CasaSugar

Su Casa: KateDavis's Amazing DIY Dining Room

CasaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:00:30 -0700

Sometimes I am blown away by the utter creativity and DIY know-how of CasaSugar readers. That was the case when I discovered the photos of KateDavis's dining room in the Su Casa group. She writes, "I wanted a change in my dining room, and after coming across Damien Hirst's 'Valium' online, I knew it would be perfect for my dining room. The only problem . . . the $20,000 price tag for a print." Instead of bemoaning the price tag, KateDavis put her DIY skills to work. She says, "I put a lot of work into recreating the piece and had it printed at Kinkos and framed. It probably ended up being about $80 all in."

KateDavis didn't stop there, though. Her new artwork made her eager to switch out her dining room lighting. To see the incredible DIY chandelier she made, read more.

Kate used the ReadyMade instructions for Jean Pelle's Glass Bulb Chandelier to create this gorgeous chandelier. She writes, "At first I was overwhelmed and concerned I wouldn't be able to make sturdy knots and that I would be in over my head, but the more I looked at the picture the more I knew I needed to try. It took a little while, and many trips to several hardware stores to collect all the materials, but last week I finally had it all together and got to work. I am so thrilled with the results!!! I feel like I have a whole new dining room!"

I have been eyeing this chandelier project for the past month or so myself, and am thrilled with KateDavis's successful re-creation of the lamp. Congratulations to her on all of her hard work!

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Love It or Hate It? Damien Hirst's Spin Art

CasaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:00:45 -0700

Despite the fact that much of it conjures memories of school fair spin art, 223 lots of work by Damien Hirst grossed a record $200 million at a Sotheby's auction in London this week. Perhaps you agree with Andy Warhol, who said, "Art is what you can get away with." In that case, you'd snatch up Hirst's spin art in a heartbeat (if you had the dough). But maybe you're not impressed by his work, and you'd rather hang one of your own finger paintings on the wall. Where do you fall?Source

Coveted Crib: Arty in Cologne

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:50 -0700

You'd expect nothing less than inspired décor from an artist, designer, and art director, and that's exactly what you see in Mike Meiré's early 20th-century Cologne apartment. On top of beautiful architectural bones, Meiré has used his German home as a canvas to showcase his contemporary art collection, including work by Rita Ackermann, Lutz Fezer, and Damien Hirst. Pop art brings in color throughout, and iconic designs by famous names (Jasper Morrison, Eero Saarinen, Piero Lissoni) give the place a sense of idolism. But the place isn't a museum either, this coveted crib has an eclectic spirit and a heart, with exotic pieces collected on worldly trips, family photos, and everyday items (like ladder) used in peculiar, artistic ways. Take the full tour when you read more.

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How-To: Collect Art, Part Two

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:00:03 -0800

If you've read the first part of my lesson on collecting art and learned all you can, you can move on to beginning your collection. The cardinal rule of collecting art is: Only buy what you love. Your collection should reflect your tastes and sentiments. It should be you. Don't allow your purchases to adhere to trends or the palate of another. At the same time, you can't just buy anything you fancy because you'll go broke and wind up with a hodgepodge of works that don't make sense together.

When you begin your collection, focus on some type of theme, like South American artwork, moody landscapes, vintage portraits, graphic patterns, etc. This will give your collection some cohesion, like coordinating colors in a living room would. Beyond that, the more you focus your collection, the more you'll learn about art, and it'll be a great conversation starter!
If you see something you can't get your mind off, snatch it up fast before someone else does!
Invest. Splurging on one captivating piece of art that you love, and that is valued in the art world, will make much more of a statement than buying up 20 smaller prints or lesser works bit by bit. It'll be worth it in the end.

You have a lot more to learn so read more.

Limit your use of the Internet. Googling galleries is helpful and can help you find pieces and artists you may not have known about, but seeing the real thing in person should be the deciding factor in whether you buy.
Buy something nostalgic. Whether it's an antique lithograph from a far-off city you once visited, a painting by a local artist, or a portrait that reminds you of an old friend, artwork that stirs up nostalgia is almost a foolproof buy.
If you find an artist you adore, don't feel like you can only own one of her pieces. Picking up multiple works from one artist will also add cohesion to your collection, and if you love something, why fight it? It's also good karma to support people who make you happy.
Make a point to follow the careers of artists you've purchased from and to meet them if you have an opportunity.
Don't buy artwork to match your decorating. If it happens to, go for it. Otherwise, don't be afraid to repaint to make your favorite work integrate better into your home. You can't go wrong with Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White.
Follow news in the art world, but don't make choices based on it. If a style or piece of art is going out of vogue, and you love it even though others don't, just buy it. Snatch it up and put it on your wall. Remember, this is a personal collection, not a business. Reselling artwork isn't easy anyway, especially in this economy, unless you've got a Van Gogh or a Damien Hirst.
Make your purchase worthwhile by taking care of your artwork by having it framed and displayed prominently! But don't leave it all for show; keep something hidden just for yourself.

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