Reproductions of Dutch post-Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh's paintings are some of the most sought-after for decoration--and for good reason. 

Van Gogh, who lived from 1853-1890, has inspired every generation of artists who have come after him, and the echoes of his work can be found not only in paintings but in other forms of art. The Expressionist movement is considered one of his "children" (he had no flesh-and-blood progeny) and without Van Gogh's influence, modern art today would be very different. But it's not only this venerable history that makes him popular today. 

The use of color in his paintings--in particular, his yellow and blue period work--make them naturally attractive for home decor.  Do you have a room that needs brightening? Even a windowless space feels sunny with a print of Van Gogh's Sunflowers on Gold or Les Irises. 

Bedrooms or spaces you're looking to infuse with a peaceful feeling may do well with one of Van Gogh's Starry Night works--and he painted several versions, so you have plenty of choice. The Siesta, a painting of workers having a noontime nap, is another classic option for restful places. 

Would you like to freshen up your dining area or kitchen with some art? Van Gogh's body of work is, at more than 900 paintings, voluminous, and he painted several pictures of cafes, restaurants and food-related topics.  The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles, At Night c. 1888 is a beautiful depiction of a late-night cafe, while Still Life with Blue Enamel Coffeepot, Earthenware and Fruit, is a gorgeous rendition of a breakfast table.  

Readers may appreciate a library hung with Van Gogh's book-related paintings. Van Gogh worked for a time as a librarian, and perhaps that's why he painted The Yellow Books, The Novel Reader, and Still Life with Oleander. 

Whichever room in your home or office you're seeking to decorate, a Van Gogh painting is never a bad choice. To browse our large selection of Van Gogh's paintings and other artwork, please visit our Web site, http://fulcrumgallery.com. 

If you are like most people, you may often struggle to find the ideal gift for a friend or family member. No matter how much thought you give it, you struggle to come up with an original idea and end up giving a gift card or something equally anonymous. Well, have you ever considered giving the gift of framed art ?

It's not as daunting as you may think. There's no need to dress up and head to a swanky upscale gallery or auction house. At Fulcrumgallery.com we have a huge array of fine quality framed prints to match any taste. Perhaps you have an Uncle or Grandfather who would love to see the wall of his den displaying a photograph of Joe DiMaggio sliding into third base or the iconic picture of U.S. Marines raising the Stars and Stripes over Iwo Jima? These and many other amazing photography prints can be shipped usually the same day.

If you know someone with more classical tastes, we have a wide range of classical masters, such as Johannes Vermeers' "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Or perhaps for the modernist, Gustav Klimts' "The Kiss" would be more appropriate, or even some Pop Art, such as Andy Warhols' Campbells Soup Can or Roy Lichtensteins' "Ohhh Alright"?

Whatever the taste of your intended recipient, whatever the occasion or whatever the room, we are so convinced that we have the perfect framed art gift for them, that if you aren't completely satisfied, simply return it to us within 30 days of purchase and we will give you a full refund or replacement, less shipping charges .

Once you've found the perfect framed painting or photograph to complement your home or office decor, it's time to think about the optimal lighting for it.  A properly lit piece of art will show the artist's intended nuance and won't give off a glare or shine that makes it hard to view comfortably. 

Where you place the framed art in your home or office will play some part in the lighting, of course. If you have a room with large windows or another source of natural light, then you should also consider what changes that natural light will bring to the artwork at different times of day. Placing your paintings in direct sunlight is not recommended, however, as the UV rays may cause color fading.

Your lighting choices will also depend on the medium of the artwork. Oil paintings, for example, reflect  spectral highlights if a beam of light is pointed directly at the painting, whereas acrylic paintings are far less glossy and can be comfortably lit by a single beam of light.  For oils, you'd do well to think about a broad-based light that is diffused in some way. 

Another twist on the path to good lighting is whether or not your artwork has been framed behind glass. Glass that has not been treated with an anti-reflective coating will be shiny when viewed from different angles, or if catching natural light at different times of day. If you do have a piece of art that is behind reflective glass, you'll need to experiment with your lighting sources to find the best way for that particular piece of art in that particular room. Generally, the DIY Network recommends placing lights at a 30 degree angle to the art, in order to reduce glare. 

It's important to assess the kind of light that is already installed in the room in question, before adding any additional sources for your artwork. Most homes have incandescent bulbs in the fixtures while offices may have fluorescent lighting. If you want to place a painting under fluorescent light, you should be aware that the higher quantity of UV rays in fluorescent light may cause painting colors to fade over time. 

Once you have found the placement and assessed the available light, you can begin to consider different choices for additional lights. 

There are three kinds of lights that are commonly used to illuminate framed artwork:

• "picture" lights
• mantel lights
• track lights

Picture lights are usually small--three inches or less in diameter--and hang above the painting or on the frame. 

Mantel lights are on a shelf ("mantel") under the painting or photograph and point up at it. 

Track lights, usually a series of lights set on a track on the ceiling, are more flexible than the other options, and are ideal if you have several pieces of art in the same room. 

And, if you're still looking for that elusive perfect art piece to decorate your home or office, we offer a variety of styles of framed art. Don't hesitate to contact us.

Whether you most enjoy the simplicity of an unfolding Triumph Tulip, the graceful lines of a Callasilver, or the intricate structures of a Japanese Lantern, you'll be truly amazed by the delicate inner beauty that is revealed in the floral art found in our X-ray Botanicals series by Steven N. Meyers.

"The earliest floral radiographs were created over 70 years ago, and even today there are only a few radiographic artists in the world. It is my intention to keep the art form alive with new and exciting images and I am committed to seeking out interesting subjects in nature."

-- Steven N. Meyers

The combination of scientific technique and true artistry of these exquisite museum-quality prints will astound art-lovers and casual observers alike.

"Steven N. Meyers is not a botanist, but his photographs might suggest otherwise. Trained as a medical X-ray technologist, Meyers has applied radiography techniques to botanic specimens, capturing the details, and structural relationships of a plant that are otherwise unseen."

-- From Anna Laurent of GardenDesign

And from Merrill C. Raikes, MD:

"The composition, form, drama of lighting, and overall balance make an image powerful and pleasing. A mood is created, evoking a feeling of beauty. With the x-ray print, the viewer becomes excited about the exacting detail and depiction of delicacy and complexity of structure. The complicated framework upon which the whole is spread becomes lush and evocative." 

-- From "Floral Radiography: Using X rays to Create Fine Art," RadioGraphics, Merrill C. Raikes, MD 

With over 160 fine-art prints in our X-ray Botanicals series, there is sure to be something for everyone -- and this fascinating collection isn't limited to floral art alone, it also features breathtaking images of the beach and intriguing sea creatures.

Of course, to complement this unique line of floral photography, we offer more traditional forms of trees and contemporary floral art, as well. 

Interior decorators are hailing the comeback of vintage art in homes—if it ever went away. A print, poster or painting that has retained its appeal over the years is a safe bet when adding visual flair to a room. Professionals offer these suggestions for successfully incorporating the vintage into your favorite rooms:

A grouping is superior to a single item. But a hodge-podge is distracting; aim for a unified look, either by style, subject matter, era, or tonal quality.

It doesn’t have to be genuinely old to be vintage. Reproductions serve the valuable function of keeping superior designs alive and in circulation. Also, reproductions greatly increase the choices available to create a pleasing display without breaking the budget. In this respect, it’s interesting to note how many bestselling reproductions were originally advertisements.

Don’t overlook artifacts as wall art. Old tools, keys, locks, windows, and cooking utensils have all been successfully re-purposed as art. The key is scale—giving large objects lots of room—and context: put rusty objects such as outdoor tools in casual rooms or porches. Furthermore, don’t try to clean them up too much! If you wanted to display new-looking tools, they’re available at the hardware store.

Meaningful artifacts are even better. Great-aunt Susie’s lace doilies don’t have to be heirloom quality to look superb mounted and framed. And anything that makes the past personal to us is to be treasured.

Use shadow boxes to display bulky or fragile items. This is especially useful in rooms that require frequent dusting.

Finally, don’t hesitate to display your personal collection of memorabilia. That’s what your living space is all about!

Let Fulcrum Gallery help you find just what you’re looking for. Contact us with your questions today.

Decorating your child's bedroom with children's art requires only a few simple steps to create the perfect decor for your child. Understanding your child's preferences, reviewing the type of furniture in the room and determining one wall to be the focal point will allow you to make the right art choices.

Understanding Preferences

Wall art designed specifically for kids is as varied as the kids themselves. From astronomy to Winnie the Pooh there are photographs, pictures and paintings for many themes. But every child is different and it is important to understand their preferences in both color and content. Age and gender may influence preferences, but don't make assumptions. Ask them what they like and you may be surprised. The little girl who plays with Barbies all day may be dreaming of a room filled with teddy bears. The little boy who loves playing with cars may want a pirate theme. Spend some time browsing through options to get a better feel of what they like. They may not really know themselves yet.

Another factor in choosing the right wall art is the style of the furniture in the room and the overall color theme of the room. Wall art can stand out or blend in, according to your preferences.  For example if the room is decorated in pastels a bold picture will stand out, but a softer painting will blend in. Of course you want to avoid colors that will clash so consider the color of bedding and carpeting as well. The frame that will hold each piece of art is also an important consideration when looking at style.

Style and Color

When you are choosing more than one painting consider how they will work together. It is important to stick with a theme so that artwork on different walls works together. The theme can be around color or subject. For example, the pirate room may also have some art with ocean creatures that have the same color theme as the pirate picture. Another room may have Disney Princess art as the theme, even though each princes has her own set of colors.

Measure First

Before you begin shopping measure all of the walls where you plan to place artwork. When you are considering a purchase make sure you add on extra inches for framing to ensure the art will fit. If you want to have a focal point in a certain place in the room determine which wall first. If the room doesn't have one large wall to use you may not want to choose a focal point until you have chosen the art.

Often the focal point is the largest wall in the room, but it doesn't have to be. If you find the perfect artwork that is smaller, use that as a focal point. The most important aspect of any artwork is the emotion it causes in the people who see it. Of course the people who will see it the most is your family, so make sure you all like the choices made.

For more information on decorating a bedroom with children's art contact us.

Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper, c.1932 by Charles C. Ebbets

This image was taken during the construction of the RCA building in 1932. The photo was taken from the 69th floor, and today, the fact that the men wore no saftety harnesses is daunting, but during the Great Depression of 1932, men were willing to take any job they could find, regardless of the risk.

Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper

FulcrumGallery.com
Circa 10/10/2002

FulcrumGallery.com is the inevitable outcome of a seemingly coincidental series of events which started in its founders, years before we ever met and started a business. Over time, a friendship, an interest in art and decorating, and a strong software development background led to the FulcrumGallery.com that exists today. As the old saying goes, "do what you love, and the money will follow."

Even so, we didn't actually plan to get into this business. As I like to say, it was more of an accident. We didn't sit down and look at the market landscape, deliberate over entry barriers, or consider strengths and weaknesses. In fact, we didn't even intend to be involved in e-commerce in any form at all. FulcrumGallery.com actually started off as a demo website for the software company we founded, Metaverse Corporation. Its purpose was to be an example of how easily a Web site could be updated using Metaverse's Content Management software. While many Content Management companies create a fictitious company for their demonstration Web site, we felt from the beginning that if we were to spend time creating a demonstration Web site, it should have some value on its own. Since we had a deep interest in art, we decided to build an art gallery.

On its launch date, October 10, 2002, the FulcrumGallery.com featured view-only artwork from famous artists. Salvador Dali, one of our personal favorites, was the first featured artist on the site. Since it was so easy to add artwork to the site, we quickly added a page letting visiting artists know they could submit their own artwork for display on the site. First slowly, then more and more frequently, artists started submitting their work. After hearing from several of our artists that they had received referrals from our site resulting in sales of their work, and hearing from art appreciators that they liked the artwork on our site, but were disappointed that there was no way to purchase the work, we decided to make the investment to turn FulcrumGallery.com into an online store and relaunched the site on September 26, 2003.

Initually we had only a couple hundred pieces of art for sale, all original art (mostly oil paintings). It wasn't until early 2004 that we expanded our product offering to a few thousand open edition fine-art prints. In October of 2004, we added our online Frame Shop, enabling customers to preview artwork with various high quality moldings and mats online. Today we offer a selection of over 200,000 works of art, encompassing nearly every imaginable subject matter, and offer a range of value added services such as custom framing and canvas transfers. We ship to thousands of customers each month, worldwide. We are a privately owned company operating in South Brunswick, New Jersey. FulcrumGallery.com exists because of the continued investment of its founders and employees. It is very much a work of blood, sweat, and tears. We take great pride in what we've created. If there's anything we can do to make your experience with us more enjoyable, please let us know.