Spice up a traditional interior with contemporary art

 The lusters and metallics in the abstract painting above work with the satiny upholstery in this dining room.

 The Ares "Willows" mixed media painting on paper above is a beauty. The clients opted to use museum glass which makes it look like there is no glass there at all!

 This pretty powder room features "Between the Lines," a limited edition on paper by Fairchild. Once again although the art is under glass, there is no glare because the clients chose to use museum glass. It is expensive but museum glass will help to protect your art investment because it is UV protective.

 Lovely oil painting by Liz Jardine graces the two-story wall above this fireplace.

 This is a great way to make a big, blank two-story-tall wall look great from the first floor, staircase, and the balcony. Here we used a large piece on top and two smaller pieces from the same series by the same artist to create a suite that also reads as a triptych.

This is a creative and exciting mix of styles. The mantelpiece is very traditional, but the clients did the unexpected by choosing to put an exciting contemporary abstract in that spot instead of a traditional piece with gold frame. It looks great!

Landscape paintings are windows to wonderful views

Below is a closeup of the Munoz painting installed above this fireplace. This 18x36" oil on canvas was a perfect fit for this tight space.

Sometimes a beautiful scenic landscape can make you feel like you are on vacation. This is a great example of that.

Wait a minute! That's not a landscape!
Actually, the oil painting above by Luzanquis is a combined still life in the foreground with a landscape in the background. I like to call paintings like these "twofers" or two-for-the-price-of-one paintings.

This is a nifty set of two oil paintings by Pozo. These two leather couches and the paintings face each other in a seating area.

Portfolio

Here are some recent pictures of art pieces we've helped people select for their home. The painting above is by Ares and is from his Willows series. We have sold about four from this series of his work. We think they are so popular because they are so transitional--work with any interior-- and are peaceful. The artist uses a highly skilled and developed combination of watercolor and oriental ink painting techniques in oil that result in these breezy and effortless-looking landscapes.

The oil painting above is by Munoz. His landscapes are perennial best sellers.

 The oil painting above is by Tienhaara. We love how the homeowners chose this modern landscape for their more traditional room. They didn't make it into the shot, but the beautiful raspberry color in the carpets is echoed in the painting.

We like the way the classical ornament in the painting works with the white doors, moldings, and paneling in this hallway.

Thanhardt-Burger: Deluxe Hand-Crafted Frames Made in the U.S.A.

Another of ArtFinders’ favorite framing partners is Thanhardt-Burger. Thanhardt-Burger is one of the few framers that still builds, carves, and embellishes historically accurate American and European frame styles using centuries-old, traditional techniques. Each frame is itself a work of art.

Thanhardt-Burger frames are perfect for heirlooms, fine paintings, photographic or painted portraits, fine prints, and stately decorative custom mirrors.

Unlike length moldings, these frames are crafted to minimize any seams at the corners. Many times the corners are embellished and ornamented to disguise any seam. Some of the unfinished ornamental detail castings can be seen in the photo below:

Once the frame and ornament is complete the frame is then hand finished with an under coat of color (rub), metallic leafing, and then the frame undergoes treatment with various patinas and treatments to achieve the desired surface finish.

Since each frame is hand-crafted from scratch it can take up to 8 weeks to complete this labor intensive process.

You can see Thanhardt-Burger frames for yourself on several paintings at Walter E. Smithe’s Oak Brook furniture store or you can call ArtFinders to make an appointment to see some samples in your home or office.

Below is a series of paintings featuring Thanhardt-Burger frames:

Above and below are two paintings by Albert with very ornate frames with lots of detail.

 

Above: An ornate frame for a painting by Chapaud. 

Above: This Raffandre painting has a more classical and simple frame with only subtle acanthus leaf motif at the corners.

Above: “Garden Steps” by Young features a frame with a nice balance between simplicity and ornamentation.

Above: Another frame with minimal ornament.

 

Above: White gold patina perfect for French-inspired interiors.

Above and below: Hand-crafted frames featuring clean lines perfect for contemporary styles.

Tally ho!

This piece just missed getting into the equestrian art post from a couple of weeks ago.
Here in suburban Chicago we are located near some areas that are known for their horse breeding and equestrian sports. At this time of year the Wayne-DuPage Hunt in Wayne, IL just a few miles from ArtFinders HQ holds drag hunts that don’t involve chasing live foxes. The painting above is by Riedmann.

Another Masterpiece…

…courtesy of Masterpiece Framing. Wow. The frame has just been completed on this gracious wine painting by Luzanquis. It looks stunning.

Here is a close-up shot of the quadruple stack frame that does such a great job of enhancing the painting:

The piece was framed using only the best, Larson-Juhl frames. Masterpiece Framing is an exclusive dealer of Larson-Juhl frames.

Equine Art

There is something about a work of art featuring a beautiful horse that gives the viewer a feeling of power, romanticism, and freedom. Whether you own horses or simply admire their beauty we have several artists and styles from which to select in this genre.  Equine portraits: Consider having a portrait commissioned of your favorite horse or select from several existing portraits by the artist, Tapia. Tapia’s paintings are a great choice for those who prefer a traditional look.


Equestrian sports are also a popular theme as seen below with Renalv’s “Hunt Scene,”  “Polo” by Lopesalcedo, and “Race at the Paddock” by Marquez-Velazquez.



Equine art is also available for those with transitional and contemporary styles. The pieces by Morante below can be displayed with gallery wrap style stretchers for a contemporary presentation that looks great without a frame.


The horse-themed paintings above are just a tiny sample of what is available. Equine art is always in style and available in just about every art form and media. Call us if you have any special requests!

Viktor Shvaiko

Above: “Sunny Day in Venice” 1999, 55 x 34” limited edition of 325.

Just in! Two romantic realism hand-embellished giclees on canvas by Viktor Shvaiko. These are both hard-to-find, sold out limited editions.

BIOGRAPHY: Born in Altai, one of Russia's most remote and off-the-beaten-track towns, Viktor Shvaiko grew up surrounded by the beauty of the wilderness. His natural inclination for fine arts and his strong urge to share his vision of nature drove him to find a way into the Novoaltaisk Artistic School, one of the two best schools for the arts in the former Soviet Union. Four years of strenuous studies enabled Viktor, a very diligent student, to acquire the skills of a true artist.

Viktor credits his teacher, Ilbek Khairoullinov, for a true fine arts education. A strict regimen of drawing, an intricate technique of using colors, and the influence of the 19th century Russian artist Karl Brynllow brought Viktor Shvaiko close to a traditional academic style of painting. After having attained technical excellence in the manner of these traditional influences, the artist now possessed the tools with which to express his feelings to the world.

Above: “Conte Pescaor” 1997, 47 x 32” limited edition of 325.

At this point, Viktor's main focus became the beautiful Altai landscapes.

The Shvaiko family then moved to Transkarpathia, the western mountainous portion of Ukraine. There Viktor became enchanted with the picturesque and breathtakingly beautiful countryside. He continued to paint and was invited to show in two one-person expositions in Moukachevo in 1990 and a group exhibition in Hungary in 1991.

Shvaiko chafed under the stifling effect that the lingering Russian bureaucracy had on the careers of young artists. Unable to get a visa to a Western country, Viktor was permitted to travel to Yugoslavia. In the confusion of the civil war, he fled to Italy with his paintings strapped to his back, often encountering gunfire from roving bands of militia.

Above: “Bordeaux and Pearls” 2004, 44 x 30” limited edition of  60.

Having arrived in Italy virtually penniless, Viktor survived by selling his paintings on the streets of Rome. He managed to build a following for himself, and save some money. He eventually returned to a now more liberalized Russia, and was able to obtain passage to America.

Arriving in New York with little money and less English, Viktor was again able to survive by selling his work. It was here he developed his penchant for painting the little cafes and other intimate places that we see in his work today, and that have become his trademark. His enticing mix of beauty and mystery has drawn the interest and admiration of collectors from around the world.

Luzanquis' Wine Paintings

The still life paintings of Luzanquis are highly regarded for their old-world charm and celebration of the joy of wine and wine connoisseurship.

We like to suggest Luzanquis wine paintings for dining rooms, butler pantries, foyers, halls, libraries, kitchens, and wine cellars.

They are a natural choice for restaurants.

 

The timeless elegance of the subject of wine and winemaking make Luzanquis paintings a perennial traditional favorite.

By the way, the aged-looking, cracked texture that Luzanquis achieves on these contemporary pieces is known as "craqueleur."

Click here for biographical information about Bartolomeo Luzanquis and images of some of his other paintings.

Portfolio: Private Residence

"English Garden" by Pena

"Mediterranean Bayside Garden" by Andre Jouan

"Vineyard" by Covian

Room view of "Hillside Village" by Harvey

"Hillside Village" by Harvey