Artvante Garde

Artvante Garde

What do I like to do on a rainy day?  Well, first things first.  Coffee.

And not some manly, black liquid staring back at me

from the lip of a plain, ceramic mug.

I'm talking something foamy and sweet with some wonderful design on top.

And in a to-go cup, too, with a fancy sleeve.  I'm taking mine on the road.

Where, you ask?  Well, the nearest art gallery, silly.

Of course, they might not allow me to have my coffee while I browse,

but I will most likely have enjoyed the heck out of it before I get there anyway.

Art galleries are one of my favorite places to go for inspiration.

I love all kinds of art and all kinds of art galleries.  I just can't get enough.

Over the years, working with clients in styling up their homes

has often brought up questions like,
"I'm stumped. What should I do over my sofa?" and "Is there a right way to hang my art?"

It seems that art placement is an intimidating and overwhelming task to many people.

So, from art gallery to your living room, here are some thoughts...

Mayberryfineart.com & houzz.com

When people think of hanging their art, they often think of how pieces are 

displayed in a gallery.  Gallery Style art installation allows pieces 

to breathe and to be enjoyed in and of themselves, 

without being crowded or distracted by other pieces.

If you have the wall space and the lighting for Gallery Style, it's wonderful...

and more power to you, because most of us have to think on a different, 

more "every day" scale.

remodelista.com & houzz.com

It's pretty common, also, to think of art placement in a traditional way.  

Like the single piece displayed over the mantle or in the dining room.  

That's a lovely default, and again, a great way to give that one piece a place to shine. 

But sometimes, the piece isn't quite big enough or doesn't feel right in the room.  

Well, good news.  

Happily, centered and single is not the only way to display that art you love so much...

settingforfour.com and houzz.com

Salon Style.  A term I learned years ago from an artist I admire very much, 

opened up the possibilities of interior art installation for me.  

It's a broad term and maybe a bit technical, so I prefer to think of it 

and to describe it to my clients in terms of having the freedom 

to think in "collections" or "arrangements" with their art.

Above is a lovely collection.  Obviously the commonality is in the blues.  

Very restful.  Very collected.  It makes me feel like I'm getting 

a sense of the people who live here.  I like that.

courtesy of Abigail Ahern & houzz.com

The collection above spans almost the entire living room wall.

Every one is different: framed, unframed, photographed, painted, sketched.

The thing that ties them together is portraiture.  I love this.  

Again, I get a sense of the artistic people who must occupy this space.

bhg.com & houzz.com

Salon Style can be done with a serene, thematic approach, 

evoking a peaceful, ordered feeling...

Artadvisecollect.com & featured in ElleDecor magazine & houzz.com

or you can pull out the stops and go wonderfully crazy.  

Either way, and whether you go a little more formal with a 

Gallery Style installation or a relaxed Salon Style collection, be sure 

to let your art tell the story of you, your interests, your passions, your life.  

Allow it to be an inspiration, and an interesting jumping off place for

conversation, relationship and the deeper things in life.

...and don't forget the coffee.  You know how I take mine.

- Amy