ELEVATING ENVIRONMENTS

ABOVE PHOTO: JAMES RIVER MEDIA

Current Art Trends in Interior Design

Artwork that graces a home is an expression of personal style that says something about those who live within its walls. Adding beauty and personality to your home, art can create an atmosphere of enjoyment and can be a conversation piece when friends visit. Consider the current trends in art while seeking those pieces that elevate your surroundings. 

PHOTOS: MICHAEL PATCH

Trends in home art
Choosing art for the home is a personal process and can be a form of self-expression that showcases a wide range of tastes and interests. Yet, trends tend to surface in the buying patterns of consumers. Currently, big, bold colors are desired in a wide range of mediums: watercolor, oils, acrylics, mixed media, sculpture and more. Big applies to the size of the art as well. Large canvases make bold statements in spacious areas of the home. 

Also, portraits continue to be popular to tell the stories of those who live in the home. Not at all surprising, portraits of pets are becoming increasingly common. According to Michelline Hall, chief programming officer at the Academy Center of the Arts, “Pet portraits are an amazing niche, creating something that really speaks to the homeowner and says so much about the family.” 

Though home gallery walls are still popular, the pieces themselves tend to be larger and spaced farther apart. The idea is a carefully designed wall rather than a busy, mismatched look. 

PHOTO: ACADEMY CENTER OF THE ARTS

Sustainable art is on the rise. Natural and recyclable materials are used in a mixed media artform to appeal to the eye as well as the touch. In addition to reducing the impact on the environment, sustainable art also speaks to the current issues of the day. 

PHOTO: JAMES RIVER MEDIA

Technology continues to change the world in which we live, and the art world is no different. Artists use digital tools such as graphic design software, LED lights, screens, projectors and other devices to create interactive, animated and multi-dimensional artwork. 

Whether you’re working with an interior designer or striking out on your own, looking at the trends in artwork can help in your decision-making process. 

PHOTO: JAMES RIVER MEDIA

Art as a focal point
Most people, when buying for a home, start out looking for one big piece, a focal point. “You may be looking for a piece to fit over the couch or over the mantel or in a large entryway,” comments Kelly Mattox, artist and president of the Lynchburg Art Club. “The trend is more of that one central piece instead of a cluster of pictures or paintings. You want to be able to see a focal piece from 15 to 20 feet away. Too many details in a large painting will get lost. Your eye is seeking a dominate color,” she continues. “Also, it’s important to have some of the same colors in the painting that are in the sofa or chairs.” 

A large piece sets the tone of the room. Bold, bright colors bring energy to the space while soft, light colors give off a relaxed, peaceful feel. 

PHOTO: JAMES RIVER MEDIA

Making a personal statement
Art that comes into a home should bring joy to the owner and serve as a catalyst for self-expression, but it’s not just the art itself that brings joy. The journey of choosing artwork gives the homeowner an opportunity to engage in creativity and develop a sense of personal style. 

Visiting galleries and going to art shows are great ways to discover what you like. Important to consider are size, color, style of art, mood, subject matter and price. Most of all, though, choose something you love! 

“It’s important to look at what you have,” says Hall. “See how you can integrate your family photos and what’s important to you with the original art.” 

PHOTO: LYNCHBURG ART CLUB

Local artists
“I am a major advocate for buying original art. When you buy from a local artist, you’ll be displaying an original, one-of-a-kind piece of art,” Mattox says. “More importantly, you won’t buy something and then walk into another person’s home just to see the same mass-produced piece hanging on the wall. Plus, when you buy local art, you can develop a good rapport with the artist, watch the artist’s work and buy additional pieces.” 

SAVE THE DATE
Lynchburg Art Festival — September 21

The Lynchburg Art Club on Rivermont Avenue is one of the oldest art organizations in the mid-Atlantic. The club has a gallery with monthly members’ art exhibits as well as permanent and regional exhibits. Each year, the club hosts an outdoor Art Festival at E.C. Glass High School. “This year, the event is on September 21. We’ll have over 125 artists who’ll be selling their artwork,” says Mattox. 

Hall encourages homeowners to reach out to artists. “One avenue for art in the home is fostering a relationship with the artists,” she says. “Also, connecting with a curator can help you get to know the style of various artists. Finding something that speaks to the homeowner specifically is the goal. The point in bringing art into your home is to connect with something you love.” 

The Academy Center of the Arts has several satellite galleries that showcase artists’ original work: The Virginian, Magnolia Foods and Westminster Canterbury. Also, the Academy’s latest project, artistica.shop, features the original work of more than 40 regional artists. With everything from watercolor, oils, photography, pottery and hand-painted pottery, this website serves as an opportunity to view and purchase art that is currently displayed in Academy galleries without leaving your own home. 

PHOTO: MICHAEL PATCH

Commission a legacy piece
Regardless of the subject matter, commissioned art provides an opportunity to arrive at a highly personalized piece of artwork that fits perfectly into a specific space and follows the color scheme in the home. 

Each artist handles commissions differently. For instance, a portrait artist may have a specific fee structure and advertise themselves that way. Other artists will charge by the size of the canvas. “When I do commissions,” Mattox explains, “I go into a person’s home. I bring canvases with me in a variety of sizes. I study the light, see the color concepts of the sofa and the walls. I keep my clients informed of the process along the way. It’s like a baby being born, so they become invested in the process. When I’m finished, I install the work.” 

Commissioned artwork can take from weeks to months to even years to complete, depending on the complexity of project. 

Try your hand at art
The Lynchburg Art Club offers classes for those who would like to create their own masterpieces. “We have some members who teach classes,” says Mattox, “and we also bring in some artists from other places. We teach many different disciplines — watercolors, pastels, a variety of different classes. I encourage newcomers to attend an eight-week workshop and see what they enjoy.” 

The Academy Center of Arts also offers a variety of art classes. “Our pottery classes are always full,” comments Hall. “We also have camps, classes, exhibitions and workshops featuring mediums like watercolor, glass fusion and photography.” A full listing of art education opportunities is available at academycenter.org. 

Whether you commission a piece, stumble across something you love or even create your own, simply enjoy the journey of selecting original art. You’ll add beauty and meaning to every corner of your home. ✦