Tag Archives: artists

Texas Décor, from Stunning to Sassy

Photo by Ken Kopacki

Photo by Ken Kopacki

Whether you’re looking to decorate your new custom home or current abode, if you love Texas like we do, then you might consider spreading a little Lone Star State love throughout your space. Here are some recommendations to start you down the Texas trail.

E. Dan Klepper

Few artists capture the stark beauty of west Texas as perfectly as E. Dan Klepper. An artist, photographer and writer, he’s captured the imaginations of many a Texan. If you’re driving through Marathon on your way to Big Bend, be sure to stop in at his studio, Klepper Gallery. Adorn your living room or dining room wall with one of his large-scale prints of the West Texas landscape and you have yourself a stunning showpiece.

Jonas Perkins

Jonas Perkins is a renowned artist who creates custom sculptures out of bronze, wood, plaster and stone. He also makes ceramic and glass mosaics, frescoes and more. His sculptures are on display in public places throughout Texas, including his Korean War memorial in San Antonio’s Municipal Plaza. Interestingly, he lives outside of Fredericksburg in a home he built himself out of recycled materials.

Robert Tatum

Based in San Antonio, this seasoned artist’s murals cover walls all over the city. His signature style is easily recognizable – it’s sometimes political, sometimes outlandish, but always unique and exceptionally executed. He has a retail space at Blue Star Arts Complex where you can find fun pieces to decorate your walls. He’s also available to do commission work, from homes to restaurants.

Gilbert Duran  

Gilbert Duran has been a staple of Southtown for a very long time. His portraits are sometimes whimsical and sometimes bewilderingly gorgeous. You may have seen his paintings on the walls at the famous restaurant, Rosario’s, and his work is so popular now he even sells his paint-covered palettes.

Ken Kopacki 

If you love photography of Texas icons, both well-known and off the beaten path, Ken Kopacki has made it his life’s mission to capture the unique beauty of Texas, from dilapidated barns to historic sites such as Cadillac Ranch. He’s up-and-coming, which means good news for collectors – his artwork is far more affordable than the previously mentioned.

Call us at 210-494-5400 if you need some beautiful custom walls and rooms for your new Texas décor. You can also fill out our online form  to get the ball rolling.

 

Stunning Local Glass Art for Your Home

Caliente Hot Glass Demo

Caliente Hot Glass Demo

Unless you’re lucky enough to have stumbled across it at a gallery or upscale restaurant, you probably aren’t aware of the talented glass artists that live right here in San Antonio.

Glass art makes a dramatic statement in the home. There are all types of glass that can be used to adorn your new or existing house, such as a chandelier, wall piece or a vase or sculpture. Regardless of its form, glass is always a beautiful and unique showpiece.

The glass artists in town often have artwork available in their galleries or studios, but particularly if you’re having a custom home built, you’ll want to commission a piece to be designed exclusively for you. Here’s a couple of artists we think you might like:

Glen Andrews of Caliente Hot Glass Studio

Glen Andrews is a highly creative and intelligent artist who enjoys expanding his skills by always incorporating new methods, including methods he invents by trial and error. Glen and the other offhand glass artists (the proper term for blown glasswork) at Caliente have been ramping up this past year. Besides expanding their studio space, they also have a new gallery for showcasing their work.

Every second Sunday of the month, what they call “2nd Sunday Funday,” you can enjoy live glass blowing demos, shopping and meeting the artists themselves. Caliente also offers private glass blowing experiences for those who want to get more up close and personal with hot glass.

Garcia Art Glass

Gini Garcia is easily the most successful local glass artist, sometimes compared to the famous Chihuly (who has a gorgeous piece up at the downtown library). Garcia Art Glass was founded in ’98 and she has designed pieces both locally and internationally for hundreds of residences, restaurants and other businesses. However because her work is highly sought after, commissioned pieces will likely take a significant amount of time to finish and might cost you almost as much as your house!

Jake Zollie Harper of Zollie Glass

Located in the Blue Start Arts Complex, Zollie Glass is a gallery that showcases torchwork glass art – that is, glass made by using a torch. This is much different than offhand glass and is typically used for making small scale pieces, such as marbles.

Jake, who has collaborated with Glen Andrews, is also exploring new ways to apply his skillset. He produces commissioned pieces and even creates small pieces that fit together to make larger sculptures.

Jason Lawson of Lawson Glass

Tucked away in the Texas Hill Country, not far from us, is a uniquely gifted artist by the name of Jason Lawson. Although Jason has the artistry and skill to make any number of glass art, he has found his niche of late by making and selling hot-sculpted solid crystal antler chandeliers that are exceptional in every sense of the word. Although most of his clients are outside of Texas, his style seems a perfect fit for homes with a modern Texas décor!

If you’re in need of a beautiful home for all of this amazing art, we’re ready to build your new custom dream home. Give us a call at 210-494-5400. To be added to our private email list to receive newsletters, please sign up here.

 

HeART is Where the Home Is

Artist Abraham Mojica at Mercury Project

Artist Abraham Mojica at Mercury Project

Valentine’s Day has passed us by, but most people know that the heart really is where the home is, and creating a home you love that reflects all the facets of who you are is the key to a happy hearth. Oftentimes people are intimidated by the task of building a new home, renovating an old one or simply changing the décor, especially if you have little experience with interior design. However, you can easily accentuate your living space with one-of-a-kind elements that will have you falling in love with your home again and again!

ART as DÉCOR

Collecting original artwork, be it paintings, sculptures or abstract art, can be the easiest and most fun (if not always inexpensive) way to develop a unique décor. Although it might be helpful to first consider exactly what kind of look you’re going for, you shouldn’t be discouraged by a lack of direction. Sometimes the most beautiful homes showcase an eclectic variety of art pieces that span all sorts of styles, eras, artists and color palettes.

Art can be an investment. Kind of like playing the stock market, you may discover a local artist that you like only to find that years from now their work is highly collectible and worth a lot of money. You may want to start out by collecting pieces that have already developed a certain level of cachet. Still, some pieces might only mean something to you, and frankly, that’s what’s most important.

Art is about a feeling. You should look for pieces that inspire emotion. For example, in the bedroom, you might want to hang pieces that bring you peace and serenity. In the dining room, you might wish to feature conversation starters – something unusual or thought-provoking. The great thing is, if your home is a blank canvas filled with art, you can dramatically change the look of your home without having to tear down walls or buy new furniture.

SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS & GALLERIES

While you can certainly consult with a designer or art rep, you’ll probably enjoy the experience much more just by attending gallery shows and buying pieces that you like. Through this route, you’ll begin to develop relationships with artists, who are sometimes available to do commissioned pieces – perhaps a portrait of a loved one – wife, child (or even pet!).

San Antonio has a plethora of talented artists that span the gamut, from well-known and successful artists such as Gilbert Duran (duran-arte.com) and George Schroeder (schroederart.com) to up-and-coming artists such as Abraham Mojica (abrahammojica.com), who discovered his talent for painting just a few years ago, but has already garnered an international clientele. You can always find out what’s going on by consulting the San Antonio Current for a list of local art shows. Some of the most popular local galleries include Mercury Project, AnArte, David Shelton and Blue Star.

If you’re considering a new custom-built home, and you like the idea of showcasing artwork, you can have a formal living room built with gallery walls and custom lighting. It all depends on what kind of look you desire to achieve. For assistance, feel free to call us anytime at 210-494-5400.