It’s both slightly melancholy and undeniably cheerful all at the same time. The loneliness of the path and landscape are balanced with a joyful anticipation that whatever has happened previously, there is brightness and happiness about to pop over the horizon. The trees can be symbols of mankind and almost appear to be human figures gazing towards the light. What you take from this oil painting will be dependent on your own experiences and what is taking place in your life now. With paintings like this, we are allowed to construct a narrative ourselves with which the artwork becomes ever more special in meaning.

The hand-painted oil on canvas autumn trees scene is individually created and thus no two pieces are alike. A painting like this will look splendid in a living room, bedroom, or dining room where it will contribute to the general décor scheme of the interior whilst also offering an aesthetic focus and perhaps a helpful contrast. Slightly philosophical art pieces like this one also fit well into more cerebral environments such as home libraries, home offices, as well as meditation/yoga spaces. If you like art with a lot of contemplative value then this delightfully rich autumn tree scene with winding path will suit your tastes.

You can buy it from here: Around The Tree Hand-Painted Canvas.

Order soon for each one can take a little while to be completed once ordered.

There are a number of different types of owls and each one is portrayed in this art piece. You have, amongst others, the barn owl, the barred owl, the great horned owl, the screech owl, the snowy owl and the great grey owl. The parliament of owls is like a who’s who of the highly recognisable nocturnal bird species. You’ll note that all the expressions are different with some owls looking rather sleepy whilst others show either gentle disdain or intrigued concentration (perhaps after seeing your pet mouse).

Don McMahon’s art work can be seen across North America and his passion for drawing and painting birds was born from his childhood. The attention to detail and the fantastic characters that the birds possess are testament to an artist who loves to paint and to watch birds in their natural habitats. The latter quality of which, the artist gained from his mother, who was herself a world-renowned bird watcher.

Owls in western societies have for a long time been associated with wisdom. The ancient Greek goddess Athena, who was the goddess of wisdom, even had the owl as a symbol. Owls were also important cultural symbols in many societies around the world including in pre-European North America, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where they were seen as unlucky omens. This framed art piece however is not unlucky and will take pride of place on just about any interior wall. If you have a home study, studio or library, then the wise collection of owls will fit perfectly with the studious ambiance of the room.

Who’s Hoo Fine Art Print, Framed – $89.99
Retail Price: $99.99
You Save: $10.00
from: Modern Artisans

But you can take a few cues from the investor types by approaching the purchase of art in a business like manner:

- define what you like
- learn how to describe it
- locate galleries, individual artists, art fairs, auctions, and online sellers that specialize in your desired genres
- Don’t be intimidated by the gallery environment. Ask any silly question you want. They are there to sell the artist’s work.
- If the price is significant and the artist is representing a bio and previous work, do some research to confirm.
- Negotiate. There can be some “give” in the stated price of art.
- If the piece has any apparent damage, learn how this can affect the value.
- If the work is from a notable artist, request a Certificate of Authenticity.

But what about the living room you so badly want to embellish with a great artwork. It’s OK to approach your art search from that perspective. Few of us have the luxury to build a house around a special work of art. So, your starting point may be size restrictions. Determine the minimum and maximum dimensions your space can accommodate.

Art Galleries are the most common, and perhaps the most reliable source for finding value in art. The typical gallery supports a cadre of hand selected artists whose work they believe in. They continue to show their works year over year. This can sometimes be your best assurance of sustained value as this sort of relationship provides the best incentive for the artist to maintain their pricing.

Another form of gallery operation is where space is rented to the artist. That the artist can apparently sustain themselves and pay the rent says something, but with the more typical gallery as described above, the owner is educated in the arts, acts as the initial curator, and can be relied upon as a good defense against making bad purchase decisions. There are great galleries in both categories, but best to get to know your galleries.

Many people enjoy the thrill of buying art at auction. This is a good venue if you know the artist and the work. However, unlike a gallery, you don’t have the time to study, even take it home and try it, before bidding.

Art you love does not necessarily have to come from an established artist. Today’s digital cameras can generate the required quality for large format prints. Take some wonderful photos, have prints made, and frame them well (with matting!) Certain art your children make as they grow up can be priceless and beautiful. It often again just requires a proper frame to work.

Check out art schools in your area for their occasional art shows. You can find wonderful artwork from talented students.

If you’re seriously shopping for art, look at a lot of art. Make a point to visit galleries wherever you happen to be travelling. Keep notes and take quick photos of works you like. Bookmark your favorite art sites online. Whether this ends with a purchase or as a means of defining and discussing what you like, you will surely feel more confident in your art selections.

Author of Art for Art’s Sake is Michael Samsel of StylishHome.com

The four cat themed placemats have been specially woven on Jacquard looms which are classical structures that have been used for certain types of weaving for centuries. In fact, the loom was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in the year 1801 and was later to become an inspiration in the development of computer programming. Made in the USA with finely selected cotton yarns, the cat tapestry placemats are of the highest quality.

The cat design is from the artwork of the late American painter Charles M. Wysocki, Jr. who was noted for painting scenes of American life from yesteryear. This beautiful scene shows two cats sleeping on a wooden bookcase surrounded by books of all shapes, colors and sizes as well as a clock. Any cat owner will recognise the prideful, snooty but altogether loveable grace of our feline friends that is depicted in these four cat themed placemats.

You can buy the set from here: Cat Themed Woven Tapestry Placemats.

Price: $35.99

The Tour typically lasts for 21 days and covers around 3,200 kilometres. The New York Times once said of the sport, “the Tour de France is arguably the most physiologically demanding of athletic events”. If you’re a fan of long-distance cycle racing and like to cycle yourself, then you’ll know first-hand how gruelling this race really is. The first Tour began way back in 1903 and has since become an iconic tradition and opportunity to admire the beauty that is the French landscape.

This Tour de France art print poster is an ideal gift accessory for anyone you know, including yourself, who loves to watch the French cycle race each year. The speed and vibrancy of the final stage in Paris is captured in this painting which shows riders racing down the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. In the distance, in the center of the green trees, is the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile monument which honors the soldiers who fought for France especially during the Napoleonic Wars.

This poster incorporates the famous images of France including the architectural aspects and the sporting traditions. Together with the French flags that line the most expensive strip of real estate in Europe, the wonderful talent of Malcolm Farley captures the action and emotions of cyclists from around the world intent on winning the ultimate prize. It’s bound to enliven your living room or home study wall and create a talking point amongst fellow cycling enthusiasts.

You can buy this poster from here: Victory on the Champs-Elysees Print.

Size: 28 x 36 cm

When assembled together, the three individual art canvases can be placed on a wall in which ever order is deemed the most pleasing. Two of the female African figures appear to be dancing or walking whilst the third holds a beautiful red pot. Each of the trio of women are simply dressed with colorful skirts and adorned with white jewelry including arm bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

The forms of the three African women highlight their delightful femininity and graceful movement. Contrasted with the soft colors of the background and skirts, the black silhouettes produce an eye-catching focus and visual appeal. Placed on a wall in a contemporary interior, this wall art triptych will provide a warm and pleasant accent piece to the ambiance of the room. This will especially be the case if the setting has an African theme.

You can buy this oil on canvas wall art set from here: Three African Women Silhouettes.

Price: $299

Speed Skater, c.1983 Art PrintWarhol, Andy Buy at AllPosters.com

Andy Warhol is one of the most famous 20th century artists known to the general public. This is due to his prolific amount of work and ground-breaking movement into the world of Pop Art. His most famous works were a collection of multiple images of every day objects such as soda bottles, dollar bills, soup cans and celebrities. Warhol’s innovation of silk-screening provided yet more plaudits from the public and art critics alike.

The Speed Skater, c.1983, is in a similar style to these famous prints. Boxes of color are superimposed over one another and in the center is the elegant yet dynamic image of a speed skater in the heat of competition. There’s no reference to any one Winter Olympics which makes this speed skater poster timeless and relevant to all past, present and future Winter Games. What I particularly like is how the colored boxes have been placed at angles, suggesting movement and in many ways, instability that comes from racing on millimeter thick skating blades.

If like me, you have been following the Vancouver Olympic speed skating events, then this Andy Warhol speed skating art print will make a nice decorative accessory for a wall in your home. It will suit contemporary interiors especially and will also add some 20th Century artistic history to a setting, not to mention memories of fun sporting occasions.

I must admit, I’m not familiar with all of Alberto Giacometti’s work and if someone had said this was a reproduction of one of his pieces, I would have believed them. This metal human figure sculpture is very similar in style to that of the famous Swiss sculptor and painter. Just like Giacometti’s stick people sculptures, this metal human figure is a study of human nature and a composition of a part of ourselves we would each recognise.

It’s interesting to note, that the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said of Giacometti’s figure sculptures, that they were symbols of existential despair. Perhaps this was formed from the Swiss artist’s experiences of Cold War anxiety. Yet with this sculpture I am showcasing today, I see more of a stoic figure that stands proud and with a discernible bodily expression of childlike wonder. Unlike the existentialist angst that coursed through the works of Giacometti, this metal human figure sculpture is looking to a new beginning, a world of possibilities.

If you’re looking for a figurative metal sculpture in a similar style to the stick people of Giacometti but with a more positive gait, this elegant human figure sculpture will be ideal. Placed in front of a window, on a side table or beside a traditional brick fireplace, the human figure sculpture will catch the eye and provide a talking point as well as a catalyst to philosophical pondering.

Price: $200

Sanna Annukka studied at the University of Brighton on the south coast of England. In her final year, her speciality moved to the area of screen printing and the results of her practice are truly stunning. As well as being commissioned to illustrate an album cover of well known British band Keane, she has also had her work showcased and sold in London stores. You can read more about the young and talented Anglo-Finnish illustrator Sanna Annukka on her new website which can be found here: Illustrator and print maker Sanna Annukka.

These prints would look lovely in a variety of rooms such as a home study or dining room. Their intricacy is something to admire and contemplate over time and is bound to offer new perspectives and discoveries each viewing. Most are made of between three and four colors of similar hues which will mean they will compliment a certain interior color scheme wonderfully.

So what is screen printing exactly? You can find detailed information on this subject as well as its history on the following page: Screen-Printing.

It’s not surprising this pub nativity wall mural is so good. Janet Shearer may be local to Cornwall, a county in the south west of England but she is well known worldwide for her artistic works in films, music albums and even in airports. She designed a backcloth for the rock band Pink Floyd’s The Wall album as well as creating murals for London Heathrow airport and the film Aliens.

The Blisland Inn nativity wall mural is a realistic interpretation of the 2,000 year old story of the birth of Christ. The baby Jesus is cradled lovingly in Mary’s arms whilst Joseph looks on beside her. Three wise men and a shepard also stand around the baby and bring gifts of homage. What has made the wall mural more personal and indeed remarkable is the fact that some of the locals faces have been used in the tableaux. For example, the landlord is Joseph whilst the chief barmaid is Mary. The three wise men and the shepherd are some of the pub’s most regular customers. At the bottom is a Jack Russell which is owned by Janet Shearer herself; a little bit of artistic licence.

The nativity scene in the Cornish pub was made using the trompe d’oeil technique which gives a wall mural a 3-D effect and can look extremely life-like. So much so that one local to the pub, before even sipping his pint of beer, said: “I have been coming here for 40 years and I never realized that door was there before.”

It took Janet three weeks to complete the Nativity wall mural scene in the pub. The pub landlord Gary Marshall is pleased with the Christmas mural and says: “I was delighted to let Janet turn this blank wall into such an incredible scene. It was something different and has turned out to be absolutely brilliant. My customers absolutely love it. It has made our Christmas.”

You can see larger images of this mural here: Extraordinarily realistic Nativity mural.

Merry Christmas to all my readers and visitors to Home Interior Design Themes.