If former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln were still walking this earth, he’d be turning a whopping 206 years old this past February and we can’t imagine what that would be like for him. However, what we can imagine is how wonderful it would be to walk into a display area during this month’s Presidential holidays that’s filled with images from American history. The former 16th President’s image could be at the center of the display.

Over the years, there have been many paintings and photos taken in Abraham Lincoln’s memory. The list of artists whose work has spotlighted the former world leader at one time or another includes George Henry Story, Howard Pyle, Nathaniel Currier, Jason Lauritis and Mark Hampton. Some of the artists, like Howard Pyle, also created a great deal of art devoted to the Civil War and American history in general.

Others, like Jason Laurits, choose to take a quirky approach towards the former U.S. President. For example, he created a print featuring Lincoln wearing roller blades. It would pair well with contemporary pieces like Abraham Lincoln’s Face Against Colored Backgrounds, Abraham Lincoln: Honesty, Freedom, Equality, Tails and Heads. We should also mention that the artists who created the first two pieces are unknown. The third and fourth prints were created by artist David Bromstad. They are part of a two-piece series that showcases American currency.

Politics aside, Lincoln was such an interesting figure in his own right. As such, his image could be paired with artwork associated with his personal life. For instance, it is well-known that he loved his pets and often let them eat at the dinner table with him. He was also very religious, enjoyed wrestling and even participated in a séance at one time in his life. So a display created in his honor could include pictures of cats, dogs, wrestlers and the reprint of a 1800s Poster Advertising a Psychic Performance by the Davenport Brothers.

To find the framed artwork mentioned above and other pieces of Americana that could be used to celebrate Presidential holidays, please contact us at the Fulcrum Gallery.

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and with it, the mad dash for the perfect gift for your Valentine. You want to show them how much you love them while also giving them something they can actually use in their day-to-day life. What better gift then, than the gift of art? In this Valentine's Day Post, check out some of the beautiful art prints available from love art to romantic and heart art. A gift that gives all year-long, art is the perfect way to say, "I love you" this Valentine's day. 

Love Art

There are a lot of options for love art, you can go with something as simple as a Chris Paschke print with the oriental symbol for love that has a quiet elegance or if you want to get a Jack Vettriano print "Dance Me to the End of Love", a stunning print of an elegant couple dancing. You can also go a more whimsical route with a cute print by Marla Rae with two beautifully painted owls and words, "Owl Always Love You". 

Romantic Art

If you want to be more romantic and still show your love for your valentine, than a piece of art from this romantic collection is perfect. It is a showcase of more elegant pieces that are still fun. Including David Bromstad's piece, "Pucker Up!" which features a vibrant pair of red lips and a stunning piece by Laurie Cooper of a man kissing his love while wrapped in beautiful green leaves. These pieces are all stand out art that will add a luscious and romantic feel to any room it hangs in.

Heart Art

Nothing says I love you quite like a heart so why not choose a beautiful and vibrant piece from the Heart Art collection to gift to someone you love? There are many pieces to choose from, the "Three of Hearts" by Liz Jardine is a simple, but gorgeous piece of heart art or the piece "Love in 44 Languages" by LA Pop is a wonderful piece for Valentine's Day because it expresses your love perfectly with the 44 ways to say love in a heart shape.  

The choices for art to give on Valentine's day are truly endless. You can choose a piece that expresses your live in an elegant, timeless way or you can go for a more fun and whimsical look. Whatever matches your valentine's personality, art is the perfect gift for your Valentine this year.

Even before Facebook, artists were creating art from a combination of words and images. Such a combination was used to identify Roman coins, books from a particular college (using a famous quotation), and historical figures. The ornate script identifying the subject of the portrait in the frontispiece of this book (published in 1663) leaves no doubt that it was intended as part of the decoration.

Today, a collage of random words can make an interesting pattern, but when it comes to something that will hang on the wall, most people opt for meaning. After all, if it’s something you’re going to look at every day, you want it to speak to you. Literally.

Of all the rooms in the house, this communication seems to happen most frequently in the kitchen. People talk when they eat, and the cook is going to have her say, regardless. What does your kitchen communicate? A welcome? A blessing? An invitation to laugh? Or maybe just a promise.

Religious subjects are natural for this type of art, of many cultures and languages. Artists use the co-mingling of language with portraits to express the philosophies closest to their hearts. Most importantly, this is art that comforts.

 Even art that was once informational, as this amazing world map, is used to inspire and enlighten. Poetry that moves us when it’s just words on a page becomes doubly meaningful when rendered in a painting that we can identify with.

Above all, some combinations of beloved art and meaningful words become classics that deserve reproduction for many years to come.