Martin Luther King, Jr., a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement, preached peace in the face of brutality and died a violent death at the age of 39. His methods, shared by Mahatma Gandhi and other well-known leaders, have been praised long after his death, and he lives on through his quotes. Color your living room with the words of a great man who continues to influence millions.

These art prints evoke a sense of hope and security, even through less vibrant colors like black and white. Although simple, they remind us that the words are the focal point by refraining from using graphics that can distract from them. This provides a calming contrast to more colorful decorations in your living room. If there aren’t many other decorations, it emphasizes the minimalism in a very classy way. Martin Luther King art prints fit in just about anywhere, no matter the environment.

Just Words

Some of the most bare bones art can be the most potent. Veruca Salt’s “Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate” proves this with black, cursive-like scripts against a plain white background. Featuring only four lines of text, it offers a quote that’s easy to remember. Capitalizing the word “LOVE”’ creates a focal point near the bottom center, and it also drives home the point of the quote and reminds us of how much power love really has. This is a great print to hang in the living room to bring your family together. Family love can turn into love for your fellow man for the people who live alone. “Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate” inspires warmth and simple goodness through its minimalistic approach.

This approach is repeated for Veruca Salt’s “You Have to Keep Moving Forward – Martin Luther King Jr,” which sets King's words in a variety of texts (most frequently block text) against a dark gray background. Using large letters that take up the entire space of the poster, it is easily readable. Capitalized verbs accentuate the importance of actions, while the word “forward” is italicized to create a forward slant. Different words are bolded to add emphasis.

Words And Simple Graphics

Taylor Greene’s “Martin” uses large capitalized white print over a generic silhouette. Rather than taking away from the text, the graphic enhances it, giving King’s words an ideological context by placing it within a person’s head. That it isn’t Martin Luther King’s head isn’t a problem: rather, it echoes the belief that his approaches are universal and that anyone can benefit from using them. With this print in their living areas people can challenge themselves to put King’s ideas into practice and bring him back to life through the realization of his ideas.

Martin Luther King, Jr. art prints can bring hope and positive energy to people’s homes and provide constant motivation to love one another and work for a better future. Treat yourself to a happier life by hanging Martin Luther King’s words on your wall.

September’s return marks the kickoff of several holidays, including National Piano Month. The holiday was brought about to honor the instrument’s 300+ year history and those who knew how to harness its transformational power. Examples include men like Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Bach. But one doesn’t have to be a fan of Bach or Joseph Bohm to celebrate the month’s arrival. There are easier ways, including hanging piano art.

Piano art celebrates all aspects of the instrument and those associated with it. For instance, there are prints by Alfred Gockel, Hakimipour-Ritter, Steven Johnson, Michel Ditlove, Susan Osborne and others that focus on piano keys. Piano key art falls in several general categories, including but not restricted to:

·                                  Contemporary Piano Key Art

·                                  Black & White Piano Key Photography

·                                  Sepia Toned Piano Key Photography

·                                  Piano Key Pop Art

 Other artists, like Nikolai Rimsky and Foxwell, prefer to show the entire piano in its natural surroundings. As such, there are holiday prints available in popular categories like realism, surrealism, impressionist, romanticism, neoclassical and minimalist. It is also good to mention that not all examples of piano art include people. So they allow viewers to project themselves into the paintings quite easily.

People looking to fill their homes or businesses with piano art in time for the fall holiday should consider keeping the following tips in mind:

·                                  Choose a secondary theme to help add cohesiveness to the wall art display. For example, choose cool blue toned accessories to accompany a jazz piano art grouping or select black frames to go with piano key prints.

·                                  Position the piano art in a way that evokes mental images of the instrument, famous composers and musical scores. For instance, it would be appropriate to hang piano art by Pierre-Auguste Renoir next to sculptures of classical pianists from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Pianists that come to our minds are Adele aus der Ohe and her teacher, Franz Liszt.

Ever since the creation of the first camera in the 1800’s the new art form of photography has been rapidly growing in popularity. Once a cumbersome and difficult device to use, camera’s have advanced well beyond their original design and purpose. Photography has given way to allowing artists to capture real life instances and things that gather and evoke just as much emotion, if not more so, that paintings can produce. Photography is not limited to a canvas, as it opens up the possibilities of capturing the world as it is, documenting historical events, and offering human reflection as a picture is worth a thousand words.

Captures The World As It Is

Photography captures the wonder and beauty of the world and offers it to everyone to experience and see. World wide traveling photographers offer windows into exciting new places and environments by shrinking the world and making it more accessible. Ansel Adams was known for photographing the natural wonders of the United States in breath taking photographs that pull the viewer right into the scenery of winding canyons, as in his stunning black and white nature photograph, “Canyon de Chelly National Monument.” Wildlife photographs like Ron D’Raine’s endearing photo of two Giraffes entitled “Makulu” captures the tender heartedness of the animal kingdom.

Tropical Sunset

Documents Historical Events

Photography has aided in capturing some of the most profound moments in history so that those who may not have been able to experience that moment may see for themselves the historical gravity of the time. One of the most famous photographs ever taken, Charles C. Ebbets photo, “Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper, c.1932,” forever stiles a moment in time, as construction workers take a lunch break from atop the unfinished Rockefeller Center, their feet dangling over the city of New York far below during the Great Depression. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential and inspiring men in history, and his speeches were captured on film like in the black and white photograph “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speaking (#8)”.  There are so many more important and breathtaking historical photographs that inspire and evoke change.

New York Firefighters/Ground Zero

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

As cliché of a saying as it is, photography produces pictures that raise question and wonder about the movement and found within a photograph. Photography has documented the human condition in its rawest and purest form. Captured in a hotel room, the scene backlit through bright curtained windows, the photograph “John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy” by Hank Wlaker, conveys the late President sitting on the edge of a bed across from Robert F. Kennedy, both shrouded in the moody dimness of a shadow. The photograph, “Hot Italian Pizza,” by artist unknown, is a beautiful representation of humanity, as an Italian pizza shop owner is captured through the neon lit and advertised window of his pizza parlor, a young woman looking over his shoulder as he works. The collection of black and white photographs is certainly worth a thousand words.

Hot Italian Pizza

It is clear that photography is a vast and encompassing art form. It has no limitations, capturing some of the most breathtaking scenery and wildlife from around the world, to documenting key scenes from important events in history. The greatest part though, is that each picture  is worth a thousands words and allows for endless wonder and interpretation to abound. No matter what style of photography you prefer, there is sure to be a photograph that you will want to proudly display.

 Scenic artwork has been around for centuries and is a popular subject amongst artists and buyers. Regardless of the location, season, or lack of activity, this art subject never grows old.  Scenic art shows the beauty of nature through the perspective of the artist creating the piece. The places we pass everyday and don't even look twice at comes alive when put into art. These pieces make great decor for offices and bedrooms, they bring a peaceful feel to the room.

The Brain and Nature

It is a well-known fact that a natural environment promotes positive emotions.  Nature is non judgmental, always perfectly balanced, and as pure as a newborn baby.  While our lives evolve into the fast-paced technical world, it is soothing to know that some things never change.  Scenic art almost feels like going home again, before the craziness of adulthood began.

Bring Back Memories

Memories often have a lot to do with scenic painting selection.  Childhood visits to the beach or mountains can tap into that buried subconscious and open the senses of sounds, smells, and touch. Personal to individual tastes, scenes that recreate the past deliver peace in quiet, private areas, like bedrooms or dens.

Aesthetic Appeal with Changing Seasons

Many artists are able to capture the vivid colors and feel of spring, summer, fall and winter.  Select a favorite style and redecorate living areas with appropriate seasons.  William Vanscoy, for instance, is an artist that weaves emotion into nature, making visitors stop and listen to their heart and soul.  Intriguing scenes of different seasons make these paintings perfect in living areas.

Kitchen Atmosphere

Everyone loves the comforting feel of a cozy kitchen.  Fruit and flower still life is not a necessity in bringing a natural goodness to this popular room.  Artist Diane Romanello brings an uplifting spirit of friendship in her natural exhibit of 'Among Friends I' for spring and summer, while Stephen Lyman is spectacular with the winter scene 'A Walk in the Woods.' 

Scenic artwork is the perfect touch to the decor in any room of your home. The colors range from black and white to earth tones to bright colors. This makes it easy to find a scenic art print to match your color scheme. Find the right emotion for each season with perfect paintings or prints. Contact Us to discover your own satisfying scenes of nature and display them proudly.

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.

Showing your love for someone special during Couples Appreciation Month doesn't have to include fattening foods, overpowering perfumes and expensive flowers that eventually wilt and die. There is a better option, love art. Love art comes in different forms to match the personalities of those you appreciate the most. For instance, there are heart paintings, romantic art and love prints to choose from at our gallery. Created by a variety of accomplished artists, they’d fit into a wide array of interior designs too. Let’s take contemporary interiors and pop art fans as examples. They may enjoy art by Roy Lichtenstein.

Roy Lichtenstein’s artwork often features comic book characters kissing or pining away for a loved one. His romantic yet contemporary scenes may be placed on to canvas, framed or laminated to suit your loved one’s design sensibilities. We've even heard of couples who display the comic book lovers alongside of memory boxes filled with souvenirs of their first date, engagement or wedding.

Word art also tends to be quite popular among Couples Appreciation Month celebrants.

This is especially the case with prints that include romantic poems or sayings. Artist Louise Carey has several pieces of art that fall into that category. The sayings that she uses in her artwork often talk about unending love, true happiness and friendship. They tend to have a contemporary, youthful vibe that many people adore. Those that prefer a more mature feel to their artwork may prefer prints by artist Bonnie Mohr instead. Her paintings include complete romantic poems and verses that touch on issues like fate, spiritual love, marriage, new beginnings and the joy found in sharing life’s journey with another.

Those are just a few of the art themes lovers will find among our holidays collection.

If former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln were still walking this earth, he’d be turning a whopping 206 years old this past February and we can’t imagine what that would be like for him. However, what we can imagine is how wonderful it would be to walk into a display area during this month’s Presidential holidays that’s filled with images from American history. The former 16th President’s image could be at the center of the display.

Over the years, there have been many paintings and photos taken in Abraham Lincoln’s memory. The list of artists whose work has spotlighted the former world leader at one time or another includes George Henry Story, Howard Pyle, Nathaniel Currier, Jason Lauritis and Mark Hampton. Some of the artists, like Howard Pyle, also created a great deal of art devoted to the Civil War and American history in general.

Others, like Jason Laurits, choose to take a quirky approach towards the former U.S. President. For example, he created a print featuring Lincoln wearing roller blades. It would pair well with contemporary pieces like Abraham Lincoln’s Face Against Colored Backgrounds, Abraham Lincoln: Honesty, Freedom, Equality, Tails and Heads. We should also mention that the artists who created the first two pieces are unknown. The third and fourth prints were created by artist David Bromstad. They are part of a two-piece series that showcases American currency.

Politics aside, Lincoln was such an interesting figure in his own right. As such, his image could be paired with artwork associated with his personal life. For instance, it is well-known that he loved his pets and often let them eat at the dinner table with him. He was also very religious, enjoyed wrestling and even participated in a séance at one time in his life. So a display created in his honor could include pictures of cats, dogs, wrestlers and the reprint of a 1800s Poster Advertising a Psychic Performance by the Davenport Brothers.

To find the framed artwork mentioned above and other pieces of Americana that could be used to celebrate Presidential holidays, please contact us at the Fulcrum Gallery.

Black & white photography is timeless. It adds depth to its surroundings and can bring an instant element of class and elegance to a room. However some people shy away from the idea of using black and white photos for decorating, afraid it will look dull and lack creativity. This could not be more untrue. Black and white is the perfect medium for decorating with pictures in any room in the house; even a child’s bedroom. The key is in knowing how to use it.

 Tips for decorating with black and white photography:

Tip 1: Black and white photos are ideal for decorating brightly colored walls because they won’t conflict with the surrounding color. Use the same frame style and color for every picture to prevent competition, while drawing one’s eye to the subject of the photo. Solid black or white frames with white matting work well with vivid backgrounds. 

Tip 2: Adorn a child’s room with black and white prints of a subject they love. Baseball fans will be thrilled by the variety of vintage shots featuring famous sluggers and well-known stadiums. For a child who adores animals, black and white pictures of puppies, kittens or horses play well against pale blue or pink walls. 

Tip 3: Teenage girls enjoy themed decor such as Paris, glamorous movie stars or dance. Paired in brightly colored or black frames against white or cream walls, black and white photos will blend in beautifully with her inspiration.

Tip 4: Neutral colored walls in a living space form the perfect pallet for black and white art. Photos of the beach or ocean framed in distressed white, light blue or natural wood give a special touch to a coastal themed room. A more modern and chic look can be achieved by combining photos in both black and white frames in a beige room with white trim and shelves and black wrought iron wall hangings, candle holders and lamps.  

Black and white photos can be dramatic, playful, elegant or glamorous, bringing tremendous beauty and infinite possibilities for decorating to a home. Consider the possibilities in your own home and then browse our large selection of black and white photography.  

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.

Christopher Bliss's photography is a great addition to any decor style. Growing up in the beautiful city of New York, Bliss's work reflects the architecture and skylines he grew up with. His work is mostly in black and white making the contrast able to work with most decor. The architecture and contrast of the photographs are striking and subtle allowing them to work in any environment. Architecture photographs are able to play off the light in any room, naturally or artificial lit. 

You have your choice of scenery in color or black and white and of architecture or nature, and even your choice of city. From a bedroom sanctuary to the busy kitchen, his work can fit right in. If you adore the city or nature, he has art to suit your home. Christopher Bliss finds inspiration in the invigorating city, and you can too with his photographs.

Originally trained as a concert pianist at the Vienna Academy of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Southern California, and now turned photographer, Christopher Bliss's art is truly beautiful. Christopher Bliss Photography reflects this as the photographs are as detailed as a piece of beautiful music.

His photography is held in high esteem and he is often sought after. His work can be found in several galleries and even in two separate photography books, one of which is on the beautiful New York City. Some of his work is even in the permanent collection of the Museum of the City of New York.