"I learned a ton from exploring new techniques and making mistakes. Don't be afraid to try new things and fail. Make that a part of your development." ~ Michael Mullan. See more quotes by Michael Mullan by reading our Q&A interview with him. 

Michael Mullan is an artist who initially lived in Chicago. His artwork is a combination of digital and traditional media. He uses hand drawing and technology which makes his art unique from other styles. Although Mullan has now mastered his art technique, he hasn't always known his style. Mullan started out by going to an art school, he drew book series for an author. He went to Savvanah College of Art and Design to get his MFA in illustration, after that his career really took off. Mullan has worked with many big projects since, his art has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Walgreens in Chicago, the Wonderment Beer Label and many more places.  When asked what is his favorite advertising project he has done so far, he replied "I recently worked on branding for a new brewery in Vermont. This was a fun one because I love packaging, I love beer and it was for a local business. I cant wait to see my work on all sorts of beer swag!"  Michael Mullan believes that his unique style of art has developed through trial and error. He is always looking for new ways to improve his style and technique so he can stay current.

Mullan's work is featured in many well-known places as murals on the wall, artwork and products. His fun, colorful and inspirational art is motivation for many people including the staff here at FulcrumGallery.com! Michael Mullan is always excited when a new project comes his way, especially when the completed project turns out better than he expected.

In his future, Mullan hopes to still be creating art. He aspires to get into new illustration markets that he hasn't gotten into yet. For example, handmade goods. Michael Mullan is also interested in expanding his art skills like getting into painting so he can take on gallery work. 

We are currently running a giveaway for a signed print by Michael Mullan. Two lucky winners will be picked by entering our giveaway on Facebook and two lucky winners will win by pinning their favorite Mullan prints from his artist page. Good Luck :-)

One of the most enjoyable parts of having a child is decorating his or her bedroom. Before their babies are even born, many new parents design a nursery with artwork and accessories that they hope will appeal to their new arrival. They might choose soothing colors and quiet themes to help the baby (and the new parents!) relax and sleep. As they grow and their eyesight develops, babies are drawn to more visually complex pictures and objects.

For toddlers and older children, playing and learning are their two most important occupations. They may spend as much time playing in their rooms as they do sleeping. When decorating their bedrooms, you can choose children's art from among popular characters, interests, or hobbies. You could design a space that incorporates all of their favorites, or pick a central theme or object, such as a traditional children’s story, and have the artwork complement your theme.

Exposing children to different types of art at a young age can help inspire their own creativity. Furthermore, they will feel more comfortable in a room personalized with their specific interests in mind. When decorating your child’s room, you can explore color and design to create a unique space that appeals to both of you.

For instance, encourage storytelling and imaginative play by displaying art with characters from beloved books and movies. This can motivate children to recall scenes from stories and to expand on them, creating their own fantasy world right in their bedrooms. Don’t forget the playroom or family room, two more locations where you could decorate with children's art pieces.

One of the greatest types of art we offer for children is educational art. Every child learns at a different pace and hanging educational art in their surroundings can influence their learning. Alphabet posters, animal posters, counting posters and more are a great fit for a child's room. These types of posters make learning colorful and fun with pictures of the what they are teaching. Educational posters brings learning to life and is something they can use as they grow up and for their own future children. 

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.

Everyone loves popular color trends when they decide to remodel their home or renovate! It's fun to change your decor every once in a while to keep up with current popular color schemes. A very popular color for home decor, especially for this autumn season, is gold. Gold represents a meaning of success, achievement, and triumph. We often associate the color gold with money or wealth, but the color gold has so much more to tell us than just wealth. Many people have linked the color gold as a way to feel empowered and choose to think gold can give off a vibe of positive energy. Some also believe that gold can bring good wisdom, understanding, and enlightenment.

 Represents a Meaning of Success, Achievement, and Triumph!

Often we see gold metals for the winner of a race so we connect the color gold and it's meaning to the winner's metal. This color draws attention to itself, it is eye-catching, passionate, and confident. Gold is a color that is often overlooked when choosing decor because of the flashy and wealthy vibe it shows. Decorating an office with gold art, or neutral colored prints with a gold frame, can give one a sense of empowerment and success. Getting gold art, art with a gold frame, or art on canvas with gold painted sides is not only suitable for your office. These will also raise your feeling of success in a library or study room. 

Perfect Decor for Autumn Season!

Not only is gold great decor for offices, classrooms, libraries, and study rooms, but it is also great for general home decor during autumn season! Decorating your home with paintings and photographs of golden autumn trees and the golden kissed sky during sunset is a great way to bring the beauty of autumn into your home with out having crunchy leaves. Gold autumn decor helps a room pop with color and come to life. Golden touched autumn art is especially a great decor choice for those who find themselves who favor autumn over other seasons. If autumn season is your favorite, why not leave the autumn decor up year round to keep your favorite season around!

Although gold is a popular color to decorate, you want to make sure to not overdo it. Having too much gold decor in your home can be overwhelming since gold is such a bold color. If the room is painted a solid color that compliments gold, just decorating with gold is perfectly fine! But remember, gold is a loud color that does not need help standing out and making a statement. Too much gold decor can ruin the statement you want to make. If done correctly, gold decor can be the perfect inspirational art, or the perfect seasonal art!

Barn Owl Primitives started out small. Christi, the creator, started out making handcrafted Christmas gifts, specifically hand-painted, door-hanging snowman, when money was tight. Friends and families became her first customers but, then, the word got out…and friends of friends started placing orders as well. Since snowman is rather synonymous with winter, Christi started other ideas that weathered seasons: word art that are perennially appealing. Barn Owl Primitives was born and “signs to decorate your life” becomes her signature motto. Since then, her Barn Owl Primitives has birthed various categories of word art:

Family Rules

It’s true every family has its own rules, but some rules seem to be universal. Short of repeating yourself often, it would be neat to have these rules written out and place in strategic places as reminders. Need help to maintain order in the playroom? Enlist the help of Playroom rules word art – all the gentle reminders conveniently placed on the canvas (or neatly framed) – a great way to reinforce rules without nagging. How about kitchen rules? Barn Owl has a series of that too: Sit up Straight or simply entitled “Kitchen.”

Encouragement

We could all use a little “pep” talk now and then, a little pick-me-up encouragement. What better way to motivate yourself or others than a word art décor? Whether you want to be brave (or reminded you’re brave), strive to be real or just want to love and be loved, Barn Owl primitives have a range of selection to cater to your needs.

Holiday Signs

Want to create a festive mood? Or get into the holiday spirit? Holiday word art can help you do that without really trying too hard. Hang one up and allow the magic to diffuse the room with that seasonal joy and longing, a little nostalgia or warmth. Christmas, Halloween or just to welcome a new season, take your pick. Order up some holiday cheer, it's that time of the year.

Sports

Know a husband, a father, a son, a brother or a friend who loves sports? They live, eat and breathe sports and you may experience a little neglect when the sports season is on? They would love one of the word art on sports. Football or soccer, these word art will make great gifts for sports fans.

Using Barn Owl Primitives word art for decor is a great way to add character, swag or mood. Buy them for yourself or to give away as gifts. Feel free to browse our website or contact us for more information.

Father’s Day is one of the few days in the year that dad really gets to feel special. Make this special feeling last all year round by giving dad the gift of art! Father’s Day art is a gift that can be displayed on the wall no matter the season or holiday. It will be a constant reminder of how much you love and appreciate him every time he sees it.

Most fathers usually try to avoid sappy and emotional situations especially during holidays. Help dad avoid them by getting him Father’s Day wall art that is not too emotional. Father’s Day art is the perfect balance so your gift will truly be appreciated. You May Be the World by Veruca Salt is one of many inspirational art prints that will show your father how much you love him without being too sentimental.

Another way to try and avoid those emotional moments is by shopping in other categories your father would like. Our Father’s day categories vary from sports art, to men’s fashion art, to fatherhood art and so much more. No matter what your dad likes, you can find it here! Finding a gift for Father's Day is not supposed to be frustrating for you, so make it easier by shopping with us. We have something that every father will like!

Every father has different interests and hobbies, that’s why finding gifts, especially for fathers, can be very challenging. Make gift shopping easy this Father's day by customizing your own gift so you know he will love it! If your father is not really a big fan of art, find his favorite photograph; send it to us with your frame or canvas choice and voila! You have just created a personalized masterpiece with us! It can be his favorite family photo, favorite childhood pet, or just a picture of you and dad. Giving dad’s favorite picture as a father’s day gift is perfect for all fathers, they can proudly display their family in their house for all to see. Giving the gift of art for Father's Day this year will remind you dad how loved and appreciated he is every time he sees it!

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with some inspirational art? Whether your relationship is brand new or you have celebrated many years of wedded bliss, your loved one will be thrilled with a gift of art for Valentine’s Day. Here are a few suggestions from our gallery:

• Go with tradition. We have a number of images with hearts on them, including Zebra Love and Barn Star with Heart Wreath. These pieces clearly state your message of love on Valentine’s Day.
• On the other hand, you may want to give a gift that says something more. We have heart art with all those words that you have trouble remembering “in the moment,” so check out Love Words, Prayer from the Heart or Let There be Love if you wish your art to carry your message for you.
• Maybe you feel the need to remember those important messages of love with your gift. We have a wide range of possibilities for loving reminders, such as Love and Peace or Love Never Fails.
• Possibly you want to give a gift to that special someone who is not a spouse or partner. A simple search will yield some lovely heart-oriented art for Grandmother, Rocker Moms Rule, and A Mother’s Heart.

This is but a small sampling of the inspirational art that is available in our galleries for your Valentine’s Day gifting. Start searching and we are certain you will find something to tug at your heart!

What basketball fan can forget famed North Carolina State basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano, or “Jimmy V” as he’s more notably remembered, running up and down the basketball court following his team’s 1983 NCAA men's basketball national championship?  Or his touching speech at the ESPY awards just a few weeks before he died of cancer?  And what die-hard college basketball fan doesn’t watch the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic every year? 

Fulcrumgallery.com carries a full selection of famous Jimmy V quote prints.   From the memorable quotes he made on the basketball court to the heartfelt quotes he made in his speeches, Fulcrumgallery.com carries exactly what the Jimmy V fan in your life will cherish.   Jimmy V was not only known for his legendary men’s college basketball coaching career, and his work as an analyst and sports commentator for ABC and ESPN, but also for the millions of dollars his foundation has raised for cancer research.  For almost 25 years, Jimmy V entertained and inspired Americans until his death at the early age of 47.  Through his words and work, he will continue to inspire us.

Go to our website to find Jimmy V quote prints or the famous quotes of other athletes and celebrities.  After selecting your favorite print from our website, simply indicate whether you would like it laminated and/ or framed.  We offer a large selection of frames and most of our custom-framed product ships within 24 hours. All of our products, including custom framed art, have a 30 day, no questions asked, return policy. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, you may return it to us within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or replacement, less shipping charges.

Place your order today or contact us for additional information.