Friday, January 19, 2007

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.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

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!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

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.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

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.

Friday, January 12, 2007

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.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

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!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

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.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

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.

Friday, January 05, 2007

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.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

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!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

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.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

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!

Friday, December 29, 2006

Use These Tricks To Make Your Ceilings Look Lower

Does your home have really high ceilings? That can be a real decorating challenge, if you're not careful you can wind up with a clutter on your walls all the way up to your ceiling.

One way to let your decor speak for itself is to create the illusion that your ceilings are lower than they actually are. One way to bring that white ceiling down a little is to add something of interest on it. Items such as tin ceiling tiles which look heavy but are actually very light will add a big element of interest to your room. You can also use a darker color of paint on your ceiling and use a texture stamp to help bring your room in a little closer. Resin tiles that can be painted will also look stunning on your ceiling.

Use larger artworks on your walls and hang them a little higher and you'll also trick the eye into thinking that the room isn't quite as tall as it actually is and you'll be making good use of your wall space without cluttering your room. Boarders placed around your ceiling will also help bring your room in and make it seem more cozy and warm. Stick to darker and neutral colors such as off-white, dark beige, lightest brown, goldenrod are all good choices for creating the illusion of a lower ceiling and will make your room feel much more comfortable.

Use these tips and with a minimum of work, you can make your uncomfortable room with high ceilings and turn it into a comfortable feeling room that you'll look forward to spending time in.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Why Buy From Gallery Direct Art

Unlike buying clothes online, you know you can get a good fit when you purchase art for your home or as a gift.

At Gallery Direct we are an authorized dealer for every single item we sell and we unconditionally guarantee the authenticity and condition of every item we sell. We also offer a huge selection of artworks. From fine to folk to sculpture, you can find it here. If you purchase a particular number in a limited edition print series, you can rest assured that your investment was sound as that number won't be reissued.

If you would like to get any piece custom framed, we will do a museum quality custom frame job for you that starts at only $149. Additionally, there is free shipping within the continental United States for orders totaling over one hundred dollars, all other orders have flat rate shipping of $9.95 and each and every shipment is sent fully insured and guaranteed.

Shopping online with us is safe. We use 128-bit SSL online order processing that keeps your personal information safe. Furthermore, we don't sell your information to any third parties and your information about your purchases stays with us.

Also, we offer a PriceMatch Guarantee. If you can find a lower price at an authorized art dealer - we will beat it! Also, you're never charged sales tax on your purchases.

Whether you're purchasing art for your home or as a terrific gift, it makes sense to save time and money by making your purchases online.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Update Your Fireplace

Your fireplace might have been the selling point for your home early on but with most people their fireplace because the key point in the room they really aren't sure how to decorate around. You can't move it and it may seem that you're very limited as to what you can put around or on a fireplace.

First of all, what may be bothering you about the fireplace isn't actually the fireplace but the mantle over the fireplace. The mantle around your fireplace can make or break your room. Is yours dingy and worn looking? Don't fret about it-just replace it. You can choose either a 3-sided mantle that will go across your fireplace and down each side to the floor or just a short mantle that will go across the top of your fireplace. Simply improving the mantle will make a lot of rooms look instantly better.

Besides your mantle, you can upgrade your fireplace screen. Your fireplace screen doesn't have to be boring old metal that is painted black. You can get a myriad of styles to choose from such that will range from iron scroll worked patterns to the more traditional tightly woven screen.

For a dramatic effect, put a large mirror over your fireplace. It will have a dual duty of reflecting light from the fireplace and the room as well as making the room larger. Another beautiful option is to get a large artwork and hang it over the fireplace. A limited edition print will make a beautiful statement choose a cozy theme to add even more warmth to your room.

It's easy to update your fireplace if you know the basics. Use these tips and make your room with a fireplace the cozy, comfortable place you always knew it could be.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Change Your Room and Your Mood

With the holidays sometimes brings depression. Many more people feel their loneliness and feelings of emptiness amplified around the holiday season.

Some people say this is due to more people not getting regular sunlight and it's a seasonal increase in the occurrence of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a disease that occurs brings depression and a general lack of incentive.

One thing you can do to avoid the holiday and seasonal blues is make sure that you're eating right and getting an adequate amount of sunlight and exercise. A brisk 10 minute walk, preferably during daylight hours will go a long way to making you feel better.

Another tip for beating the winter blues is to change your living space a little. You don't have to throw out your existing furniture or bring in an expensive suite of furniture, the goal is to figure out how to best use the pieces you've got. If your room seems small, you might have too many pieces in your room or you might simply not be taking advantage of your best use of space. An artwork in the form of a print or a sculpture displayed on a table can also add a good vibe to your room.

Some people like to feng shui their rooms to bring balance to not only the room but to themselves. You can also invest in a lamp that has a light range in the same range as sunshine. Many individuals report that these type of lamps alleviate their symptoms of SAD, along with making lifestyle changes such as cutting out junk food (which can create emotion crashing sugar highs and lows) and adding some physical activity to their daily routines.

Adding Personal Touches to Your Decor

One of the biggest keys to having a unique decor in your home is to add personal touches that make the look truly your own. A good way to add your own flavor to your interior design is to find an artwork that really speaks to you and incorporate it into your room.

If you're not sure what type of artwork to get, write down the three main colors in your room and get an artwork that features at least two of those strongly. If you're a collector of cat related items, get a cat themed artwork for your walls. Religious themed artworks comfort many people with just their presence. The selection is huge and if you know basically what you'd like to see on your walls, it will go a long way to helping you narrow down your selection.

Remember, art doesn't have to hang on your walls. If you don't see any wall space that would look good with an artwork added to it, consider adding a sculpture to your room. A David Schluss piece will add a good deal of vibrance to your room. A sampling of his works will inspire you to become a collector of his work. One piece that you will find inspiring is titled, "By Your Side" and features two figures leaning on each other and will make a great conversation piece in your home. Another vibrant piece titled, "The Dance" is a spirited piece that features two figures stepping to a lively beat.

Other personal touches include a favorite plant in a hand painted pot. Photographs from family gatherings and vacations that are framed in the same type of frame and clustered together on a wall will also make a nice impact for your decor.