Incorporate the art of storytelling “There’s a large element of magic in this. We’re designing a space oftentimes based on a description from a person, but we’ll begin to build a basic story,” Craig said. “As it grows and gets more defined, we’ll get to a place where I know art will make them happy in this place and I’ve designed a space exactly for a piece. Then we will find the piece or have an artist commissioned to make it. The magic is when you get the right piece of artwork in the right space with the right color. We’re always looking for that –– color, texture, geometry.” Consider color and theme Even if you’re going with a desert theme, as an example, the art doesn’t necessarily have to depict a desert scene. If the colors are spot on, it can bring a space together. “It may not representatively be desert scenes, for example,” Craig said. “One of the artists we bought does a lot of barns and farm scenes, but his color palette is desert color. And it really hits. And that matches our theme and it reinforces how the client feels about their home.” Think about scale If a piece isn’t the right scale, for instance, if it’s too small for a space, Craig suggests reframing it to get to the right scale. There’s a lot that can be done with matting and frames. Otherwise, artists will generally be receptive to recreating a piece to the scale you need.
Don’t be afraid to mix styles Often you’ll be drawn to pieces that may not necessarily match your home’s theme or the other artwork in your home. When that’s the case, there are other ways to tie it in. “Take the architecture, the colors, the materials––something as simple as the wood on the floor, and a fabric in the sofa or a color in an accent––and making those tie in,” Craig suggested. “The painting’s context can be completely irrelevant, but if the colors all work, it relates and it reinforces the value of that artist’s contribution.” Not everything is going to work, he cautioned. Some pieces will be more challenging to work into the room. In that case, Craig recommends giving the piece more space to “breathe” through the use of mattes and the frames to center the art and identify it as a separate component. Finally, consider the lighting. Often Craig will bring in a lighting consultant when a gallery style is desired, but he also suggests asking the artist. They often know what light works best with their pieces.
“Part of the selection process is finding the client’s heartstring and then if the artist can pay attention to that, then anything is possible,” he said. Put your plan on paper Sometimes creating a visual map and having a birds-eye view of your artwork can help you plan where to place your art, especially as you build your collection. It’s part of the process of filling in all of the empty spaces in just the right way that they all balance together,” Craig said. “We put together an art wall plan with the wall sizes so I know where it’s going to fit and what the scale will be. And if it’s not a single piece, it can be four or three smaller pieces placed together. You can fill in spaces with a lot of variety of geometry or sculpture.”
Be patient “My goal, and it’s the same with
furniture, where some of the pieces I’m designing and we’re having made, but some of the pieces are found,” Craig said. “And you don’t always find it in your first month of search. I always share with the client that it’s not as important that we have the whole house done as it is that it’s done right.” Sometimes that takes a little more time. Remember, you’re building your story and a space that’s unique to you. It takes time to find the perfect piece.
To reach Craig, visit craigwickersham.com
Watch Craig's interview here.
"Most homes provide opportunities to explore our desires for all of the arts. it's the person living there who really matters when it comes to art selection."
Page 7
Issue 1 | Summer 2022
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online