The first rule for buying art is to love it. The second rule is to be able to pay for it without taking out a bank loan. And, rule #3? Feel good about what you paid for it. So, how do you know that a piece of art is worth the asking price? If you love it, and can afford it, should you buy it? We asked over one-hundred interior design professionals for some help. We asked them to review pieces of art and tell us what they think about the quality of the work and the asking price. Each designer chose five pieces of art to review from over 4000 original and limited edition artworks created by independent, fine artists whose work is available at www. DiscoveredArtists. com. Designers were asked to comment on how they might use the art in an interior room design, and were asked to only review artworks that they felt were worth the asking price. In other words, would you recommend that your client buy this piece of art at that price. Here’s what they said: Terry Symington is principal designer and owner of T. Symington & Co. Interiors in Brenham, Houston, and Austin Texas. She is a big fan of using art in her interior designs and suggests that “For rooms lacking a proper focal point, an oversized painting makes a great statement!” Ms. Symington reviewed Fleurs Rondes #19, a 12″ x 18″ contemporary collage by Canadian born artist Lisa Carney. The artwork is a mixed media original on panel priced at $115. Lisa Carney is a formally trained, emerging, full time artist who is represented by galleries. She creates abstract, modern, and fine art using multi-media methods and materials. Her work is especially suited for decorative interior design. Symington’s review of Fleurs Rondes 19: “I would love to see a grouping of several of Ms. Carney’s collages in an interior to make a really big statement. Her combinations of materials, textures and colors are very pleasing . . . the the pricing makes it very affordable!” Elaine Buderer, principal designer for Restoration Interior Design, LLC in Columbia, Maryland writes, “Good art brings some life into a space,” and adds that she approaches design by, “Using color, texture, furniture, art and the existing elements of a home. ” Ms Buderer reviewed Drayton Hall #20 a 21″ x 25″ limited edition by fine art photographer John Michiels. The artwork is an edition of 40 that is signed and numbered by the artist, matted and framed with glass, and sells for $525. John Michiels’ primary style is fine art, his signature style is southern gothic. He is a mature, juried artist who is represented by galleries. Michiels personally completes every step of the printmaking process in his studio in his Charleston South Carolina studio currently offering prints in editions of 45 or less. Interior Designer Elaine Buderer’s review of Drayton Hall #20: “This is a spiritual piece. It hints of serenity (provided by the classic balance) with a vision of hope beyond. It would be a soothing vista in a quiet room. ” Nicky Quartermaine Scott is owner and principal designer for Quartermaine Interiors in Plainfield, Illinois. Her advice to art buyers in general is “If you’re stuck choosing a color scheme for your home, look to art for your inspiration. Select a piece that you truly love, and start from there. Art will reveal some wonderful colors that you can use as a foundation for your project. ” Ms. Scott reviewed Italian artist Mauro Celotti’s large, landscape titled Follow the Clouds. It is a 50″ x 40″ original acrylic on gallery wrap canvas priced at $3600. Celotti is a mature, professional artist, formally trained and juried, who paints abstract, modern, surreal and figurative subjects. Scott’s review of Follow the Clouds: “This piece is reminiscent of Van Gogh, but with a twist. I love the color combination of orange, grey and white. It has a masculine quality to it, with diagonal line and strong movement, but the soft, undulating earth reflects back nicely to Mother Nature herself. ” So, going back to the rules for buying art, if you need a second opinion you certainly should get one. But, it seems that the driving force behind each of these professional reviews is how much they liked the artwork and how they might use it in a room. So, if you love it, and can afford it, it deserves a place on your wall. To read more about any piece of artwork featured in this story go to www. DiscoveredArtists. com and type the name of the art or the artists name in Keyword Search. To read more designer comments or to contact a featured interior designer click on Search Interior Designers on the DiscoveredArtists. com home page. About DiscoveredArtists. com DiscoveredArtists. com is a marketplace for buying and selling original and limited edition artworks. Independent artists sell directly to the general public. Prices are set by the artists and artwork is shipped from the artist’s studio. All major credit cards are accepted. Artwork may be purchased online and is backed by a satisfaction guarantee of a full refund plus return shipping expense.
Posts Tagged ‘Fine Artists’
Vietnamese Fine Art – the Taste of Modern Asian Art at Its Best!
December 27th, 2009Vietnamese fine art in modern times presents a scene that is replete with many fine artists and countless admirers and enthusiasts. Vietnamese fine art has been shying away from the eyes of the world for many years. It is only recently that it has been emancipated from its erstwhile provincial existence. Vietnamese fine art is finally coming out of the closet to present itself in its full glory before a wider audience.
The growth of interest and the rise in popular enthusiasm about Vietnamese fine art have been truly phenomenal in the past few years. The last decade, especially, has witnessed a dramatic growth in the number of people world-wide taking an enormous deal of interest in Vietnamese fine art. It is safe to assume now that Vietnamese fine art has finally come of age and is ready to go truly international.
The contemporary art scene of Vietnam is buzzing with activity, and is vibrant like never before. This is to be attributed not only to strong commercial considerations, but also to the commitment of artists and dealers to create and promote quality work. One cannot help but wonder in awe when one looks upon the radical metamorphosis of Vietnamese art over the last few years. Less than a decade ago, contemporary Vietnamese fine art and artists had negligible presence in their own country and virtually none on the international art scene. Yet, in 1993, eminent art critic and accomplished painter Ca Le Thang wrote in the popular art journal My Thuat, “In 1992 a total of 130 groups and one man exhibitions were opened in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring works by local (Vietnamese) artists. . . and even (artists) from overseas. Over 5,500 works created by more than 200 artists were exhibited in 25 different locations; attendance numbers rose to over 400,000. ”
Vietnamese fine art, since then, has only grown from strength to strength with every passing year. A closer look at this phenomenon reveals that it is not just the profile and status of the nation’s art and artists that have grown in strength. The change is also evident in the quality of the art and in the scope of its representation through local, regional and international galleries and museums.
Compared to other Asian countries, and according to several art commentators, Vietnam was the earliest to merge into the mainstream of modern art, as defined by the West, in both form and content. Such a fact can be easily seen with the coming into existence of Ecole Des Beaux Arts (Indochina’s School of Fine Art) in the early 1930s, with the presence of professors from France.
Western style in technique and the use of color was what the first student generation trained in this school obtained. The techniques however were employed by the graduate artists to depict the aesthetic essence of Viet-narn, especially the freedom and generosity of an Asian soul. Such a fundamental beginning had laid the foundation for the younger generations to follow and again led to their success.
Local galleries and museums have a major role to play in the growing popularity of Vietnamese fine art. They are the main driving factor behind the increasing popular enthusiasm and the commercial success of fine art in Vietnam. Such galleries are virtually countless in cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue. Some are nothing more than mere shops selling paintings.
In the major cities, about 50 of these galleries can be deemed professional. They deal in a wide variety of local art, ranging from highly popular landscape and figurative work to abstract and experimental work in lacquer and other mediums. The range of variety to be noticed in Vietnamese fine art by gazing upon these paintings is truly amazing.
