I’ve always loved art. Obviously art needs to be easy on the eye, but I also love how it produces so many different emotions in people; happiness, love, laughter or sadness. I’ve always preferred abstract art (over people or landscapes but with the exception of figurative art). I guess all art is abstract at the end of the day. I love how everyone interprets art in their own way and how it can totally transform a room, if done right.
Art, especially wall art, is one of the most important elements in interior design. It can help you pull together a colour palette and frame the rest of the room. It is often also the focal point of the room which is why it’s so important to get the size right. If you have white walls like we do, nice decorative art is a must. I love using art to add a bit of interest, insert pops of colour and even to create gallery walls around the house (we have 3 gallery walls in total). I also love it when people comment on the artwork and explain to me how they view it. It’s not just about appearance you see. I love the way art makes you think and see the world differently.
So, I guess you can understand my excitement when the super talented Louise Mead offered to send me one of her beautiful artworks in exchange for a review on the blog. Louise is an abstract and decorative artist based in Reading, UK. Her artwork is exactly what our house needed. Colour and lots of it. I’ve always been a bit cautious with colour (I blame my Scandi aesthetic) but I don’t mind adding it in smaller doses or in more subtle colours (like pastels). Although colourful prints and canvases are what Louise is most known for, she also sells other decorative items on her website (bags, iPhone covers, coasters, cutting boards etc).
It was pretty easy to pick my favourite print. I loved the ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ canvas as soon as I saw it on her website. It’s a pretty generous size too (30 x 40 inches). Perfect for this spot, don’t you think? I love the subtle pastel colours and the bright blues and reds too. Scandinavian style decor is all about well balanced pieces of colour in an otherwise neutral/white home. That’s why I wanted to pick a canvas that stands out from all the whiteness. The Bring Me Sunshine canvas does just that and more. Funnily enough it’s one of the whitest art prints from Louise but I guess it just means it suits our neutral decor very well.
The canvas arrived well packed and protected. It also came with a sawtooth hook at the back making it easy to hang. We had to drill some new holes on the wall (it’s a different size to our old wall art) but it was totally worth it. I don’t have many colourful prints in this house but this may have just gotten me a bit more excited about colour. I love pastels in this art piece that balance out the reds and blues. I love the dripping paint effect that adds texture and depth. I also love how people see abstract art differently. I see a sunset over the sea but my husband sees a mountain reflected on the water. My mother in law told me the print looks like lips. This is why I love abstract art so much. It is open to interpretation in a way that representational art is not.
Although stretched canvases are perfect for a contemporary, minimalist look you could (and sometimes should) consider framing it. I wouldn’t necessarily want to frame this type of canvas behind glass, but a simple mount/frame would give it a more sophisticated, gallery-like look. I don’t think I’ll be adding a frame to it just yet. I quite like this canvas against the crisp, white wall but it’s nice to know that I have the option to frame it later on if I choose to.
Are you a fan of abstract art? Leave a comment below or let me know on Instagram.* This is a collaborative post with Louise Mead Art.
