Original artwork enlivens a space by adding the touch of the artist who created it, and the story of how and why it was made. Many pieces of art also have a discovery story, or a memory attached to it that adds a personal meaning.

One of my favorite sources for art is local art fairs where I can talk to the artist about their process, the materials they use, and what inspired their work. The stART Up Art Fair is an organization that regularly sponsors events to help independent artists build visibility for their work. Recently I attended a show for dozens of artists at the ultra-hip Hotel del Sol, where each artist fills a hotel room with their work. The hotel centers around a courtyard with a pool, and feels like it should be in balmy Palm Springs. I bundled up in my San Francisco attire, and pretended it was 80 degrees out while I sipped wine and chatted with the artists.

The work of Helen Dennis is hand-drawn on photographic paper. She then develops it in a dark room and the process gives the work movement and energy, like in this drawing of Grand Central Station.

One of the styles of late Impressionism painting is Pointillism, where the artist uses a series of small dots or strokes to create an image, an effect that my fellow 80’s movie fans will recall from the scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the Art Institute of Chicago. Artist Kenneth Ober has mastered this technique using a tool for pin striping automobiles. Here is one of his Seascape paintings, comprised of thousands of tiny strokes.

Let’s face it, the dried up wedding bouquet may be sentimental, but it’s really not that pretty. Jamie Corley does these vibrant, impressionistic paintings of wedding bouquets so now you can enjoy your bouquet for the work of art it is (was) for years to come. (It also makes a great gift!)

No art collection is complete without an edgy deer sculpture adorned with sequins and jewels! Emily Madigan of Sweetieboosh uses almost entirely found and reclaimed materials for her sculptures. What looks like leather on this sculpture is actually salvaged rubber from old car tires.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Small Works Show in San Francisco happening July 19 – 21, 2019!