Touch of Colour With Art

 Transform your home with an exclusive work of art - hand painted furniture adds a splash of vibrant colours in interiors

Everybody looks for that special and unique element in our surroundings, which can stand out and create a statement and define their style. Art has an intrinsic ability to transform the dynamics of the space and create an instant impression about the owner’s personality and taste. Paintings and sculptures are commonly used in home décor and are traditional forms of art; there are several other innovative and unconventional options.

One can opt for unusual and fun objects that are personalized, for instance hand painted furniture or other functional objects. Hand painted furniture such as tables and chairs have been popular for a long time, and limited edition and exclusive pieces painted by artists are also coveted for their distinctive style and individuality.

The idea is to display an original piece of artwork which completely fits into the space, yet reflects your personality faithfully. Therefore, a piece of furniture painted by an artist into a colourful work of art can easily become a centerpiece - these can be fun and quirky, have a vintage feel or have a folk art influence!

One can obtain these objects of furniture from art exhibitions which are built around such concepts or have
an artist create it according to your specifications. The latter allows greater freedom and helps in personalizing the artwork completely, and in the process helps in creating something totally unique.

Functional and utilitarian objects are rarely seen as objects of décor and adding a dash of colour and personality to them can be immensely satisfying. Art need not always be serious and contemplative, but can also be whimsical. On the other hand, artist designed and painted furniture need not be only about portraits, figures and bright colours, but these can also have a monochrome palette, use abstract motifs and be minimal, depending on your choice.

This article was published in The Times of India-The Address recently. 
Images courtesy artists Mahirwan Mamtani and Yusuf Arakkal.

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Displaying Art in Home Interiors

Displaying art requires some creative effort and skill to spotlight the art and alter the dynamics of the space, writes art consultant Nalini Malaviya

Imagine having a large painting hung in the corner of a room, which is dark and dingy and one has to scan the entire space to find it, in such a situation is there any point in putting up an artwork? For all practical purposes the painting is invisible and serves no point. The intention of an artwork is to alter the dynamics of the space by introducing form, colour and a focal concept, while adding a new visual dimension. Hence, displaying art in a particular space requires some creative effort and skill to ensure that not only the art is highlighted but the entire space benefits.

  Framing

• Framing a traditional work of art such as a painting or drawing is one of the ways to demarcate the artwork and to highlight it. Black minimal frames, ornate and gilt frames, wide frame borders and mats are just some of the options in various materials which can be used for framing. Depending on the size, medium and colours in the painting the frame must be chosen accordingly. It is important to select a frame that visually complements the artwork, is made of good quality material and does not appear cheap.

• Using colour as a means to highlight the artwork is another trendy option, where either the entire wall or a square/ rectangular frame behind the artwork serves to draw attention to the art and integrate the space in its entirety. This can actually have a vivid effect, especially if colours are chosen appropriately to be in harmony with the painting. 

 

Lighting

If there is insufficient lighting, the nuances in the artwork are lost and tend to recede to the background. Therefore spotlights on the artwork can make a huge difference in highlighting the work. This is true for all kinds of artworks whether they are paintings, sculptures, murals or even installations. Direct lighting which can heat the artwork should be avoided as it can be damaging, especially in the long term.

This article was published in The Times of India-The Address recently. 
Images are sourced from the Internet.

If you enjoyed reading this article, do share it using the social media widgets at the top and subscribe to receive regular updates from Art Scene India

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Art in Interiors: Murals Bring Art to Interiors

A mural can be an extremely versatile way to add artwork to home interiors and should be explored, writes art consultant Nalini S Malaviya

 

A mural on the wall is an interesting way to introduce art in your surroundings. A slightly off beat option, murals are far less common than paintings on walls. Having a painting done directly on the wall is a long term commitment that you make to the artwork and the artist because it cannot be moved around at whim. Folk and tribal art continues to be the most popular option in murals as these are bright and colourful. Geometric, floral and animal motifs form the narrative and it is fascinating to watch a story unfold which can compellingly draw the viewer in. Contemporary art is also a good option, which one can explore.

It can appear a little daunting to have a painting done directly on the walls and some of the issues that come up are –

• What about the outcome, is it going to turn out well?
• Will it blend with the rest of the décor?
• Will it stand out too much and become overwhelming?
• And, most importantly what do you do when you get bored with it?

These are all valid questions that one must consider before having a mural painted on a wall inside your home. One of the ways to deal with such a situation is to have the mural painted only at a later stage, for instance when the décor is in place and you have finalized wall colours, drapes and furnishings.

The advantage with a mural is that it offers great flexibility and the ability to complement the existing home décor, and therefore you can easily select themes, motives, colours and the size of the mural based on the space available and the décor. The artist will also have many ideas and will be able to guide you in terms of what is possible and what works best for that particular area. Opt for an artist who has experience in doing murals.

Interestingly, folk and tribal art works very well in almost every form of décor scheme, and in most parts of the house. For instance, it fits in very well around the main entrance, lounge, dining area and the children’s room. Folk and tribal art with their colourful strokes has a universal appeal and the theme can be adapted to suit the space. Similarly, other art forms can be painted on a wall which needs to be highlighted and can be adapted completely to complement the space available – even if is an odd shape. Columns and pillars, beams and the ceiling can also be painted to create dramatic effects.

A mural can be an extremely versatile way to add artwork to home interiors and should be explored. A few years later you can change it and have a completely new mural in its place.

This article was published in The Times of India-The Address yesterday. 
Images are sourced from the Internet.

If you enjoyed reading this article, do share it using the social media widgets at the top and subscribe to receive regular updates from Art Scene India

Related Posts,
Chromatic Frames to Display Art
Art Installations to Complement Home Decor
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Art In Interiors: Chromatic Frames to Display Art

Colours and lighting directly influence our state of mind and emotions and therefore creating a vibrant living space which is in harmony with our individual personalities and family choices can be one of the most liberating experiences ever!  

It’s amazing how a beautiful work of art can alter the ambience of home interiors and make a statement which is as unique as you.  Paintings, photographs and wall installations can completely enliven drab interiors and anchor the space to create a focal point around which the entire décor scheme can be centered. When art and artifacts are displayed to their advantage their beauty is enhanced and the overall space transforms substantially.

Although, an artwork is intrinsically capable of creating a visual impact, the effect can be magnified manifold by selecting a frame which complements it perfectly.  Interestingly, a frame need not necessarily be an ornate or gilt wooden frame attached to the painting, but can also be an extension of the art! 

Art can be displayed creatively to highlight the painting, drawing or photograph and also to create a seamless, cohesive look, which is visually aesthetic. One of the ways to achieve this is by painting the entire background wall in such a way that it offsets and spotlights the artwork.

Completely contrasting colour shades, a dominant colour from the painting or any other complementary shade or hue can be painted around the artwork as a rectangular or a square border to frame the artwork and create a dramatic or theatrical effect. Asian Paints has an amazing line-up of colours and textures, along with a paint selector tool that allows you to choose the paint type, colour and effect that perfectly matches your needs. It therefore enables your vision and idea of a beautiful home! The transformation of space with judicious use of colour can be simply stunning.

You could also have the entire wall painted in a colour of your choice keeping the artwork in mind, so that the backdrop essentially forms a chromatic frame for the painting or even an artifact. The overall effect here is often understated and unified if you select complementary colours. Essentially, the larger visual frame helps to further define the focal area and highlight the painting. The painting itself can be unframed or have an inconspicuous beading to avoid overdoing the effect. Along with the ambient lighting you can also use spotlights to emphasize the artwork and to enhance the effects of colours and other nuances. This is a wonderful way to transform your interiors and give it a sophisticated and architect designed look.

 

If you look at some of these images, the effect of background colour on highlighting the painting and artifacts is clearly visible. Asian Paints Home Solutions offer some fabulous options in creating walls that are inspiring. Colournext, also from Asian Paints is a trendsetting endeavour that translates colour intelligence into measurable decor ecosystems and inspiring trends in contemporary visual culture. It facilitates the process of achieving balance between wall colours, textures and the artworks. It can therefore offer the perfect solution to displaying your artworks, artifacts and objet d'art with great style and individuality.

Play around with colours and textures, while keeping your artwork in mind and you can easily create interiors that are unusual, stunning and completely in sync with your ideas and visual vocabulary. Any artwork can be displayed innovatively to become part of a unified decor scheme, whether it is minimalist, traditional, contemporary or modern and yet make a statement.

Colours and lighting directly influence our well-being, state of mind and emotions and therefore creating a vibrant living space which is in harmony with our individual personalities and family choices can be one of the most liberating experiences ever. 

Art in Interiors: A Tradition of Textile Art

Textile art has a glorious tradition and adds refinement and elegance to home interiors, 
writes art consultant Nalini S Malaviya

Artworks made of fabric and textiles are extremely versatile and add a unique flavor to interior decor. Textile art is a popular art form that is desired not only for decorating walls but also to create panels to divide space, lampshades and other objects of décor. Textile art has a rich history and incidentally was also of great significance in commerce and trade in the early days. The art form refers to textiles which are embellished and decorated through various techniques such as weaving, embroidery, dyeing, printing and painting. For instance, the Tibetan Thangka which has religious connotations is a traditional painting on silk which depicts scenes from Buddhist scriptures. Thangkas are beautifully detailed in their narrative and are extremely sought after. These intricately detailed paintings are magnificent when displayed on walls, bringing in historicity and fine symbolism.

Antiques in Home Decor

Art in Interiors: Art Installations to Complement Home Decor

An art installation can completely anchor the space and form the core of the entire designing concept, writes art consultant Nalini S Malaviya

Contemporary art is not limited to paintings and sculptures and one can use art installations even in residential spaces to complement architectural highlights. Now, when we see art installations in gallery environs it is often difficult to visualize them as part of home interiors. The materials used in an art installation, its size and the very nature of its site specificity contribute to its innovative allure yet makes it appear a little inaccessible. However, from a decorating point of view, these very factors make it a perfect choice to successfully adapt in home décor. 

 

As compared to a two dimensional artwork, a three dimensional installation allows space transformation at multiple levels and creates several layers of interaction with the viewer. It can be integrated with architectural elements to make it a seamless viewing experience and therefore works best if it is planned for right in the initial stages of design. These can be suspended from the ceiling, fixed horizontally to walls to protrude outwards or placed free standing on the floor to form visual partitions. These also work very well as a focal point of decor, or can even be designed to cleverly conceal functional and utilitarian pieces.

While planning for art installations, it would be important to consider the size and location of the space where you would be placing it. An installation is interlinked with the site of display and once that is final, the choice of medium becomes easier. Stainless steel, fiberglass, glass and light are popular media that can be used in installations with ease and have a spectacular impact. Suspended artworks with light can highlight the architectural feature as well as create visual barriers to demarcate the space. Giant abstract or animal motifs perched on walls or suspended in space not only make the ambience interesting and quirky but also make it unique. Similarly, art installed on terraces and gardens give an unmatched individuality to its environment. Then a multi-media installation or a technology driven artwork can be an interactive piece that can engage the viewer with the artwork. 

The important thing is that an art installation can completely anchor the space and form the core of the entire designing concept.

Published in The Address, Times of India, Bangalore on July 28, 2013

Art in Interiors

Art in Interiors

Art in Home Decor

1 MAY, 2011, 06.03AM IST, NALINI S MALAVIYA,ET BUREAU

Buying art as an investment option

Now that the recession is considered to be behind us, people are once again looking at various investment options. Real estate, gold and the stock markets are taking precedence as investment avenues. Many are investing in their dream homes and are willing to spend anything between Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 1.5 crores, while others are buying their second or even third houses. There are people keen on doing up their homes to the best of their ability and are willing to spend substantial amounts on the interiors. As part of this process, homeowners are increasingly considering original artworks as an essential element of decor.

It is noticed that in such cases the prime focus is on purchasing a work of art which fits in well with the space and the interiors, rather than be driven by a purely investment motive. Although, this is a positive trend and must be encouraged, what would work better is if the buyers choose art with a right amount of emphasis on aesthetics , and at the same time consider a few points, which can contribute towards building up an art portfolio in the long run.

While buying art, you can consciously opt for original artworks (instead of reproductions or prints) by emerging artists, students or established names depending on the budget available. Drawings, limited edition prints such as etchings or serigraphs, watercolours and photographs are some of the options which are priced lower than oils and acrylics on canvas . Canvas works by students and young artists are also likely to be more affordable in comparison to paper works by senior artists.

Most people tend to buy art according to specific colour themes or motifs in an effort to coordinate with the existing decor, but this may not always be the right approach to adopt. When buying, the emphasis should always be on the quality of the artwork, while keeping other aspects in mind.