See it, love it, buy it, hang it

There is only one rule when buying art for your home. Love what you buy, advises artist Juliet Best.

Juliet Best, from Shelly Bay studio Blackmore & Best, with some stunning pieces at the gallery. Rounds:

by Best. Landscape: Glass Art: by Tony Kuepfer.

Aand a by Best RTWORK CAN brighten up a room and fill a blank wall but whatever its purpose make sure it’s something you love.

That’s the word from artist Juliet Best, who co-owns Miramar Peninsula’s Blackmore & Best Art Gallery and Studio with fellow artist Jane Blackmore.

‘‘My golden is rule is to buy what you love - if you see it, like it, then buy it because it is always going to work no matter what.’’

Juliet currently has about 15 artworks in varying states of progress around the gallery, all of which feature her trademark strong horizon lines and gold leaf celebrating the beauty and moods of New Zealand skies, landscapes and water.

Buying art that reflects the surrounding environment is one way to enhance your home, she says.

‘‘We have beautiful views of the sea and hills and beautiful skies, that bring that environment into your home.

‘‘Just because you already live by the sea or on the hills around Wellington doesn’t mean you should necessarily do something opposite.’’

Ensuring artwork is within the tonal range of your home and the accessories within it is a good option, or use the tones of a painting when interior decorating.

Juliet speaks of one customer who bought one of her paintings and then used the colours from within it as their theme.

‘‘It’s a really subtle and less obvious way of colour matching, and a beautiful way of doing it.’’

Another painting of Island Bay she did hangs on the wall of a business in the suburb, a wall that has been colour matched to the sea.

‘‘You’d never pick that it would work, but it does, the wall has a really nice theme to it, it’s subtle and elegant.’’ Size doesn’t matter either. ‘‘A tiny little painting at the end of a corridor might pull you down that corridor, or on the other hand, a really big beautiful piece might make that by Andrew McNabb, Garland and by Carlucci. corridor a really beautiful place to walk down. ‘‘If it looks and feels right, do it.’’ Juliet talks of one of her own purchases that takes pride of place in her living room.

‘‘I have at home a painting so large I had to get two men in a truck to deliver it and I had to get a builder in to remove a window. But it was worth it, because I love it, I can’t imagine that room without it, it’s a total dinner party conversation and it’s great having a story behind it.’’

Owning a piece of art that has a history or a story behind it adds to that sense of it being a part of your home, says Juliet. That can be around how or where you bought the piece, or knowledge about the artist.

‘‘It’s really great if you can meet the artist, or talk about what their inspiration is, then you own that story.’’

Even when browsing art galleries, if the artists are on site, talk to them about what they’re working on, and what their next series of artworks might be, says Juliet.

‘‘They might have a whole collection brewing that might be ready for release or be part of a big show, and there might just be something that fits with by Rachel what you’re looking for.’’

Or having an artwork painted on commission might be an option.

‘‘As long as an artistic licence is involved – the picture in my head and your head and the one that eventuates are all going to different – but if the customer is happy with the general style then a commission is a really nice way of owning a piece of art.’’

Juliet is currently working on a commission piece for a couple who live in Wellington’s Chaffers Dock Apartments.

‘‘They saw a very slim landscape of mine, bought it and had it in their apartment and liked it so much they’ve asked me to paint an even longer, skinnier one to fit on an internal parapet.

‘‘It’s going to be a landscape of Wellington, which is basically a sea and sky theme with a tonal range that is pale blues and greys, it’s going to be almost 2m long but only 30cm high.

‘‘It is super exciting, they are part of that piece now, they’ve contributed to it, it’s going to be a really special piece in their home, and a dinner party topic.’’

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