A.W.L.... Art We Love!

Artist:  Seth Indigo Carnes

When my husband and I first moved in together... our first "disagreement" was focused around art.  He had a bunch of posters from Prints Plus that he wanted to hang on our walls.  My least favorite of which was the lava flowing into the ocean poster.  ICK!  I was quick to tell him that if we were going to hang art of the wall it was going to be actual photos and paintings and not posters of such.

Many people think that they cannot afford proper artwork, but my friends ... you can!  Affordable artwork is just a mouse click away.  I have spoken of Etsy a lot. You do have to kind of have an idea of what you want to search for, but there are so many options.

Art We Love (featured on the Nate Burkus Show last week) is another great resource for original artwork at a variety of price points starting at $15.  Here are some of my favorites!

Artist Midori Harima

Artist:  Stefan Hengst

Artist Tomoo Gokita

Finally, 20X200 offers a great variety of artwork also! The have photos and other works on paper and introduce two new editions each week.   As the name will tell you- you can purchase prints for as low as $20 bucks and as high as $200 (dependent on size).  There is something for everyone!  Here are a few examples of what you can find at 20X200.

Artist Christian Chaize

Artist:  Lisa Congdon

Artist:  Valerie Roybal

Go on... support artist and get youself something unique and original and now sold at your local mall! :)  Until next time...xoxo

B is for Bedroom.... my decor needs spicing up!

Still searching for the perfect duvet to go with my new pillows.  I bought and returned one duvet from Overstock (color too bright) and just ordered another from LinenSource hoping the color will be a better fit.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, I have determined that I hate my bedroom.  It lacks "life"... so I am working on a gallery wall that will perfectly compliment my bedding (when I find it) and the cute pillows (waiting to be displayed).  Shhh..... have not told the husband about any of this as he likes to argue and say he does not like things when in the end he ALWAYS does!  Well, almost always!

I want some color and personality like this! 

I have our silhouettes that will stay.  I bought a "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster on Etsy.  I am collecting some other "personal" stuff that will help make the gallery wall interesting and unique.  Like so much of my house, this is a work in progress!  Until next time....xoxo

V... as in "BIG V"! The Artist...

So, my blog would not be complete without a shout out to my artistic roots. As a graduate of RISD (RIZDEE)....I think I know what good Art (imagine me saying that with a Boston accent) is! My dear friend, who I lovingly refer to as "Big V"- (she is truly "tall".... but not "big") is amazingly talented. The real world knows her as Veronique Latimer and she makes amazing paintings... Huge and and Tiny! Her current work is done in encaustic. What is encaustic... well I don't really know, but it is magical and made with beeswax. If you want more detail, you would have to ask the artist herself!

Veronique's work is multi-faceted and full of layers and stories- it evokes memories of your childhood and is like wrapping yourself in your favorite blanket! She uses vintage photographs, leaves, keys, words, stamps, soda tabs, etc to create stories.... some true... others imagined. Her paintings are beautiful and surreal- landscapes and stories. You can get Veronique's paintings on Etsy.com Now, if you read my blog before today- have you figured out that I get almost everything on Etsy!?

Her work is incredibly affordable ($30-$125)- something to keep in mind with the holidays approaching. You can even commission a piece which is a great way to remember grandparents, capture a wedding moment, pet, or celebrate a friendship. Big V will work with images (photocopies) that you share and will incorporate your words and stories! It is a great wedding gift (see right) and she can incorporate invitation, date, photos, text, etc. This is such a unique and special gift...who would not want it!

Check out her work at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Veroniquelatimer. Additionally, for those in the Boston area, she will be at Bizarre Bizaar on December 6th. Check it out: http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/boston.html There is nothing better than having original artwork on your walls. I am still trying to break my husband free of his "Prints Plus" addiction .... we can afford real original art!!!

Until Next Time.....SUPPORT ARTISTS!!! xoxo