ART AS AN ACCESSORY

As well as being a financial investment, original artwork brings drama and colour into any home.

If you are really interested in art and would like to start a collection, begin by visiting art galleries both locally and when you travel. 

·                     Keep abreast of what is going on in the art world and visit museums to gain an appreciation of different kinds of art. 

·                     Pay attention to how you feel when looking at a painting and find a subject matter that has meaning for you.

·                     Talk to gallery owners who are mostly well informed and are happy to offer opinions and advice about artists and their work.

·                     Don’t buy a piece because it matches your decor or because someone says it is an important piece.  Buy it because you love it and want it in your home.

So, now you have some pictures to hang (whether they are originals or glorious prints) and a wall to hang them on.  Contrary to popular belief it is not the best idea to just pound in some nails and hang the pictures level.  Pleasing group arrangements actually enhance both the artwork itself and the room generally.

·                     Do you want a serene room or a stimulating one?  Grouping similar size pictures together in a regular pattern allows the eye to flow freely and invokes serenity.  Placing large and small pictures of contrasting subject matter together invokes excitement as it forces the eye to jump from one piece to the next.

·                     Maintain a balance in arranging artwork.  Avoid a “top-heavy” or “bottom-heavy” look.  A symmetrical arrangement is the most straightforward illustration of balance and is the most popular in homes.

·                     Sometimes the visual “weight” of a picture demands that it is displayed alone and any piece that is large, bright or boldly patterned should be displayed against similarly weighty furniture or architecture, such as a large sofa or fireplace.

And finally, to add that special touch, why not install some additional lighting to perfectly showcase your new acquisitions.

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