Decorating: Finding Inspiration in Original Art

Art can appeal to anyone's decorating taste and is often surprisingly affordable. Tips for searching for original art for your next decorating project.

(PRWEB) July 24, 2004 -- Youre thinking about redecorating, or maybe youve just moved into a new home or office. Wandering through the same chain stores looking for wall art wont spark any interesting ideas. Instead, try looking at original art. Art can appeal to anyones taste and is often surprisingly affordable. Not only will it look great, it will create a unique conversation piece and amazing focal point able to pull together an entire room. Finding great art isnt hard, and can actually be a lot of fun. Here are a few places to start looking:

1). Go online. Use major search engines to search by keywords such as modern sculpture" or floral pastels". If youd like your art purchase to represent a favorite subject or place, search for that at Froogle, Googles shopping network. At www.froogle.com, a search for Rosebud Lake" finds beautiful photographic prints as well as original oil paintings of the famous lake. If youd like to look at objects of interest while learning a little about the artist who created them, many artists and craftspersons have their own websites. You can find listings of artist websites at an art directory such as Art-Bridge (www.art-bridge.com).

2). If the Internet is not your cup of tea, then take a walk through an art show to help you decide what your inspiration piece might be. You might find yourself drawn to a watercolor for over the mantle. Your inspiration might be a Raku or porcelain vase for the bookshelf. Being able to view the actual piece will let you appreciate the colors and textures, key elements when designing a rooms décor. This is a great time of year to enjoy public art fairs where you can browse artists work at individual booths. Some of the best of the season are still to come: The Metris Uptown Art Fair (http://www.uptownminneapolis.com) in Minneapolis, MN boasts 385 participating artists, the Plaza Art Fair (http://www.countryclubplaza.com) in Kansas City, MO features 230 artists and the Des Moines Arts Festival (http://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org) in Des Moines, IA showcases 150 artists.

If it sounds like a great idea but youre a little intimidated by a bold outcome, start with decorating a childs room. Childrens rooms by nature inspire color and creativity and can make for a great way to get your feet wet. At Artists Heaven (www.artistsheaven.com), an art emarketplace, you will find a variety of original pieces by talented artists including hand-painted pieces of heirloom childrens furniture. At Quilt Shops.com, (http://www.quiltshops.com), an online directory featuring over a hundred independent quilt shops, you might find an original fiber art piece such as a fine, hand-made quilt to hang on the childs wall.

Whether you prefer to browse through galleries and street fairs or prefer to sit comfortably in your warm and cozy (but still boring and uninspired) home at the computer remains your choice. Just remember when embarking on your next project that some of the best decorating inspiration can be found in original art and fine crafts.

###