We already said hello to 2016, but not many people have ushered in the colors of the year, serenity blue and rose quartz. In a world of political turmoil and everyday stress, these pastel colors can calm us down and speak peace into our lives. Now is the best time to incorporate the colors of the year into your home décor. Moreover, this is an ideal year for colors because there is not just one but two colors of the year for 2016!

Tranquility And Warmth

Rose quartz and serenity blue were chosen as 2016’s colors of the year for the feelings of tranquility and warmth that they evoke. We can all use a little more peace in our lives, so serenity blue is a timely color for the year. If the winter blues are getting to you, a touch of rose quartz will cheer you right up. Add these colors to your home décor for a greater sense of order and calmness. If you are looking forward to spring, or if you are looking for a piece of art that majors on the colors of the year, check out Sung Kim’s “Covered Bridge in Spring.” Blossoming trees highlight shades of rose in the distant Blue Mountains, and a silver-blue river flows peacefully under a covered wooden bridge.

A Duo For Relaxation

It is a bit unusual for there to be two colors of the year, but when you look at rose quartz and serenity blue together you will understand why they were chosen as a duo. These two colors complement each other perfectly, and together they accomplish more than they could alone. This is illustrated in Klaus Strubel’s “Paradise Dawn,” a glorious painting of a beachside sunrise. Swirls of rose quartz and serenity blue invite you to relax in the Adirondack chairs at the water’s edge and soak in the beauty of nature.

Accent With Frames

Since the colors of the year are so light, it is best to accentuate them with a frame. A gold frame will draw attention to the artwork and can be added to either of the pictures mentioned above as well as most of the artwork available from Fulcrum Gallery. You may also consider a black frame for a sleek finishing touch.

Color Pairings

What other shades can be paired with the colors of the year? Serenity blue stands out against dark blue and black; it can also be used with white or dark grey. For a different flavor, rose quartz can be matched with various shades of pink and red. Both serenity blue and rose quartz can be used with other pastel shades, such as green and yellow. Of course, the color combinations you choose will affect the mood of your environment. For example, a room done in pale yellow with the colors of the year will have a light and cheery air, while a room with white and pastel blue will seem nautical, and a room that adds the colors of the year to black or navy blue will feel serious and professional. Any of these combinations is magnificent; the choice is up to you and what atmosphere you want to create. Have fun and be creative with serenity blue and rose quartz this year!

Valentine’s Day, a holiday with a long history and great contemporary relevance, is just around the corner! February 14^th is celebrated as love day, but it was not always a holiday like it is today. Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? Traditionally, people send valentines, or love notes, to show their love at this time of the year, but you can also show love by changing your décor at home or in your work place. Artwork is a perfect way to celebrate this holiday that dates back to the early centuries A.D.

About Valentine’s Day

In ancient Rome, February was the month for the fertility festival called Lupercalia. At some point around the third century A.D., the Christian church began to observe Valentine’s Day, either as a way to Christianize the pagan Roman festival, or to commemorate the martyr Saint Valentine. The history is murky, but eventually February 14^th was established as the day of love, which we still celebrate today.

Inspirational Decorations

February 14^th is recognized as a special day for love, but it is by no means the only day for love. You can get your décor ready for the special day by changing your wall art. At Fulcrum Gallery, you can find dozens of inspirational posters on the theme of love. “Love Conquers All Things” and “Love Is All You Need” are just two of the beautiful sayings you can find here.

Birds

One poster you may like in particular is Alan Pelletier’s “Birds on a Wire – Love,” an evocative yet simple depiction of two birds together in space, balanced on a wire supporting the letters L O V E.  Birds are a fitting motif for Valentine’s Day because of the historic association between romance and birds. During the Middle Ages, when the celebration of Valentine’s Day was developing into its modern form, February was thought of as birds’ mating season, hence the connection between birds and romance. If the birds like February, it must be a romantic month!

Romantic

If you feel that there is nothing more romantic than Paris, Fulcrum Gallery has plenty of selections in its Romantic Art section. From prints called “Paris Romance” to Gustav Klimt’s well-known “The Kiss,” there is something sure to please your loved one this Valentine’s Day. If you or your loved one is more of a daredevil, or if you are a fan of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, the black and white “Speedbound Red” may be what you are looking for.

Lips, Kissing

Decorations are great way to get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day, and Fulcrum Gallery also has lips- and kissing-themed posters in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. These posters can be given as gifts, but using them as decorations leading up to Valentine’s Day can make the holiday even more special.

It’s All About Love

We love people every day, but Valentine’s Day gives us a special opportunity to make people feel loved. Let’s get into the spirit and make the most of the holiday!

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.

It has been said that finding a gift for a man is hard to do. That may be true, however, if you find creative ways to give, a lasting treasure can be found in the most obscure place. Men appreciate art in many ways, they adorn their offices, garages and man caves with art, not to mention their houses with works as complex and compelling as they are. The many ways that make a man tick are right in front of your eyes and can be as easy as buying him that six pack of beer. Don't shy away from a good art piece.

Sports Gifts

Men and sports are like bars and beer, they just go together, and are inseparable. Artwork is a solid gift that they he treasure for years to come. Our golf collection will land any gift giver on the good side of their man, and works by Ron Jenkins will make him dream of that day on the links far away from all his troubles and cares, “Azalea Hole Golf Course” will put him into a state of peace and relaxation to last all day. Go ahead and hit a hole in one with this fine gift.

Car Art

While your man may not be the next Henry Ford, there is no denying that he loves his car, and other cars. From the classics of days gone by to futuristic cars. Cars and road trips it is in his DNA and Dan Stambler's “Route 66 Diner” combines both love affairs with stunning beauty. Find some of the greatest car paintings to help the man in your life celebrate the genre. What a wonderful gift for your man. So drive home that gift with a framed work of art showcasing this American love.

Gifts To Fit That Theme

Gifts for him can be easy if you find that theme that runs through is life, is he into boating, skiing, hunting, finding that fit will make the search for the gift of art easy. And one that he will love. If you think he has everything already, then a framed picture of fine wall art will hit the spot, and a quality pic will be the final touch on that space he covets so much. In such fine photos as “Yacht Reliance at Full Sail, 1903”.  There are many framing options that can fit all different settings from the garage to the boathouse.

So remember that finding the right gift for him is not as hard as you may think. Many may think that art is not for the man in their lives, or is hard to pick something out for you man, however, that can't be more further from the truth. Find the perfect gift with our holiday gift guides. 

Saying I love you to that special girl in your life is one of the best things you can do. Receiving a gift is a small touch of heaven wrapped in paradise. Whether it is for her birthday, anniversary, or just because you love her. A gift of art will be one that she can cherish for many years to come. It can be anything you can imagine, does she have a love for flowers, birds, or is she into sassy art and cutting edge, you can let your imagination run wild, and know that you gave her something from the heart that will last forever. 

Painting Of Love 

To show your love, give some love, in the form of a special painting or framed art. There are many to choose from, such as “From My Heart I” from Wild Apple Studios. When it comes to showing your love a painting is forever. It can remind her everyday that you love her and miss her when you are away.

A soft bouquet of flowers wrapped in a soft pink sheet of linen paper. Or an exploding set of roses coming from a deep black vase. Those are just some of the ideas you can get from the fine flower art. In Gaetano Art Groups “Dutch Tulips II” the deep grays contrasting with the sharp pink flowers and the light green of the stems, makes this a perfect gift for her to remember how much you love her.

Wild Side Of Her

 Love can be soft and it can be wild, and gifts for her that are wild can make things exhilarating. Conjuring up the thoughts of wild mustangs on the run. Richard Murray can take your breath away, and you can take hers away with a gift of love in “Wild Horses” with a mare and stallion running free in the wild showing their love and passion for each other in full stride. The rich colors and contrasting background will fit any setting.

Dreaming The Day Away

She can dream the day away in relaxation and peace with art that will sweep her away and wrap her in daydreams. Richard Franklin and “Aphrodite's Dream in Gold Foil” would make a wonderful gift of art for her to enjoy. She can dream of the gods and goddesses with this painting as it washes all her troubles away and takes her to a far away place where the god play and the sun shines down.

Finding truly fabulous gifts for her are easy to do and fun, she will be forever in love with this art, and you for bring such joy to her life. Stating your love and devotion with art is like planting a rose or a tree in her honor, because the art piece will only grow more special over time and bring back waves of memories for many years to come. 

Halloween is celebrated in October, on the 31^st of the month. It is rich in tradition and fun. The modern way to celebrate this holiday is to dress up in costumes and have parties or “trick or treat” throughout the neighborhood, door to door seeking sweet treats. All Hallows' Eve preceded All Saint's Day in Christian religion. But like many religious holidays are celebrated by many others and transcends religion these days.

HalloweenPainting

Paintings showing festive Halloween scenes are the perfect way to decorate for this holiday, for many centuries folks have been decorating their houses with scary and frightful things, and wall art is a good place to start, it can set the mood of a room and make the scary come alive.  A great way to show this is through a solid work of art and Halloween art is a great place to start your search, there are wonderful paintings such as “Spooky House” by the MacNeil Studio. At FulcrumGallery.com you will not be disappointed with the quality of art or the layout of the site, with its easy navigation and easy checkout.

Jack O'lantern

Pumpkins carved up turn into scary Jack O'Lantern's. Why get your hands all messy? When a tasteful yet equally scary piece of art will do the trick. Or use a fine art print as your inspiration to create your own real three D art. Such pieces on this page jack o'lantern art will stand the test of time. “Ghostly Gourds” by Norman Rockwell, is a time-honored classic that would be good year round. Tastefully place that piece in your kitchen or hall and make year round memories of this wonderful fall holiday. Halloween can remain a state of mind year round with these reminders.

Halloween by William Vanderdasson

Pumpkin Art

Pumpkins are synonymous with Halloween but they are also synonymous with the fall season. What great artwork there in pumpkin art. Harvest time is a wonderful time of year the sky is blue and the sun is warm during the day, and cool at night, picking pumpkins in the field before the first frost hits. “Grandpa's Pumpkins” from Jack Sorenson with the little grandson and his dog eagerly looking on with anticipation while grandpa collects the field’s bounty. Pumpkin art is a perfect way to celebrate this amazing time of the year. Make great memories by adding these quality works of art to your collection. You will be amazed by how impressed your friends and family will by these paintings. You can tell them where you got them and how they can get great quality works of art for themselves.

Kittens

Halloween is a special time of year for kids and adults alike, dressing up and trick or treating, decorating the house in scary fashion and enjoying a good scare or two. Harvesting the fields spoils and getting ready for a long cold winter are some of the many memorable times. Gorgeous artwork is as special and heartwarming accent to any decor.

“No Place to fall” is a beautiful, lively photograph taken by none other than William Vanscoy. Vanscoy believed that what was being expressed made photographic art rather than what was being seen. He merged together traditional and digital photographic landscape because he believed it was important to capture the beauty of life and nature.

Style Of Art

William Vanscoy did a wonderful job with making this piece one that is well sought-after. By capturing timeless and detailed scenery, his photographs look as if you are looking at the scenery in person rather than a photograph. Vanscoy uses digital capture and extensive digital post-production to make his photographs. Sometimes he combines multiple photographs to create one realistic image. “No Place to fall” made it clear that Vanscoy did not need to describe or give further explanation to his pieces; he rather lets them speak for themselves. This gives the viewer a wide range of imagination to explore while looking at this photograph. This piece creates a sense of:

·         Wonder.

·         Serenity.

·         Beauty.

·         Self-expression.

This photograph is not explained which leaves it up to you to interpret the meaning.

Accenting The Piece

“No Place to fall” is a very bold piece. Although it is a big enough statement on its own, it can easily use small accents when hanging in a room. This piece could go well in any type of room but would work very well in a living room. By using beige, brown or dark tan colors around the room, this photograph will pop even more. Making this the focal point of the room would be a bold choice and really pay off when your guests can’t take their eyes off of it. Pairing the photograph with a beige colored picture frame would contrast with the darkness of the painting and bring out the details of the work.

Unintentional Popularity 

Many owners of this piece describe it as “beautiful” and that is exactly what it is. Vanscoy captured this scenery perfectly. Some elements that reflect beauty are:

·         The sun shining through the trees.

·         The balance between light and dark.

·         The extreme detail in the photograph that Vanscoy captured.

·         The aspect of serenity.

Because of these elements, there is no question why this piece is so popular. Why wouldn’t you want to have this calming and beautiful photograph in your house or place of work? The only way to explain this photograph to a viewer would be to call it a “statement piece.” You could add other photographs around that complement “No Place to fall” but it could also work well standing on its own. This is such a bold piece; you could have bare beige colored walls with this, as your only hanging piece and the room would be beautiful.

Although the piece could be interpreted many different ways, one thing we can all agree on is the beauty is exudes. With the contrast, realism and serenity of this photograph, it’s no wonder it’s so popular and could work so well in many different settings.

As the hot summer months start to wind down and you hang up your swimsuit and sunhat it can be sad to say goodbye to the sunny beach vibes of summer. But who says summer has to end once the leaves begin to change and the weather cools off? Keep the sun and fun of summer going strong through out the changing seasons with some warm summer prints. Summer art is perfect for a tropical themed bathroom or a restful beachy guest room. No matter where you hang it, every time you gaze at them, it’ll be like you’re lying out on the beach in Hawaii sipping on a refreshing Mai Tai and feeling the warm sandy grains between your toes.

Tropical Beachside Tranquility 

Nothing transports you back to the relaxing feelings of summer quite like a serene view of a tropical paradise. Artists capture all of the warmth and relaxing vibes from tranquil paintings of beachside scenery. Artists capture both realistic scenes and create a dreamy view of paradise with vintage appeal. Feel like you’re lounging around in a gently swinging hammock surrounded by a tropical oasis all year long with Joe Sambataro’s painting “Summer Breeze.” In a very different style, American Flat’s fun vintage styled travel poster entitled “Summer Loving” jet sets you to the Hawaiian tropics, capturing the scene of a couple paddle boarding in the crystal blue waters of a private cove. These paintings make for great additions in the bathroom or guest room that will transport you to an island getaway every time you gaze upon them.

 Chilling Zone by Klaus C. Dietrich

Classic Summer Scenes

Summer art doesn’t have to be all about the beach and artists do this through capturing a variety of summer scenes. Classical paintings that evoke the feelings of summer from a breezy picnic to a romp through a field of sunflowers can be appreciated all year round.  “Summer Breeze” by Richard Judson, is an impressionistic styled painting of a woman in a white dress carrying a parasol, a warm breeze ruffling her hair as she turns to look back at her young companion. “Summer Blooms” by David Short captures a rustic Tucson scene of rows of cheerful yellow sunflowers, a bright blue sky hanging overhead, and a white Tuscan farmhouse sitting in the background. With bright and vivid colors, these summery paintings are perfect all year round.

Summer Blooms by David Short  

Bright Artwork for Every Season

Fall and winter are beautiful seasons, but sometimes the dreary cold weather can get you down. Summery artwork can help beat the winter blues. Featuring bright and vivid scenery, you’ll feel the hot summer sun beating down and warming you up even when it’s a rainy downpour or a blizzard outside. The clusters of red wild flowers blossoming up from the wispy grass in a field in Ian Cook’s painting “Summer Begins,” is like summer breaking through the cloudy skies on a cold winters day. Lift your spirits and listen to a tree full of bright birds twitter in the summer sun with William Vanderdasson’s painting “Summer Friends.”

Summer Begins by Ian Cook

Sepia tones weren’t always looked at as part of up-to-the-minute, design schemes. They started out as a necessity. People harvested cuttlefish from the sea and used some of them to make ink. Over the years, the ink was used to create many different things. As such, it eventually found its way into the hands of photographers. They added it to their work in the hopes of increasing visual interest and longevity. Their efforts paid off and sepia toned pictures became very popular. Today, people are still using them to decorate their homes and offices. Although there are no framing or matting rules, most people choose to keep the overall look down-to-earth. Thus, sepia photography is often paired with frames and matting that matches or compliments the images’ natural tones. Also, people no longer feel the need to restrict their displays to images of the past.

Golden Gate Bridge II

Alan Blaustein

Consequently, sepia tones are creeping into contemporary artists’ photos too. For example, it is common to find them in collections of wildlife photography by artists like Susann Parker, Barry Hart, Monte Nagler, Tony Stromberg and Wendy Caro.  It is also seen in bodies of work that focus on flowers, trees, architecture, waterscapes, transportation, business and more. So modern minded decorators have no shortage of geometric shapes, tones, textures and themes to work with when it comes to sepia photography. Of course the tones are still used to recreate the feel of bygone days as well. The list of fine examples includes Al Capone’s Wanted Poster, Tennis on the Wings, Vintage Football, Rosie O’Grady Firetruck and Jim Christensen’s Train Series. Each would certainly have a place in homes or businesses with a penchant for nostalgia. For instance, the Tennis on the Wings photo might look good next to model planes, antique altimeters or vintage rackets.

Tides and Waves

Alan Majchrowicz

From bathroom to bonus room,  Michael Mullan's art prints are perfect for adding creative cheer and inspiration to rooms in your home. Mullan grew up in Chicago and currently lives in Woodstock, Vermont. He works as a graphic designer and illustrator and he enjoys playing the violin and guitar. Michael Mullan went to Millikin University and earned a BFA in graphic design. He also has a MFA in illustration from SCAD. Mullan's creations are published as wall art. His art is also displayed on fabrics, dishware and more. These can be found in quality stores such as Bloomingdale's, Hallmark, and Target. Mullan's art has a special way of speaking across generations and lifestyles by adding modern flare to classic themes. To read more about Michael Mullan's accomplishments, click here.

Enhance the creative cheer of the most necessary room in your house with Dancing Bubbles I. This is an art print of a bathroom sink full of water with bubbles in the background. The print is made of light blues, beiges and browns. Hanging this art print in your bathroom not only adds a complimentary decor, but also brings a relaxing and soothing feel. This print sets the mood of the bathroom because it has words like "calming" and "soothing". Dancing Bubbles I features a simple, fun print with gorgeous earthy hues of blues and browns for relaxing in your bathroom. 

Spice up your kitchen decor with splashes of deep reddish brown. Many of Michael Mullan's kitchen art prints include phrases like "A cup of love" and "Cooking is love made edible". These prints will bring love into the room and make it more family friendly. Most of Mullan's kitchen prints use red, black, white and light blue. The simplistic colors of these pieces make it easier to one to match your kitchen and choose a finish as well.  

With the wonderful hues of light sage and aqua, Mullan's prints like the Night Owl II print is perfect for children's rooms and sun rooms. This art print shows a owl perched on a tree branch under the moon. Right next to the owl's feet in small letters are the words "GOODNIGHT SLEEP TIGHT". The colors are light and compliment each other.