ArtCorner

Creating a warm and inspiring environment can help boost productivity at the workplace. Hanging paintings on an otherwise blank wall space is one of the simplest ways to achieve this. However, in a setting occupied by people with different preferences, determining the kind of artwork to display can be quite a challenge. Consider the following points when choosing office artwork:

Color of Office Art and Wall Décor

Color plays a great deal in making one feel calm or creative, inspired or energized. Individual workers would like to be given the freedom to choose the color of canvas artwork to display in their respective work spaces or cubicles. However, for common spaces like the lounge area or conference rooms, neutral colors such as earth tones and soft hues should be agreeable for most.

Theme of Artwork

A family of three or four can easily agree on the theme of artwork to display on a family’s living room, but not the same can be said in an office with ten colleagues or more. It is good enough that the choices are varied: landscape paintings featuring sketches of prairie or ocean, still life such as a vase full of flowers, images capturing a certain emotion or an abstract play of two tones. Any choice would be acceptable as long as they do not run cluttered or are heavily tinted. On the other hand, hanging Baroque painting in an elaborate frame would look out of place in a modern minimalist office setting is an undesired approach.

Consider the Company Culture

In most offices that I work with, I try and get a feel for the general company culture that the owners and managers are trying to set in the workplace. If it is a company that focuses on core values such as ethics, longevity and tradition, I advise to go with Pierre August Renoir paintings, Claude Monet Art or Paul Cezanne oil paintings that along with ornate frames and heavy oils achieve a sense of tradition and class that is appropriate and aligned with the desired company culture. In contrast, if the company is pursuing a company culture based on innovation, ingenuity and young at heart out-of-the-box way of thought, I would recommend Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte and Mark Rothko’s to adorn their walls.

Choose Interesting Art Pieces

The idea of hanging paintings on canvas is to make the office space a pleasant place to spend time. It would make great addition if you choose interesting pieces as well to spark conversation among office workers. Oil painting reproductions of classic Monet paintings, a self-portrait of Van Gogh or avant-garde Picasso paintings can stimulate the senses.

Can’t decide what to place on the walls? Seek professional help!

It is not uncommon due to inside office politics to get stuck in deciding which art is right for your office space. By the time you consult with all of the office employees, you have a mixture of wants and tastes that you may just reach a dead-end and place the whole project on-hold. Don’t let this happen! If you feel stuck with a wall art project seek professional help! Get an interior designer and educate them about your company culture and explain the color scheme of you walls and company logo. They should help you decorate your walls with magnificent art.

Some companies like overstockArt.com that sell hand painted oil paintings offer a free décor consultation service just for these reasons. Call them up and they will help you get up and running with this project and you will have interesting, invigorating art hanging on your wall in no time.

In conclusion, there are many things to consider when looking for hand painted art for your office. So many opinions to consider along with color schemes and company culture that you might hold off on such an endeavor. My final and most important advice to you is an observation I had throughout my years of working with offices – decorating the interior and helping business find the art that fits best on their wall, has always brought a positive boost for office moral and productivity. So don’t over think it! If something doesn’t fit or you change your mind you can always exchange one oil painting for the other, but all in all get art on your bare walls! It makes a ton of difference in the work place.

As indicated in my last post from my visit to the Prado, Madrid is an absolutely breathtaking city, with flavors, history, style and a dash of daring do atmosphere.




After my disappointing visit to the Museo del Prado, I was hesitant to continue on with my museum tour and instead focus on drinking Mojitos and enjoying the many Flamenco shows and restaurants this beautiful city has to offer… after all they don’t even let me take photos of the art in the museum!?



But the next museum on my list was an absolute must. The National Museum “Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” or as the Madridians like to call it “la Sofia”, is Spain’s most important Museum of 20th century art and considered one of the most important contemporary art museums in the world.



This gem of a museum actually resides in an unassuming 18th century hospital building which was converted into a museum in 1992. When you are making your way on the metro over to the Sofia, don’t be shy and ask where it is because as important a landmark it might be for us art lovers, it is actually well hidden from the untrained touristy eye.



The old and relatively bland building (very uncharacteristic to the city of Madrid) has an outer elevator system which gives the place a unique look that sets it apart from the other buildings surrounding it.



Immediately as I walked in to the museum I felt that I came to the right place. 2000+ works of art adorn the walls of the Sofia, with the great Surrealist styles of Salvador Dali, Juan Miro and Pablo Picasso being the focus of this beautiful spectacle of modern art. And to top it all off taking pictures with a camera is allowed (excluding flash..)



I made my way through the corridors and rooms and at almost every painting I felt emotions of sheer admiration as these are the works of the greatest artists ever. It is hard to explain what happens when you come face to face with a Dali painting, but it definitely throws you off. You can be grasped by terror, disgust and even a mad laugh all at the same time.







The Juan Miro oil paintings that are in almost every corner give the museum a special feel with shapes and curves that turn the walls into 3 dimensional playgrounds.



But with all due respect to the 2000 plus paintings and creations in the Sofia, their is one special painting that makes the whole trip to Madrid worth your while.



Next up my encounter with the Guernica…

For anyone who has had the privilege of traveling to Madrid, Spain, art lovers or not, you will all agree that a visit to the Madridian museums are an absolute must.







I ventured to Madrid last week and aside from the unbarring August heat and my horrible Spanish skills, it was an amazing 5 days…



When in Madrid, I stayed on Gran Via, at the heart of the old city of Madrid. The buildings and cathedrals that surround you on every corner are breathtaking and the food and people complete a scenery filled with style, culture and tradition.



The focal point of Madrid’s artistic history can be found at the Museo del Prado – which is a monument of artistic impressions from the 12th century up to the 17th century. Aside from many paintings of Guya and Velazques, you can find some works by Rafael, Rembrandt, Adams and many more.







Frankly, the Prado in my eyes was a disappointment. Yes, these artists were geniuses of there times and the art is absolutely amazing. However, most of the paintings at the Prado show religious themes or aristocratic portraits of the many European genealogies of the time.



Personally I like to stare at art that someone actually thought about and has hidden meanings in his creations. I am not a big fan of Realism and would prefer more modern works like Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne, not to mention Rothko and Picasso.



Another upsetting point about visiting the Prado is their bizarre refusal to allow the visitors to take photos of the paintings… in all the museums in New York, Paris and London that I have visited the flash was always off, but I could at least take photos of the art.



Off course that did not stop me from taking a few pictures from inside the Prado… I wish I could have shown you more, but security noticed I took a few pics and requested me to stop.



To sum, I think that the Prado is great if you are into Realism of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. If you are more of an art connoisseur and would like to enjoy brilliant thought provoking artistic creations, head out to see the Guernica at the Museo Nacional Reina Sofia next door.