Artfully Good Gifts for the Dog Lovin' Nerd

Dogs offer us a wide range of emotions-love, anxiety, and curiosity-and thereby make us think they possess the full array of human emotions. When you really think about it though, aren't the emotions mentioned really the most important?

When we arrive home, they dance with joy and put their heads on our knees. And, when they look lovingly up into our eyes, we feel a sensation of love and loyalty. So what if the world doesn't care, we have our dogs to fill in the gaps. Who knows? That loving look might just be man's best friend telling us they're hungry!

Dogs are pretty good at reading or emotions too. They've learned to respond to our emotions, and that makes us happy. This is perhaps the biggest reason whey we don't let hamsters or squirrels run loose in the house. It's a good exchange; we love them and get a lot love in return.

They also help us to make important social decision in our lives. If you're guy, it's a well- established fact that you had better impress her dog if you want the relationship to flourish-and vice versa. Who knows, maybe dogs have evolved to the point of being great mimicking human emotion. Whatever the case, it really doesn't matter in the bigger scheme of things. Dogs will be in our lives as long as boys have fishing poles and fish to catch in a winding country stream.

Since we've given them human-like status, the perfect gift of any dog lover is the engaging and charming print by Bill Bullas: "The Nerd Dogs". This just about sums up their entire personality, and what they really mean to us.

Get Rid of the Stress - Relax

There's nothing like having a home that is inviting and relaxing for friends or family. "Relaxation" by Patricia Govenzensky" is a beautiful work of art that says it all in the stroke of a brush. She is fast becoming a rising star in the International world of art, and is well known for her richly textured acrylics and watercolors. Her paintings offer center around "romantic" mysteries, and her use of watercolors are able to evoke feelings of intense happiness or sadness in her characters.

This is a superb work of art that will enhance any room décor. The colors are vibrant, and represent every major color on the spectrum. This means that it immediately becomes a perfect match for any wall in the home or office. And, let's face it! It's a great conversation piece. Great art that evokes an emotional response is what make are great in the first place.

The vibrancy and life in her work is perhaps a result of her youthful years in Tel-Aviv, where from a young age she was enrolled in art courses sponsored by the Tel- Aviv Museum. Later, she studied at the Avni Institute, and continued to expand her knowledge at the Ramat Hasharon Art Academy, where she graduated with honors.

This is art that has the ability to create a relaxed mood-of which we can never have too much of. Your orders will usually ship in 3-9 days, and may take a bit longer if you're ordering "custom framed" products, so if you're getting this outstanding piece for a gift, order a 2-weeks or so in advance to ensure you'll have your beautiful piece in time.

Decorate By Season - Think Summer!

It's hard to design for summer in your decor when snow is still on the ground, but many people do as much entertaining in the summertime as they do in the December holiday season and they want their homes to look a little different in the summer and reflect and warmth and life of the season. A beautiful hand signed artwork of Sueellen Ross. "Summertime and Living is Easy" is the perfect suite to celebrate the long awaited summer, and compliment your art collection.

Flowers and a sassy cat are the highlights of this design and the bright colors will enhance and yet, not overpower your room. This design is a beautiful mix of media including watercolor, India Ink, and pencil. These cats will tempt you to find an easy chair in your favorite spot on the front porch, or that hammock strung between two trees out in the back yard, kick back and enjoy the day with family and friends.

An exceptional artist, the works of Sueellen Ross have been exhibited worldwide, and she has been listed in Who's Who in American Art since 1987. The love of painting comes natural, and her two cats are no doubt inspiring. There's an almost "playful" attitude that she's able to bring to bare in all of her works. And, it's this spirit of pureness and realism that touches the heart of those that love animals.

Her attention to detail is most impressive, and no matter what the background in her painting, the animals seem to dominate in a graceful and playful way. She's able to capture her animal's personalities in a way that no other artist of her caliber can. Add some summer breeze to your room with this refreshing artwork!

Art Up Your Home Office Space

There could quite possibly be nothing worse than an office space that is dull and dreary. Whenever you are sitting in such a room, it is only natural that you will feel as though you are being weighed down. In order to have an upbeat feeling in your office that will inspire you to work, you may want to think of mixing things up a bit. This could mean everything from the addition of a plant to a gorgeous piece of wall art.

Depending on what your particular tastes may be, a nice piece of artwork for your office could either be subtle or bright. When it comes to color you can always go with the particular pattern or scheme that speaks to you first. If you happen to find a piece that makes you smile from the very second that you look at it, then the chances are very good that it will bring you plenty of joy and inspiration when placed in your office setting.

If you long for the days when you can relax and enjoy the open air of the west, then there is really nothing better than a limited edition Bill Anton giclee on canvas. Since Anton is well known for capturing the west in a natural and almost lifelike state, it is only right that you would fall in love with one of his pieces from the get go. "Emerald Oasis" is always a good choice for the lover of the outdoors, complete with rolling mountains, a beautiful water setting and majestic horses. With such a delightful piece of art, your office will never be dull and drab again.

Making Your Princess's Room Even More Special With Art

What's more precious than your little princess? From the moment you brought her home in her pink bunting to the special little girl she is today, you want everything in her life to be as special as she is. This goes for her room too. As your daughter gets older, you'll want to allow her room to grow with her and you can make some fun changes as she grows up!

Decorating a bedroom for your little girl can be one of the best experiences that you will ever have with decorating. There are plenty of wonderful pieces that you can choose from to add to her room, including everything from accents to fine furnishings. For any girl who simply loves everything that is filled with sugar and spice and everything nice, you may even see that she will be interested in having a couple of beautiful works of art decorating the walls of her bedroom.

When looking for some sort of framed artwork or print for your daughter's room, you can either ask for her personal opinion or even draw from some of the things that she seems to be interested in. If she loves butterflies and the outdoors, you may want to look into a whimsical garden scene. For the little girl who simply adores animals there is the fun limited edition print created by Jean Monti called "Puppy Love". Any little girl would simply fall in love with print upon the very first glance. Add this piece to her wall and you are sure to see that it will make a magnificent addition to her newly decorated bedroom.

More Easy Tips for Waking Up Your Interior 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 guest room 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 such as the "Strange Love" which depicts the love between a cat and a dog.

Use these tips and bring your room to life with a minimum of cost!

Art Gone Bad!

No, we don't mean art that is badly done or will totally wreck your decor; instead we mean art that is done with the rebel or rebel at heart in mind. If you know a truly free spirit 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!

The Power of Small Elements

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.

How Do You Spell Cozy? K-I-M-B-L-E

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!

Artwork Fit For the King of the Beasts

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 grew 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.

Spirit Bear- One Artist's Work Towards Helping 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.

A Great Last Minute Gift

The real countdown to Christmas is here and if you need a last minute gift for a hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday list - consider a piece of truly functional art.

At this stage of the shopping game, there won't be time to wait to get a painting framed, so go for something along the lines of a sculpture and even better, sculpture with a practical function and you've got a winner of a gift.

|One piece to consider heavily is a Tim Herrick Moose Lamp. This working lamp is actually constructed from the antler of a moose. The image of a moose is emblazoned on the body of the antler and it's fitted nicely with a simple shade to give it a truly rustic look and feel.

The light itself has a soft and cozy glow and will meld seamlessly into nearly any type of decor style. This is an ideal gift for anyone that has a "country" decor in their home and even better, someone that loves the great outdoors or that is an avid hunter will love one of these unusual lamps.

It's not to hard to come up with a last minute gift. Just be creative and remember, everyone loves something they can use as a gift.

Fantastic Housewarming Gift Idea

If you happen to have a friend or family member who is near and dear to your heart that is moving into a brand new home, then you are definitely going to want to make sure that you give them an amazing housewarming gift. Such an incredible gift will be cherished and talked about by them for many years to come. So, what kind of a gift are you going to buy for their house to make such a lasting impression?

A truly fabulous gift idea that many individuals tend to overlook for a housewarming present is a beautiful canvas print. This is really a nice idea that your gift recipient can use to hand on one of the walls within their new home! If you know their tastes very well, then you should have no problem at all picking out a terrific design that they are sure to treasure. Perhaps a hand signed and numbered limited edition Bonnie Marris is something that is just up their alley!

Morning Run is the name of a breathtaking Giclee that you can order up in two different canvas sizes. You can send your gift recipient this beautiful piece in either the thirty by 42 inch size or the forty-five by sixty-two inch unstretched size. They may have already told you that they are looking for a stunning piece to hang on a certain wall. If so, then your recipient is definitely going to enjoy every single inch of this stunning piece depicting horses.

New Art for a New Year

Start thinking ahead to 2008 and give your walls a fresh new look for the new year. 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 framed artwork 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!

Simple Pleasures - Primitive Art!

You don't have to live 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!

Make Your Office Space POP!

There could quite possibly be nothing worse than an office space that is dull and dreary. Whenever you are sitting in such a room, it is only natural that you will feel as though you are being weighed down. In order to have an upbeat feeling in your office that will inspire you to work, you may want to think of mixing things up a bit. This could mean everything from the addition of a plant to a gorgeous piece of wall art.

Depending on what your particular tastes may be, a nice piece of artwork for your office could either be subtle or bright. When it comes to color you can always go with the particular pattern or scheme that speaks to you first. If you happen to find a piece that makes you smile from the very second that you look at it, then the chances are very good that it will bring you plenty of joy and inspiration when placed in your office setting.

If you long for the days when you can relax and enjoy the open air of the west, then there is really nothing better than a limited edition Bill Anton giclee on canvas. Since Anton is well known for capturing the west in a natural and almost lifelike state, it is only right that you would fall in love with one of his pieces from the get go. "Cottonwood Dreams" is always a good choice for the lover of the outdoors, complete with a horse quietly grazing under a majestic cottonwood tree. With such a delightful piece of art, your office will never be dull and drab again.

Bad to the Bone?

There happens to be a very big difference between adding a good piece of sculpture to your living space and adding an incredible piece of sculpture to your living space. When you are looking for an outstanding work of art for your home, apartment or office space, the best idea is to make sure that you do a decent amount of shopping around in order to find the perfect piece that speaks to you. This way, each and every time you glance at it, you will have a unique and wonderful experience that only the perfect sculpture can bring. This is true to if you're choosing the sculpture for a gift - don't buy the first thing you run across, wait until you find something that truly tickles your fancy.

As far as choosing your sculpture, you should keep in mind that it is always best to go with exactly what you like. This means not having to worry about whether or not the sculpture that you pick matches your current decor. After all, some of the most amazing works of art will end up being the ones that really stand out against everything else that is located within the room. You might even find that you will enjoy being on the hunt for a certain piece that happens to differ quite a bit from everything else that you currently have.

To get your hands on a terrific sculpture that will speak to you as well as all of your guests, you might want to look into the collection created by Govinder. One particular piece that is interesting and quite unique for any space is called Bad To The Bone. With the interesting design and splash of color, this is guaranteed to be a sculpture that you will be thrilled to look at each time you walk into the room.

A Gift to Thrill the Outdoor Lover

Got a truly hard to buy for individual on your holiday gifting list? One way to narrow down a good gift is to think of hobbies or other activities that the person enjoys - if they love the outdoors and are an enthusiast about hunting, fishing, or just love hiking off the beaten path, your gift giving just got a little easier.

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

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

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

Also, consider a sculpture of a flying duck, a strutting pheasant or a regal buck with his antlers held high. Any of these will make an outstanding gift for that hard to buy for lover of the great outdoors.

Monkey Around With a Little Wildness

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

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

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

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

Thinking Ahead for the Cat Lover

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

Moon has been painting realistic cats in very unreal settings and the result is a brilliant executed piece of art that is whimsical and detailed. Sometimes his cats are doing decidedly cat things and othertimes the result is surreal.

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

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

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