At last count, there were over 50 million Hispanics living in America and that number is expected to only grow in the years ahead. Many of them zealously embrace their heritage and others are just learning about their ancestors’ birthplaces. However, both groups seem to enjoy showing off their familial roots with the aid of world culture art. So we’re chiming in today with a quick look at five Spanish artists that people may not be familiar with:

1.) Simon Silva (Mexican)

One of the first artists to make our list is Mexican Simon Silva. Considered a native of Mexicali, he was born into a family of migrant farm workers who eventually relocated to California. Not surprisingly, many of his vibrant prints feature agricultural families going about their daily lives. Our list of favorites includesAmor a Todas Horas, Las Comadres, Dos Mujeres and Un Dia de Campo.

2.) Pedro Alvarez Castello (Cuban)

Pedro Alvarez Castello is another world culture artist of note. Born in Cuba, he was influenced by other Spanish artists, like Victor Patricio Landaluze and Alejandro Mendoza. Unlike Silva, his work took on a more pop culture feel. As such, it was not uncommon for him to highlight Latin American dances and other aspects of Cuban American culture. One painting that illustrates the passion found in Spanish dances is titled, Tango Argentino. It features a dancing couple in the midst of a romantic embrace.

3.) Juarez Machado (Brazilian)

While we are on the subject of world culture art that features Latin American dance, we can’t help but mention Juarez Machado. A native of Brazil, he has produced many paintings that show Spanish dancers and revelers in all of their glory. His list of fabulous works includes Femme au Robe Rouge, Tango a Robe Rouge and Copacabana Palace Hotel.

4.) Jaime Olaya (Columbian)

Of course Latin American culture includes more than just passionate dance and agrarian roots. It also includes a good deal of religious images. So we wanted to add Columbian artist, Jaime Olaya to our list. His paintings feature images of Hispanic family life, women and angels. Paintings in his collection that world culture art lovers may enjoy are Dos Angeles, La Maternidad and La Familia.

5.) Diego Rivera (Mexican)

Lastly, we’d be remiss to bypass the world culture art of Mexican, Diego Rivera. He is quite well known and exhibits devoted to his work are located all over the world. Some of his most beloved paintings feature calla lilies, sunflowers, women, children and farmers. Examples include Vendedora de Alcatraces, Muchacha con Girasoles and Flower Festival: Feast of Santa Anita.

To discover more art from this culture, check out our Hispanic art selection!

The rage is on and it’s all about shabby chic. It’s a style that borrows from old charm with a certain degree of casual abundance, yet sophisticated and classy. It’s funky, it’s eclectic and it’s understated elegance, all in one. If you love the throwback feeling that shabby chic evokes, reminiscent of a trip to grandmother’s house where the paint on the chair is peeling and the watering can by the yard is a little rusty, you may want to use shabby chic art to help you recreate the homely lovely feeling. Pulling the effect together is easy with some if these easy tips:

Define Your Space

Want to define a space in your house? You want to keep it cozy and comfortable, inviting and relaxing? Whether it’s the kitchen or bathroom, shabby chic art can instantly pull the look together. Consider shabby chic art for the kitchen, from a simple depiction of fork and spoon to unwinding with wine to personalize the space to your taste.

What about the bathroom, a sanctuary of sorts? A place where you unwind, soak in the tub and allow yourself to forget about the cares of the world. Define this space well with an assortment of bathroom shabby chic art. Think bubbles, bath soaps and happiness – a bliss you can easily create by either using a single art piece or a group of art.

Play to Your Style

Shabby chic uses cream or pastel colors with differing layers of interesting texture to achieve the old charm. When using shabby chic art, considers the overall tone of the room. Take into consideration the color and the décor you already have. Making sure everything blends together in harmony will help to create the desired look. If you have white walls, you may want to bring some colors by choosing shabby chic art with some pomp and funk. Or go with the general color scheme. Choose art pieces that complement or contrast for effect. Placing a cleverly chosen piece of shabby chic art with a group of DIY (do it yourself) décor can be stunning and absolutely charming.

Orchestrate a Theme

Striving to pull together a theme for a room? Choosing pieces with similar theme will do it beautifully. Whether it’s world cultures, or high fashion or flowers, shabby chic art has them all covered.

Putting together a shabby chic room or house can be easy with the help of shabby chic art. For more information on how to use shabby chic art, contact us.

Vincent Van Gogh is undoubtedly one of the greatest Dutch painters after Rembrandt. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands to a minister and a bookseller’s daughter, Van Gogh dabbled with various vocations including art dealer and clergyman before deciding he wanted to become an artist at the mature age of twenty-seven. Within 10 years, before he died of a self-inflicted wound to his chest, he produced over 2,100 pieces of works, mostly watercolor and oil paintings. In his lifetime, he sold just one painting, but he became posthumously famous when his sister-in-law took it upon herself to promote his art. Now, several of his paintings are ranked the most expensive in the world. If you’ve always loved Van Gogh’s paintings, here are some categories where he distinguished himself as an artist.

Style

Although Van Gogh had some formal art training, most of it was self-taught. His bold lines and an eye given to beauty and light gave brilliance to his artwork. Inspired and moved by light and color, he was able to produce stunning pieces of work depicting flowers, landscapes, portraits and architecture. Whether it is the Starry Night or Sunflowers or Café Terrace, they all possess rich tones and hues, with a flow that only a genius can create.

Subjects

What is mundane to people became a subject of study for Van Gogh. He was able to capture the ordinary and elevate it to a higher plane by his renditions. Examples include paintings of railway station, gasworks and nursery gardens. These ordinary settings come alive with his brilliant depth of colors and his ability to create movement across the page. During his confinement in a hospital, he took to painting his surroundings. Popular pieces like cypress trees, olive grove and wheat field came from that period.

Japanese Influence 

Many artists of his time became fascinated with Japanese paintings, Van Gogh included. He first saw Japanese prints in 1885 in Antwerp and became drawn to how simplicity of lines can be so profound when rendered with ease. He became an ardent fan of Japanese prints and reproduced some of Hiroshige’s work. Blossoming Almond Tree becomes one of the best known paintings from that influence.