Artist: Kerry Steele
I just got back from an incredible trip to Italy and Germany with my family. One of my sons is an avid art lover, like me, and we were on the hunt to purchase some affordable original art from local artists while we were there. We trolled the street artists in Rome, and Florence -- and at first, we were unable to find any art 'that spoke to us'.
I've taught my son, that when collecting art, always go with something that really inspires you and creates an emotional connection. Whether it's joy, a connection to the colors, evoking a memory or a feeling within, find a piece of art that 'speaks directly to you'.
Finally towards the end of our trip, we found an artist in Venice and another in Berlin, that we both loved and we purchased a couple of pieces that are now being framed.
If you follow me on instagram (@pricestyleanddesign), you know I'm a sucker for finding 'art in everything', from artful door knobs in Italy to the graffitti in gorgeous colors on the remnants of the Berlin Wall. I love studying art and incorporating art into my daily life and into the lives of my clients.
One of the things that I've been really impressed with is how Serena & Lily has developed their concept of curating original art online and making it readily accessible to the masses -- while each month showcasing new pieces and new artists. I actually look forward to the debut of the new collection at the beginning of each month. I've developed an art crush on a few artists, that I now follow on instagram, and have been able to collect a few affordable pieces every few months.
HOW TO FIND WHAT TYPE OF ART SPEAKS TO YOU:
A great way to determine what genre of art speaks to you, is to scroll through the art at Serena & Lily or Etsy, Minted, or even West Elm and then create a Pinterest board of your favorites. If you do this for a few months, you'll get a sense of what colors you are consistently drawn to, as well as what genre (abstract, figurative, impressionistic, photographic, etc). Then, focus on finding art that you can afford, and start collecting!
Here are a few paintings that I find inspiring.......
Colorful abstract art is usually what I'm drawn to ..... The bold use of color makes me joyful when I look at this painting.
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Similar colors appear in this piece, and though not inherently abstract, the painting reads as abstract impressionism to me. It's so cheerful isn't it?
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Coastlines are always intriguing to me, because it reminds me of my youth, growing up in Hawaii. This piece has such depth and I love the use of orange and red that draws your eye deeper and deeper into the painting.
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Subtle color and an abstract nude -- I love the artist's use of small brush strokes to define the body and face.
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This painting reminds me of having coffee with good friends....the colors are fluid and I love the asymmetry of the piece, where the artist chose to place the table off center, and balance the painting with a simple gray background on the left side.
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One final note....Italy and Germany were wonderful travel destinations......the Vatican, the Colisseum, the Uffizi, the Accadamia, the Duomo, Art4Berlin, the Pergamon Museum........
Art is what defines and tells the story of history....a visual diary from our predecessors.
I hope that this has inspired you to add some art into your life!!
Contact me if you would like art consulting assistance at pricestyleanddesign@gmail.com
It would make my day!