mardi 7 juin 2016

Decorating With Regional Abstract Artists

By Kenneth Smith


Art is key to making a home your own unique space. Abstract art, also called modern, is especially fun to decorate with since it is very visual. It is not a realistic representation of the world around us. A still life or a landscape may be comfortingly familiar or may bring back pleasant memories. In contrast, abstract artists rely on line, shape, color, and texture to evoke a reaction from the viewer.

For example, an artist could use hot reds and yellows to bring to life the feeling of lying on a beach with your eyes closed, seeing the blaze of light through your eyelids and feeling your blood coming to the boiling point. Of course, you might not discern that. You might think of a desert or of the energy of the sun which makes life on earth possible.

Abstract art comes in all colors, themes, effects, and sizes. This makes it easy to decorate with. You can find a small piece for your hall or the bathroom, as well as a majestic work for hanging behind the couch or over the fireplace. Objets d'art look good in the kitchen, makes a statement on a wall that you see as soon as you walk into a room, or brings color to a dim corner that otherwise might be unremarkable.

Many times a room will cry out for a finishing touch that you might find in studios, galleries, and even flea markets. Or perhaps a striking work will lead you to fashion the setting specifically to set it off. Using art to complete your vision or as inspiration helps you to design a home that is uniquely your own. You can decide if you want a relaxing room or one that cries out for stimulating company.

Even in an older home, modern art can be effective. There are some wonderful studies of flowers that give the impression of color or leaf texture, maybe by focusing on a detail that is recognizable once someone points it out to you. For example, roses are bright, familiar flowers, but an accurate drawing of their shape is not necessary to bring out their beauty. An abstraction of flowers done in watercolors can look wonderful in a colonial or a Victorian home.

Pictures are almost indispensable in furnishing a home, but you have a wide choice of pictorial art. A print of a famous painting can be effective, as can the work of a local artist you especially enjoy. Pen and ink drawings can be striking, while an oil painting usually makes a real statement. Watercolors, pastels, and photographs are other ways to decorate the walls.

You can also beautify a house or a garden with sculpture. Perhaps a dramatic piece of driftwood fits a beach house, while a swirl of copper might spark an urban patio. Los Angeles, CA, has all kids of talent, and you can find the perfect thing to add beauty to your home while expressing your own taste and preference. It's fun to learn about the local art scene, and you might stumble on the next genius.

There are many ways to use art in your decorating scheme. Whether it's a painting, a fabric creation to hang on a wall, a hand-made rug, a statue, or a photograph, art can bring life and character to your personal spaces.




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