Fannie Allen’s artful approach
On choosing art: “Don't always listen to your gut: Move out of your comfort zone. Expect your tastes to change over time, that’s a good thing.”
On decorating: “Move it! You see your art in new ways when youmove it around your house. My walls are full of holes...”
On contrast: “If your house is very traditional, add some modern art; if your house is very modern, hang some very old pieces — the contrast gives so much more vibrancy to both sides of the equation.”
On renting art: “Renting art is a really great way to try things out. It can be good for people to learn what they want to live with. The Artists Gallery at SFMOMA organizes their art by size, and they have huge collection of California artists.” (www.sfmoma.org/visit/ artists_gallery)
On framing: “Invest in really good framing. It makes a huge difference. I especially like Mark Gallagher at Atherton Fine Art in Menlo Park.” (www.athertonfineart.com)
On wall color: “Color on the walls can help you experience your art in a whole new way. Think way beyond white. Some wall colors I like for artwork (all Benjamin Moore): Baked Cumin, a soft brown: especially good for art with reds, blues, yellows, orange, silver, black & white; Moon Shadow, a pale celedon: lovely for black & white photographs, sculpture; Blushing Red, a very deep fuchsia red: anything looks good on red walls, really.”