When it is time to decorate a home, homeowners are likely to bring a sense of character and place to their home. Furniture and architectural elements aid in telling the story, but there’s nothing like local art that can bring color and personality to your home.
Cajun artist and artist and sculptor Francis Pavy knows this intimately. His work is a celebration of the rich culture of the Gulf South and includes Ron Howard, Lorne Michael, and Paul Simon among his collectors. Pavy’s newest creative venture is remodeling his historic Tudor house in Lafayette, Louisiana. He and his wife, Cathi, alongside designer Nicole LeBlanc, infused their interior with highlights from his back catalog and the couple’s vast collection–including drapery, pillows, and wall coverings from Pavy’s debut line of textiles. The couple offers their advice on creating an alive home by incorporating local art.
Explore Your Local Art Scene
Being an artist in the professional realm for over forty years, Francis Pavy believes there’s no better way to be connected to art than connecting to an artist. Explore galleries and go to art exhibitions in your area. Feel free to go to the studio of an artist. “Artists are accessible and love to share their art,” He declares. “Get artwork that you feel connected with and will make you feel good. It’s not all about the aesthetics on your gallery wall.” If you meet a professional, you will hear the motivation behind their work. You get to know their reason, their process, and what they envision.
Additionally, you can see the work in person, an experience different from viewing it on the Internet. “If you’re buying from a local artist, you’re incorporating something from your culture in your home,” says designer Nicole LeBlanc, of NLB Design. “It’s all about that connection.”
Think Beyond the Frame
The art of advancing is about stretching the notion of art. “It spills out over the borders of a picture frame,” says Cathi Pavy, owner of Pavy Studio. “When we bring art into our home, the pieces are selected based on their meaning to us.” It doesn’t matter if it’s a piece of canvas, pottery, or a musical instrument; you should be attentive to objects that add the appearance and feel of the work. It is also possible to layer on fabrics like drapery or wall covers made by local craftsmen to help set the mood. The Pavy’s custom-designed curtains for the living room feature the Pavy design inspired by Mississippi’s southwestern waterfalls.
Trust Your Instincts
Investing in art may seem daunting, but finding the artwork you like could be as easy. Begin with a small amount. Take your time buying an expensive art piece. Look for something that resonates with you. “I definitely encourage people to follow their gut,” LeBlanc says. “When you like something–maybe something you wouldn’t normally like–that’s usually where you need to go.” She also says that often, people become stuck on what they believe their homes ought to look like based on pictures they find through magazines or social networks and miss the chance to design a personal environment. “When you enter the home that’s been furnished with things that are meaningful and it’s at ease. It’s not something tangible however, you’ll be able to feel the difference.”
Tune Into Color
It doesn’t require a master’s degree or art degree to implement striking designs into your décor; however, having a basic knowledge of the theory of color is helpful. Francis Pavy says one of his preferred ways of making things appear more connected is to consider echoing and complimentary colors. The colors that reflect are akin to one, and complementing colors can be described as opposites on the color wheel. For instance, his blue-themed mural in the foyer stands out against the red-orange door. But, Pavy contends color theory is not a precise science. Testing a color scheme is the most effective method of determining whether it is effective. “It’s very intuitive; you have to see how it feels,” He says.
Tell A Story
Create a sense of purpose in every room by creating vignettes or ideas, suggests Cathi Pavy. In one of their daughters’ bedrooms, the gallery wall displays the ongoing history of photos, paintings, and family treasures. Art can be a pair of baby shoes or a map of a particular area. LeBlanc says it’s related to more than just matching colors or kinds of art. When she conceptualized the gallery’s wall space, LeBlanc’s goal was to be able to tell the tale about their families. The concept here is to find the connection between objects. “You’re creating contrast, but then there’s a storyline between the objects,” LeBlanc says. LeBlanc.
Look at the Big Picture
If you’re transforming the interior of a room, or perhaps your entire home, Don’t just wait until the final minute to consider the art. “For me it has to be part of the whole story rather than just ending,” LeBlanc explains. She is a fan of making mood boards at the beginning of the process of designing to help clients envision patterns or colors that complement their collections of art. They can also assist you in your search to find items that will work in the overall design. Francis Pavy says often, artwork such as wallpaper or fabric could serve as a foundation that you create the entire room around. “If you are sure that this item will be present, then what else can you do? One thing can lead to an additional,” he says.
Seek Out Expert Advice
Interior designers from your local area are connected to the local art scene and can be an excellent source for finding the right pieces to complement your interior design. They can also offer additional eyes to help you think about the space from a different perspective and give you the courage to go outside your familiar zone. Cathi Pavy states, “Working with a designer helped us affirm what we were thinking and helped guide us to make more confident decisions.” Even if you do not hire an interior designer for the entire project, you should consider scheduling an hour-long consultation with them to get their professional advice on selecting the best art piece for your home. Art is a way to invest LeBlanc suggests. “Designers can help you see it all together before you make that leap.”
