Commissioning Art

Photos are great, but have you ever thought of commissioning a piece of art as a way to display special memories?  I found a few great artists who offer commissioned portraits.

Alan Schuler features house portraits on Etsy.  A custom watercolor will only set you back $45.  This would be a great way to remember that first house or maybe your childhood home.

Susan Woodard does some amazing watercolors of children.  She doesn't include facial features, so I think her best portraits show children engaged in a favorite activity.  Her work is a bit more expensive, but a smaller watercolor is still pretty affordable for original art.

Miss Black Eyes is an Etsy shop that does portraits in oil.  I love her brush work and attention to detail in the faces.

  

A custom portrait can be really any person, moment, or place special to you.  I think its a perfect addition to any art collection.

This is Fun

I love it when people get creative with kids stuff because frankly my brain doesn't ever really get creative with kids stuff.  I just don't think that way.

In this month's issue of Coastal Living, India Hicks elevates an ordinary child's building toy to high art by placing it inside an acrylic display box.  Each time her daughter plays with the toy, the new creation goes on display for the family to enjoy.  Pretty cool idea.

If you're interested, the building toy is Interstar Rings.  

These look like fun.  I really want to play with them.  I think the girls might like them too!

To the Walls

Think art has no place in the kitchen?  Think art in the kitchen should only be still lives of fruit?  Think art can only hang on the wall?  Think again.  Here are a few ideas to spice up the art in your kitchen.

No subject is out of place in the kitchen.  Portraits, modern art, utilitarian art can all make themselves at home here.

mydeco.com

 

skonahem.com

 

visualvamp.blogspot.com

 

interiordesignroom2013.com

 

knockoffdecor.com

 

threepotatofourshop.com

Maybe your art isn't art at all, but cool vintage signage.

inspirebohemia.com

 

lonny mag

country living

 

If you've got the space, make a statement with an oversize canvas.

elle decor

 

pinterest

 

pinterest

 

If you're short on wall space, prop a few small paintings on a shelf or on the counter.

house beautiful

 

southern living

 

remodelista

 

Can't decide on just a few pieces of art?  Go ahead and make a colorful wall of all of your faves.

indulgy.com

 

ruthie sommers

 

Love crisp black and white photography?  Treat your kitchen walls like an art gallery.

sanyartspace.com

pinterest

Check out my art tomorrow when my kitchen makeover is revealed!

 

 

  

To the Walls

 

DIY art???!!! 

 

Sounds scary, huh? 

 

Not really.   You don't need an art degree for this:

 

 

Wisteria is selling these four canvases for $299.  This would be an easy DIY art project AND you could customize the colors and the dimensions (I'm all about some customization).  All you need are some canvases, paint, and brushes from the craft store, which would cost way less than the Wisteria art.  Notice how each canvas is painted a different shade of the same color.

 

If you are feeling a little bolder, you could mix it up and vary the colors, sizes, and arrangement of the canvases as shown below.

 

from"At Home with Pictures" by Paige Gilchrist

 

These canvases provide big impact on a large wall with a small budget.  They may not grace your walls forever, but would be a great place holder until you find that perfect piece.

To the Walls: Etsy Featured Artist

It's no secret, I love me some Etsy art.  I could spends hours perusing the goodness that Etsy brings.  The best part is that most of it is amazingly affordable.  Even if you can't shell out the bucks for an original, most artists offer prints at a much lower price point.  This means you can get a unique piece of artwork that doesn't break the bank and support individual artists.  I'm guessing most of you probably don't have hours to peruse Etsy, so I'm gonna do it for you and bring you the best finds.  Here it goes:

I'm captivated by Patricia Vargas's energetic brushwork and vibrant color combos.  These pieces would make a statment in any room.


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 Check out the rest of her work here.



To the Walls

 

This image is from Elle Decor and has been floating around the internet for a while, but its definitely worthy of another look. 

 

via Elle Decor

 

The trick here?  Red frames!  What a great way to add some color and interest to an otherwise bland hallway.  Notice that all the frames match, but are different sizes and are hung a bit haphazardly for a more casual feel.  The red frames are paired with black and white photographs, which keeps the composition from becoming overwhelming (color photos and colored frames might feel a bit chaotic).  This idea could be re-created with any paint color and in any space!

 

 

The Perfect Room

If your room is less than perfection, just hang one of these interior portraits on the wall and play pretend.

 

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All artwork is available through Driftwood Interiors via Etsy.

 

 

 



Here's to...

...all of my gainfully employed lady friends on a Monday morning.

 

Via



Hiatus

Due to sickness and the cold weather, my brain has been on hiatus for most of January, hence the lack of blog posts.

 

But a few brain cells seem to be working today so I thought I would attempt a post.

 

A few decorating things have managed to happen this month.  Here are the items that have been purchased:

 

Colors 209 print by Jen Ramos

 

Morrocan Trellis Rug

 

Eve print by Susan Brown

 

GP & J Baker fabric pillow

 

Chinoiserie Vase print by Catherine Nolin

 

Gold Love print by Jen Ramos

 

Dahlia Rose print by Studio Jarrah

 

Martha Stewart Wales Mirror

 

Happiness print by Susan Brown

 

 

Will post pics when all these lovelies are in place.