Choosing the right piece of art can be more challenging than it would appear to be, there are a lot of formats to consider such as paper or canvas as well as multiple choices of framing. Art could be considered the cherry on top of the cake that is your home, so choosing a piece that complements the room and makes you smile when you see it is crucial. Don’t worry though, we have you covered – below are our top tips for choosing the right piece for you.
1. Size matters
Ensuring the piece you choose is going to fit properly on the wall is vital. You don’t want something that will look disproportionately big on the wall (unless of course you make a feature out of it just like our Chillin’ is) but you also don’t want something that looks comparatively small. The best thing to do before searching for any type of artwork is to measure the wall and decide roughly what size piece would be ideal. Once this is done, you can get searching for the right artwork.
Have an awkward space? The shape of the piece is important as well, if you have a bit of a snug spot that is begging to be noticed, look for a smaller piece such as the ones shown below and maybe be a bit more playful with the shapes and make a composition.
2. Consider colour
The colour scheme of your room is an important factor to consider when choosing a piece of art. Consider looking at which colours look best together and the effect that you want to achieve with your interior. For example, our ‘Head in the Clouds’ collection will brighten up your space. Whereas the ‘Urban Graffiti’ collection will give you a range of colours to play with. For example, you can easily pick out the predominant colours of the room such as blue or orange and look for those in our pieces.
3. Plan ahead
It can be hard to tell if a piece is going to look the way you envision on your wall – the format, framing, size and format of a piece will give off different effects. Framing is also good to consider, but we will get into that later. Our team is very often asked by our collectors to dress a chosen room depending on the current decor, and this is where our curators take into consideration the proportions of the room as well as the preferred style of art that the client has in order to decorate the space. Normally, we have a selection of pieces that we actually superimpose on the wall which allows you to visualise the end result, if you think that this might help you make a choice simply drop us an email with a photo of your space, and we will do the magic!
4. Choose what you love
The art in your home should bring you joy every time you see it, at the end of the day it’s an investment in your happiness. If you aren’t sure about a piece, please don’t forget that our team of curators are here to share their expertise with you. Here at the Paul James Gallery, we have a variety of collections matching every style and personality including ‘Contemporary’, ‘Urban Graffiti’, ‘Classic’ and ‘Head in the Clouds’ and believe it or not, they are all painted by one artist!
5. Consider framing options
The framing of a work of art can completely transform the piece, we have a standard black frame that compliments all of our pieces, with the option of art glass or standard glass. However, don’t forget that our curators can facilitate bespoke framing too, if you would like to add a personal touch to your piece by choosing a different frame, just let our team know and we will organise it for you. Art glass is recommended as it is non-reflective and brings out the vibrancy of the colours, however we also offer the standard glass option. Canvases can also be framed for a more elegant look – an unframed canvas gives off a casual feel to the piece whereas framing it, offers the piece a finishing touch. Every choice you make depends on the tone and mood that you want your piece to radiate.
6. Don’t be afraid to mix formats
Art completely changes a space and how you interact with it. Mix it up a bit and don’t stick to one format. Here at Paul James Gallery, we offer both canvases and mounted papers to suit every style, and match the personality of the room. When starting out, sometimes smaller pieces can be the way to go (see Bouncer and Bruiser), this way you can slowly build up your collection and have a mini-Paul James Gallery of your own!
7. Take care
Aside from direct sunlight, another factor that can affect the painting is humidity. Make sure you choose a room and area with low humidity and no direct contact with water. Excessive moisture can damage a painting over time. If your art requires cleaning, simply dust it carefully with a feather duster. Never use water or cleaning products that might deteriorate the piece. We include a handy care guide with all of our pieces, so that if you are an art newbie, you can be confident in your ability to protect your art. And of course, any problems or queries, just get in touch with us and one of our curators will be happy to help!
Be sure to follow us on social media to stay informed with regular gallery updates!
What makes a piece of art good?
Everyone has different opinions and styles that they prefer – art is not an exception to this opinion. There are many different styles of art and millions of pieces, it’s only natural that there will be many different reactions to these pieces – we can’t expect everybody to like the same things.
We are so delighted to announce the release of Paul’s latest limited edition “Depths of Autumn”!
We are so delighted to announce the release of Paul's latest limited edition "Depths of Autumn"! We have this stunning piece available in four...
Paul discusses his artwork “Depths of Autumn” and plays the piano for us
Paul discusses his artwork "Depths of Autumn" and plays the piano for us Breath-taking, both in scale and detail this magnificent Autumnal painting...