Decor Arts Now

"Golfer's Widow" by Walt Spitzmiller

Spirit of Sports is a new online resource for both prints and original paintings. (They offer sculpture,  collectibles and clothing too).  Every item has some tie to athletics.  I took a look at what they had to offer and I was pleasantly surprised.

I will say right up front that I am not a sports fan.  My sports viewing is limited to motherly duties.  I watch my boys surf in Montauk and  play football and rugby.   When my oldest son Patrick boxed, I couldn’t bear to watch him, even when he was in the Golden Gloves competition. (Mothers out  there–can you blame me?)

So it was with some skepticism that I typed in their url.    I thought  I mind find art to hang in the bedrooms, offices or home gym of my sports-minded teenaged sons and husband.  

What I found is that Spirit of Sports has  something to offer everyone.  Much of the art has broad appeal. Here are few of my favorites. 

 This print by John Mecray is stunning and would look fabulous in a coastal home.

"Flying Home"" by John Mecray

Like many of the artists on Spirit of Sports, it is obvious from the artist’s bio that he is passionate  about his subject. Mecray is a member of the Mystic Seaport Museum’s Yachting Committee and the New York Yacht Club among other organizations.  Spirit of Sports offers a number of works by Mecray.

 The colorful abstracts by Steve Kuzma and Doug Lew answer the perennial question of what to put on a large wall behind your sofa.  I got lost in  the blues and touches of orange in this next work by Kuzma. Oh yeah, I forgot.  It’s about football.

"Block Football"" by Steve Kuzma

This watercolor by Doug Lew is one of several original works by him offered by Spirit of Sports.  Lew’s paintings have been featured in art books including Best of Watercolor Painting Composition and Painting the Effects of the Atmosphere. Lew was inspired by white water rafting in this work.

"Splash" by Doug Lew

Is realism more your bag?  Check out this print by Terrence Fogarty. To me, the play of light and shadow gives the work  a bit of an Edward Hopper feel.   The little hockey player is incidental.

"Dryland" by Terrence Fogarty

This landscape by Linda Hartough also is quite serene.  I don’t golf, so I had no idea until I read the description that this painting shows one of the most recognizable courses in America.  Apparently,  the candy cane lighthouse gives the scene away as the site for the PGA Tour’s Heritage Golf Classic since 1969.

"The 18th Hole, Harbour Town Golf Links" by Linda Hartough

If  you do want art that depicts your favorite athletic pursuit,  the Spirit of Sports’ website  allows a search by sport. There are 34  to choose from including such expected activities as baseball to the more unusual like rodeo and billiards.

Reading over each artist’s bio often reveals that the creator is an active and ardent participant in the activity he depicts.  The website also provides helpful tips on how to care for your art.

What would my boys be drawn to?  I know they would like this print by artist Ken Auster. It brings a smile to me as well.  This one would look great in our beach house.

Auster depicts a scene similar to one I am well familiar.  My sons often are seen in the parking lot at Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk, NY refueling after several hours of surfing. This painting could be them!

"Refueling" by Ken Auster

Or, of course, you can simply browse Spirit of Sports looking for pretty pictures.  You won’t be disappointed. 

All art from the Spirit of Sports website.

Spring Awakening

At first glance, the art of Catrin Welz-Stein looks like  an oil painting slowly built up layer by layer.  Catrin does carefully layer each element in her work but she does that in a thoroughly modern way.  She tears apart old photos, pictures and illustrations and then meticulously combines them in Photoshop to create her own unique image.  Essentially, her work is collage, but instead of looking like a mash up of favorite pictures, her finished product is a smooth unified whole.

Catrin said in an interview with AQVA blog that “her art world” is “Otto Dix, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Gustav Klimt, Magritte and Boticelli!”  It is easy to see those influences.

Catrin Welz-Stein's "art world" via AQVA

Catrin says on the website Red Bubble that her work is inspired by surrealism, fairy tales, folklore and medieval times.  It is certainly dreamy.

Frau Holle

Bye, Bye Butterfly

Stranded

Her Garden

Journey to the East

HIt By Your Love

All of these images came from Image Kind were you can purchase prints of Catrin’s work.  Her work also is available at Red Bubble.  Don’t you just love the last one as a Valentine?  Next year.