Calligraphic Name Paintings – A Great Gift for Your Family

Chinese surnames are passed down from generations and hold the family history in perpetuity.

Chinese surnames tell others about the person’s history and are always retained even though the name may change. The surname is often looked-upon as a symbol of a man’s pride and honor. It depicts the past glorious deeds the ancestors have achieved through ‘blood and sweat.’

Throughout most of Chinese history, surnames have served sociological functions. Because of their association with the aristocratic elite in their early developments, surnames were often used as symbols of nobility. Thus nobles would use their surnames to be able to trace their ancestry and compete for seniority in terms of hereditary rank.

To preserve and affirm family pride, our client has commissioned us to create an awe inspiring 2.5×1.5 metre calligraphic  painting of his surname, along with the meaning behind the name.

“Guo”, written in Chinese: 郭, is one of the most common Chinese surnames and means “the wall that surrounds outside a city” in Chinese. It is the 18th most common family name in China. The name Guo was noted as far back as the Xia Dynasty.
The surname on the painting is highlighted by creating it with a debossed effect, like a city wall that stands tall and strong. Even from a distance, the words on the painting are noticeable, a symbol of persevering lineage.

Name paintings can make great gifts for a family member, or an excellent addition to the family hall, it displays respect and appreciation for one’s heritage.

Why You Should Consider Painted Wall Murals

Recently, Our gallery have collaborated with a few officers from Changi to create a mural for their office lounge.

Wall mural in office lounge area

Before starting on the actual artwork, our resident artist will create a digital mock up and revise it according to the client’s request to ensure that the final outcome will be satisfactory. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any inquiries regarding our wall mural services and project collaborations.

Digital concept preview done by our resident artist

So what exactly is a wall mural?

The history of wall mural paintings is as rich as it is complex. Mural paintings go back to pre-date written history, appearing first as a form of communication on the walls of caves. As cavemen artists began to evolve, so did their message and purpose. Wall mural paintings have since become a way to convey political messages, to make ugly walls pretty, to inspire the imagination, and to help people focus on society’s issues. Murals have continued to evolve over the centuries not only in their purpose, but their uses. Sometime around the turn of the 20th century, wall mural paintings became a welcome addition to people’s homes, as a form of home decor.

Murals, by definition, are large-scale paintings or scenes applied directly to a wall, ceiling, or other seemingly flat surfaces. Their primary purpose is to enhance the look, feel, and, sometimes, the spaciousness of a room or space. Wall mural paintings have the ability to create an illusion, making small rooms look bigger, provide a magical view or showcase of a favorite person, place, thing, or event.

Wall mural paintings create visual effects that can be exciting, awe-inspiring, tranquil, and enticing. They are considered by most muralists as a highly cost-effective way to brighten a room while making the space unique and quite personal. A mural can represent your personality, interests, visual likes, and inevitably extend a little bit of yourself on the wall. A wall mural painting is a creative and authentic personal touch to any room or space.

A wall mural painting will add value to your home or office while transporting your room, heart, soul, and mind to a different place and time. A wall mural painting will become much more to you than just a painting, they end up being adored and appreciate by all that view them, not to mention an excellent conversation starter for any company.

What would your wall mural painting be? A favorite view? A famous person? A fantasy or sci-fi scene? Once you have your idea or vision for a mural, you are ready to speak with a professional muralist about your project.

To help narrow the choices for your Wall Mural image, start by focusing on one room for placement. Take into consideration your personal preferences and interests as well. You want your Wall Mural to have characteristics of things you love. If you are an avid gardener, for example, a lovely Wall Mural with prominent displays of greenery and florals will work well in your room regardless of the season, as it is a reflection of your taste and personality. If you love foreign travel, a Wall Mural depicting an exotic location may be just what you are looking for.

Remember, you are making a house into the home of your dreams. With these helpful suggestions in mind, you are sure to find a Wall Mural you absolutely adore. For the years of viewing enjoyment it will bring, this is an investment that literally pays for itself.

How to Create a Retro Bedroom

When one thinks of the word “retro”, their mind automatically goes to the decorating styles of the 1960’s and 1970’s. For more and more people, however, the 1980’s is also considered retro. Here are some ideas you can use to create a retro bedroom for yourself.

The 1960’s was the time of hippies, and free love. Even more than that, it was a time for people to discover love of their fellow man with the emergence of Martin Luther King, Kennedy, and war protests. Home décor was as bold and free as the youth of the generation.

Walls: Room décor did not necessarily come from wall colors. They came from what was hung on them. On your white or neutral wall colors, hang colorful bold flower print fabrics in two or three colors.

Fabrics: Use bold color blocked fabric for your bedding and window treatment. For example, a white background with orange circles or uneven squares. Colors to look for are orange, brown, white, celadon green, and mustard.

Flooring: Floor tiles were very popular during this time. Purchase floor tiles in two colors and install like in a checkerboard pattern. Add several throw rugs to warm your feet in the morning.

Accessories: Accessorize the room with pop art reminiscent of Andy Warhol who was famous for his paintings of Campbell’s soup and Marilyn Monroe. Lava lamps and Hawaiian tiki carvings are also great room accessories of the time.

As the baby boomers came of age in the 1970’s, free love, war protests, and overall cultural awareness faded as disco and nightclubs became the obsession of the generation who needed to work off steam as they worked themselves up the corporate ladder. Home décor and fashions evolved greatly during this time from wild and crazy to clean lines, but bold colors remained.

Walls: Paint the room in a two-toned design like a beige on top and brown on the bottom. Two tones of any color will work well.

Fabrics: Floral designs continued to remain dominant, but more colors were added to the color palate. For your bed, purchase a cozy chenille bedspread and matching sheer curtain panels for your windows.

Flooring: Shag carpet would look great in your 70’s inspired bedroom, but you do not need to stick with the mixed shades of brown that was used to camouflage spills. Purchase your shag carpet in solid colors instead, and stick to area rugs to save money because shag carpet does not have a long shelf life.

Accessories: Mirrors and glass became the main room accessories during this period. Cover a wall with mirrors and add a mirrored disco ball to reflect the light in your room.

During the 1980’s the baby boomers became parents and so home décor became more grown up. Patterns became more subtle, subdued, and traditional. Victorian elements re-emerged during this time.

Walls: There was a return to white and neutral colored walls. You can paint your 1980’s inspired bedroom walls white with pastel colored trim, or antique white with high gloss white trim.

Fabrics: Pastel colors became the popular color scheme during this period interspersed with subtle florals by designers like Ashley Stewart. For a more masculine room, stick with classic stripes and argyle patterns.

Flooring: During the 1980’s, carpet got colorful and shorter. Short twisted pile carpet in pinks, blues, and greens would work well in your room.

Accessories: Accessories during this period were also a bit more grown up. Glass figurines became popular for adults and hand made bunnies and stuffed animals were the main décor in children’s rooms. Photography became the wall hangings of choice from candid pictures of family members to posters of rock stars, to black and white landscapes by photographers like Ansel Adams.

Easy Interior Design Tips

Who does not want to go to a wonderfully decorated home after a hard day of work? The mere thought of waking up on a Sunday morning and walking through a hallway that has been meticulously decorated, on your way to the kitchen to grab a fresh hot cup of coffee, even if living in a small rental apartment, is everybody’s dream. Unfortunately, not everyone has a flare for interior design. Not everyone is good at picking out just the right type of home decor which will look amazing and not clash with anything else that they own.

Making sure that it does not end up looking like a nightmare in the end, is probably what scares people the most when it comes to do it your self interior design. It is true that not everyone can afford a fabulous interior designer who can easily make the magic happen for them. But one must not despair or give up on the idea of shopping for some affordable home decor and doing some interior design of their own.

The first thing that someone could do is pick up at least six magazines which show different types of home decor and interior design. This will give anyone a great idea as to what style they like the best. Once a few designs have been chosen, then finding a way to start eliminating a few is great idea, in order to end up with the one you really like. Perhaps eliminating those which have home decor that would ultimately prove to be overly expensive, or even eliminating some interior designs which look too complicated, should help with the selection process.

The most important thing is, that regardless of the interior design which is chosen, one must be able to imagine themselves in that environment in a way of both enjoyment and delight. Next comes the fun part for most, which is the shopping. Keep in mind that everything does not have to be done at once and when it comes to decorating, the first thing to do is paint a room. Painting a room opens the door for any future home decor of your liking and gives a room an immediate face lift!

While shopping for home decor, make sure to try and match the pieces found in the picture of the room you chose as your interior design guide. Hunting for bargains and similar items, even if not exactly the same as the one in the picture is ok, as long as the size, scale and colour remains the same. Concentrating on a corner, or one single space of the room to start your interior design, is not a bad idea, especially if on a budget. By following these simple decorating tricks, anyone can make their house or apartment look amazing!

“White Ghost” Sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara in NYC

NEW YORK, NY.- Art Production Fund will present “White Ghost” sculpture by Yoshitomo Nara in two locations on Park Avenue, NYC. “We are thrilled to be working with Nara to introduce his first public sculptures in New York City” says Co-founders of Art Production Fund, Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen. This public art installation will coincide with the first Nara retrospective “Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody’s Fool” opening at Asia Society in early September 2010. During August of 2010 the Park Avenue Armory will host Nara for an open studio residency.

The large sculptures stand near the entrances to Asia Society and Park Avenue Armory like komainu, mythical lion-like animal statues commonly placed at the entrance to shrines in Japan as guardians. Nara, who often uses dogs and children as subjects in his work has uniquely combined the two for “White Ghost”. The sculptures will be glossy white, and will sit on rough stone like bases, referencing how artifacts and monuments from the past so often appear in museums. By presenting the sculptures in such a way, he considers the future ruins of his own work, and ultimately his own mortality. The sculptures are pleasing to a child and a passerby while being rigorous work for an art historian to ponder.

Big Dog sculpture by Yoshitomo NaraYoshitomo Nara
Since the Japanese pop movement in the 1990s, Yoshitomo Nara has received international acclaim with his distinct figurative style. His drawings, paintings and sculptures can be seen in the permanent collections at MOMA, New York, CAC Malaga, Spain, Queensland Art Gallery, Australia and his largest sculpture, a 27’ high concrete dog is permanently installed at the Aomori Art Museum, Japan. His mixture of vulnerability, rebellion and hopefulness within his artworks connects intimately with people worldwide. Nara also shares a deep connection with his fans and is always finding creative ways to interact with the public.

Art Production Fund (APF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences and expanding awareness through contemporary art.

WOW (Works on Whatever): is part of Art Production Fund’s WOW project; a unique collection of everyday items designed by artists. APF invites artists to experiment with the latest commercial materials and techniques to bring art off the walls and into homes as everyday objects. WOW introduces contemporary art to a larger community, with revenues from sales supporting our non-profit mission. WOW functions conceptually with APF’s program of expanding art audiences and helps fund additional major public art initiatives. Art Production Fund (APF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences and expanding awareness through contemporary art. 

(source:http://www.artknowledgenews.com/)

3 No Cost Steps To Having A Larger Home

Have you ever thought back to your first apartment or dorm room? You took that small amount of space and made it work for you. As the years have gone by and your living quarters have expanded you probably feel just as limited in storage and living area. How can that be? Unless you are that rare but much admired person that controls the accumulation and clutter, you quite simply have more stuff because you have more space.

You can make a big impact on your home clutter in just two weeks. Here are three goals to reach in the next 14 days.

Goal Number One – Clean surfaces throughout the house

Do you have piles of papers, magazines, books and who knows what else on every horizontal surface in your home? This type of disorganization leads to frustration. Bills get lost and late payments have to be paid. Library books become overdue. Invitations are forgotten. You waste time looking for things. The bottom line is this simple clutter cost you time and money.

Pick one area and move everything that is piled in that area to a space you can spread out. Place a trash can beside you and use it liberally. As you go through your clutter, separate it into piles. For example, bills in one pile, receipts in another, medical information goes in another, vacation information , etc etc, The piles will then be filed together for easy retrieval as needed. Break them down to as many categories as needed in your filing system.

Every home should have a file cabinet. It is the easiest way to keep track of your important papers. Having no room is no excuse. You can buy a small one and cover it with a table cloth. It will double as a night stand but will be easily accessible when you need your files. You can also buy plastic containers that serve as a file container. They can be labeled as medical, house, schoolwork etc. These are portable and can be stored in closets.

Go from room to room until all surfaces are cleaned off. It may not be all paper clutter. What is on your bathroom counter that can be stored away? Has your night stand been cleaned off lately? Seeing so many empty spaces around your home will make you feel like you are making progress.

Goal Number Two – Organize your bathroom vanity

Everyday you stand in front of this area getting ready to start your day. It should serve you by helping you get through your routines efficiently. Take everything out of the drawers, medicine cabinet and cabinetry. Wipe down the surfaces and change the shelf paper. Feels good already, right? Replace everything in a way that it make sense to you. Needed but seldom used items are stored in the back of the drawer while things you use daily should be within easy reach. Do not forget to check the expiration dates on medicines. Toss the outdated ones as well as old toiletries. Do you have room to keep extra items in your linen closet to free up space in your vanity? This piece of valuable real estate should be holding only what you need.

Goal Number Three – Clean out 3 drawers

In the next two weeks make the commitment to clean out just three drawers. You can choose one that is a major mess, one that is a medium challenge and one that can be done while you are on the phone. It does not matter the amount of effort it takes, just do it. Throw away all foreign objects. Use baskets, bowls or storage containers to keep similar items together when you are reorganizing the drawer. Neat drawers make happy owners.

Your home will feel calmer and even bigger if you dedicate time in the next two weeks toward meeting these goals.

Caring For Your Oil Painting

Caring for your painting will ensure its longevity. There are preventative measures that can and should be taken when owning an oil painting. Oils are one of the most sensitive means of artistic media, and damages are common. Handling of the artwork, changes in temperature, lighting, hanging, and storage can all cause different types of damage, including:

• The cracking of paint,
• Distortions of the canvas,
• Fading and discoloration of the painting

Handling of the artwork too often will inevitably cause damage, so be certain to take preventative measures when moving the painting. Be sure to seal and insulate. In a move, this will prevent destruction from hot and cold temperature changes, as well as bumps and bangs. Bubble wrap your painting even if moving it in a protective portfolio. This way, if the cover is punctured, you still have a safety net.

Changes in temperature will cause your painting to stretch and shrink, this can cause cracking of paint and/or canvas. Some variation is inevitable, but to avoid severe changes hang the painting somewhere in the home or office where humidity and temperature are reasonably constant. Avoid hanging the painting near doorways, windows, and air ducts. Bathrooms and kitchens (humidity, smoke, heat) are also a bad idea for your oil painting.

Lighting whether natural or artificial, will have negative effects on your painting in the long term. Never hang your painting in direct sunlight! This will cause fading of the paint, as well as frequent temperature change from day to night, which will cause cracking. Hang the painting on an outside wall (but not near a window) to avoid sun damage. In choosing the correct artificial lighting, try flood lighting or if using spots, use a low frequency bulb, as a high concentration of direct light will have the same effect on your painting as sunlight.

Hanging Your painting is an important consideration. We’ve spoken about temperature damage, but you also want to consider ‘people’ damage. Avoid hanging your painting in an area where people may bump it. Your painting should theoretically be hung at eye level, but in narrow spaces like hallways, a bit higher wouldn’t hurt. 8 to 10 inches breathing room above furniture should salvage the painting from mishap. Another consideration is cigarette smoke. If you have a designated smoke area, hang up a poster, this is not where you want your oil painting.

Store your painting with the same consideration that you hang it. Cover your painting on both sides with bubble wrap or corrugated plastic, box it up in cardboard, and store it in a closet that remains as close to room temperature as possible.

Cleaning your painting is risky. Very lightly and infrequently dusting with a lint free silk cloth or a soft brush may be okay, but it is best to rely on experts and professionals to help with full cleaning and/or repair.

Three Essential Tips You Can Use For Selecting Inspirational Artwork to Reduce Your Stress

Do you have a love for the beauty and creativity of art?

Are you looking for that perfect piece of inspirational artwork that will enhance your space but find yourself uncertain about how to go about finding art that truly speaks to your soul?

Are you looking for a piece of inspirational artwork that will give your space a sense of stress-free peacefulness?

Here are three essential tips that you can use to help you select inspirational artwork that can reduce your stress level.

One:
Connect with the colours that you associate with relaxation and calmness.  Think about colours that are associated with positive times in your life and or feelings of positive energy.  Think about what can be called personal magnetic colours – colours that you feel drawn to and thus leave you with a sense of peacefulness and positive energy.

Two:
Art is personal so don’t worry about what everyone else will think about your selection.  Don’t get caught up in the concept of “good” or “bad” art – just focus on the concept of personal relevance and connection. Your experience of selection should be an emotional one. Don’t just see the images – feel the images and dig into your spirit to feel a spiritual connection to the piece.

Three:
All artwork has soul as it was created by the spiritual soul of someone else.  Ask yourself if that soul connects with yours. Ask yourself if you feel some sort of kindred spiritual connection with the imagery that is feeding your eyes and thus your spirit? Ask yourself if the artwork gives you a sense of peacefulness.

If you are looking for inspirational artwork for your office or home you may want to consider the fact that at times these environments might be sources of stress or emotionally challenging and therefore think about how purchasing inspirational artwork is crucial for counteracting this energy.  Art is one element that will put your mind in a positive energy space and this will be key to your productivity.

When seeking pure inspiration in your life you must reach deep within yourself and select a piece of inspirational artwork that connects to your spirit and has the power to create peace and solace away from the stresses of life.

This inspirational artwork will be artwork that you cherish because these art pieces will in essence be an extension of you.

The Journey (120cmx80cm)

Wall Murals – How They Help Your Room to Look Good

concept street scene wall mural done by our artist

Color is a strong weapon. With a gallon of paint you can change the atmosphere of a room.

Color consultation would end your indecisiveness about which color is most suitable for your home or room. It helps you figure which shade satisfies you most, relaxes your senses, and sets up the right mood.

You can effortlessly impress visitors with murals. Paint color serves as a powerful tool aside from other decorative elements. It brings a dramatic impact to every living space. It puts tranquility in every room or produces a profound feeling.

Murals and painting can set a specific mood such as relaxation. Murals can inform or create an illusion, and uplift one’s spirit. It can also let the mind travel to a certain perspective. It can bring you to places and make you feel closer to nature.

Let these paintings and murals rule your world; travel while in your room, in your office, and even in your commercial space.

Personalized paintings and murals are the best to have. If you are a nature lover, then why not have sceneries of the Niagara Falls or the Mount Fuji in your room? This will bring you closer to nature.

Are you some kind of an entrepreneur? Then inspire your senses while in your restaurant, hotel, or retail establishment. This is an important element which could lead to the success of your business.

Painting your bathroom with images you love creates a window or doorways to a world that adds depth to your life, which was nonexistent before. Bathroom murals are ideal for rooms that have no windows to bring memories of favorite places into one’s home. Let your children appreciate artistic paintings and murals. Start stimulating your kids’ imagination with a wall mural art. Brighten up your home or special nook with a wall art. Kids love wall murals for their rooms. There are themes and designs to choose from, or you may even personalize your own!

Want to bring those fantastic blue skies inside your room? Authentic illusion of skies can transform confined interiors into spaces of natural beauty and freshness. Transform enclosed spaces into more spacious, inviting and memorable environments.

For a fine art finish, hand-painted wall murals can be done by professional painters to create a unique space in your home. You will be able to discuss the theme, colour and illustrative style with a professional, to ensure you get the finish you are looking for.

Between You and Me : Getting Closer to Art

If you have been driving or walking down any major roads in Singapore lately, I’m sure you’ve noticed Singapore Arts Festival’s new theme for 2010, “Between You and Me”. The striking posters bearing ecstatic faces amidst vivid backgrounds will bound to capture one’s attention effectively. With performances and art pieces that focus more on being “hands on” and intimate, it’s all about getting closer to the arts.

With that being said, how does one get closer to art?

In Singapore, there is an abundance of art museums and galleries that is accessible to the public audience; a person can easily be informed on the latest happenings and trends in the art world by taking a trip to the nearest gallery. But what if a particular painting caught your eye, yet it will only be on display for a limited time only? If you have felt a connection with a particular painting, you have in a sense, gotten closer to art.

So what happens when you yearn to have a piece of art closer to you? There is a common misconception that fine art paintings are exorbitantly priced. Here at OnePiece Painting, we try our best to bring  affordable art to you. Other than that, we have revised our opening hours to daily 12pm – 8pm because we believe that art should be easily accessible.

My Midnight Dream (120 cm x 80 cm )

Fluid liquid-like colours merging and fusing, like a dream that has no boundaries or concept of time, where ideas and feelings flow freely.

Reflection (Oil on Canvas 100 cm x 100 cm)

Nostalgia of a faraway memory, yearning for a peace of mind, where soft breeze makes the leaves rustle.

Both paintings are on sale  in our gallery now, we look forward to seeing you soon!