One of the hottest decorating trends right now is creating a gallery wall filled with personal photos on canvas. When they are done right, the pictures are vibrant and resemble fantastic, realistic paintings. And perhaps best of all, creating photos on canvas is fun and easy. Here’s a lens cap full of information to help you get started:

Go through your family photo album and select your favorite pictures. Choose wedding photos, pictures of the kids or whatever else strikes your fancy. Just keep in mind that no matter which ones you choose, they’ll need to be converted into JPG, PNG, TIF, BMP or GIF format and sport an optimal DPI of 250. If you absolutely can’t get the photo to have a 250 DPI, you could try using one with a DPI that falls in the 249 to 100 range. We would not recommend going lower than that. Otherwise, the photo’s clarity will decrease.

Consider using photos that show progression through time or panoramic ones that may be stretched out over more than one canvas. They tend to make a heck of a visual impact, especially if the photos on canvas, do not have a frame, and feature wrap around sides. Speaking of which, after settling on a series of photos, you’ll need to decide if you want to frame your photos on canvas or leave them just on canvas.

If you decide to go with a framed one, be sure to choose regular stretcher bars. They tend to be less than an inch thick, which allows for the use of a high quality frame, acid free mat and glazing. There are a handful of glazing options to choose from, including those designed to reduce glare. They are perfect in areas that get a lot of natural sunlight or are illuminated using harsh, overhead lighting.

Thicker bars are best when you want to go with a museum wrap or a very large gallery wrapped picture.When deciding to do a gallery wrap or museum wrap, consider the color of sides that would look best. In our experience, either option will give a gallery wall display a contemporary feel. The colored sides, however, can provide nice contrast between the wall and the frame. So they are a good choice if you want to create a particular pattern to tie into an overall theme.

 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.

At its inception, the pop art movement brought relief to those that had grown tired of works created by abstract expressionists. From there, it went on to become one of the most popular art forms of the rebellious 50's and free-wheeling 60's. Today, designers’ passion for decorating with pop art featuring Andy Warhol helps to keep the love affair going.

Warhol, for those readers that may have not been around during the early pop art movement, was born in the 1920's and died in the winter of 1987. His work was renowned the world over. The colorful, iconic images that he used helped to convey what was going on in pop culture, whether the activity was ultimately controversial or not. As such, his artwork often stirred strong feelings in fans and critics alike.

When decorating with pop art featuring Andy Warhol prints, there are several schools of thought to consider. For instance, some interior designers like to display Warhol’s art in areas that match the picture’s subject matter. Others prefer to put the artwork in unrelated, unexpected spots that help jolt viewers out of their rote activities. There are also those that focus more on the colors and patterns inherent in Warhol’s artwork than the actual subject matter.

Take Andy Warhol’s Knives, c.1981-82 picture as an example. It could be hung up in a contemporary dining room or kitchen that has pops of black and cream coloring throughout. On the other hand, it could also be placed in a study or office with his series of Guns artwork and Skull, 1976 to show a love of mystery novels and forensic sciences.

There are other Andy Warhol prints on the market today that feature the artist’s quotes and images. One of our favorites is the one titled, Think Rich, Look Poor. It would look great on display in a bedroom changing area or walk-in closet. As would prints like It Takes a lot of Work to Figure Out How to Look So Good, Diamond Dust Shoes and Two Female Fashion Figures c. 1960.

To learn more about decorating with pop art featuring Andy Warhol, please contact us today. We have many prints of the artist’s work in stock as well as several other pop art prints of note.

Barn Owl Primitives started out small. Christi, the creator, started out making handcrafted Christmas gifts, specifically hand-painted, door-hanging snowman, when money was tight. Friends and families became her first customers but, then, the word got out…and friends of friends started placing orders as well. Since snowman is rather synonymous with winter, Christi started other ideas that weathered seasons: word art that are perennially appealing. Barn Owl Primitives was born and “signs to decorate your life” becomes her signature motto. Since then, her Barn Owl Primitives has birthed various categories of word art:

Family Rules

It’s true every family has its own rules, but some rules seem to be universal. Short of repeating yourself often, it would be neat to have these rules written out and place in strategic places as reminders. Need help to maintain order in the playroom? Enlist the help of Playroom rules word art – all the gentle reminders conveniently placed on the canvas (or neatly framed) – a great way to reinforce rules without nagging. How about kitchen rules? Barn Owl has a series of that too: Sit up Straight or simply entitled “Kitchen.”

Encouragement

We could all use a little “pep” talk now and then, a little pick-me-up encouragement. What better way to motivate yourself or others than a word art décor? Whether you want to be brave (or reminded you’re brave), strive to be real or just want to love and be loved, Barn Owl primitives have a range of selection to cater to your needs.

Holiday Signs

Want to create a festive mood? Or get into the holiday spirit? Holiday word art can help you do that without really trying too hard. Hang one up and allow the magic to diffuse the room with that seasonal joy and longing, a little nostalgia or warmth. Christmas, Halloween or just to welcome a new season, take your pick. Order up some holiday cheer, it's that time of the year.

Sports

Know a husband, a father, a son, a brother or a friend who loves sports? They live, eat and breathe sports and you may experience a little neglect when the sports season is on? They would love one of the word art on sports. Football or soccer, these word art will make great gifts for sports fans.

Using Barn Owl Primitives word art for decor is a great way to add character, swag or mood. Buy them for yourself or to give away as gifts. Feel free to browse our website or contact us for more information.

What do Billy the Kid, Hoss Cartwright, Jack Sorenson, Wyatt Earp and Charles M. Russell all have in common? The answer, “They’re all beloved figures that, in one way or another, represent the Wild West. Two of them, Jack Sorenson and Charles M. Russell, are Wild West artists that have managed to touch people’s inner cowboy or cowgirl with their creative visions. 

Born in the 1950s, Jack Sorenson’s wild west art was clearly influenced by his early years, which he spent part of working at his family’s dude ranch and frontier town. It was a popular tourist stop and Sorenson learned early on how to play to the crowd. As such, his Wild West artwork has a great mix of touching and humorous ranch family scenes. It also contains western landscapes, high intensity action shots and wildlife paintings that are sure to stir one’s inner adventurer.

Charles M. Russell, on the other hand, had a much different upbringing than Sorenson. Born in the late 1800s, he spent his teenage years employed by a working sheep rancher and living among the Blood Indians, with nary a tourist in sight. So his Wild West art tends to portray a very realistic view of ranch life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It shows cowboys working and interacting with Indians, early explorers and animals. That said, art patrons who view his paintings often remark that they are like having a window into our country’s past.

Of course Jack Sorenson and Charles M. Russell are not the only men associated with Wild West art. There are many more and each understandably brings his or her own unique perspective on western life to the table. That’s part of what makes decorating with Wild West art so interesting. Depending on the artist and the subject matter, a wide variety of moods, interests or messages may be conveyed.

Take Jack Sorenson’s horse paintings, like The Bay and A Sound in the Timber for example. They would look lovely hanging in a room filled with saddle furniture, leather flooring and a working fireplace. On the flip side, Charles M. Russell’s Wild West artwork would look amazing hanging in a study filled with history books, antiques from the 1800s, animal hide throw rugs and saddle blankets.

To learn more about Jack Sorenson, Charles M. Russell and other wild west artists’ notable pieces, please visit  Fulcrum Gallery today.

Are you looking for art pieces that are classy and chic? They hold style and elegance and are perennially pleasing? Classy/chic art may not scream for attention but they draw you in with their understated charm. If you're looking to decorate with classy and chic art works, here are some pointers:

What’s Your Theme?

Do you have a theme in mind? You want a theme that withstands the test of time and doesn’t look jaded with the passing of time. Consider themes that are timeless – for instance, art pieces that celebrate the beauty of nature - flowers, plants, landscape, garden, seasons, or the beach. Bring the sun and surf into your house and allow the beach theme to dominate and transport you somewhere where breezes caress and the waves soothe. 

Color Scheme

While there are no strict rules for color scheme for your home, some colors will withstand the whims and fancies of time better than others. For instance, psychedelic may be reminiscent of the 60's, where funk and bold collided in a surge of cultural beauty. If you’re decorating a space to reflect that time period, it will work well. However, if you’re striving to decorate a space that will still look classy with time, opt for colors that are more neutral. With a basic neutral color, you can then choose to play it up with a main color or an accent color. Choose art pieces that complement or contrast your basic room color.

Style of the Artist

Perhaps you’re a fan of a particular artist. Their art works speak to you and feel most like you. Find a number of pieces and build a collage with them or use that one piece to define a room or space. For instance, Cheri Blum, an American painter uses simple lines and shapes to create a sense of peaceful balance in her art. Another popular impressionist artist, Barbara Mock, puts her strong sense of design to good use when creating pieces that capture floral theme, charming birdhouses or delicate teacups and whimsical landscapes. And what about the contemporary artist, Carol Robinson? She offers renditions of beach scene, kitchen décor and landscape with style and splendor. Because their art pieces are classy and chic, you may get more mileage out of them in the long run.

For more information on how you can use art pieces that are both chic and classy, feel free to contact us.  

Warm up a rustic kitchen or family room with the earthy hues of Tuscany. From neutral wall paint colors to cultural art, you’ll feel like you’re relaxing in a foreign land. The best part of travel art is that it creates a home that is both cozy and worldly.

Tuscan art for your Kitchen

When decorating the kitchen with travel art of Tuscany, focus on images of wine bottles, grapes, apples and lemons. Or go for the bigger picture with a garden landscape. The blue skies in garden art complements the warm brown and orange tones of the Italian landscape.

Decorating ideas:

* Clay tiles, from your local home improvement store can be used as a back splash, or use the individually as drink coasters.

* Wooden decorative objects in the shape of pears, pepper mills or wine bottles add to ambiance.

* Try your hand at decorating a small area with a leafy green stencil. Keep linens including table settings and window treatments in off-white hues.

* Upgrade cabinet hardware French Country knobs and handles.

Black wire baskets and candle holders finish out the Tuscan look in your kitchen.

Tuscan Living Room

For a Tuscan theme, consider your rooms with beige or golden mustard walls. For pops of color in the room, use large golden yellow or burn orange candles.

Add details to every corner:

* Use small garden statues as bookends.

* Spice up the room with coffee-colored furniture or decorative objects.

* Decorate the largest wall with multiple pieces of Tuscan art.

* Use small images in wooden frames on shelves and end tables, to resemble personal travel photos.

* Decorate windowsills with leafy vines in stone vases.

* Create a focal point in the room with a tall garden vase to complete the worldly transition.

Shop your favorite Tuscan art today and save 50%! For more information on decorating a with culture art, please contact us. 

Framed mirrors can really make a home appear to expand in size and reflect incoming light to make rooms feel airy and full of light. They can also be a great alternative to hanging artwork. Wherever you want to add wall decor but don't feel you have the right piece of art or other decor to place there, consider a mirror as a solution.

Here are some key tips for decorating with mirrors instead of artwork:

Finding the Right Frame: You want to frame your mirror to highlight it but not to overwhelm it. You don't want a small mirror to have a big, bulky frame and you probably don't want a large mirror to have a thin, delicate looking frame. The frame should accent the mirror, making it a highlight of your room when used as an alternative to artwork on the wall.

Location and Size: One of the first steps in choosing the right framed mirror is to decide exactly where you plan to hang it and look at size considerations. Is the mirror meant to hang above a fireplace? Do you want it to reflect a pleasing outdoor view from a window? Do you want to reflect the light fixture on the ceiling to double the apparent light? Look at the space and measure how large the mirror should be for that location. If you are placing the mirror above a sofa, you don't want the mirror to overwhelm the seating, so choose a size about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the sofa. The same is true if you are choosing a framed mirror for hanging over the fireplace mantel.

Color Scheme: In most cases, you will want the mirror frame to stand out against the wall treatment. If you have light colored walls, your options are endless. If you have a wall treatment with a significant pattern or texture, you might consider a wooden frame that contrasts strongly with the wall colors. You can have metallic accents on your mirror frame is you like no matter what color or type of wood you choose, creating an endless combination of designs to satisfy any setting.

Style: Choose a framed mirror that blends with the overall style of the room. If you have a formal living room, you want a very formal look for your framed mirror but if you have ultramodern or rustic country, you can find a frame that suits that style just as well. Whatever your furnishings and decor you can have a framed mirror that blends well with that style.

Shop our selection of framed mirrors today and get 50% off! To get the right framed mirror to meet your requirements for accenting a room as an art alternative or as a functional mirror, contact us and we can provide you with exactly the custom framed mirror for your needs.

No country home is complete without country art!

So your home has that good old country vibe to it. You have cute country style drapes hanging over the kitchen window and you possibly have the horseshoe hanging over the door, but what good country home needs is some stylish country art. No country home is complete without some country paintings. For the living room or the family den, you may have styled to feel like it's the open range or the mountains. You have animal skins hanging up or maybe you have a cow print rug on the floor, well how about adding a painting like log cabin retreat to the scene. It gives off that sense of wilderness and the colors are vibrant. It would go well with any room you're trying to give off the nature vibe. Maybe you're looking for something that'll really capture your guests' attention when they're in the kitchen, you have yellow walls, maybe rooster or fruit drapes, well add a painting or two into the style.

 Bless our home would go well with any yellow decor or color scheme. It even has sunflowers and you can't top sunflowers. Maybe you want something that just totally stands out that just pops then check out Razzberry Creek crossing. The colors are very soft and it could really stand out in the kitchen. If you're finally fixing up that bathroom and you decided to go with a bear theme then add some bear art! Country bath would not only fit in with your bear and wilderness theme, but it's completely adorable! If you want something more cute than that, a big favorite is bear necessities. Not only will it give your bathroom a zing to its decor, but it'll remind your guests of the Disney movie The Jungle Book. So if you're look to spice up your country home then check out Fulcrum Gallery for all their latest country master pieces.