Amanda Burdge on An appreciation for Art

I think Karen Carrol said it best when she said, " I can not think of any element that pulls the total look of an interior together, more than art"; and I have to agree with her. My love affair with art started when I was young, but I grew to have a deeper appreciation for it when I started doing interior design.

Jamie Drake

All elements in an interior are essential. Each and every item plays a cohesive role in pulling it all together. (if only there was an ingredient like this for our daily lives!) Nevertheless, art brings the character, the flavor and the wow factor to a room. It is the one thing that draws you in, and forces you to pause.

AB Home Designs

Thankfully, museum-quality masterpieces are not required to add character to your blank, naked walls. Art can come from anywhere like a flea market, Goodwill, a local gallery or the starving artist next door. I have never been an art snob. I cannot tell you about a particular paint style, or genre, I can not even tell you why one piece is $100 versus $5000. What I do know is this, I know what I love, and I know how it makes me feel. This is genuine appreciation, admiration and understanding for artistic vision, in my opinion.

Troy Beasley
Just like interior design, art comes in many forms. Furniture, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, pottery, and many other items can be considered art. Creativity is something to be celebrated, and enjoyed. Art is just that, a celebration of creativity! Art possesses you, captivates you, and cultivates your emotion and curiosity. Whether you are a connoisseur or an amateur, it is all about how it makes you feel. Like this brooch below, well this thing just makes me dizzy!

Gabrielle Kiss 

Luna Moth Brooch

with diamonds

My medium of choice is typically paint on canvas. Just like the artists themselves, art comes in all shapes and sizes. Here, are a few of my favorites that I have met along the way:

Carlton Nell

#139

Erik Otto

rebirth

Joshua Petker

#24

Amanda Stone Talley

Saints Superbowl

Tommy Thompson

Painted Trail

Karena Albert

Grandeur 

Clint Metcalf
Organica red

Growing up I had a wonderful mama who encouraged and fertilized my creativity. She challenged me to be better, because she would frame EVERYTHING I so lovingly put my heart into. In fact, she has a framed picture in her bedroom that I drew, and colored when I was five. She also has a large poster board of my venture into geometric forms; of which she also had professionally framed. Giddy with excitement that I had THE MOST adoring fan, I strived to get my hands on every thing I could to turn it into my vision (and of course get it framed and on the wall. Gotta keep those fans happy!)  Amazingly, her home to this day still houses every artistic carcass I made.  Its like walking through a cemetery of good and bad choices. But she is still my BIGGEST fan!

Two of my first introductions into the art world were Southwest artists, Bill Rabbit, and Bev Doolittle. My parents have several Rabbits in their home, and these purchases made it obvious to me that the value of art is not in the price itself, but the emotion it evoked and the experience it brought into the home.  By no means are my parents wealthy. But, to spend three thousand dollars on a painting (20 years ago, I might add) meant nothing in comparison to the meaning of the art itself. The emotion, the feeling it evokes.

Bill Rabbit

Just forme

My parents do not own any Doolittle's. We simply admired her from afar. But her works are that of a true genius. Her pieces are thought provoking, and they draw you in. Every piece has two meanings in one. If you look closely you will always find a surprise. (see below, are those rocks? Or are they buffalo?) 

Bev Doolittle

Calling the Buffalo

 When you have a home that reflects who you are, and it envelops you in the things you love, it will take you to a higher place, it will make you better every day, in every way. A recent article in LonNy featuring Laura Day on her own home, she comments, "Artwork should GRAB you, It should reel you in..." And one of my favorite quotes by Leyden Lewis, "I'm hysterical about art!! I would officially be considered addicted to art, IT IS MY PASSION..!"

Terry Slaughter, from Gallery Terrence Denley, believes that creativity and beautiful design can only improve the human condition. I cannot agree more with this statement. The next time you find yourself in the mix of redesigning, or designing a space, don't forget the art!

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How to get inspired by expert Nashville designer, Amanda Burdge

Design Circus

Here lately, my life has felt like a bit of a circus, and for good reason. You see I'm a designer, a creative, with a big "D" on my chest. Inventive and innovative, add in a little crazy, and you have yourself a bonafide DESIGNER. See label for full list of ingredients:

How to make a designer 101

Modified cleverness, unbleached canny, gifted, enriched imagination, experimental, pasteurized originality, expressive, microbial resourcefulness, radical, advanced hydrogenated vision and a whole lot of crazy. Yellow #5, Red # 3 and Blue # 7

Warning! If allergies are of concern, may also contain: unconventional, off the wall, offbeat, and unorthodox genius. With a side of short attention span.

Distributed by: Old-fashioned ingenuity and passion, Super Market INC .

Serve with a side of Curiosity, attention and fascination. Mix well, drain but do not rinse.

Voila the perfect designer

As a designer I gain inspiration from the wildest things. Some intentional, some accidental. Probably more accidental than anything. With a premeditated vision I head in one direction and by the end of the day Im headed down I-40 when I should have been on I-10. But that is ok. I have found that the best ideas have come when chaos erupted and serendipity set in. Why else would we do it? It's moments like these that keep us on our toes, and keep the excitement alive. We thrive on it. We get bored easily so when the unexpected occurs it is our moment to sink or swim, (hope you brought your floaties!)

Curiosity, fascination, innovation=genius

I often get the question. How did you come up with this? What was your inspiration? Dare I say a jelly donut, a bag of Dorito's and a beer? Well probably not that crazy...( gotta look more interesting than that, but keep in mind it is in our ingredients!) But inspiration can strike at any moment! If you feel that you are not a creative person you need to broaden your horizons. We are all creative in our own way. For instance, if you tend to be more left brain you will see things more analytical, logical and straight. To us this is symmetrical. If you are right brain we tend to see this as design MAGIC! But no favoritism here. (if you're right brain looking for a designer-call me! haha)

So how do you find inspiration in ordinary things to make them extraordinary?

1) Determine what it is you are wanting to accomplish. A room redo or a house redo?

2) Flip through magazines that cater to the room or rooms you are wanting to work on. Try to collect at least 3-5 tear sheets.

3) Look through your tear sheets. Is there a pattern? Possibly a repeating color, wood stain, chair style, etc.

4) What do you want your new room to be? How will you use it?

5) Once you have an overall direction inspiration can come from anything. A coffee cup, an antique, perhaps a jelly donut?

As children we are encouraged to be free and creative. As adults we are morphed into a label that we feel we must stick to. You may not carry all the ingredients to be a true designer, but open yourself to curiosity, maybe a little crazy, and you will be amazed at the results it will yield! Here are some ways I get inspired:

Inspiration 1

This is an excellent source for inspiration. It is fun, colorful and with several color schemes to work with

you won't feel constricted to pick just one. It fancy's the child within us and brings out a sense of humor. Who could't use more of that?

Inspiration 2

Colorful and imaginative these decorative glass eggs spark amusement, hilarity and lightheartedness. Great for inspiration these enjoyable sculptures could whisper all sorts of ideas in my head.

Inspiration 3

For those who are a bit more serious this lamp has a beautiful pallet of earth tones, with an unexpected rim of thistle. With beautiful beiges, and browns this could develop an entire backdrop for a bedroom, library, family room, or even a dining room.

Inspiration 4

What would life be without a little arts and crafts? One of my truest passions, I am always drawn to the quirky eccentrics of clever art. I love things that make me smile and make a space truly unique. And what better to help you on your journey than a cunning piece that starts you off on the right trunk, I mean foot!

AB HOME Interiors Art by Paragon

Ok so exciting things on the home front. I apologize for the absence, but running a business, two blogs and trying to make clients happy (they pay me) is becoming a daunting task!! BUT I have been approached, cross your fingers, with an idea that looks like it may actually stick! One of my favorite art lines, Paragon, recently saw my article in Nashville Home and Garden. They want to use my photos to promote their product. Well I think that is a GREAT idea but what is even better is ME teaming up with Paragon to create MY OWN art line. Ok, so its not Target, but you all know how much I love artwork and this could be the answer!! SO put that prayer chain together and lets get an art line!!