First Published
Apr 24, 2013 11:20 AM
So you just purchased your first condo, a space that is just big enough to stay sane. Buying a piece of art for your condo can feel like a daunting task, and all of sudden you may become keenly aware of interior design, textiles, furniture and all the elements that enhance your living space. It can be an intimidating world. Here are some tips to help you navigate the art of buying art.
1) Pick art that you actually like!
Sounds simple, but it is very important. Don't worry about trends, or what's in fashion, they fade. Go your own way when it comes to your art purchases. You want something that speaks to you. After all, you are the one who has to live with it.
2) Grace & Style
Go with something that fits into your urban surrounding or theme of your decor and furniture. If your furniture says art deco, then you may want art deco paintings as well. But you can consider contrasts, such as traditional native or aboriginal art which is also highly designed and stylized.
3) Location, Location, Location
Each room will call for a different feel and different style of art. For your bedroom you would want to select art that is more calming or “seductive”. Your living or dinning area is a great place to get wild and explore with stronger colour’s and themes.
4) Pick Art That Suits The Room
Small spaces don't offer the same options as large spaces for moving furniture around to make the art work, so choosing can be a daunting task. You may want to consider several small works of art vs one large dominating piece. If you choose this route, try hanging the art in clusters, grouping the works of art and balancing them by the colors or weight. This can be as bold a statement as one large piece, and is more budget friendly, by adding art to your collection as you can afford it.
5) The Right Light
Take measures to protect your art from too much direct sunlight as almost all art will fade if placed in this type of environment. Acrylic and oils seems to have passed the test of time, but with all others caution should be applied.
6) Death by Hanging
There is nothing worse than a poorly hung piece of art. As simple as it may be there is a right way to hang art. The general rule of thumb is paintings should be hung so that the centre of the painting is at eye level. If two occupy the living space, one at 5' and one at 6'6" then try a compromise by meeting in the middle.
7) The Right “Frame” of Mind
It isn’t essential to have a frame around your art. Giclee fine art prints on canvas finished with a simple black edge is all you need and will blend with most rooms. If you do select a frame, tie it in to the location where the artwork is to be hung, as well as in to the artwork itself. The frame should be a continuation of the picture rather than a contrast.
8) Colors
When selecting a painting to match color, select one or two of the boldest colors in your room and look for art that has those colors in it. You’re not looking for an exact match here. Picking up one or two of the same colors will send a message that the painting belongs in this environment. When purchasing online, view the art on a couple of different monitors before you decide.
Apr 24, 2013 11:20 AM
So you just purchased your first condo, a space that is just big enough to stay sane. Buying a piece of art for your condo can feel like a daunting task, and all of sudden you may become keenly aware of interior design, textiles, furniture and all the elements that enhance your living space. It can be an intimidating world. Here are some tips to help you navigate the art of buying art.
1) Pick art that you actually like!
Sounds simple, but it is very important. Don't worry about trends, or what's in fashion, they fade. Go your own way when it comes to your art purchases. You want something that speaks to you. After all, you are the one who has to live with it.
2) Grace & Style
Go with something that fits into your urban surrounding or theme of your decor and furniture. If your furniture says art deco, then you may want art deco paintings as well. But you can consider contrasts, such as traditional native or aboriginal art which is also highly designed and stylized.
3) Location, Location, Location
Each room will call for a different feel and different style of art. For your bedroom you would want to select art that is more calming or “seductive”. Your living or dinning area is a great place to get wild and explore with stronger colour’s and themes.
4) Pick Art That Suits The Room
Small spaces don't offer the same options as large spaces for moving furniture around to make the art work, so choosing can be a daunting task. You may want to consider several small works of art vs one large dominating piece. If you choose this route, try hanging the art in clusters, grouping the works of art and balancing them by the colors or weight. This can be as bold a statement as one large piece, and is more budget friendly, by adding art to your collection as you can afford it.
5) The Right Light
Take measures to protect your art from too much direct sunlight as almost all art will fade if placed in this type of environment. Acrylic and oils seems to have passed the test of time, but with all others caution should be applied.
6) Death by Hanging
There is nothing worse than a poorly hung piece of art. As simple as it may be there is a right way to hang art. The general rule of thumb is paintings should be hung so that the centre of the painting is at eye level. If two occupy the living space, one at 5' and one at 6'6" then try a compromise by meeting in the middle.
7) The Right “Frame” of Mind
It isn’t essential to have a frame around your art. Giclee fine art prints on canvas finished with a simple black edge is all you need and will blend with most rooms. If you do select a frame, tie it in to the location where the artwork is to be hung, as well as in to the artwork itself. The frame should be a continuation of the picture rather than a contrast.
8) Colors
When selecting a painting to match color, select one or two of the boldest colors in your room and look for art that has those colors in it. You’re not looking for an exact match here. Picking up one or two of the same colors will send a message that the painting belongs in this environment. When purchasing online, view the art on a couple of different monitors before you decide.
9) Show Off Your Art
When you walk into a gallery or museum, what do they all have in common? White walls and lots of light. If a wall is papered or painted in a bold color, it limits the choices for hanging art. Keeping your walls neutral allows you to explore color in your art. A bold wall color can also change how you see the art as shown by the swatches here. Believe it or not, the centre square is the same color. The true color can be viewed in the last swatch.
10) Cost
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If it fits, you like it, and it is appropriate then go for it. Giclee prints on canvas offer lots of affordable options for wall art, and it will look like you spent a fortune.
11) Break The Rules
Making art is about breaking rules, so why shouldn't buying art be as well? If you find an art work that you really want, but it doesn't fit into any of the mentioned rules, then buy it anyway. You will find a place for it. Consider buying the art first, then get furniture to match the art.
Fine Artists World Gallery offers affordable options for art buyers for small and large spaces. We want you to love art as much as we do, and we want you to love what you buy. So we are offering a 1 year return policy for all Fine Art Prints on Canvas. We call it our 365 Day Happiness Policy. No risks here. Buy art for your condo, and hang it up. If after one full year you still don't love it, then return it, no questions asked. We will find a good home for it. www.fineartistsworldgallery.com
When you walk into a gallery or museum, what do they all have in common? White walls and lots of light. If a wall is papered or painted in a bold color, it limits the choices for hanging art. Keeping your walls neutral allows you to explore color in your art. A bold wall color can also change how you see the art as shown by the swatches here. Believe it or not, the centre square is the same color. The true color can be viewed in the last swatch.
10) Cost
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If it fits, you like it, and it is appropriate then go for it. Giclee prints on canvas offer lots of affordable options for wall art, and it will look like you spent a fortune.
11) Break The Rules
Making art is about breaking rules, so why shouldn't buying art be as well? If you find an art work that you really want, but it doesn't fit into any of the mentioned rules, then buy it anyway. You will find a place for it. Consider buying the art first, then get furniture to match the art.
Fine Artists World Gallery offers affordable options for art buyers for small and large spaces. We want you to love art as much as we do, and we want you to love what you buy. So we are offering a 1 year return policy for all Fine Art Prints on Canvas. We call it our 365 Day Happiness Policy. No risks here. Buy art for your condo, and hang it up. If after one full year you still don't love it, then return it, no questions asked. We will find a good home for it. www.fineartistsworldgallery.com