NEW RELEASES

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

                                                                                     Displacement #18

I’m so excited about today’s releases. Artist Darren Rigo is still a student at the Ontario College of Art & Design but already garnering rave reviews for his work.  At the Artist Project Toronto earlier this month Darren placed first in the “Queen Competition” for his work “Transfer” which also won the Corporate Purchase Award. During a talk at the Project, Art InSight founder Betty Ann Jordan credited Darren as “innovatively updating the well trodden path of landscape photography”.  You can catch a clip of her speech here. Darren is also making waves all the way across the pond in Australia.  The lovely Heidi Romano from the art journal, UYW included Darren’s work in their most recent issue.  Be sure to check it out.

It’s my pleasure to introduce two of Darren’s images from his displacement series. In Displacement #18, Darren has photographed a burning newspaper on an icy pond.  A lot of comments could be made about this but I love the fire and ice imagery that this photograph brings to mind.  While I’m pretty sure Darren’s vision was not born of it, I couldn’t help but think of my favorite Robert Frost poem. At the time of it’s writing, Fire and Ice was marveled at for its compactness and some say it signaled a new style for Frost.  Sort of fitting when you think back to Betty Ann’s comment about how Darren is “innovatively updating” landscape photography.  In Displacement #19, the yellow aerosol streamer strewn about a branch brings a touch of whimsy to an otherwise ordinary early spring landscape scene. In his statement for the series, Darren describes images as “an attempt to beautify what we normally view as ordinary while they dissect the ways we are connected to nature”.

                                                                                      Displacement #19

We are featuring 3 sizes in each edition. The very affordable 8 x 10 at just $40.00, a 16 x 20 for moderately serious collectors and a 24 x 30 for serious collectors.  When I asked Darren if we could do an 11 x 14, he responded that he preferred to do the 8 x 10 so that everyone could afford his work.  I love this!  Like a lot of true artists, money is not the main objective.  Sure, they want (and deserve) to make money but, more importantly, they want their work to be seen. It’s due to artists like Darren that we are able to offer fabulous art at price points for everyone. In fact you’ll often find that our prices are lower than you would pay if you bought directly from the artists.

In other exciting news, PAS artist Andrea Stultiens will be releasing a new book May 6th, titled Intensive Care. The book done in conjunction with Dutch poet, writer and journalist Vrouwkje Tuinman will be released at the opening of the exhibition of the photographs.  For more information check out Andrea Stultiens website.  PAS artist Nico Oved also has a show coming up at The Department (link).  We’ll keep you updated as the dates are confirmed.

PHOTO GROUPING OF THE DAY

                                                                    Pappas Miron Design

A perfect compliment to the console setting on the left these two photographs are large enough to work perfectly on the tall wall in this living room.  The overblown portraits are weighty enough to create a dramatic focal point.  Smaller images or artwork would have gotten lost.  Placing them vertically also draws the eye up accenting the high ceiling.  I love that they're off balance on the wall yet together with the console & mirror create a totally balanced effect.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

                                             Bowling Ball Beach, California 2003

I have followed the career of Winnipeg born photographer David Burdeny for a few years now & am always impressed with his work.  This hauntingly beautiful image is one of my favs. Purposefully photographing in poor light & sometimes near darkness, Burdeny uses long exposures to "see what our eyes cannot". His new series, Sacred & Specular is exhibiting now & Burdeny feels that technically it's his best work to date. I'm looking forward to checking it out.

ART FOR ART'S SAKE OR ART TO DECORATE?

Last week, Color Me Happy's, Maria Killam answered the question, "Do you recommend people buy art that they love or that goes with their decor?".  Read this post to see what she said.  Now we want to know what you think.  When purchasing art, do you look for pieces that compliment your home decor or do you buy pieces that you love?  Leave us a comment & let us know. 

PHOTO GROUPING OF THE DAY

I pulled this fab photo from theartfulabode.com & haven't been able to find out who the photographer is. If anyone out there knows please email me so I can give them proper credit.  I love the simplicity of this grouping.  Salon style is one of my favorite gallery styles & it works perfectly with the relaxed 'cottage' look of this house. I also love that the homeowner choose to hang the white sculpture on the left wall between the 2 doorways.  This gives the eye somewhere to rest. Continuing the black framed art along that wall would have been overwhelming in this narrow hall space.

ADVICE ON DECORATING WITH ART FROM COLOR ME HAPPY'S MARIA KILLAM

 

 

Accessorizing with art can be one of the most effective ways of creating an impact statement on a wall.  However doing it effectively can be challenging for the novice.  Color Designer, Maria Killam of the blog "Color Me Happy" runs her own color & design firm and is often faced with the challenge of not only choosing art for her clients but arranging it.  Check out this post featuring an article BC Home did on a condo that Maria designed for a client.  It's easy to see why the living/dining room featuring an art wall that Maria designed made the cover!  Maria's blog is always one of the first I read every day & she was gracious enough to take the time out of her busy schedule to pass along a few tips on perfecting the art (pun intended) of decorating with art.
  
PAS:  WHEN SOURCING ART, DO YOU RECOMMEND CHOOSING WORK YOU LOVE OR  PIECES THAT COMPLIMENT THE DECOR?
MK:   I know there are a lot of designers and artists that disagree with this and say that art should stand alone, but the only time I have seen that work is in large, modern and contemporary interiors where the walls are painted white or linen and everything else is so neutral that the home becomes an art gallery.

Take any average house, add fabulous art that ties in with the décor and that (in my opinion) equals atmosphere (along with the right lighting of course).  Open up any shelter magazine and you’ll see that the art mostly goes with the décor because that is what works in general.

                                                               Katie Digs Design

PAS:  AS A DESIGNER, WHAT ARE YOUR APPROACHES WHEN DECIDING HOW TO HANG ART?
MK:  I was born with an innate sense of knowing which height is right for artwork, and because I hang most of it for my clients, I don’t get fussed if I miss a measurement especially when I’m lining them up in a row (for example) and need to hammer the nail in a second time (Just don’t tell the husbands I do it this way because they seem to think 2 holes behind a painting that will never move again until the décor changes and subsequently the paint colour, is an issue).

PAS:  IS IT IMPORTANT TO RELATE ART TO WALL SIZE OR FURNITURE SIZE?
MK:  Mostly yes but there are always exceptions.  You don’t need art on every single wall or even to fill up the wall, the eye needs a place to rest! 

 

                                             Audrey Matlock Architects

PAS:  I’VE HEARD SOME DESIGNERS SAY THAT 57” IS THE CORRECT HEIGHT TO HANG ART & OTHERS SAY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 63 – 66”. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
MK:  I would say go around and lower all your art approximately 4-5 inches.  That’s inevitably how much lower I need to adjust it for most of my clients. 

PAS:  WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PLAN THE LAYOUT FOR A GROUPING OF PICTURES?
MK:  I lay them out on the floor to see what will look the best but the most common way to do it is to trace and cut them all out on brown paper and tape or pin them on the wall first to see what looks the best.

                                                                          Pewter & Sage

PAS:  HOW MUCH SPACE SHOULD YOU LEAVE BETWEEN THE PIECES?
MK:  That so depends on the size of the wall and how many pieces you have I think it’s impossible to give a rule or guideline because the chances of that advice working for you will be slim.

PAS:WHEN DOING AN ARRANGMENT USING DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTER & STYLES OF ART, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MAINTAIN SOME KIND OF COHESIVNESS?
MK:I don’t know if it’s the ‘best way’ but having the frames all match or painting them all the same colour is one way to create cohesiveness.

PAS: IS IT OKAY TO MIX UP FRAME & MAT COLORS WHEN HANGING A GROUPING?
MK:Definitely, there are so many beautiful spaces I’ve seen where people have done this, usually done by a creative person because it takes a creative flair to make it work (maybe).

                                                                                               Jeffrey Hirsch

A very special thanks to Maria Killam from Maria Killam Color & Design for taking the time out to pass on give us her expert advice.

CARING FOR YOUR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS

So you've bought your first piece of fine art. Now how do you care for it so your investment lasts. In the case of photographs there are definitely some dos and don'ts.

 

     Reflections on the Arctic Sea by Ville Miettinen

 Firstly, hands off!  Don't touch! Your photograph most likely came in a clear, acid free plastic envelope.  That's exactly where you want to leave it until you're ready to have it framed.  If you must take it out of the envelope, do wear soft cotton gloves and try to handle it by the edges.

                                                                   Inspiration for Decoration

When you're ready to have your artwork framed, do invest in professional framing. You might have done a good job with your family photos but store bought frames are not meant for fine art. You want to make sure your framer uses acid free mats as well as uv glass. Light is the death of the photograph and uv glass will help minimize fading & color shifts. It's a little more costly but will help protect your investment.

                                                                      Pappas Miron Design

When hanging your new beauty you do want to hang it in a bright area. However make sure it's in in-direct light.  Direct sunlight can cause just as much damage to your fine art photograph as it can to your skin so you want to protect it. Humidity and moisture are also detrimental to photographs so please don't hang a fine art piece in a bathroom or the cooking areas of your kitchen. Leave these areas to less valuable pieces or family photos that can easily be reproduced.

 

                                  Taj Mahal by Ville Miettinen

Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy living with art!  With the proper care and handling, your fine art photograph will last for years to come.