Yuko Adachi, a shamanic artist and soul healer, has explored the intersection of energy, art, and well-being for years. Her insights encourage a journey beyond the surface of dopamine decor to discover how thoughtful design choices can create spaces that are not only visually stimulating but also energetically uplifting and deeply inspiring. Her approach bridges this trend with soulful living, aiming to unlock true happiness within one’s home. 

What Is Dopamine Decor? 

Dopamine decor represents a rising trend aimed at infusing joy and vitality into living spaces. It focuses on incorporating vibrant colors, bold patterns, and playful accessories that reflect personal identity. This design style is a celebration of self-expression within the home, creating an environment that radiates positivity and energy. 

By stimulating dopamine, the decor mirrors the brain’s natural response to pleasure and motivation. However, as Adachi emphasizes, a lasting sense of happiness extends beyond fleeting thrills. This is where mindfulness in embracing dopamine decor becomes essential. 

How Can Homeowners Start with Dopamine Decor? 

To integrate dopamine decor mindfully, homeowners are encouraged to begin by selecting a central art piece or design element that resonates deeply. Adachi often advises clients to consider the transformative power of art. She explains how a carefully chosen piece can serve as the energetic heart of the home, radiating positivity and aligning the space with feelings of peace, joy, and fulfillment. 

Many of Adachi’s clients describe her artwork as a source of happiness and inspiration. Her intentional design philosophy encourages homeowners to use such a centerpiece to define the core theme of their home—happiness, joy, and light—while letting it guide subsequent decor choices. 

Maintaining Balance in Dopamine Decor 

Although dopamine decor thrives on vibrancy, Adachi stresses the importance of avoiding overstimulation. Excessive use of colors, patterns, or decorative elements can overwhelm the senses and create discomfort rather than joy. 

A balanced approach involves anchoring spaces with neutral tones while using bold art and accessories to add pops of vibrancy. By focusing on meaningful, high-quality pieces instead of an abundance of decorations, homeowners can elevate the aesthetic while reducing their environmental impact. Integrating natural materials like wood, clay, and organic fibers further enhances the energy of the space. 

Key Elements of Dopamine Decor 

Adachi recommends considering texture, color, and materials when embracing dopamine decor: 

• Textures: Wooden furniture, woven baskets, and organic fiber rugs bring warmth and authenticity. 

• Indoor Plants: Plants enhance a space’s vitality and contribute to a peaceful, happy atmosphere. 

• Handmade Items: Artisanal creations carry the frequency of love and creativity, infusing spaces with positive energy. 

Adachi also encourages homeowners to experiment with creating their own decor elements, which can add personal meaning and joy to their spaces. 

Designing with Intentional Art 

Adachi frequently helps clients incorporate art as the centerpiece of their homes. Her high-frequency paintings often become the focal point of vibrant living spaces, harmonizing with the rest of the decor. Her “lightcode activation” artwork, for example, is designed to inspire joy, peace, and love while promoting meditative relaxation. 

Embracing a Higher State of Happiness 

Adachi views the home as an extension of the self. By aligning decor with both dopamine-boosting vibrancy and soulful energy, individuals can create spaces that support their well-being. She encourages homeowners to choose elements that spark joy and reflect their unique essence while maintaining balance and harmony. 

When selecting art or decor, Adachi advises asking: Does this piece bring joy, peace, and inspiration? Does it align with the energy of happiness and abundance I wish to cultivate? Her approach transforms dopamine decor from a fleeting trend into an opportunity for personal growth and lasting fulfillment. 

As she often notes, “Happiness begins within.” By embracing natural materials, meaningful art, and mindful design, homeowners can craft spaces that nourish both the soul and the senses. 

____________________ 

Artist Bio: Yuko Adachi was born in Tokyo, Japan. As a child and teenager, she was brought up in Tokyo, Paris, New York, and London, enriching her soul with multi-cultural experiences. Yuko graduated from Sophia University (Tokyo) and then went to study at Georgetown University. She then flew to Boston to pursue her dream. She received her second bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. She furthered her studies on another scholarship at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts as a selected exchange student and studied at the Massachusetts College of Art in the USA. Since then, she has received multiple awards acknowledging her talents, and has been featured in over 53 exhibitions around the world.  

All Images courtesy of Yuko Adachi 

The post Unlocking the Art of Happiness: Dopamine Decor and Joyous Living appeared first on Art Business News.

During recent trips to my favorite art gallery and an amazing museum exhibition, I was reminded of how important an artwork’s display is to the overall effect of the art. As I viewed the sculpture collections at this gallery and museum, I noticed how the pedestals on which the artwork rested enhanced my experience of each piece.

If you’ve had a similar experience and wondered how you can achieve the same display and appreciation for your treasured sculpture pieces, look no further than Pease Pedestals. Celebrating 20 years of creating beautiful acrylic fabrication, Pease Pedestals has established itself as a premier U.S. manufacturer of high-end acrylic furniture, fixtures, and accessories.

Founder Patrick Pease and new owner Scott Gordon reveal how the company started, what drives its development, where it is headed today with Gordon at the helm, and—perhaps most important—what Pease Pedestals can do to inspire success in your business.

DECOR Magazine: How was Pease Pedestals founded?
Pease Pedestals: Patrick Pease began working with acrylic in 1979 as co-owner of Carmichael Designs in Palm Springs, California. Carmichael specialized in acrylic furniture design and fabrication. Patrick sold that business in 1995 and returned to his hometown in the Chicago area to raise his family. There, he opened Pease Plastics, again focusing on acrylic fabrication and creating a variety of furniture, display fixtures, accessories, and artwork.
In 1997, Patrick exhibited his spectacular colored acrylic sculptures at Artexpo New York, and he realized that his pedestals were generating as much interest as his artwork. As a result, he created a full line of pedestals, and Pease Pedestals was born.

DM: How did you develop your careers and come into this business?
PP: With a background in art, Patrick was drawn to the techniques and creative possibilities of acrylic fabrication. His first and most celebrated pieces were layers of laminated colored acrylic forming magical prismatic sculptures. Needing a way to display the sculptures he created, Patrick made coordinating display pedestals. Galleries began ordering the display pedestals for their artwork, and Patrick soon realized that he could expand beyond the sculptures. The addition of high-end furniture—dining tables, side tables, chairs, barstools, benches, and more—gave the company a full range of products to enhance any decor.
After 35 years of running a successful business, Patrick decided to scale back his involvement and find someone to buy into his business who would continue—and, he hoped, expand on—the legacy that he had built.
Scott has always had a passion for working with his hands. By the age of 10, he had discovered Guillow’s wooden airplane kits—basically a set of plans with a couple of flat sheets of balsa wood from which he could build a fairly complex 3-D airplane that could actually fly. Over time, he expanded and refined his skills, building furniture and remodeling his home. A passion for art led him to open two art galleries in the 1990s, but, with a successful career in film and television, all of these remained merely hobbies—that is, until 2013, when Scott decided to start a second career and do what he loved. He looked for a successful business to buy into that would allow him to be creative and make things with his own hands. Luckily, he found Pease Pedestals just as Patrick was looking to make a move in his career.
Today, Scott and Patrick work side by side, with Scott running all aspects of the business and Patrick advising when needed and occasionally working on a sculpture commission.

DM: What is your vision for the company and the motivation and inspiration behind your product lines?
PP: Our vision is to make Pease Pedestals and its sister company, Pease Plastics, the premier U.S. manufacturers of high-end acrylic furniture, fixtures, and accessories. Pease has developed a solid reputation over the years, focusing on innovative design, quality, and service for the most discerning customers. The company wants that legacy to continue. The challenge is to keep all of those attributes at the highest level while scaling up to meet the demand. Deploying the latest technology—laser cutters, engravers, and computer-numerical-control (CNC) routers—certainly helps, but it is our exceptional craftsmen who ultimately maintain our high quality and make innovation happen.
The pedestals are intended to be functional and beautiful yet not overpowering. Because they were originally developed to showcase Patrick’s acrylic art, many of them incorporated lighting, along with motors and turntables. The original designs have evolved over the years to our current line. We also create custom designs, and popular custom features often migrate to our standard line. We are continuing to develop new designs, inspired by the latest trends in art and architecture.

DM: What materials and components do you use in your products? What innovations and product features differentiate you from competitors?
PP: At Pease, we use a variety of methods in our construction. Many are common knowledge and similar to woodworking techniques, but we do have a few proprietary methods that set us apart from other acrylic fabricators. In particular, we are known for making beautiful, strong, crystal-clear joints in thick acrylic. Industry professionals constantly compliment us on our joinery, and we have even acted as subcontractors for other acrylic manufacturers to provide them with our high-quality joints. We’ve also developed unique ways of using our laser to build jigs for cutting and shaping, allowing us to make items most acrylic fabricators would only tackle with a CNC.

DM: What are your customers like? Do you have any great customer stories?
PP: Our customers vary quite a bit. Most are galleries or furniture retailers who are in turn dealing with their retail customers. We provide them with all of our resources so that they can offer custom, high-end pedestals as if they were the manufacturers themselves. We work very closely with galleries; they are actually our primary sales force. We also supply a variety of designers and decorators, as well as a few of our own retail customers. We cater to a high-end, discerning clientele, but we also provide a full range of pedestals, including simple boxes and display cases.
One of our favorite stories involves a designer who was so pleased with the acrylic furniture and decorative items that we had made for her that she sent us a very generous gift. In most companies it works the other way around! Somehow, we’ve managed to attract the most amazing, appreciative, and loyal clientele. Who could ask for more?

DM: How many people do you employ?
PP: We have 27 employees, and every one of them counts. We believe in taking very good care of our staff; they are our most important asset. Each is an expert at what he or she does, and is valued by everyone within the company. We’re very proud to provide them with good wages, paid vacation and sick time, a health plan, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with matching funds.
In addition, we support the community where we all live and work. Many of our regular customers are local, so their causes often become our causes. We donate money, goods, and services to local charities. We’re also members of the local chamber of commerce and some neighboring towns’ chambers of commerce. We think this completes a circle of taking care and giving back, and we have been rewarded with loyal employees and loyal customers.

DM: What can you tell us about product development? What’s on the drawing board?
PP: Our customer base includes many leading designers and decorators, so we’re always participating in the latest trends. The development of new products at Pease Pedestals is constant and ongoing. Some designs begin as modifications to existing pedestals, and others are completely new creations. Inspiration comes from a variety of sources—perhaps an amazing work of art or a bold example of architecture.
Inspiration can also come from new technology. For example, although we have no specific plans to introduce any new models in the coming year, it’s quite possible that our ongoing migration from halogen- and fluorescent-light sources to LEDs could result in new designs. Our growing use of lasers and CNC routers also opens up new possibilities beyond what we could do with traditional tools. We’re not only able to manufacture in a better way, we’re also often able to add new aspects to the design.

DM: Do you have anything else to tell our readers?
PP: Even after all these years, it’s great to see the business growing and thriving. We do it through building partnerships internally and externally: with our staff, our customers, our community, our industry, every point of contact.
We’re excited about what we have. What we see in our customers is love for what we do and how we do it. How can you beat that?
For more about Pease Pedestals, visit peasepedestals.com.

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By Tara Crichton

I love when people stop to look in my store’s front window. The longer they stay, the happier I am. Even better is when they come into the store because they just had to see what else was inside. It means my window is doing its job.

Put Your Personality Up Front
My front window is the face of my business that customers see from the street. Once a customer comes inside, I am the face of my business. I’m lucky that people consider picture framing artsy, so I can be quirky in my personal appearance; it only adds to my credibility. In an art business such as picture framing, people will judge you by all the artistic choices they observe in your business decor, advertising, promotion and personal presentation.

This revelation shouldn’t surprise you. Hairdressers must have good hair; if they charge top dollar, they had better have great hair. Everything that customers sense when they enter your space paints a picture in their minds of who you are and what they can expect of your product. What does the art on display in your store have to say about you? Does it look as though you have only one or two frame mouldings to sell? Does it look as though you haven’t framed anything new since the ’90s? Does your space have a bad smell? Is your store dirty or messy? If a customer notices any or all of these things, your business won’t grow and be successful.

Good picture framing is by its nature expensive, and the environment for selling expensive things needs to be inspiring. The exact method of inspiration differs for everyone.

Create Intrigue with Eclectic Accents
My store is eclectic. I’ve branched out into various modes of artistic expression through sculptures, interesting home decor, vintage frames and salvage. For me, anything that’s beautiful and unique is fair game. Oddly enough, there is a strange continuity in the store’s decor, which was completely unintentional. It works for my location and for the customers I want to attract.

One of the most successful picture-framing businesses I know has achieved its success by cultivating its own unique clientele. The business has two small locations in affluent areas of Toronto. When I say small, I mean SMALL. One has dimensions of approximately 10 by 10 feet with basement space for assembly. The other location is twice that size and has a front gallery space. Both locations dedicate 90 percent of their wall space to frame samples. But you won’t find the same frame samples you see at every other frame shop. The business derives its success from being a maverick of the framing world. The owners frame big and spectacular. Its personal presentation and the framing that the business produces have a rock-star vibe, which would-be imitators cannot copy. Customers go to these shops when they have money to spend and they want a piece of that magic for themselves.

Look at your location and decide what kind of customers you want. You can’t have everyone. Give up on that idea right away. If you cheapen your materials and workmanship to appeal to bargain hunters, then bargain hunters will become your clientele. This business strategy works only if the quantity of resulting work is so great that you can still make a profit.

Curate Your Collection
An ambitious picture framer is a curator. You should carefully choose everything that goes into your framing to reflect your artistic sensibility and the quality end product you will produce. Do you really need 100 frames with a black finish? Do you have frames from various companies that are indistinguishable from each other? Choose which ones you actually want to sell and the profiles that will give you the greatest range of finished products.

I am the worst person to advise against frame-sample hording. When I was working as a showroom manager for a national frame importer, I had more than 900 frame samples to work with. Yet, I still missed some of my favorite mouldings from the competition. This mentality does me no favors. It just ends up muddying the waters for my customers and cutting into my bottom line. I have now streamlined my business model with the mouldings I’ve chosen to be my mainstays and the unique, exciting lines that spice up the presentation.

I’ve been disappointed with most of the new moulding lines that have come out lately. They are so depressingly “safe”—that is, boring. I can’t get excited about brown frames. Instead, frames that look like iron fencing, complete with nail heads; frames that have traditional distressed silver beads and wood that looks like tortoiseshell; and frames of stained woods in Japanese red and ebony get my creative juices flowing.

Mats are the exception to the minimalist rule. I find that I really do need every sample out there. The mat companies have stepped up their game by producing new lines that fully optimize and expand the borders of picture framing—pun intended. Some customers would choose heavy jute overlay on gold leaf, pebbles or genuine gold and silver leaf as mat options. Apparently, the sky is the limit. I won’t use these mats every day, but as a person who has mounted gift paper onto matboard sheets to get just the right look, I applaud the innovative vision that led to their creation.

Use Your Creativity
I promote the frames and the framing techniques that comprise my vision through the framed art I display on my walls. Whenever possible, I frame original art that I acquire from local artists, university and college art sales and auctions. I carefully select decorative prints, as well. I creatively frame these gems in the best, most creative way according to their medium. I have so many options: floater frames; shadowbox frames; and mats with spacers, fillets, antireflective glass and linen mats. I do not randomly assemble these pieces as examples of framing technique. Instead, I frame each piece for the art, but I can refer to it as an example if a customer asks. The goal is to educate through inspiration. Customers first see how compelling the framed art is, and then they ask how you accomplished it.

The business you currently run is the business you have chosen. Every choice you have made about location, decor and frame suppliers has come together to create the face of your business. Ask yourself whether the face of your business is the one you want to show the world. It is completely under your control. If you build a business that shows the best that the industry offers, you will attract the customers who appreciate that quality. The universe rewards enterprises that you execute with passion and with a drive for excellence.

Tara Crichton has worked in the framing industry for more than 24 years and is a graduate of University of Guelph with a double major in fine arts. She has worked in every aspect of the framing industry, including retail, wholesale distribution, OEM and art direction. She now owns and operates a gallery just north of Toronto.

The post The Art of Framing: Put Your Best Face Forward with Your Storefront appeared first on Art Business News.

By Michael Pacitti

Inspired by the unruly aspects of the natural world, the Art Nouveau style affected art, illustration, design and architecture from 1890 to 1910. Despite its relatively short span as a popular trend, Art Nouveau made many appearances throughout the decades, including a secondary highlight during the 1970s psychedelic movement. Remember the Grateful Dead’s album covers? Pure Art Nouveau! Even today, the Art Nouveau style still permeates the framing industry.

The phrase “Art Nouveau” translates to “new art” or “modern art.” Originating in France and Germany, the style was characterized by sinuous, undulating lines that sensualized the design world. It featured flowing organic motifs and ornaments with graceful, flowing edges, like a curling whiplash. Artists and artisans often based the asymmetrical patterns on plant shapes such as flowers, vines, leaves and seaweed. Small insects and birds were also key motifs in the Art Nouveau movement.

Art Nouveau contrasted with the later style of Art Deco, which emerged in the early 1920s soon after the popularity of Art Nouveau waned. While Art Deco is still, rigid, defined and motionless, Art Nouveau portrays life, motion and continuity.

Art Nouveau revolutionized the way people looked at the objects that made up their world. As a period in design, Art Nouveau could be considered more of a movement rather than a style, transforming the Victorian era with new, modern imagery. The movement coincided with the Industrial Revolution and brought new approaches to interior design, architecture, furniture, fabrics, glass, tableware, jewelry, frames, posters, wallpaper, textiles and lighting. The style embraced new materials including molded bubble glass, animal horns, ivory tusks and semiprecious stones. It was also very prominent in the styling and production of stained glass that originated in England and incorporated many Art Nouveau styles, shapes and patterns.

Art Nouveau affected the design of the most everyday objects including utensils, hardware and furniture. The movement resisted classical restrictions. Rather than limit art to a canvas or traditional sculpture, Art Nouveau expanded the artistic premise by turning everyday objects into art. The artists incorporated the distinctive Art Nouveau curves and flowing lines to a painting; added a dimensional dragonfly to door decor; or graced doorway moulding with flowers, vines and leaves.

As with any new style introduction, critics and exhibit attendees either loved the style or loathed it. But boosted by its appearance at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, the movement flourished across the globe. In the United States, Art Nouveau emerged naturally from the craft tradition and trades of the early 19th century. Soon, North American designers contributed their own ideas to the Art Nouveau style, particularly in ceramics, glassware, architecture and frames. In the United States, a new style of glass art surfaced as Louis Comfort Tiffany took interest in Art Nouveau. Tiffany’s lamp designs are still renowned today.

Furniture designers also embraced the forward-thinking Art Nouveau movement, using the new organic, flowing motifs in defined furniture rather than regimented architectural patterns. Like fine artists, Art Nouveau furniture designers drew inspiration from the natural world and shared the same belief in quality goods and fine craftsmanship. They embraced mass production and combined the ornate Rococo style with botanical influences. Charles Macintosh of Scotland had a particularly profound impact on furniture design and style, and is considered one of the fathers of Art Nouveau furniture.

In the print world, Art Nouveau became one of the first major artistic movements. The concept of mass-produced images and graphics played a significant role in the industry, incorporating color-printing techniques that were relatively new at the time. Art Nouveau designers painted, drew and printed work for popular forms such as advertisements, posters, labels and magazines. The poster craze of the 1890s spread throughout Europe and America.

In early 1895, Paris artist Alphonse Mucha debuted his work with a lithographed poster for the play Gismonda featuring Sarah Bernhardt. The look and design of this poster not only popularized the Nouveau style, but identified and spread the concept of the design throughout Paris. Although originally called Mucha Style, it soon became a major part of Art Nouveau. Mucha went on to produce thousands of advertisements, illustrations, paintings and designs.

Many other artists of the time interpreted Art Nouveau as part of their own styles, including painter Gustav Klimt, glass designer René Lalique and architect Antoni Gaudí.

Today, contemporary illustrator Echo Chernik captures the essence of Art Nouveau in her modern work. Her concept of “total art” can be found framed in many styles of Art Nouveau period frames and on display throughout the Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Her paintings illustrate the sensuous lines and subtle light of Art Nouveau and feature feminine figures with long, flowing hair. Chernik’s success shows that Art Nouveau’s symbolism and motifs are still appreciated by the art world today.

Michael Pacitti is publisher of DECOR magazine and Show Director for DECOR Expo Showcase. He has worked in the interior design, art, photography and custom framing design industry for more than 25 years.

The Art Nouveau frame style is ideal for images or posters representing Paris plays and advertising from the late 1800s. Unlike the symmetrical style of Art Deco mouldings and frames, Art Nouveau frames incorporate linear movement of tendril-like motifs and weaving patterns that capture the eye. Most frames of this style depict flowing leaves and flowers with sinuous lines. Art Nouveau frames should have movement within the surface of the moulding.

The post Period Design Series: All About Art Nouveau appeared first on Art Business News.

By Michael Pacitti

Color trends reflect how we live our lives, and our outlook on color has broadened thanks to today’s new technology. Simultaneously, our boundaries between public life and private life have blurred, and our take on privacy has evolved. Some people desire to create a personal territory, away from the hustle and bustle of our world. Our age-old desire is to take shelter and find that peaceful inner space. Within the comforts of our home, we respond to a need for privacy. Color helps us abound in our nest.

The home also takes center stage when it comes to color trends and decoration. Original art, canvas transfers and Giclée are growing to fill large loft walls or high ceiling entrances. Mirrors are also welcome additions throughout the home. Traditional styling has merged with modern designs to produce a new “transitional” look.

We now live in a time more focused on natural environment, fresh eating and healthy living. Citrus and farm-fresh colors of vegetables, fruits and open fields help illustrate our way of life. Some colors have become more weathered and washed, as though they have worn down over the years, making our spaces feel lived-in and comfortable. Paint companies curate new neutral color palettes each year to help you find and create those moments of sanctuary in your home.

By staying on top of changing color trends, framers can harness color fads and boost their business.

A Colorful History
The human eye can see approximately seven million colors, many of which affect the viewer’s mood and health. When naming colors, people rely on cultural conventions. Some cultures have a few names for all colors; others have dozens or hundreds of names. We learn to name colors the same way we learn to name animals, foods or letters of the alphabet: We look, someone else points and names, and after a while we get the connection.

Color trends have changed dramatically throughout the decades. In 1917 Evercote House Paint released one of the first color-trend forecasts for home interiors and exteriors. This practice continued for years and included paint for trend periods such as Victorian, Colonial, Jacobean and Art Deco. The original forecasts for interior and exterior home color came from paint companies. Today, paint companies such as Benjamin Moore, Pantone and Dulux still continue to track the color trends.

Consumers drive color trends. A color cannot be a trend unless it sells. A color does not change; the consumer’s attitude toward a color changes. Several factors will affect the trend including lifestyles and social changes, political events, travel, art, social media, music and cultural and global events.

A significant global event, such as World War II, can greatly affect the direction that colors take in the ensuing years. Like the battlefields, the color trends during that war were drab, full of khakis, heavy grays, somber teals and thick reds.

New color trends can show up in a matter of months after a major event. In 2010, Pantone predicted the popularity of the color turquoise. That year Twitter released a new turquoise logo, and the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games used turquoise as the background color for the Games’ website, which received more than 1.5 billion hits. Hollywood also released the hit movie Avatar and released a live-action version of Alice in Wonderland, both of which use turquoise in many of the backdrops and color schemes.

Each year Pantone and other organizations also forecast the year’s top wedding color, which often links to a current fashion statement. “Radiant orchid,” 2014’s color, is abundant in this year’s wedding palettes as decorative trims, accents, centerpieces and bouquets.

Boost the Business
Today’s color trends adapt diverse design influenced by individual color selection. Custom picture framing designers can choose color though matting and moulding to fulfil customers’ desires. Framers should understand the tint, tone and shade factors in any combination of selected colors or schemes.

Keeping in tune with the latest images, such as trend posters and art, will also help framers know what colors are hot and what moulding to use in a framing combination. For example, movie posters from the ’70s and ’80s, with their heavy use of primary colors, are now fashionable additions to home decor.. Red, blue and yellow mouldings and mat boards, such as Crescent Cardboard’s Brite Cores, are well-suited for these posters.

Color trends appear to develop at a fast pace, in and out within a year. Separate and identify mat boards in trend colors to identify yourself as a custom framing designer aware of the current trends.

Michael Pacitti is publisher of DECOR magazine and Show Director for DECOR Expo Showcase. He has worked in the interior design, art, photography and custom framing design industry for more than 25 years.

Sidebar:
Color Tools
Websites such as colorhunter.com and pictaculous.com extract all of the colors in an image or picture to produce a color palette for color design and assessment. They are great tools for solving matting issues that require the breakdown of an image by color distribution. These free sites will help you upload an image, instantly send back the color distribution and, in some cases, show the most predominant color.

The post Behind the Color Trends appeared first on Art Business News.

By Tara Crichton Picture framing at its simplest is a craft, and, if you reduce it even further, it is a business. I’m not fond of the business side of framing. The business chores I must perform every couple of months have become the bane of my existence, and I can’t wait until the bottom line of my business allows me the luxury of delegating them to someone else. There is good reason that I didn’t become an accountant.

You would think that, after years of repetition, the possibly monotonous labor of cutting frames, glass, mats and backing would cease to thrill. And, although they don’t make my heart beat faster in avid anticipation, they provide a feeling that is less like a new love and more like a good marriage. There is a more solid, steady feeling of satisfaction with every step that brings me closer to a job’s completion.

My craft demands sterile perfectionism—perfect joins, clean glass and smooth surfaces—and I base my art on that perfectionism. It is like the canvas that a painter uses when realizing a masterpiece. It provides those details that the customer sees and those they don’t, and it thus makes or breaks the artwork.

At the very least, mats should have the smallest possible overcuts, glass should be free of dirt or fingerprints, and frame corners should be tight and touched up so that the seam is virtually invisible. The superior materials and methods that preserve and conserve are also crucial. All my work is for nothing if shoddy workmanship undermines the superficial appearance. For example, paper mats can fade and discolor, cardboard backing acids can denature the art, and masking tape can dry into powder. Some performance art uses materials that rot and decay as a statement; picture framing is not that kind of art.

It takes time and skill to achieve the invisible perfection that showcases the customer’s art and makes no effort to take center stage. The frames, mats and glass are the paints of my art. They are the means of building depth, scale, intensity and volume.

The sum of these skills becomes gloriously greater than the parts. The frame and mat you choose create the art’s focus. The matting and frame width can give the art more visual weight and significance. Dark colors reinforce this effect, attracting light and more vividly contrasting the artwork with its surroundings. The matting color you use reacts with the colors in the art, causing them to either recede or advance. White or creamy mats, on the other hand, are the exceptions to this rule. They provide the best way to create a visually open area around the art that stays neutral as long as you find the right level of white.

Using colors that are the opposite of a main color in the art has an interesting push-pull effect. Such opposites include red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange. Use that optical effect with caution, though. It’s a bit like putting a juggling act in your show; make sure the main attraction can hold its own. You can mute the effect by using grayed-down versions of the colors.

There is sometimes no reason why something works or doesn’t work. Listen to what your trained senses tell you. If what you are laying down doesn’t seem like the perfect combination, keep pulling and keep putting options down. Pull some frames that you are sure won’t work. On the other hand, a “wrong” frame can suddenly and mysteriously look incredible, and finding one is among my secret joys.

Inspiration is the main motivator that elevates my craft beyond drudgery. Artists become inspired and fall in love with their subjects. My love affair with texture, which I’ve written about before, is still going strong. Although that type of love doesn’t die easily, I know that I have to love my client’s art more. I can’t put together all my favorite things, regardless of how it works on a watercolor, intaglio print, family photo or golf shirt. It’s difficult to frame all the disparate objects your clients bring to you. You can get caught up in the technical details and lose the spark that makes the entire project shine. This inspiration doesn’t live in a vacuum; it is something you have to work to maintain.

We are so lucky to live in a time during which the internet lets us keep in touch with what is happening around the world. I’m a bit backward in the social-media world. Although I love Pinterest, Instagram and Flickr, Facebook doesn’t interest me at all. I want to know what strangers are doing and what inspires them.

Inspiration is contagious. I get inspired watching fashion shows on vogue.com or documentaries on Netflix. I also love flipping through home-decor magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store. Trade shows are an invaluable opportunity for framers to pick the brains of other industry professionals. You don’t have to steal their ideas; they will give them to you. The well-thought-out displays of framed art with new mouldings and products are bound to get your artistic juices flowing.

For me, picture framing is everything that bookkeeping is not. It is passion and craft, paint and sculpture, creativity and practical application—all wrapped up together. There is an art to great picture framing that is fulfilling and rewarding to produce, and the rewards come from customer loyalty. There is magic in becoming inspired by art and creating the best possible artistic method of framing to preserve and enhance it. Tara Crighton has worked in the framing industry for more than 24 years and is a graduate of University of Guelph with a double major in fine arts. She has worked in every aspect of the framing industry including retail, wholesale distribution, OEM and art direction. She now owns and operates a gallery just north of Toronto.

The post The Art and Craft of Framing appeared first on Art Business News.

By Michael Pacitti

Period design is a fascinating field of study, and one that can help you do better business. Behind each frame lies a story that’s well worth knowing—and sharing. Did you know that most frames fall into one of thirteen periods of design? Knowing and understanding all the influences behind a frame can really help to hone your skills as a custom framing designer. And this, in turn, will bring you more satisfied customers.

So without further adieu, let’s dive into this issue’s featured period of design!

Art Deco: 1925 – 1937

No doubt you’re aware that Art Deco is hot right now! Part of the reason was last year’s movie remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” with a star-studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire and Carey Mulligan.

If you saw the film, you’ll recall the rich, opulent ‘20s glamour of the costumes and set. This was a sparkling, smoke-swirled era with glittering sequins, lavish beading, polished hardwoods and elaborate, over-the-top splendor. Box office reviews for the movie may have been mixed, but the fashion trends had already caught on.

Pantone announced an Art Deco emerald green for the color of 2013. Hipsters across the country started sporting suspenders and bowties. Rolls Royce announced a new, Art Deco-styled vehicle. Kitchen fixtures began cropping up in shiny, nickel-plated styles. And of course, Art Deco frames grew in popularity.

Hallmarks of Art Deco

Let’s review the classic hallmarks of Art Deco. Clean lines, geometric shapes and grayed colors are a good place to start. We’re talking dove gray, flat silver, brilliant red, soft lilac and emerald green—this is the basic palette— set against exotic woods such as Makassar ebony, zebrawood, and the refined metals of bronze, brushed steel and nickel.

Art Deco’s visual motifs include geometric shapes, curves, Egyptian zigzags, sunburst,
lightning bolts, airbrushed screened ray bands, motion light, aerodynamic and streamlined forms. Glamorous ornamentation is another hallmarks of the Art Deco period. The more lavish, the better.

Influences and Background

There’s a lot of interesting history behind the Art Deco movement, and it’s well worth knowing. Let’s dive into it.

Art Deco holds some wonderful paradoxes. On the one hand, it is considered a supremely theatrical, ornate style; yet it is also classical and symmetrical. The movement drew its inspiration from art genres including Cubism, Futurism, Neoclassicism, Modernism, Futurism and the Bauhaus era. Art Deco’s true heyday was from 1925 to 1937, though things started up as early as 1920.

Think of the Roaring Twenties—the Jazz Age, with flappers kicking their sequined heels up at raucous, lavish parties. It was a glamorous time, but it was also an era that embraced technology. This is a key distinguishing factor between Art Deco and the Art Nouveau period, with its organic motifs.

Although many other design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco was purely decorative. It was bold and brassy and powerful. It took buildings and designed them to look like cruise ships!

Discoveries, Motifs and Ornamentation

In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter and his sponsor, Lord Carnarvon, thrilled the
world with their discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Reporters and tourists
thronged at the site for a glimpse at treasures which had lain nearly undisturbed for over 3,000 years. Soon, a fascination for ancient Egypt found expression in clothing, jewelry,
furniture, graphic design and, of course, architecture. In fact, one of the most popular Art Deco motifs is that of the sunburst pattern, taken from Egyptian hieroglyphs and symbols.

Art and Posters

Although the term “Art Deco” is rarely applied to painting or sculpture, the style is visible in the streamlined forms of certain 20th century painters from the inter-war period. One of the most famous artists who employed Art Deco themes was painter Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980). A bold, fiercely independent woman (with a fascinating life story), Lempicka revolutionized the world of female portraits. She embraced the “synthetic cubist” method of painting, using small, geometric planes of strong color to create stunning, empowering portraits of women.

Along with the technological advances of the era, the art world saw dramatic evolution in the world of printmaking and lithography. As a result, Art Deco posters became available to many who might not otherwise be able to afford the original artwork. These images endure today.

Lempicka’s prints were (and are) popular, as were images in the “Cassandre Style,” so named after the pseudonym of the famous artist Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron, who held a one-man show at the Museum of Modern Art in 1936. No doubt you are familiar with Cassandre’s sleek designs of towering ships and speeding trains—the pinnacle of Art Deco graphic design. Pinup posters and advertisements were popular as well.

Fashion

The fashion-forward clan knew exactly what they wanted after the end of World War I, when technological advances kicked into high gear. It was time to move beyond the hardship and into an era of empowerment for women. Flapper fashion was born. Long-waisted dresses, V-necklines and ostrich feathers celebrated women’s femininity, while bobbed haircuts brought a dash of erotic androgyny into the mix.

Picture Frames, Photo Frames & Mouldings

Now that we’ve explored the history and hallmarks of the Art Deco period, let’s bring the discussion back to framing. Here’s where we start to put it all together in terms of your business and clients.

Art Deco mouldings and frames tend to have clean, smooth finishes. They hold a characteristic of not only symmetry, but also a consistency in finish and color. Whether you’re talking about a painted green frame or one made of highly polished metal, it will have clean-cut lines that will beautifully compliment any art deco art image or photograph. Aluminum, stainless steel, plastics, lacquer and inlaid wood are excellent choices.

Have a client who wants to frame a poster of the Chrysler Building or a classic Tamara de Lempicka print? Get a slick, polished frame and set it off beautifully. Loft owners and condo dwellers—especially those with high ceilings—are looking for Art Deco stylings whether they know it or not!

Framing Art Deco posters requires a moulding that is clean, flat and symmetrical in pattern and ornament. Try pairing the image or subject matter that you are designing with frames that have geometric or stylized patterns from representational forms (remember the Egyptian sun we discussed above?). Bear in mind: Art Deco often incorporates a repetitive pattern throughout the image. Choose mouldings that are cool, elegant and sophisticated. You are looking for symmetry, clean lines and geometric patterns.

Furniture and Decor

In the wake of the Gatsby style resurgence we’re seeing, interior decorators and designers are incorporating Art Deco themes into their decor these days as well. The original Art Deco furniture was an amalgam of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century—including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism—and that’s what we’re seeing again today.

Art Deco decor is characterized by the use of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, leather, lacquer, inlaid wood and exotic materials such as ivory, shark skin and zebra skin. Functional elegance is the key. Other elements include: high-gloss finishes, glass
and metal combinations, geometric shapes and bold patterns (think animal prints). Keep these in mind when working with an Art Deco artwork and/or frame.
Inspiration and Resources

If you want help your clients to create a space in which their apartment, home or loft looks and feels as though they have a roommate named Gatsby, the following websites
are good places to start.

Houzz.com
Houzz.com has literally thousands of pictures of Art Deco interior designs. From poster
art and shower curtains to bed frames and wall-mounted mirrors, Houzz.com gives you
an idea of all the many ways that you can build an Art Deco vibe in your home.

Interiordesignipedia.com
One of my favorite sites for custom framing design ideas related to Art Deco is interiordesignipedia.com

Lighting Advice
Layered lighting schemes are important to consider when exploring Art Deco decor. Sconces and torchères beam light up or down to cast a flattering, sultry glow. Art deco fixtures were futuristic for their era, yet polished. Check out this video on adding LED effects to a room.

Art Deco Color Schemes
Here’s a great site for working with art deco schemes: http://www.decopix.com/Art_Deco_Color_Schemes/

Michael Pacitti, IDEC, CPF, has worked in the interior design, art, photography and custom framing design industry for more than 25 years. He has been associated with the Color Marketing Group since 1990 and the Color Association of the United States (C.A.U.S), through which he has taught seminars on color and design to interior designers throughout North America, Europe, Australia and China for 25 years. He has also written numerous articles on color and design and is a professional certified educator with IDEC Interior Design Educators Council.

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