Get the latest pulse on art facts & home decorating tips.

Mother's Day is May 11...Don't Forget!

Three Ages of Woman, Mother and Child (detail)
By Gustav Klimt

Don't you just love this piece by Gustav Klimt? It's a personal favorite of mine -- the colors are so rich and the imagery is so tender and powerful. It's 15% off until May 11 as part of our Mother's Day Art Sale. Be sure to stop by if you're still shopping for mom.

They say there's no greater bond than that between a mother and child, and speaking as the lucky mom of a wonderful eight-year-old boy, I'd have to agree. Here's our very own impromptu version of "Mother and Child":

No one cuddles better than my son! Of course, I may be slightly biased. But what can I say? He's bright, sweet, clever, intelligent, funny, generous, adorable, and of course, more than a little mischievous at times. Here's another work of art that reminds me of him:

Worn Out
By Jim Daly

Come to think of it, this artwork would be an excellent gift for my own mother. She runs a no-kill animal shelter, and (obviously!) really loves animals. Plus she dotes on her grandson and would be sure to see him in this slumbering little fella.

Last up -- a stunningly beautiful, one-of-a-kind art masterpiece by a very little known artist:

Hee hee. My son whipped up this little Pokemon homage for me as an early Mother's Day gift. Unfortunately, it's not for sale -- at any price. But if you're still looking for something special for your own mom, don't forget to stop by our Mother's Day Art Sale!

See you next week!

Carolina Dunes

Did you manage to escape somewhere warm and inviting over spring break? Nothing helps break the doldrums better than a trip to the beach -- any time of year. Some people are lucky enough to live in the tropics or in coastal regions, but the rest of us only get a glimpse of the ocean every now and then. If you're a lover of the beach, now's the time to freshen up your decor with our Beach & Ocean Art. Spend $175 or more and get $25 off -- just use promo code SEA2008 at the checkout.

Our Seaside collection offers a wide range of subjects to choose from, including lighthouses, seashells, coastal living, ships & boats and much more. Here's a rich, inviting seascape with a Traditional flair:

View to the Amalfi Coast
By Carl Frederic Aagaard

Beachy Keen
By Scott Westmoreland

Outlook
By Peter Quidley

But don't let us limit your imagination -- check it out for yourself! Just make sure you get there before the month of May is over though...!

New Art by 2 of My Favorite New Artists:
Erin Clark & Jenny Kraft

One of my favorite missions as your Savvy Decorator is to scout out new and exciting artists to share with you -- like Erin Clark and Jenny Kraft. These up and coming artists are putting out some truly impressive work, and somehow, their images seem quite complementary together. Take a look...

Tranquil Trees
By Erin Clark

I love the striking silhouettes in this piece. It's so otherworldly and delicate, don't you find? Also, this kind of nature-based imagery fits right in with the current trends in both the worlds of art and design.

This next piece by the same artist has a real Global feel to it. I find it's a real contrast to the piece above, and yet it's wonderfully complementary. I also find it very calming. Just looking at the Buddha gives me a sense of serenity and release.

Clarity
By Erin Clark

This image by Jenny Kraft has a fresh, cool palette and inviting Contemporary imagery. The colors and images definitely call to mind the delicate blossoms and clear blue skies of spring.

Autumn Branch
By Jenny Kraft

This wonderful close-up floral photography print is another favorite -- especially for this season. Isn't the detail incredible? The cropping is very unexpected and Contemporary. And as spring turns into summer, I'm seeing this vibrant coral color all over the place, in art studios, clothing stores, everywhere. "Saffron Orange," I believe it's called, and the May issue of Metropolitan Home highlights it as one of the most prominent colors of the season.

Orange Protea
By Jenny Kraft

This is just a small sampling of the wares of these talented gals, so be sure to check out our entire collection! Until next week...

Sitewide Art Sale
Through April 30

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, and the image above just about says it all. In honor of spring (and the inevitable spring cleaning and redecorating bugs that come with it!), we're offering savings of up to $120 on all kinds of beautiful art.

Just enter promo code SPR08 at checkout and you'll save:

Ready? Set? Decorate!

Which Species Are in Danger
and What You Can Do to Help

Bear Hug
By Egan

I just love this polar bear photography print, don't you? Look at how tender and protective the mother bear is towards her sweet little cub. Polar bears are such wonderful creatures -- so playful and yet majestic. It's hard to imagine they may be extinct by the end of this century.

That's right, by the year 2100, if current climate trends continue warming the sea ice, polar bears simply won't exist anymore. It's a sobering fact, and what's worse is that many other species may also follow in their wake. Fortunately, though, there are steps we can take to help turn things around. In honor of Earth Day, today's entry is devoted to saving endangered animals, like the tiger.

Tiger

Known for their beautiful stripes and stealthy hunting skills, tigers walk paw in paw with lions as kings of the jungle. Sadly though, due to human construction and deforestation, tigers now have 40% less habitat available to them -- which threatens their existence. Fortunately though, foundations like the World Wildlife Fund are working hard to protect tigers and many other species. Making a donation is one simple way to contribute, and you can also call them up and ask how else you could help.

Can you imagine a world without whales? These great leviathans of the sea are incredibly peaceful mammals, but they also know how to have a good time. Just look at this guy leaping out of the sea:

Northern Humpback Whale
By Brandon D. Cole

Doesn't he look joyful? Unfortunately, whale hunting, water pollution and collisions with ships have caused the animal population for this lovely mammal to dwindle. Greenpeace and other organizations have done great work for this cause, and you could contact them if you wanted to get involved.

China's roly-poly Giant Panda is another animal on the way to extinction.

Panda Mother and Baby

Believe it or not, it's estimated that as few as 1,600 of these beautiful bears exist in the wild today. There is hope, though. Do a little research on the internet, and you'll find all sorts of Adopt-a-Panda type of programs that help you contribute to the preservation of these species and others.

Staying informed and spreading the word also helps. Last week, my son's school did a series of presentations on endangered species, and it really spurred his interest to help. Now he's a regular expert on camel preservation!

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. In that vein, decorating your home, office or school with images of endangered animals is another way to generate discussion and help foster awareness and appreciation for these beautiful creatures.

So Happy Earth Day to you, and let's do our best to keep our animals alive and well!

The Art of the Perfect Latte

Aroma IV
By Daphne B

Have you heard the latest about Starbuck's Coffee? They recently came out with a new "Pike's Place Blend," an "everyday" brew named after the first Starbuck's store that opened in Seattle's famous Pike's Place market in 1971. I'm a woman who loves her coffee -- and her Starbucks -- so naturally I had to give it a try! It's quite nice and rich, in my opinion.

I really can't start the day without coffee. Nothing wakes me up like the smell of fresh-ground coffee, and nothing inspires me to get out of bed like a tall decaf nonfat latte That's my drink of choice at the local Starbucks, and my son (who is 8 years old) knows how to "call" my order as well as the baristas there.

Batik Coffee I
By Louise Max

In my opinion, the perfect latte is made with a nice, rich espresso and has a generous serving of creamy foam on the top with cinnamon sprinkled in it. Like this one, mmm!

Latte
By Jennifer Garant

And if you hadn't noticed my subtle suggestion, coffee- and latte-themed art can really perk up your decor as well -- especially if you're a cafe connoisseur! And if latte's not your drink, all the artists featured in this blog entry also have art in 3 other beverage selections.

Ok, all this talk of coffee and lattes has me thirsty for a refill. How about you? Meet you at the Starbucks down the street? See you next week!

It's official: spring has officially sprung! All across the country, crocuses are cropping up, birds are chirping and cool, spring showers are washing away what's left of winter's snow. It's a great time to think about sprucing up your porch and patio, and what better way, than with weather-proof art?

Just in time for April showers and the warm summer rays that are sure to follow, we're putting all our WeatherPrints on sale -- up to 35% off!

Weatherprint: Before the Crowd
By Ron Peters

As you may remember from our WeatherPrints blog entry last June, these wonderfully resilient works of art are perfect for outdoor decorating. They're specially designed to withstand the elements of nature, including rain, sleet, snow and the sun's harshest rays. They're also a quick and easy way to add a splash of color and personality to any outdoor area.

Be sure to stop by and browse our wide selection of Outdoor Art, including Abstract Art:

WeatherPrint: Passage to India, by Don Li-Leger

You'll also find beautiful Landscape Art and more!

Tuscan Vineyard, by Roger Williams

Because of their ability to retain their quality and vibrancy in intense humidity, WeatherPrints are also an excellent choice for spas and bathrooms -- which can get quite steamy at times.

So if you're looking to decorate any area where moisture, heat or weather could be an issue, now's the time to find Outdoor Art on sale! Happy decorating...

When you hear the word "tapestry," what probably comes to mind are the ornate wall hangings noblemen used to keep drafts out of ancient European castles. Perhaps you're picturing something with rich, earthy colors and Medieval imagery, much like this tapestry below:

Tapestry - Sense of Sight Scarlet
Finished: 53" x 53"

Tapestry - Urban Horizons
Finished: 53" x 33"

Fresh, contemporary tapestries like the one above can bring an urban feel to any room -- particularly if your decor has a clean, modern feel to begin with, like the room below:

We've recently topped up our Tapestry Collection with a wide array of chic, modern titles for today's decorator. Be sure to check out our latest additions, including Asian-inspired designs:

Tapestry - Karma
Finished: 18" x 53"

You'll also find modern landscapes (notice all tapestries come with their own elegant hanging rod for easy installation):

Tapestry - Trinitary
Finished: 53" x 44"

There are lots of new shapes to explore as well. It's amazing how much visual interest you can create in a room with just one intriguing tapestry, like the title below:

Tapestry - Cloisonne Jade
Finished: 53" x 53"

A word to the wise though: not all tapestries are created equal. There are a lot of cheap, synthetic versions on the market but unfortunately, they're really lacking in visual detail and depth (plus, they're less durable). By contrast, our natural-fiber art tapestries offer 40% greater detail. Plus, they're all made here in the U.S. by an American family with a rich, 200-year textile-weaving heritage.

So as you can see, now you can have the best of both worlds -- a continued tradition of quality and craftsmanship, with all of today's most chic, modern images. Of course, our Tapestry Collection also offers an excellent selection of more traditional imagery as well, if that's your decorating preference. What do you say: do your walls need new threads?

Spring is such a sweet time of renewal. I'm seeing signs of new life everywhere -- from the birds busily nesting in the branches above to the tiny flowers poking through this year's fresh crop of grass. Inspired by all these signs of spring, I thought I'd devote today's entry to some of our beautiful new nature-inspired artwork.

Quiet Forest
By Erin Clark

This season, designers everywhere are favoring art that features dark, earthy browns, cool, fresh greens and pale sky blue. These colors are probably so popular in design and decor right now because they mirror the gentler, serene tones of spring (as compared to the bright, vibrant hues of summer).

Bird Song III
By Gregory Gorham

As you can see, nature-inspired silhouettes are also a popular choice for spring, bringing the outdoors in, as they say. For me, this kind of imagery helps welcome the season in, and makes me want to put away all my heavy winter duvets and hang up lighter-colored curtains. Just a few touches here and there can really help "change the season" inside, don't you find?

Brown Leaf I
By Stephanie Marrott

I love this pair of art prints by Stephanie Marrott: Brown Leaf I and II. Again, we find the cool color palette of this season, along with contemporary, nature-inspired shapes.

Brown Leaf II
By Stephanie Marrott

I'd love to see some of your favorites as well, so be sure to drop me a line! Until next week...

This week marks the birthday of one of early America's most defining artists: Charles Marion Russell. Born on March 19, 1864 in Oakhill, Missouri, Russell turned a fascination with the Wild West into a flourishing art career.

Wagon Boss
By Charles Marion Russell

Russell spent his childhood drawing, making clay sculptures, riding horses and reading about the American West. He became a ranch hand in his teens and, over the course of his life, created over 2,000 paintings and sculptures of cowboys, Indians and Western landscapes.

Indian Buffalo Hunt
By Charles Marion Russell

If you're a fan of Western-themed decor, Russell's iconic imagery is a natural choice. There are lots of other ways to lend your home a nostalgic, Old West feel, including

1- Using warm, earthy hues in your decor
2- Including natural elements in your accents, like wood and rock
3- Finding ranch-themed motifs to display, such as horseshoes,
cowboy hats, lasso ropes, etc.

You can also decorate with other kinds of Western-themed art, including art with cowboys, John Wayne and other scenes from the Old American West. Happy home decorating trails to you!