a lot from him in the years to come.

The Gift of Art for Your Valentine?

If you want to give a gift to someone that is very special to you and you'd like to be something they'll think of you every time they glance up and see the gift, consider the gift of an artwork for Valentine's.

Consider a limited edition print by James Rizzi " The Apple of My Heart ". This brightly colored print captures all the vibrance of the original and features two people looking at each other with a twinkle in their eyes while hearts, flowers and stars abound all over this piece. The dimensions are roughly 4 inches by 6 inches and your print will be numbered as to which one in the series of 350 it is. With an artwork of this size, it's not a huge space commitment for the wall and if your Valentine wants to display this piece in the office, it's completely office friendly. If you want to give a one of a kind gift, a limited edition print is a great way to do it.

Although, framed prints make wonderful presentations but don't think you have to limit yourself to just a print for a present. You can also give a beautiful piece of sculpture to set on a table or in a place in the bedroom where the love of your life will see it every day upon awakening.

And those are just a couple of good ideas to make this a Valentine's Day to remember. If you want to do something besides jewelry or perfume this year, go for the artfully tasteful approach and give a one of a kind piece of art!