SXSW buzz

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Melissa Spence

With SXSW going on in town there are a lot of celeb sightings…and we had one here at Gallery Direct. Billy Corgan, alternative rock musician best known as the sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins, came to visit and tour Gallery Direct. How cool is that! It was all business though, the employees didn’t line up for autographs or pictures (although some wanted to). And we welcomed Billy by putting up a wall mural of his album art and printing his stuff on aluminum, birch-wood, paper and canvas. Our CEO said it put a smile on his face.

2012 Color of the Year

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Breanna

PANTONE recently declared Tangerine Tango as the 2012 Color of the Year. If you don’t know what PANTONE is, that’s okay. Allow me to explain. PANTONE is a company best known for its matching system (PMS), which is a color-standardization guide primarily used in the printing industry. They provide PANTONE Guides that look a lot like the paint sample strips you get at a home improvement store, and it essentially works the same way. For example, if a company uses PANTONE 19-1664, or True Red, in its logo, they can rest assured that no matter how many different printers are used to print it, the red will stay true to its form. Make sense?

Every year PANTONE chooses a color of the year. The color is based on trends seen in fashion and interior design, as well as the general spirit of the times. According to PANTONE, Tangerine Tango provides the “energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.”

I know you’re wondering, “Why should I care?” Well, you should care because it means that Tangerine Tango is the new “it” color. It can be seen in the spring lines of many notable fashion designers including Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari, and Adrienne Vittadini. And it’s popping up in accessories, pillows, and fabrics all over the place. Incorporating Tangerine Tango in the art you choose for your home is the easiest way to modernize and energize your space. I’ve even taken the liberty of compiling a few of my favorite paintings with this color:

Divulge I by Sylvia Angeli

Wall Flower I by Sara Abbott

Pyracantha by Stella Alesi

You can see all of our art with varying shades of orange by clicking here. Your walls will thank you.

Adding Art to Your Child’s Room

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Ellen Peppercorn

Often when you think of buying art for your home you think of the main areas of your house, but not the bedrooms, especially not the kids bedrooms. Having art in your child’s room from a young age is a great way to encourage a love and appreciation for art. My oldest two girls share a room and have an adorable ballerina quilt from Company Kids that is my inspiration for the decor. I knew I wanted to get a piece of ballet themed art from Gallery Direct to tie the room together.

Gallery Direct had a wide variety of options as well as quality products for me to choose from. I knew I wanted a wrapped canvas with a ballet theme so I wouldn’t have to worry about glass in my girls bedroom.

After searching through thousands ( literally) of images I decided I wanted a painting and not a photograph but I did not want any actual figures in the piece. I debated on whether or not I wanted a pair of shoes or a tutu until I found the Ballerina tutu by Barbara Helgason and I knew it was the perfect piece to inspire my ballerina room. When the piece arrived my girls got so excited and it is exactly what I was looking for. The piece is striking and beautiful yet very soft and feminine. I love how the gallery wrapped canvas turned out and it makes the perfect statement in my girls room and it helps to introduce art into everyday life!

You can find Ellen blogging daily at Thrifty & Chic Mom.

Figurative = Feeling

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Melissa Spence

One of my most favorite paintings is “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt. I remember studying this piece in my Art History course in college. Did you know it is one of the top 10 most famous paintings in the world ever according to mostinterestingfacts.com? Gustav, the Vienna master, painted this in 1907. The painting depicts a couple surrounded by a gold blanket and ornaments sharing a moment of shear passion: the perfect kiss. Every time I look at it, it gives me many feelings and memories of times I’ve felt these feelings before. Figurative art seems to do that for me. I guess it’s something about seeing the expression or position of someone as well as the perspective. In this case the facial expression of the woman being kissed.

Did you know you can order a print of “The Kiss” at Gallery Direct? The customers who have purchased it have given it 5 stars. Here is what one said about it:

“I was so excited when I received my Klimt. I chose it to go over my fireplace in my living room and it looks perfect there! It really makes a statement and sets the tone for the entire space, which is exactly what I was looking to accomplish. The construction of the canvas on a wood frame is so light weight it made it simple too hang and it looks like a real piece of art. I couldn’t be happier!”

Besides selling many of the famous paintings in our Vintage collection we also have lots of figurative art by our current exclusive artists. Some of my favorites are:

Deep Contemplation by M. Drake.

Classic Beauty V by St. John.

And Red Wing by Tatara.

So be sure to check them out and see if figurative art does the same to you as it does for me. Also I am going to give you a sneak peek of our upcoming new artist who paints beautiful figurative art. Her name is Katherine Fraser and her art will be launched on March 26th! Here is a sample of some of her art..

New Artists: Shirley Williams & Bob Hunt

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Melissa Spence

We are excited to announce 2 new artists that have joined our family. First is Shirley Williams. Shirley lives and works in Canada and has been professionally painting for more than 15 years now. In her art she focuses on intrinsic energies of color and organic form. We’re super happy to have her work in our line now. I conducted an e-interview with Shirley, the Q&A’s are below…

WL102A, Horizons III

Q: What or who inspired you to paint? How did you discover your talent for art?

A: My first memory of wanting to become a painter was at the age of 11. It may sound like a cliche, but I remember standing in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre awed by the power of a painting to emanate such energy. It was as though I’d been struck by a profound thunderbolt. From that moment I knew my path would be forever changed.

WL104A, Natural Wonders I

Q: Do you work certain hours each day or only when you are inspired to work?

A: I’m very blessed to have a 1500 sq. ft. studio in a white-walled renovated warehouse. I work every day, usually from 10 – 6 and have a studio assistant who comes in occasionally to help me. Normally I handle the business side of things for a few hours every morning. Then I have lunch, meditate and get to the creative work in the afternoon. My original paintings are multi-layered and can take a month to finish, so I’m usually working on several at once. Then of course there’s always a lot of non-creative studio work to get done such as preparing canvases, shipping work to galleries etc. So it’s definitely a full-time job.

WL107A, Core Bice

Q: How long have you been painting? How many pieces have you painted? What mediums do you use?

A: I’ve been painting full-time for 19 years. Mostly I work in acrylic on canvas, and also enjoy working with mixed media and encaustic wax on paper. In an average year, I normally I finish 10 – 20 large scale canvases, 40 – 50 small canvases and countless works on paper.

WL115A, Transforming Whorl I

Q: Your new work that we just published is abstract, do you only paint abstract or do you paint other subjects?

A: Although my formal training included learning how to draw, recreating something realistic have never been interesting to me. I’m more inspired by the challenge of creating something that will move people emotionally in a way they may not be able to put their finger on. It’s the mystery of questioning what we see and how we respond to it that fascinates me.

Introducing our next new artist, Bob Hunt. Bob is a local artist here in Central Texas. His abstract paintings are filled with vibrant colors and texture. We’ve just recently launched 20 new images by him.

From left to right: When will we be able to relax, Obtrude, and Amalgamate I.

His art can definitely bring color to any room you put it in. We especially love his art for wall coverings, like shown above.

So please, come check out our new artists and new images on Gallery Direct today!

The Effects of Color

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Breanna

Color is powerful. It can cause reactions, sway opinions, raise blood pressure, curb your appetite, and relax your mind, all in a split second. Our response to color is subliminal, but very real. That’s why the colors you choose for your home are so important. Do you want your home to be calm and soothing, or bright and energetic? Or, do you want to combine several hues to create a more balanced feel? You might be thinking that a major color overhaul to your home is too expensive or too much of a commitment, but it doesn’t have to be. Changing out the art on your walls is an easy and affordable way to experiment with the color and mood of your home.

There has been a lot of research on the psychology of color, and the following has been found to be true.

Black
Black is elegant and timeless. When combined with other colors, it adds contrast and helps ground the space.

Artwork: Floret Purple III by Sia Aryai

White
White symbolizes cleanliness and purity, and goes well with just about any color. It reflects light, so it can make a small room appear big and bright.

Artwork: City Bird by Judy Paul

Red
Red is a bold and powerful color that demands attention. It’s a passionate color that represents love as well as anger. People often experience elevated heart rate and increased enthusiasm in red rooms. Used as an accent, red will immediately draw the eye to that particular element.

Artwork: Grid Formation I by Christine Wilkinson

Blue
Blue is one of the most popular colors, and appeals equally to both men and women. It’s often used in bedrooms because of its peaceful and calming properties. It is also said to increase productivity and creativity, making it an excellent color for an office environment. Blue is also known to suppress the appetite, since there are very few blue foods found in nature.

Artwork: Equis I by St. John

Green
Green is the color of renewal, balance, and nature. Like blue, it’s a calming color and makes time seem to go by faster. Television studios have “green rooms” to help guests relax before going on the air.

Artwork: Zen Garden I by Sia Aryai

Yellow
Yellow is bright, perky, and cheerful, but it can also evoke anger. Used in abundance, yellow can be overpowering, as it is the most difficult color for the eye to process. Still, it’s considered a happy color of optimism and hope. The addition of yellow in a room can add the feeling of sunshine, even if there isn’t any.

Artwork: Harmonia IV by Sia Aryai

Purple
Purple is the color of royalty and mystery. It possesses the energy of red and the calming effects of blue. Used in a room, it can stimulate creativity. Darker versions of the color evoke moodiness and wealth.

Artwork: Natural Expression I by Sara Abbott

Brown
Brown is typically a favorite of men as it is associated with earth, wood, and natural materials. Shades of brown, including tans, make an excellent backdrop to allow other colors to pop. In a room brown can evoke warmth, dependability, honesty, and friendliness.

Artwork: Hidden Meanings XIV by Caroline Ashton

Bring Your Memories to Life with Aluminum

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Ellen Peppercorn

If you have a special photo that you want to really bring to life then I have the perfect idea for you, have your photo printed on aluminum. If you have never seen a photo on aluminum I am sure you have no idea what I am talking about but aluminum has the ability to bring your photo to life. The way the light hits the aluminum gives it an alive and sparkling look. A photograph of an aluminum print can never do it justice but take my wedding photo as a great example. The chandeliers in the photo seem to be on and sparkling in the background when you look at my photo. I have had this picture on display in my home since my wedding but now on aluminum it transports me back to my first wedding dance.

Aluminum is a great way to elevate your photo and bring it life, water glistens and seems ti almost move, lights seem to be sparkling and the whole picture has a sense of being alive not flat like a typical photo. So if you have a special memory you want brought to life check out the aluminum options form Gallery Direct.

This post brought to you by Ellen of Thrifty & Chic Mom.

Art Giveaway: American

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Melissa Spence

In February we honor and celebrate our American Presidents, most notably President Washington and President Lincoln. These birthdays and the holiday of President’s Day often remind us and leave us feeling thankful to be Americans. If you didn’t know already, Gallery Direct is located in the capital of Texas. And if you know Texans we are proud of our state, but we are also proud to be American. Did you also know that Gallery Direct is pretty much one of the coolest American art companies around?

Are you picking up on my “American” theme in this blog post? There are a lot of American things I love. One of my favorite American food is the Hot Dog. The idea of a hot dog on a bun is ascribed to the wife of a German named Antonoine Feuchtwanger, who sold hot dogs on the streets of St. Louis, Missouri, United States, in 1880. One of my favorite American or national pastime is seeing a major league baseball game. Go Red Sox! And when I think of a cool, American toy I think of Radio Flyer. Both my kids had a Radio Flyer Tricycle as their 1st bike. And they still have a Radio Flyer wagon. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. And the photo above is of a young girl with a Radio Flyer wagon circa 1955.

So who wants to win this gorgeous fine art piece, Radio Flyer I by one of our exclusive artists, Justin Garcia? I bet you do! It’s a beautiful canvas giclée (18×24″) with a 1 1/4″ natural dark brown floater frame, a $289 value. Here’s how you can enter to win:

For 1 entry leave a comment on this blog post with an answer to this question, who is your favorite American president or person ……or what is your favorite American thing, food or pastime?

For 2 entries (because you want to win that bad!), leave a second comment to let us know you’ve shared this blog post on your Facebook, twitter or blog.

*Comments are moderated and will show up once approved.

Entries will be accepted from now until until Sunday night 11:59pm on February 19th. We will select and announce the winner on President’s Day and ship off their awesome free art. Good luck!

The Gift that Keeps on Hanging

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Breanna

So you forgot to record the Patriots/Ravens game for your boyfriend and his cable cut out right before Billy Cundiff’s missed field goal. It’s okay. There’s time to redeem yourself before Valentine’s Day. Luckily you have a great memory, and an even better camera, packed full of snapshots from the fantastic time you two had in Cabo last summer and the amazing surprise party you threw for him on his birthday. So go ahead and grab that picture of you looking svelte in your two-piece, or the one where he swears he looks like Robert Downey, Jr. and have it printed for Valentine’s Day. It’s the gift that says, “LOOK AT HOW MUCH FUN WE HAVE TOGETHER.” So next time he’s yelling and throwing things at Tom Brady, he’ll see the picture hanging on the wall and remember how much he loves you. Maybe you will remember that, too, next time he leaves his dirty glass on the coffee table.

New Artist: Christine Wilkinson

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Melissa Spence

If you haven’t noticed already, we’ve been finding some pretty awesome artists to join our family. This of course means more unique and new art for all of you! We just launched artwork from Christine Wilkinson. Her digital abstract collection has a lot of a psychedelic feel to it with it’s shapes and colors. Christine started hand drawing these shapes back in school in the 60′s, a foreshadow to what she would be doing later in life…working as an artist currently in London, England. She explores with her camera using light in many different forms: light on light, light through objects and light reflected off objects.

I find this piece, Diving for Pearls, so interesting with the movement all the lines create and the layers and lightness of the different color. Though a lot of her art seems to be inspired from the psychedelic 1960′s counterculture, in some ways I felt this piece was modern or even futuristic. It reminded me of a red robotic eye.

These two companion pieces, Green Pinko I & II, are very soft and feminine. They too also give us a feel of movement. I could imagine this is what it would look like up-close and inside of a bubble.

These series of images, Grid Formation I-III, give us a more abstract, rigid and masculine feel. The repetitious elements seem to resemble a candle burning motif. The different stages keep your eye moving along.

So if you like what you’ve seen so far on this post, check out more of Wilkinson’s amazing art on Gallery Direct!

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