It has been said that finding a gift for a man is hard to do. That may be true, however, if you find creative ways to give, a lasting treasure can be found in the most obscure place. Men appreciate art in many ways, they adorn their offices, garages and man caves with art, not to mention their houses with works as complex and compelling as they are. The many ways that make a man tick are right in front of your eyes and can be as easy as buying him that six pack of beer. Don't shy away from a good art piece.

Sports Gifts

Men and sports are like bars and beer, they just go together, and are inseparable. Artwork is a solid gift that they he treasure for years to come. Our golf collection will land any gift giver on the good side of their man, and works by Ron Jenkins will make him dream of that day on the links far away from all his troubles and cares, “Azalea Hole Golf Course” will put him into a state of peace and relaxation to last all day. Go ahead and hit a hole in one with this fine gift.

Car Art

While your man may not be the next Henry Ford, there is no denying that he loves his car, and other cars. From the classics of days gone by to futuristic cars. Cars and road trips it is in his DNA and Dan Stambler's “Route 66 Diner” combines both love affairs with stunning beauty. Find some of the greatest car paintings to help the man in your life celebrate the genre. What a wonderful gift for your man. So drive home that gift with a framed work of art showcasing this American love.

Gifts To Fit That Theme

Gifts for him can be easy if you find that theme that runs through is life, is he into boating, skiing, hunting, finding that fit will make the search for the gift of art easy. And one that he will love. If you think he has everything already, then a framed picture of fine wall art will hit the spot, and a quality pic will be the final touch on that space he covets so much. In such fine photos as “Yacht Reliance at Full Sail, 1903”.  There are many framing options that can fit all different settings from the garage to the boathouse.

So remember that finding the right gift for him is not as hard as you may think. Many may think that art is not for the man in their lives, or is hard to pick something out for you man, however, that can't be more further from the truth. Find the perfect gift with our holiday gift guides. 

When it comes to French commercial artists from the Art Nouveau period, one would be remiss to skip over Jules Cheret. Despite having passed away in the fall of 1932, his work continues to mesmerize art and advertising students alike. Here’s a snapshot of his career and some of his famous framed art:

Born in the late spring of 1836, Cheret officially began his artistic career in 1849. He started with a brief apprenticeship in France and later moved on to England. Once there, he focused his attention on London’s most famous entertainment venues. Among them were the now iconic Moulin Rouge, Olympia, Palais Garnier and Folies Bergere. During that time, he created a highly visible and coveted series of posters. Many of them featured dancing girls designed to promote the venues’ assorted shows. The collection of framed art produced for such venues includes the following prints:

• Folies-Bergere Le Miroir
• Pantomimes Lumineusses Theatre Optique of E. Reynaud
• Folies Bergere La Loie Fuller
• Alcazar d’ Ete Kanjarowa

The much sought after posters were not the only works he produced throughout his career. Cheret was also known for his paintings, book jackets and extensive advertising work with a variety of commercial enterprises. They often included elements like great coloring, watercolor washed backgrounds, floral designs and engaging subjects like actresses. Among the ones immortalized in Cheret’s works are Rene Maizeroy and Sarah Bernhardt. Examples of his commercial work include advertisements for the following companies:

• Monaco Parfumerie Distillerie, Iris Villa Monte-Carlo
• Quinquina Dubonnet Aperitif
• Saxoleine, Petrole de Surete
•  Vin Mariani, French Tonic Wine

Because of his large body of impressive artwork, he later went on to win the prestigious Legion d’honneur (1890).

So you're a sports fanatic seeking to decorate your home or office with conversation pieces or maybe you just want a vintage sports theme for a specific room like your man cave or bedroom. Purchasing antiques can get expensive and require space to display them. Consider filling your space with vintage sports photography. Artwork is something that can hang on your walls so it doesn't take up too much space. It’s also a great way to surround yourself with conversation starters without going broke. There are a few tricks and things to consider when choosing vintage sports posters.

Choose a color!

One big thing to consider is the color. What will fit best in your decor, black and white, sepia toned or color sports photos. The color theme you choose can depend on the color of your walls, furniture and other accessories in the room. If the room is full of color it may be a good idea to use black and white or sepia to tone the colors down. Using color sports photography in a room full of color can become overwhelming. The sepia tones and photographs that lack rich colors is what tends to give the photograph a more vintage feel. When you find the right color for your room, the finish for the print is your next big step. If a frame compliments your piece best, you'll want to use a frame that has more of a vintage feel rather than a modern frame. Some mat colors that may pair well with retro sports photos include egg shell, buff and serene cream.

The Sport or the Name?

Before you automatically select photography that includes famous athletes or stadiums, browse pictures that feature the unexpected or show humankind’s love of the sport. Good examples are photos like Free Golf and Retrieving the Ball. Each one presents everyday people engaged in the sport of golf. We carry prints in various types of categories like football, racing cars, hockey, tennis, lacrosse and more. So take time to find the beautiful golf course or the motivational soccer poster rather than automatically searching for famous sports players and stadiums.

If you do feel compelled to spotlight famous athletes or locations, there are tons of sports places and people to choose from in our categories. One of our best illustrations in that regard may be found in the photo titled, Lou Gehrig – With Bats. It's almost a 3-D look the way that the baseball bats are positioned, it gives the illusion that they are literally coming out of frame. This piece and pieces like it would look great printed on a seamless piece of canvas or a two-toned, ebony and gold bastion frame.

The Last Game

The last best thing to consider is the last game. If you have a favorite athlete, finding photographs from their last game is not only great decor but a great conversation starter as well. A good example would be to pair photos like Lou Gehrig – Farewell #2 or Babe Ruth - Farewell.

Finish it Off

Artwork is not complete with out a frame, laminate or canvas finish. If a canvas best suites your desired piece, choose a painted sides color that matches something in the frame. For black and white photos, black painted sides is always an amazing finish. If you're choosing a frame finish, choose a vintage styled frame. You can also choose a frame that matches the furniture in the room it will decorate. If you have a mahogany colored bed frame and the chosen piece is going in that bedroom, try choosing one of our mahogany frames if they match the piece as well.

All of our frame and canvas finishes come with 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Properly aligning framed art on the walls of your home may seem a daunting task. Should the pictures line up according to the top or bottom edge? Or the middle? Or should they be hung salon style with the entire wall covered by art? The answers to these questions vary greatly depending on personal preference, room aesthetics, and the size of the art. Use these easy to follow decorating tips to achieve the best look for your space:

Aligning Art by the Top or Bottom Edges

For many folks, aligning art by either the top of bottom edges of the frame is the simplest and easiest method. The sizes of the pieces do not need to be the same and it's easy to interchange one piece for another at a later date.

Best place to use: Align art by the top edges when displaying art beneath a shelf or row of upper windows. Align art by the bottom edges for display just above a large piece of furniture such as a sofa or sideboard.

Aligning Art by the Middle Point

Aligning art by the middle point of the picture is a more complicated approach. However, it is the one most frequently used in museums and galleries. An exact method of measurement can be performed to achieve expert results, or many at-home decorators just "eyeball" it.

Best place to use: Align art by the middle point for display in long hallways or great ballrooms with little furniture.

Salon Style Art Wall

A large mass of art displayed on one wall space is considered the "salon style." Overall, the shape of the group may form a square or rectangle, but this shape is not absolutely necessary. The key to perfecting the salon style is making sure the frames complement each other nicely. Placing an ultra modern industrial style frame next to a French scroll work piece may seem out of place.

Best place to use: Align art in a salon style when the sizes of the art vary widely or are generally small. Use in the main gathering room where a large open wall space exists.

Align Art in a Vertical Orientation

Aligning art in a vertical orientation is the most uncommon of all display methods. However, this style can work well in small spaces. Generally, the width of each piece should be the same or nearly the same for the best look.

Which of the above decorating and aligning tips will you use next?

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