Art and Photography

From time to time, I get to a point where I am stumped on a job. This is often due to the fact that we are trying to select art for a client. I find this really difficult and not because I don’t love selecting art or due to a lack of ideas, but rather because unlike selecting furniture, art is very personal. There is no way that I want to be in a position where I am twisting a client’s arm only to have them not appreciate the art work or enjoy the piece of art. I always imagine them looking at it and thinking, "Why did we let Ghislaine talk us into that piece."

Two weeks ago, while trying to help a client with art, she mentioned to me that she was simply looking for something pretty to put on her wall–nothing provocative or edgy, just something pretty. She also insisted that the colors match the decor of the room. Although I totally understand what she is after, to me, this is a missed opportunity. I love using art to create a mood, to put a spin on things, be provocative, or put a smile on your face. I don’t like too much photography or too many paintings in one room, but rather like to mix things up with photography and paintings and sculpture all playing off each other.

The other thing that can become tricky, if not dealt with properly, is where to hang those family portraits. Very often these shots are really beautiful, but they are still family portraits and are kind of stiff and conservative. My friend Hanne recently had photos taken of her kids by Anna Palma and I was really struck with how beautiful her photographs were and that they went so far beyond studio portraits and that Anna really captured the craziness of my friend Hanne’s kids. I wanted to share these because to me, these are "fine art meets family portraits." I love them!