What is custom art?

What is custom art?

Custom art consists of decorative, illustrative or abstract designs that take a variety of forms. Flat work can be painted directly onto the wall or can be mounted art in a variety of media on a paper, canvas or other two dimensional substrate. This substrate or base can be completely flat or painted to create an illusion of dimension via depth of image field or surface effects. Surface effects include texture, light reflecting embedded material and build up relief. Custom art can also come in three dimensional and sculptural applications, including works that project more dramatically from the wall than relief or fully three dimensional works that are mounted on static or movable bases. Bases for movable works include pedestals, hanging fixtures, and custom built easels.

                Flat works painted directly onto the wall are generally referred to as murals. These wall paintings can consist of a variety of paint or mixed media and cover small areas or entire rooms. Small areas are called insets, and are usually smaller than three by three feet. Larger murals start at sizes above the three by three foot expanse. Murals can be located on walls, ceilings, architectural and structural columns, and even floors. Protective finishes are recommended for all forms of mural to minimize damage to the art, increase the ease of cleaning, and integrate the mural into the surrounding surfaces. In the case of full room murals, furniture and floors are protected during the painting process with tarps or moved out of the area until the paint and protective finishes are dry. The direct application of paint to the wall distinguishes murals from other forms of flat work.

                Flat works on paper can be crafted from paint, drawing material, collage or a mixture of these media. These works are generally framed for hanging on the wall. The subject matter, color palette and dimensions of any flat work are completely personal choice. Size may be defined by the available space, placement of furniture, light sources, and focal walls. Within the scheme of your interior design, a range of choices exist for matching your décor, highlighting colors, and bringing new or unifying elements into a room.

                What are trompe d’oeil? Trompe d’oeil are a kind of inset or mural. The word “trompe d’oeil” is French for “fool the eye” and refers to the  illusions of three dimensions in accomplished with flat paint. Often trompe d’oeil subjects include architectural and sculptural motifs, florals, still lifes, landscapes, and active narratives and people. Examples of architectural motifs include adding columns, windows, or niches to otherwise narrow spaces. Sculptural motifs include figural forms in niches, and other classical designs, as well as borders, and abstract forms. Florals and still lifes are often combined with niches to create the illusion of a vase or dish or shelf in a wall. Landscapes and active narrative or illustrative images are fabulous for focal walls where the eye tends to dwell. These can be break outs that look like an opening in the wall or integrated with architectural motifs such as windows or bracketed between columns. For the most illusory form of trompe d’oeil, select an active narrative that includes people paused in motion. Visitors to your home or business will do a double take as they try to ascertain whether the person is really there.

Faux finishes are generally abstract and colorful accents on a single wall, pair of walls or all walls of an entire room. Textural and patterned elements create interest, while integrating design motifs. Choosing colors that pull in elements of the room’s interior design scheme and unique decorator accents can bring the whole room into dynamic focus. Your personal mementos on display and sculptures can be highlighted by a faux finish as well.

Whether you are seeking a small unifying element or a whole home or business scheme, a design consultant can coordinate and create the perfect combination of custom art for your needs. Now that you have an idea of what the choices are, contact our representative for your own consultation and begin personalizing your space!

                                                        "Daddy Dave," acrylic on canvas
                                                        commissioned portrait for Betty and Terry Hendricks
                                                        completed 2010.