Silvia Tejada

Silvia Tejada was born in Pucallpa, Peru, in 1958. Despite her early artistic inclination, Tejada was forced to select a "more productive" field because painting was economically and socially risky. A victim of the circumstances, Tejada had to study conservation and restoration, a field related to the arts, but not her choice. Fortunately, she is married to a painter and, after more than 20 years, she has evolved into one of the best floral painters in South America.

To the critics, Tejada has that magical touch that painters like Fatin-Latour and Redon had. Her paintings show a nice, soft brushstroke that commands strength. Her colors are soft and angelical, but with character. These attributes did not come easy, however. It has been a hard and long struggle that more than once made her almost abandon her dream. Fortunately, her husband, the well-known impressionist painter Jose Lopesalcedo, convinced her to persist, and it has paid off.

Her exhibitons include important Salons like Museo de Arte de Lima and the Alianza Francesa.

Raffandre

Raffandre was born in the Venetian hinterland in 1945. His father, who was French, had a great influence on Raffandre in the arts. Consequently, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice with his father's encouragement. In this renowned city of art, where artists flock from all over the world, Raffandre came into contact with famous masters, under whose direction he embarked upon a severe artistic apprenticeship.

His particular aptitude for painting allowed him to learn over a fairly brief period of time, the techniques of drawing and of painting in watercolor before progressing definitively to oil painting. He later moved to Paris, where he was able to study the works of the Impressionists. He greatly admired this genre because he felt in touch with his volatile character, which was defined by his love of sun inspired colors. Raffandre was able to stay in Paris for several years, which had a significant influence on his painting and technique.

Raffandre's paintings received wonderful acclaim and were critiqued "…the foregrounds stand out softly from the backgrounds when observing one of Raffandre's paintings. The importance of color, studied and used in all its vast chromatic range, is clearly his main priority." Upon return to his native Italy, the combination of French and Italian styles made his paintings a unique and valuable contribution to the art world.

Custom Mirrors

If you cannot find just the right mirror to match your furniture, consider a custom mirror. ArtFinders has designed hundreds of mirrors over the years to complement furniture. After consulting with you about the style of your home,  furniture, size needed and intended placement, we provide several options and price points from which to choose.

Once your mirror has been completed we also expertly install it.

DESIGN TIP: If you are thinking about adding a mirror to a wall--make sure that it will be reflecting an attractive view. You don't want to be reflecting the view into say, a cluttered home office or up into the blank walls of a cathedral ceiling. Consider a piece of art for these areas instead.

The frames used for custom mirrors need to be stronger than the frames used for artwork. Mirrors are very heavy--so a flimsy molding will not support the glass.

The very heavy mirror above was made using a stack of three moldings. It was designed to complement the chest beneath it with an eye toward solid construction. Finally, it was expertly installed using anchors.

Portfolio

This print on paper by Roy Fairchild-Woodard was floated on a fabric matt that brings the color from the drapes (left) above the mantel. The glare normally expected from the harsh spotlights above is reduced through the use of a glare-reduction glass.

Portfolio: Custom Frame Designs

Above: Three-part stacked frame design.

Middle picture: Another three-part stacked frame with the central molding pulling color out from the painting to enhance the art/frame as a whole design.

Bottom: This Fairchild floral has a five-part frame with three mouldings and two layers of fillets. All of these frames were expertly crafted with archival materials by Masterpiece Framing.

Portfolio

This is an oil painting by Diana Mendoza "Carnaval Veneziano" above a lovely buffet in a dining room. Spring 2009. Framed with molding from the "Biltmore" series of frames from Larson-Juhl.

Helmut Kips

Helmut Kips was born on August 6, 1937 in Krefeld, Germany. His formal art training was accomplished at art academies in Italy, Austria, and Spain. For many years, he specialized in hunting subjects and has become well known for his ducks, hunters, wild boar and other subjects. Today, he has taken a new interest in painting night scenes of various European cities. The warm glow of the street lamps against the darkened sky gives a very dramatic effect to his paintings.

As a self-taught artist, Helmut Kips acceded at an early age to the demands put upon him by his talent for painting. He learned old techniques, internalized established theories and opinions, and invested to these his talent and emotional sensitivities. The resulting paintings completely and clearly carry his individual signature style.

Those who become acquainted with his pictures, feel the connection between the person and his work. His straightforward reproduction of nature is a demonstration of his aesthetics and technical skill-resulting in a classical balance, which moves the atmospheric element into the foreground.

Helmut Kips has traveled throughout Europe to study in Niederrhein, Northern Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal. He is exhibited in many galleries at home and abroad.

Art for Large Walls

Q: "We have a huge wall and none of the art that we've seen is large enough. What can we do there?"


A: There are hundreds of ways to activate a large, blank wall with art. Here are just a few suggestions:

Large-scale vintage posters-Many of the European vintage posters were printed in a very large format. The Taittinger poster seen here was printed at 47 x 69" inches. You can still invest in authentic vintage posters or there are now many very affordable reproductions on the market. These are nice because they have a nostalgic glamor and are graphic enough to be able to appreciate from a distance. Vintage movie posters work just as well.

Tapestries-Many tapestries are available in large sizes. It is also possible to group two or more similar tapestries on the same wall. More information on tapestries is available here.

Quilts-Like tapestries, quilts can be very large works of art. They can be very traditional or contemporary. They are a great way to warm up a big, blank space.

Vintage Kimono-In addition to being large and exquisitely hand crafted, a kimono will also add a dramatic silhouette against the wall that a rectangular work of art does not. We have more information on kimonos here.

Mural-Custom murals painted directly on the wall can be a great way to turn a boring wall into a showpiece. You also get to choose the colors and design. Disadvantage: You can't take it with you if you move!

Diptychs or Triptychs-Some artists create oversize works of art on two or three large canvases that "read" as a single piece. ArtFinders can also commission a special project like this from an artist of your choice.


These are just a few art solutions to activating a huge, blank wall. Call us if you need more suggestions or would like to see some ideas in your home.