| What exactly is art? The longer you search for a | | | | to each his own. |
| definition, the more elusive it seems to become. For | | | | So when you set out to buy artwork for your |
| many people, art (for the purposes of decorating a | | | | apartment, whether you're off to the flea market, |
| home environment) is a clear-cut proposition. It is | | | | yard sales, discount stores, or wherever, try to |
| often framed and is typically a painting, poster, or | | | | remember these tips: |
| print of some sort that is hung on a wall. To others, | | | | · Color. Try to find art that works with the |
| art does not fit into this neat, structured definition. | | | | color of your walls, furnishings, curtains, and other |
| For them, art is anything they want to call art. In | | | | things in your apartment. Many of us have had a |
| other words, a Picasso hanging on a wall is just as | | | | piece of art that just doesn't seem to go with |
| much art as a strip of hundred-year-old wood | | | | anything we own, haven't we? |
| removed from a barn during demolition. Both can be | | | | · Size. If you're trying to fill a particular |
| hung on a wall and admired. So one is just as much | | | | space, measure it out before you go shopping. |
| art as the other, to those who believe art can be | | | | · Mood. If it makes you smile right away and |
| any thing of beauty displayed in your space. | | | | it's in your price range, it might be right for you. If it |
| In the American Heritage Dictionary, art has nine | | | | makes you nervous or edgy or inspires other |
| definitions. My favorite defines it as "human effort to | | | | not-so-desired emotions, keep looking. Don't buy a |
| imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of | | | | piece of art just because the salesperson thinks it's |
| nature." I love the idea that art "supplements" what | | | | great or because you like the frame or the colors |
| exists around me. For me, this is what art truly | | | | used. Buy art that speaks to you, especially when |
| does-adds to and enhances my environment. | | | | you like what it's saying. |
| HOW TO SELECT ART | | | | · Adaptability. Try to purchase art that can |
| If you think you aren't very good at selecting | | | | be used in different rooms, so redecorating (by just |
| artwork, think again. I mean really think. Haven't you | | | | rearranging) will always be an option for you. |
| ever walked into someone's home and admired his or | | | | · Don't buy on impulse. If at all possible, go |
| her art? (Try to remember the style, and that might | | | | home and think about it for a while. The only |
| be a good one for you.) Then again, haven't you | | | | mistakes I've ever made in buying art happened |
| ever walked into someone's home and hated the art | | | | when I bought on impulse. (However, if you're |
| they had on their walls? (Remember that style and | | | | shopping at flea markets or yard sales, you'll have to |
| try to stay away from it.) | | | | forget this rule.) |
| My home has lots of inexpensive folk art sprinkled | | | | · Buy what you love. Who cares if you think |
| around on the walls. Some people walk in and rave | | | | a velvet rendering of dogs shooting pool is the best |
| over it all. Others walk in and say, "Oh, nice to see | | | | art in the world? Buy what you love, and it will look |
| you hang up your kids' artwork. It's...um...nice." Oh well, | | | | great in your space. |