Add Instant Luxury To Your Living Space With Chandelier Prints!

Paris Opera,The Grand Foyer

 

Chandeliers are very popular right now.  They come in all types of styles and materials from metal and glass crystals to metal covered in knitted yarn.

Hand blown Murano Glass, Italy

Murano Chandelier In A Museum In Venice

Chandeliers add status to a living space by how it is made, whether it is handmade and uses costly materials like leaded crystals and hand blown glass. Some very expensive chandeliers use semiprecious and precious gems instead of crystals!

Chrystal Chandelier With Franz Liszt Music

As I was working on the above chandelier image the thought came to me that instant luxury can be added by just hanging a print or two of a crystal chandelier on the wall!

It can add that extra unexpected pizazz to a space (chandeliers are usually seen handing from ceilings!).  Great places to hang one would be the dining area, bedroom and yes, the dorm room!

Abstract Cobalt Blue Chandelier

For my chandelier I started with a photo image, selecting out the background so that it looked like the Franz Liszt chandelier above without the background. 

Pink and Blue Chandelier

Using textures made it become more abstract and roughed up the surface (depending on the texture).  Highlighting the texture grain by using the different modes until I got the look I wanted.

Crystal Palace Chandelier

A chandelier from the Victorian period in black and white and with three together.

   

Trio Of Crystal Palace Chandeliers

For lovers of rustic here is a chandelier print that will go well with a contemporary industrial interior.

Rustic White Chandelier On A Wood Board

Beautiful Contrasts In Art

  Baltimore Rainbow by Sheryl Bergman

I sponsored a contest titled "Contrasts" at Fine Art America where I have my art gallery.  I would like to show off some of the beautiful images that used the element of contrast in this contest.

There were so many wonderful images that I had to resort to choosing winners by category. Since I love architecture the above image  looking like it was taken with a full frame camera results in lots of detail, depth was also dramatically increased by using contrasting color in the right places a first place winner by Sheryl Bergman!

 Armageddon by Barbara D. Richards

Second place went to Barbara Richard's Armageddon.  This stunning image looks like the title.  If you have ever wondered what it will look like, well, here it is!

Third Place went to Michael Durst's fascinating intertwining "Thought" contrasting in chrome, black and white with a decidedly digital feel.  The complexity of his image is amazing. 

Thought by Michael Durst

Dr. Durst is a psychologist living in South Africa and his image does look like the inner workings of the brain! 

The colours Of Dance By Sheila Diemert

An intriguing image of a young dancer dressed in bright green with a shy smile.
 

Horses Playing, La Robustezza by Jaque The Muse

Horses playing using the Italian descriptive word "la robustezza" in the title translates "...strength, sturdiness, stoutness, robustness..." as defined by the artist.  A stunning image made even more exciting with the feeling of movement.

 Sayulita Heat by Amy Fearn

Children are alike the world over, this little boy appears to be playing with his shadow on a colorful orange wall contrasting with the dark blue of his sports wear.

One Fine Day by Dorothy Jenson

A primitive forest in solid colors has wonderful contrast and a lighthearted feel.  

Away Home by Kathy Bassett

A dream-like image a silhouette of a bird flying against a red evening sky and dark branches.

Sharks Tooth by C Ray Roth

Sharks teeth in sharp contrast with the desert black background.

Hot Yellow Roof by Victoria Sheridan

Bright contrasting colors on rooftops creating an abstract.

Indiana Round Barn by Brett Beaver

An old barn in pristine white in an open field contrasts with the environment around it.

 Romain Tractor 2 by Jeffrey Bess

An old tractor painted in flat acrylic colors speaks of the generation past.

How To Make A Starbucks Flower Arrangement

  Starbucks cute rustic silk flowers

I recently visited my local Starbucks located at the Kroger grocery , Midlothian Tnpk, VA and saw these cute rustic silk flower arrangements in vases with burlap or a rough weave fabric wrapped around the container.     Very simple yet effective and goes very well with the eclectic casual setting.  At the end of this post I will explain how to make one!

 Starbucks rustic silk flower arrangement

Leave it to Starbucks to have a visually pleasing and aesthetic interior right down to the details, 

Paris, Victor Hugo

in addition to the beautiful and tantalizing breakfast goodies, cookies, brownies, quality sandwiches and of course...

 Starbucks Chocolate Croissant

 Starbucks Caramel Flan Latte

attractive coffees and drinks, reinforcing a higher end experience at the store.   That is why you pay a little more.

Paris, Starbucks Victor Hugo

It's not all about what you are drinking at Starbucks it is the total experience and higher end retail stores know this.  Like most I like going to an eatery and paying more for the food with a nice interior, enjoying the atmosphere along with the food.

Is that Carrara marble on those Paris bistro tables above?!!  Carrara is a very expensive marble.  The look is stunning with the leather tufted banquet seating!

 Paris, Starbucks Montmarte

Visuals are important and have psychological value.  An attractive clean environment will uplift rather than depress.  I feel good every time I walk into a Starbucks, don't you?

Now, to make your own Starbucks rustic/casual flower arrangement.  Place several on your dining table, buffet, or on the fireplace mantle like below at my local Starbucks.  Here's how:

Use a juice glass and measure the length and width around by using a string or ribbon, add one inch to all sides (this will make extra fabric at the top to cover the glass and have extra at the top like the photo above).  

Use these measurements for a pattern and cut out  your fabric (burlap or loose weave cotton). Make a fold 1/2 inch turning in on all sides and hot glue the folds. 

Wrap the length of the cut fabric around the glass overlapping one end, hot glue this end underneath and press onto the fabric beneath.

Make a bouquet out of small flowers at different heights adding ferns if you like.  Cut a piece of Styrofoam and hot glue it onto the bottom of the glass for holding the flowers.

Note:  You can stain the fabric if it is too light and for an antique or grunge look.  Soak the fabric in tea water for 20 minutes and check the color.  If too light soak for another 20 minutes.  Soak the fabric  until you are happy with the color.

 Starbucks, Paris Opera