Wall Tapestry Irises by Monet - Bring Artistic Expression Into Your Lives

Claude Monet (1840 - 1925) painted a handful of paintings with the title "Irises" in his lifetime. Irises by Claude Monet should not be confused with Vincent Van Gogh's painting of a similar title. Monet's many Irises sometimes come in different colors, but all just as stunning as the other. There is a painting with predominantly yellow irises, then there's also another painting with predominantly purple ones. One version is called Irises by the Pond, still another version is called Irises in Monet's Garden. Although Van Gogh's Irises share a name with Monet's paintings, and though all Irises are strikingly beautiful in their own right, each Irises is as unique as paintings go.

Monet was part of a group of Impressionist artists that changed the face of artistic expression forever. Monet, a native of Paris France, painted outdoors, in an attempt to capture the ever-changing effects of colors and light. He painted the same subject at different points throughout the day. His painting of irises depicts the flowers in his beautiful garden in Giverny. Monet's painting was influenced by Japanese design, which is full of sensuous silhouettes. The painting depicts the beautiful flower blossoming on a ground bursting with colors of gold and reflecting the rays of the sun.

Because of its sheer beauty, Irises has been reproduced and translated onto countless wall prints, wall hangings, tapestries as well as oil paintings by other artists. This wall decor makes the perfect addition to your home, whether your home is European-inspired or whether you have an eclectic home with an Oriental motif. Just looking at the soothing colors of lavender, green and yellow already makes one feel right at home.

Some reproductions of Monet's Irises are available online, in the form of prints, wall fabric and tapestries. Most sellers include other useful materials such as mounting brackets as well as the screws to make installation more a simple affair. Why go for a print reproduction when you can opt for a real oil painting? Some artists choose to make copies of this work of art by staying as true to the original painting as possible, while they are only copies of the real thing, there is really no denying that they are almost as beautiful as the original piece. The real Irises hang in Musee d'Orsay in France.

Alex Hanson

Classic Wall Decor - Tapestries Transform Your Home Decor From Ordinary to Exceptional

Tapestries are once again becoming a more and more popular choice for people who want to decorate their homes and living spaces. Because of the wide variety of choices available in the market these days, the task of finding one that is suitable for your home, your taste and your style may be a bit daunting and overwhelming.

If you are choosing a wall tapestry for the very first time, it is probably best to narrow down your choices to classic wall tapestries. The classic types are those decorative wall hangings that focus on timeless, enduring and universal themes. Such themes include human nature, love, tragedy and death, to name a few. Aside from these, these decorative artworks can also represent a certain time period or an era. These include those hanging works of art inspired by the Medieval Ages, The Renaissance, The Neo-Classical Era and The Baroque time period, to name just a few.

The Medieval kind is well-known for featuring events and incidents that took place during the 18th and 19th centuries. Hunting scenarios, knights, noblemen and aristocracy, and unicorns are commonly seen. These works of art are often made from materials like wool, linen, cotton and silk. Examples of these include The Lady and the Unicorn, Awaiting the Chase, Hawking Scene, and Chevalier.

The Renaissance kind somewhat overlaps and intertwines with the Medieval kind and depicts illusions on what reality should be. It typically features Knights and noblemen, themes of Romance and Myths, as well as Verdure. It can be described as more intellectual, more scientific, and more abstract. The mast artist Raphael is closely associated with this specific type of decorative wall hanging. Examples of these include Condotierre, Promenade, The Manta, and Verdure Cascade.

Classical wall tapestries from the Neo-Classical and Baroque Era and Time Periods were made from the years 1570 to 1720. Most of these works of art were commissioned by kings, popes and members of the European nobility during the said time frame. They depict battle scenes, sieges, historical events or accounts, religious events and mythological tales, and the life and times of famous personalities (such as popes and other church leaders, conquerors like Alexander the Great, kings and world leaders). Examples of the art form from these two eras include the Manufacture Royale des Tapisseries de la Couronne (made for Louis XIV of France), A Naval Battle, The Siege of Bouchain, History of the King, and The Triumph of the Gods.

Educational as well as visually beautiful, a tapestry is woven into a fine work of art telling us a story, make believe or otherwise, it's a conversation piece that brings class and style into your home decor.

Alex Hanson

Decorating Large Wall Spaces With Tapestries

With the growth of new homes constructed with large wall spaces and high vaulted ceilings, it can be difficult to decide how to decorate these areas. Many home owners have discovered the idea of a large wall tapestry. The walls of your home are one of the main focuses one sees while entering a room or foyer. Having empty large wall spaces diminishes the charm of a room and creates a less than inviting appearance. Tapestries have been used for ages to fill large areas and also to add warmth and color to a room. Tapestries from old world designs to modern day designs can help fill these open spaces perfectly.

When choosing what type tapestry will fit nicely, one must decide the dimensions of the wall space. Is there more horizontal space to fill or vertical space? Remember that a poor fitting wall hanging can look worse than an open space. You want to have sufficient bordering of the wall surrounding your wall hanging, so as not to cover the entire wall. The tapestry would be a focal point and not a total covering of the wall space. At the same time too small of a wall hanging can look too isolated and lost. Always allow at least a "framework" of wall around the tapestry.

For foyer areas with long and thin wall spaces, Portiere tapestries can fit perfectly. Most are less than three feet wide and up to 80 inches long. Many Portieres can be purchased in matching pairs or pairs that compliment each other.

For wider areas, horizontal tapestries come in a wide range of styles and most popular are landscape scenes. From European country sides to Tuscan scenes, the tapestry industry offers a wide selection.

Stairways with vaulted ceiling would benefit from large longer than wider wall tapestry. Most popular ones range from 50 inch plus across and 70 inch plus long.

A wall tapestry should be hung 1/1/2 to 2/1/2 inches away from wall to avoid moisture buildup. Modern day tapestries are generally not intended for heating purposes as in medieval days, so hanging right up against a wall is not necessary and may only ruin the wall hanging.

And finally, choosing a hanging rod with decorative finials, and adding tassels creates an artistic look.

Connie_Wallace

Floral Wall Tapestry - Textures of an Art Form

Floral tapestry wall hangings have a unique texture that is not found in any other art form. The combination of threads, colors and weaves create a genuine art experience that can change with each viewing angle. These pieces of art will last through many generations and owning just one is a solid investment for your wall decor collection.

When we take a look back in history we find that tapestries began flourishing in France during the middle ages. The number of tapestries woven in this time period has never been surpassed. They were considered a luxury item for royalty and the very wealthy. On a practical level, tapestries were not only used as decorations, but they also provided privacy around beds, partitioned rooms, prevented drafts and insulated from the cold.

Floral tapestries are vast and varied. They include themes from contemporary floral arrangements to the traditional still life. Floral tapestries usually included decorative vertical panels with garlands, wreaths, scenes and lush green foliage.

For those with expensive tastes, some companies specialize in fine floral designs with hand woven wool fabrics using natural dyes and handspun yarns with various traditional weaving methods. Today few tapestries are hand woven. Most are machine and loom made using modern yarns and techniques which allow us to enjoy works of art at affordable prices. Some weavers use linen threads such as wool, silk, cotton, silver, gold and other fibers to produce magnificent and colorful images.

Floral tapestries carry with them the simple beauty of nature and spring. They bring your gardens into your home. No mater what the temperature is outside, just a glance will fill you with warmth inside. They make your space fresh and elegant and can also create a mood of romance.

You can add these wall hangings to any room of your home, then watch and be amazed on how the room will come alive. It seems to capture the beauty of life and celebrates every stitch to give your home an atmosphere of unique sophisticated decor. The combination of visual appeal, acoustic resonance and practicality give this art form a stunning and welcoming addition for any home. With the wide selection of floral tapestries available today, this form of wall art will bring the room together because you will be able to select a style that will match the theme of any room you wish to hang one of these woven artworks in.

They are available in various sizes, colors, designs and shapes and can also be customized to your own specific design and taste. What ever you choose, it is certain to be an eye catching conversation piece.

Be sure to use lighting to maximize the effect of the floral tapestry. Proper lighting will bring out all the detail that was meant to be seen. This will help make it the focal point of the room. Because floral tapestries usually have so many vibrant colors, the light must be bright and white. This white light will illuminate the tapestry as it falls directly on the fabric.

It is best not to hang your floral tapestry in direct sunlight. As with any wall hanging, sunlight will fade the piece over time.

Before hanging, check to see what your walls are made from. If they are made from plaster you can hang your tapestry against the wall or one inch off the wall. If your walls are made of sheet rock, then use brackets and keep the tapestry two inches off the wall.

Once you have decided on your first floral tapestry it will fully embrace and energize you to continue your search and explore creative ideas to add another splendid piece to your decor.

Barbara Tobiasz

Wall Tapestry Ideas to Spruce Up Your Home Decor

To create a dramatic, elegant look and feel in your home, you'll need deep, rich colors with stimulating artistic designs. One way to achieve this look is to add wall tapestries. A tapestry is a fabric of multiple colors and designs, which are woven upon a warp by hand. The finished tapestry can be used as a furniture throw or covering, a wall hanging, or for other adorning purposes.

Wall hangings can be used to accent any room. They come in all shapes and sizes, so you can use a wall tapestry to decorate a small wall in a hallway or as the center decor piece of a large room. Wall tapestries come in a variety of colors and designs, so you can easily find a pattern to match your current paint colors, wallpaper, flooring or carpet, and furnishings in any room.

• Types of Wall Tapestries

Wall tapestries reflect many themes so you can easily find one to fit your style. If you prefer medieval decor, there are plenty of medieval tapestry patterns to choose from, including 11th century Bayeux, unicorns, King Arthur, Godfrey de Bouillon, Milani, Vendanges, and many others. For a religious decor theme, some of the more popular wall hanging themes include Angel of Light, Christ, Be not afraid, Annunciation, The Last Supper, Madonna, The 23rd Psalm, Vierge Roc, etc. There are also Belgian and European wall tapestry themes, William Morris tapestries, and a variety of Eastern and Oriental creations.

If you prefer a more general home decor, try wall tapestries with animal and wildlife themes, floral patterns, nautical artwork, landscapes, or other general themes. World map tapestries are also popular for those who love to travel (or often dream of traveling) to foreign lands, or for anyone interested in world history and geography.

• Wall Tapestry Decor Tips

Choose wall tapestries that will work well with your other decor accessories. Tapestries can be added near a lamp and table or on a wall beside a floor lamp. They also fit beautifully between a couple of wall sconces, which can be used to light up the tapestry and bring out its colors and designs. For the kitchen, look for a wall tapestry to fit with your kitchen colors. Bright floral and fruit patterns work well in most kitchens. For the bathroom, hang a tapestry above a decorated shelf or near a mirror. Tapestries with deep, rich colors usually look great in bath decor as well as those with scenic paintings such as country or farm scenes. Animal wall hangings look great in the bath or kitchen.

In the bedroom, hang a calming wall tapestry above your headboard or above a dresser. Accent the tapestry with wall flowers or figurine shelves. Tapestries also look great above fireplaces or in any dining area. Other accessories to consider along with tapestries are statues, rugs, lamps or chandeliers, silk flowers, paintings, family portraits, and wall fountains.

Wall tapestries can be used to add dramatic affect to any room's decor. Tapestries also work well to decorate any business office, restaurant, hotel room, or hospital rooms and waiting areas. Go online today to browse all the colors and themes available to find an affordable wall tapestry for your home or business.

Chris Robertson