Christmas is a joyous time of year; it has evolved from a strictly religious holiday to a worldwide holiday of giving and charity. It is one of the most recognizable holidays with many iconic symbols and themes. From Santa, to snowmen, to Christmas trees. Christmas art is both stunning and special to many during the holidays. Decorating your house and trimming the tree and time honored traditions passed down from generation to generation.

Santa Claus

What rich history and fond memories come from the image of Santa Claus. No Christmas is complete without Santa, and what is more endearing than Santa art from Peggy Abrams to Donna Race some of the most renowned artists of our time, and their detailed renditions of Santa in all his glory. He brings us presents in the night with his sleigh and rain-deer shimmying down the chimney and feasting on our milk and cookies to fuel him for the rest of his journey.

Christmas Tree

Under the tree come presents. And in the stockings come treats, and that a lovely piece of art “Santa's Stocking” by Peggy Abrams fine art print is, when we think of presents and the tree we think of that big box of special dreams we asked Santa to bring us, and dream at night in hopes of getting what we so desired. Stocking hung are an age-old tradition.

Santa And Snowman 3 by TheMacneil Studio

Christmas Scenes

Sledding in the park is one of the fun things that you can do in the snow Remembering your time out in the snow with your friends while you mom cooked the evening dinner, with the sun setting on the fine white snow your shivering fingers and toes.

Winter Art

The winter scenes portrayed by the legendary Ansel Adams, in “Pine Forest in the Snow, Yosimite Nation” is one of his most inspired photos and memorable themes in his trademark black and white the rich detail and flow will make you want his whole collection.

Snow

Lets build a snowman, or look at a great picture on the wall while we stay inside warm and cozy. Mary Ann June's “Snow Folk Faith” is a warm and inviting fine art print that is sure to become a family heirloom.

Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year, making your house a home with fine art and starting your own new traditions with your family and children is sure to create lasting memories that you kids will be able to talk about for years to come, and when they begin to have families of their own they can pass down your traditions and start a few of their own.

“Italian Feast” by Loran Speck is a beautiful and exquisite piece. With his various works of art, Speck would rather the painting explain itself than with an actual written out explanation. He creates highly detailed pieces and has been often compared to great Dutch masters because of his astonishing use of color and light. 

Bold Statement

To incorporate this painting into a Dining Room, Breakfast Room or even a Kitchen would be no challenge at all. With the paintings wide variety of rustic color, you could accent this piece with almost any colored picture frame. You could use a dark red picture frame to bring out the tablecloth and red wine or you could use a dark brown to contrast with all of the tans, beiges and creams that are found throughout the picture. If you have a bright or upbeat color for the walls, the painting might not work as well in the room. You would need a calmer, more neutral color for this piece to make a statement on its own and to match the other décor. You want to make sure the colors are more subtle rather than overpowering. Whether kept for yourself or gifted to another, “Italian Feast” can be a beautiful centerpiece to a room.

Italian Feast by Loran Speck

Style

One thing Speck really wanted to achieve through his paintings was to give off a sense of who he was. With this being said, he loved simplicity and quiet intimacy. This is definitely a great interpretation of who he and how great he was at still life’s, shown with the painting “Italian Feast”. This is a simple, yet bold piece. It is not too busy with many different elements and it doesn’t get lost with too many different colors. This piece is a perfect balance between simple objects and portraying them in a beautiful way.

Obvious Popularity

Loran Speck intended for the piece “Italian Feast” to exude simplicity and for this same reason, it gained its popularity. He used a beautiful color scheme and wide variety of brush strokes to interpret his vision onto paper. There is no doubt that many people love this work of art for its simplicity as well as many other reasons. It is left up to the imagination to determine the purpose and intention this piece perceives. Someone doesn’t need to know the artist or the paintings background to fall in love with this work of art. Along with enjoying how it looks, people also enjoy the unspoken meaning behind the painting. With the endless possibilities of how to decorate with this piece, there is no question why it is a favorite among many.

Loran Speck brings still lives to life because of how he uses many details for his work. “Italian Feast” is just one of many still lives that Speck has created and it is beautiful nonetheless. Although there are and have been many artists in the world, Loran Speck does a good job of setting himself apart from the others through his work.

A kitchen is one of the most valuable assets of a home.  Modern design is becoming more and more popular and the natural flow between living and kitchen areas make this type of decor very appealing.  Polished stainless steel, sleek straight lines, and uncluttered surfaces deliver a clean and organized space to prepare meals or ponder the days events with a cup of coffee.  Be selective in minimal modern art wall hangings and your kitchen will deliver that perfect balance of modernism and contentment.

What to Look For

A silhouetted picture of kitchen utensils on a frameless canvass mat, is a subtle reminder of the room's purpose without becoming overbearing with too much movement.  Never eye-catching, but bringing volume to an empty wall space, a single fork, a pair of spoons, or a tea-pot fills a void with character, without distraction.

A Touch of Color

Add a colorful reminder of naturalism with large slices of oranges, limes and grapefruit for a complimentary display of realism.  A contemporary oil painting, surrounded by a skinny frame, will provide a touch of sheer elegance among polished appliances.

You can never go wrong with sepia or black and white photography, encased in bordered, silver or black frames, when creating a delicate balance of modern motif.  An ordinary cup or a group of scattered spoons work well when hung in duplicate along a side wall or positioned above a stainless steel range or basin.  Captured shading adds dimension and highlights the beauty of chrome and stainless steel.

Before deciding on wall hangings to compliment your modern kitchen, search around on our website for various ideas of popular designs and images that are present in urban, contemporary, or even eclectic decor.  Not only will your kitchen become more appealing to your own taste, but will also blend more naturally with surrounding areas with like decor and style.

April is National Decorating Month but that’s not the only reason to shop for wall art in the days ahead. There are a lot of funky holidays scheduled to take place throughout the month and we’ve got several framed art pieces that can help you celebrate them in style. We’ve picked out five unusual observances to help you get started:  

Straw Hat Month

It’s Straw Hat Month. So why not celebrate it by decorating your home or business with paintings featuring people wearing straw hats? Famous artists Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Pierre-Auguste Renoir have created several paintings that would blend into a straw hat theme. There are also full color photos that celebrate straw hats too. They include Susie Boyer’s Working Day is Done and Walter Bibikow/Danita Delimont’s Cuba, Sancti Spiritus, Trinidad, Cuban Straw Hats.

National Kite Month

National Kite Month is another reason to redecorate in April. Try setting up a display wall featuring artist Jack Sorenson’s Flying Kite with Friends or Paul Brent’s series, Beach Kites. Brent’s series would pair perfectly with artist Katharine Gracey’s Beach Houses collection or Michael Paraskevas’ My Seven Aunts. They feature flying kites too.

International Guitar Month

International Guitar Month also falls in April. That said, you might want to hang a series of guitar themed artwork throughout the house. The list of artists whose work contains great images of guitars includes, but doesn’t end with Pablo Picasso, Tang Ling, Edouard Manet, Adam Perez and Deann Hebert. Of those five, Tang Ling’s collection includes a series of black and white photos taken at a guitar factory. In our opinion, they’d look fantastic on display in a music room.

Car Care Month

Fans of vintage motor vehicles rejoice! It’s officially Car Care Month as well. So hang up framed photos of classic cars, racing posters, race drivers and more. We’ve got more than 700 pieces of car art to choose from, including works by artists Antonio Massa, Scott Westmoreland and Keith Mallett.

National Card and Letter Writing Month

Lastly, April is prime time to pay homage to the lost art of letter writing. Yes, it’s actually National Card and Letter Writing Month. Celebrate it with movie posters like Letters to Juliet or contemporary prints like Wild Apple Studio’s Letters Series. Other artists who’ve creating pictures featuring letters are Deam Millman, Albert Ludovici, Cristin Atria and Alma Lee.

If you have any questions about purchasing artwork that fits right in with these and any number of April’s funky holidays, please contact us!