I don't have anything against great interior design, it's a hobby of mine. What drives me crazy is art buyers who won't support an artist they like and a piece of art that speaks to them because it doesn't "go" with their house. Bah!
1. Great art can hold it's own.
I grew up in a very conservative town by parents who didn't think much about art... until I came along. The first time I had seen art in a home that didn't match the couch was at a friend's house in Albuquerque when I was in college. He has a beautiful home with a wide range of original art hanging. It was amazing!! I noticed each piece and I could appreciate it's uniqueness. I certainly did not think that my friend couldn't coordinate his furniture!
2. "Matchy match" gets lost.
I will just say it. Matching art/prints blend into the to walls and decor, never to be seen again. If you hang a piece of art in a room with all of the same colors and patterns as the furnishings, the money you spent on something to see on your walls is wasted. I don't know how many times I walk into a home and barely glance at their boring art. Note: boring art does not mean traditional or representational.
3. A piece that speaks to you has earned its spot on the wall.
The art I have on my walls has the ability to stop me and make me pause to contemplate it almost daily. I notice the art on my walls and it speaks to me. I have a range of styles that I like and some are not 'wild' at all. However, they are pieces I truly love. Please hang art that will talk to you and refresh you or challenge you!
4. Something different makes YOU interesting.
A piece of art that speaks to you but may be a little out of your comfort zone says something interesting about you. Hanging it on your wall becomes a conversation piece and tells your visitors something about you that they may not know!
5. Supporting an artist and challenging art is good for the soul.
Artists really do appreciate kind words and encouragement, but when you take a piece of art home, you take little of the artist with you. It's a great compliment to the artist and that piece will likely become a 'friend' to you, a friend who reminds you of a good memory or challenges your way of thinking or shows you something new everyday.
So, the next time you are at an art festival, see a piece online or at a gallery and it speaks to you, please don't let the fact that it "doesn't match" keep you from getting the benefits of something beautiful and meaningful in your home.
Please check out my website to see more of my work! http://www.artbysaradb.com
and pass this along if you have enjoyed it!
Thoughts about the art world, Sara's own work and being an artist.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Monday, January 31, 2011
10 years and a local show
Tomorrow I am hanging my art at the local theater. It's going to be cool because I will have about 25 pieces covering 10 years of my work! I can't believe it's been 10 years as a professional artist. I still like my older work and it's making me nostalgic to see how it's changed.
My undercurrent of spiritual symbolism is still alive and well, but I think my style has evolved a little. Although I am prone to change styles a little, I love art deco to photo realism, I think my work has a more polished look. Well, I hope it looks polished anyway. No one wants to hear or say that they are getting sloppier!
Thanks to those who have supported me all of these years, and I am looking forward to another decade, or four, or creating!
My undercurrent of spiritual symbolism is still alive and well, but I think my style has evolved a little. Although I am prone to change styles a little, I love art deco to photo realism, I think my work has a more polished look. Well, I hope it looks polished anyway. No one wants to hear or say that they are getting sloppier!
Thanks to those who have supported me all of these years, and I am looking forward to another decade, or four, or creating!
Monday, January 17, 2011
My technique and why I love watercolor
Many people are surprised that my paintings are mostly watercolor. I taught myself how to use watercolor when I was 12. I later found out in art class that I was doing it "wrong." Well, I liked my results better so I kept practicing. In college, I studied under Rob Erdle and Warren Taylor. They are both amazing artists and they helped my refine my technique.
I use a layering technique to achieve the look of my watercolors. I control the wetness of the paper and the brushes to manipulate this medium. The comment I hear most when I say that I use watercolor is that watercolor is so hard!! It absolutely can be. With a lot of patience and some know-how, this medium provides me with a way to create realistic paintings and portraits in color. I prefer watercolor over oils because watercolors are water soluble and so I don't need any chemicals other than the paints themselves. It is odorless and dries quickly, too. I am including some time lapse photos of one of my paintings to show my process. It takes awhile and doesn't really look great until the end, but I really like the results!! I hope you find it interesting!
"Three Fish" 16x21 watercolor
"Order limited edition reproductions of "Three Fish" seen above
www.artbysaradb.com
I use a layering technique to achieve the look of my watercolors. I control the wetness of the paper and the brushes to manipulate this medium. The comment I hear most when I say that I use watercolor is that watercolor is so hard!! It absolutely can be. With a lot of patience and some know-how, this medium provides me with a way to create realistic paintings and portraits in color. I prefer watercolor over oils because watercolors are water soluble and so I don't need any chemicals other than the paints themselves. It is odorless and dries quickly, too. I am including some time lapse photos of one of my paintings to show my process. It takes awhile and doesn't really look great until the end, but I really like the results!! I hope you find it interesting!
"Three Fish" 16x21 watercolor
"Order limited edition reproductions of "Three Fish" seen abovewww.artbysaradb.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
December post
Well, it's hot today so it's hard to feel Christmasy, but I baked pumpkin and poppy seed breads for friends and family yesterday and today. My house smells amazing!! I am done with my commissions for the year and I am kind of taking a break to let my mind rest and come up with new ideas for paintings.
I was busy with shows and commissions this fall, so I haven't painted for myself in months. I am trying to finish a series. Sometimes the last paintings are the hardest!!
I also need to create some work to enter in the Spring Juried show. The Midland Arts Association has a rule that you can't enter anything that has been accepted in a previous MAA show. Well, the juror for the Fall show chose way too many pieces for the show. Case in point, all three of my entries got in. That has never happened before. I have juried shows before. I know it is difficult, but it doesn't mean as much to the artist if almost everything is accepted! So, I have no recent work to enter that hasn't already sold or already been in an MAA show. I know, boo hoo! ;) All that to say, I need to be a creative genius in the next few weeks! I hope something decent comes out!! ;)
I hope everyone is safe traveling and has an amazing Holiday with family and friends!!
I was busy with shows and commissions this fall, so I haven't painted for myself in months. I am trying to finish a series. Sometimes the last paintings are the hardest!!
I also need to create some work to enter in the Spring Juried show. The Midland Arts Association has a rule that you can't enter anything that has been accepted in a previous MAA show. Well, the juror for the Fall show chose way too many pieces for the show. Case in point, all three of my entries got in. That has never happened before. I have juried shows before. I know it is difficult, but it doesn't mean as much to the artist if almost everything is accepted! So, I have no recent work to enter that hasn't already sold or already been in an MAA show. I know, boo hoo! ;) All that to say, I need to be a creative genius in the next few weeks! I hope something decent comes out!! ;)
I hope everyone is safe traveling and has an amazing Holiday with family and friends!!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
"Blue Bird" 11x14 watercolor
I really love the colors in this piece! They are uplifting and bright. The colors remind me of a piece I did in 2006(see below).
This is the second piece about the mind I have done this year. In this piece, compassion and faith are encouraged. You can read the full symbolism on my website. I love the simplicity and the detail in this piece. Her face is lovely and serene as she gazes off, who knows where! and the blue jay and pomegranate turned out well, I think.
I really love the colors in this piece! They are uplifting and bright. The colors remind me of a piece I did in 2006(see below).
This is the second piece about the mind I have done this year. In this piece, compassion and faith are encouraged. You can read the full symbolism on my website. I love the simplicity and the detail in this piece. Her face is lovely and serene as she gazes off, who knows where! and the blue jay and pomegranate turned out well, I think.
Just a little trivia, the grass texture is achieved using salt while the paint is still wet!
"Sunflower" 11x14 watercolor
Order limited edition reproductions of "Sunflower"
"Sunflower" 11x14 watercolorOrder limited edition reproductions of "Sunflower"
Monday, July 19, 2010
"Mind Flight" 16x20
This piece has a much more moody and, dare I say, romantic feel than most of my other work. I like it! It is part of a series I am doing on the mind and having the mind of Christ. For a more in depth explanation of the symbols, please check it out on my website.
Order limited edition reproduction of "Mind Flight"
Friday, July 9, 2010
"Helmet of Salvation" 18x24 acrylic
This piece was a vivid image in my brain before I started. It kept bugging me until I painted it. I really thought I had seen a good reference for the girl, but I ended up creating the whole thing from my imagination. I knew I wanted a 60s/70s poster feel for this piece. The dove on her head is a nod to the famous Woodstock poster, which I had a great time adding. I like the idea of creating 'positive propaganda' with the poster style pieces that I do. I really love playing with different fonts to create the feel of the time period that I am referencing and the meaning for the piece. The acrylic medium is perfect for creating the bright opaque colors and crisp lines that so many posters have.
This piece is sold, but you can order limited edition reproductions.
This piece was a vivid image in my brain before I started. It kept bugging me until I painted it. I really thought I had seen a good reference for the girl, but I ended up creating the whole thing from my imagination. I knew I wanted a 60s/70s poster feel for this piece. The dove on her head is a nod to the famous Woodstock poster, which I had a great time adding. I like the idea of creating 'positive propaganda' with the poster style pieces that I do. I really love playing with different fonts to create the feel of the time period that I am referencing and the meaning for the piece. The acrylic medium is perfect for creating the bright opaque colors and crisp lines that so many posters have.
This piece is sold, but you can order limited edition reproductions.
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