Smart Art (1/2)
Paintings, prints, photographs, and sculpture can transform a room. Designer Ernest de la Torre offers expert guidance.
- Art can create the entire mood for a room, or serve as an exclamation point in a neutral setting. A monochromatic room can come to life with a vivid abstract expressionist painting, or remain an oasis of calm with the help of a white line painting.
- Play with size. For dramatic effect, try hanging a large piece of art in a small space, like a powder room or vestibule.
- Don’t try to conform to anyone’s taste. Your art should be a reflection of your personal style and interest.
- If you are interested in collecting as an investment, do your homework and only buy from reputable galleries. Provenance can be more important for some pieces than others, and in the case of prints, condition is all-important. Keep tabs on auction results and current prices with internet sites like ArtNet[dot]com.
- Placing art on top of other objects changes the way you see each piece, and can be an artistic process in itself. A portrait hung on a large pier mirror in the French tradition creates a great deal of interest from the reflections alone. Try layering works of art on a table or shelf: a great photograph leaning up in front of an oil painting, with a small sculpture in front of it, can tell a whole story.
Source:
(House Beautiful Magazine, June 2005 Issue)