Oops-Proof Artwork
I have come to learn; I am not a puzzle person. My fiancé and I broke out a 2,000-piece puzzle back when the quarantine began, and it is pathetic how little we’ve accomplished. So, my parents came to the rescue by dropping off a big container of my childhood games, which had been placed in storage many years ago. Amongst the relics, a Wii! My fiancé had been trying to convince me for weeks to buy some sort of gaming console, but I didn’t want us to get stuck in front of a TV more than we already are. However, a Wii! That’s as close as it gets to bringing physical sports indoors without worrying about knocking over a vase or batting a ball through the window. Well, that’s what I THOUGHT! As I sat on the couch and watched my fiancé perfect his virtual golf swing, I was having day-mares (you know, daydreams but the bad kind) of him releasing his grip on the controller and it puncturing the painting over our television. For those who have had that unfortunate experience, and for those who now know they want to avoid it, here are a few works that are safe for the game room! I’m going to nix works on canvas and anything behind glass…only strong, sturdy, and dentproof paintings… well, depending how hard you chuck that controller or the speed of your back pull on a pool cue.
Here is a collection of fun and fail-safe paintings that are currently available at the gallery. They will suit your game room needs!
New In-Sights
Here we are, another day where the routine has been cut short. No longer do I wake up at 7, jog to the gym for a 7:30 start, workout for an hour, 8:30 shower, and 9:10 departure for my walk to work… Thirty-five minutes later, I am at my desk with a cup of coffee, a small breakfast and clicking through my emails. My new routine looks more like this… I still wake up at 7 (damn internal clock!), coffee and breakfast in bed before my 15 meager steps to my makeshift office… the dining room table. Not very fulfilling, and my body is stiff from the lack of movement.
I will admit, for a small New York City apartment, my view isn’t too shabby… I will share a picture of it below. But, even being able to gaze out as far as the eye can see, the view is not very inspirational. It doesn’t “take” me anywhere. More of a constant reminder that I haven’t left my home in over a month. Sigh.
I love my collection of art. I’ve always bought works that I love and didn’t think much about it. But now, one thing I wish I had purchased, and which now I can desperately appreciate the importance of, is the genre of landscape. Portraits - check, abstract – check, still life – check, landscape – NONE!
I wish I could look around the walls and be transported to another place. Every frame, a window looking out to a new location somewhere in the world. A Ben Bauer, putting me in a lush field of the Midwest ( ahh, fresh air); an Erik Koeppel or Ken Salaz bringing me to the top of a mountain at sunset (ahh, fresh air); or a Mark Lague transporting me to a country I have yet to experience in person (might still need a mask on for that).
So, with that, I have put together a collection of my favorite landscape paintings that I wish I had hanging on my walls. For those struggling with their cabin fever, all of these works, at the moment I wrote this post, 4/12/20 (aka day 31 of my quarantine) are available and ready to fill those voids on your walls.
The Power of Green for your Home Office
Due to the current events, more people than ever are working from home. I can personally speak to the fact that for some, it is hard to get in the mindset of being at work when you are home. There are some small adjustments you can make to your surroundings to trick your mind into a “work mode.” At the gallery, we are always exploring interesting phenomena that affect our minds and body through art. One of the most well known and studied ideas is the influence of color. So, when you need to create an at-home office atmosphere, the color GREEN is a great hue to incorporate --- it symbolizes money and prosperity, obviously, but also helps reduce anxiety. Science shows that it is one of the most soothing colors for us to look at and is known to help clear your mind and promote self-control … something I am sure many of us are in dire need of these days. Your home may now be the central hub for the entire family… multiple office meetings taking place at the same time, k – college classes in session, or a barking dog trying to steal your attention. Green is a great color to keep you focused and relaxed. Here are a few works from the gallery that can help you jumpstart your home office décor.
