With Oktoberfest kickoff closing in, we wanted to talk about decorating home bars and entertaining areas with animal art, specifically. It’s a great, subtle way to convey the feel of Old World Germany traditions year round. Of course one of the animals that should be at the center of the decorating scheme is the dachshund.

Dachshunds have been a part of German culture for centuries, and according to the American Kennel Club, their roots go back to the 1600's. At the time, many German huntsmen used the dogs to capture foxes, badgers, rabbits and feral pigs. In later years, they were entered into dachshund races during October celebrations and other competitive events, which continue around the world to this day.

On top of that, there are companies that manufacture dachshund themed wine, beer and bar supplies. Among them are Dachshund Riesling, III Dachshunds Beer and Maitland-Smith. The dog themed bar supplies include brass wine holders, shot glasses, steins, highball glasses, bottle openers, coasters and more. Thus, incorporating wiener dog themed animal art into a home bar or Oktoberfest décor scheme makes sense.

There are two pieces of animal art that must be mentioned when talking about Oktoberfest and home bar decor. One is Stephen Fowler’s Dachshund Wine print and the other is Ryan Fowler’s Dachshund Brewing Co. print. They both resemble vintage advertising signs and prominently feature the dog's image. Because they do have the appearance of commercial art, they could be paired with artist Brian Rubenacker's Dachshund Wieners.

 For a more whimsical look, there is also Tracy Flickinger’s Hot Dog. It features a cartoon image of a female dachshund enjoying a cocktail while dressed in a pink feather boa. Additional decorating options include actual photos of wiener dogs and work by artists like Dean Russo and Serena Bowman. A combination of these prints will make the perfect décor for Oktoberfest as well as everyday décor for your home bar.

 As summer rushes on with all the fun activities, school is not too far off. Back to school season can trigger a flurry of activities – time to get new shoes, new clothes, new lunch bags, new backpacks, and new school supplies. For the educator, a new school year gives you the chance to decorate the room for a new batch of students. For the parents, you may be looking to decorate your child’s room with educational art. If you’re looking to use educational wall art, consider these pointers:

School is Cool

As a teacher, you want school to be enjoyable and fun for the students. You want to create an environment where the student is constantly learning, in obvious ways or not. A classroom that has eye-catching visuals will not only appeal to the students, but it will spark interest in them to learn.  Cleverly chosen posters can make the classroom conducive to learning, even without the child knowing it. From the alphabet poster to the history of the United States, you can make your classroom a learning haven.  And the best teacher ever!

Classroom Chic

If you’re into themes for classrooms and don’t mind changing the decorative art from time to time, you can transform the room to reflect the theme you’ve in mind. Want to take the kids to outer space, introduce them to the magic of math, or the wonder of science? Whatever theme you pick, there’s bound to be a category of educational wall art for it.

Grade Appropriate

An elementary student may enjoy the magical world of make-believe while a middle-school student may need to learn about the rules of self-respect. Age-appropriate educational posters abound. Take your pick – the selection is as varied as your students’ needs.

Your Kid’s Personal Space

Perhaps you’re a parent hoping to jump start your kid’s school year to a great start. You want to create a learning environment for your kid, right in his own space. Choose an eclectic assortment of educational posters or a cohesive theme of ideas. Surrounding your kid with educational posters will foster learning without trying too hard. The visual presence will impart knowledge, stimulate creativity and motivate your child.

Artwork in your home or office is a great mood setter. It can soothe, enliven, brighten and subdue. And, it can inspire. 

If you're looking to some of history's great artistic minds to help you find your own creative spark, you may consider browsing through Salvador Dali's paintings. 

Dali (1904-1989) was a surrealist painter and one of the last century's greatest creatives. Not only was he a lauded and prolific painter, but he aimed to plumb the depths of the human mind--ananalogy he took so far as to show up at an art function wearing a deep-sea diver's costume, which almost suffocated him. 

His artwork, and his eccentric dress and lifestyle, were all a result of his unfettered creativity. Dali sought not only to create great things, but to be recognized for his creations.  “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings,” he once said. 

While the recipe for his own je-ne-sais-quoi was notoriously secret (another quote: “The secret to my influence has always been that it remained secret.”), he did let on about his creative method. He called it “paranoiac-critical activity,” and it basically consisted of him letting his mind meander while he meditated. 

Consider what is probably his most famous painting, The Persistence of Memory. The barren landscape, the melting watches--let your mind wander through it--doesn’t it spark something in you?  Meditative Rose is another of Dali’s great images to ponder. A floating flower, above a desert plain. Does this speak of the human condition? Our potentials and possibilities? 

For others, Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate, A Second Before Awakening, despite having one of the longest titles of famous artwork, is the best place to start their own meditation. Sleep, Mirage, Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man--all of these paintings offer a wealth of images to help your own brain go "outside the box." 

Browse through some of the works by Dali on our website, and find something to spark your own creativity. As Dali himself said, "those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."