Tag Archives: abstracts

Finding Tranquility With Soft Pastels

featuring “Life In Balance” by Dina D’Argo

We could all use spaces that bring some calm and comforting energy, and decorating with tranquil pastel tones is an easy way to keep your interiors feeling effortlessly serene!  Forecasted color trends and multiple paint companies’ ‘Color of the Year’ announcements for 2021 also reflect the growing popularity of this soothing color scheme. The predicted palettes for this year are full of light and fresh pastels, cool blue hues, and muted earth tones.  These soothing shades are perfect for any design style, whether you use them to paint your wall or add accent pieces in these soft and dreamy hues.

These calm and inviting colors are great for a rustic-inspired kitchen, a modern bathroom, and, especially, a relaxing bedroom. They can create comfortable & sophisticated spaces while still adding color and showcasing your unique style.  As our world becomes more technologically focused, it’s no surprise that connection and places of comfort are becoming priorities.  Incorporating tranquil tones like dusty pinks, botanically inspired greens, soft blues, and light, warm neutrals in your color palettes will brighten and balance any residential or commercial space.  Add some woven and natural textures for extra depth, accent your tranquil space with darker hues for more drama, or pair your subdued pastels with soft curved edges for maximum comfort.  Decorating with artwork in these soft and relaxing hues is an easy way to bring those serene vibes to your space!

The images featured above are available in our Print-On-Demand collection.  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Art Highlight: Wallcovering

The beginning of a new month can be the perfect time to refresh your interiors and find new trends to try.  And as we kick off this new decade, we can’t help but want to go big! Wallcovering and wallpaper will continue to be a growing design trend this year and one that we love!  From soft, subtle scenes to bold and expressive patterns, wallcovering can add style and personality to any room.  It’s a great way to bring color and texture into your space in unique and unexpected ways. This popular trend works great in residential and commercial design, so we wanted to share a few ways to include different wallcovering prints and textures in your space.

featuring “Sound & Color” by Kippi Leonard

One of our favorite things about wallcovering is that there are various ways to decorate your walls with it. You can cover all of your walls, use it to make a statement accent wall, or (particularly if you have an oddly shaped wall) you can easily wallpaper half or parts of a wall. And for drama and detail in an unexpected place, you can try covering your ceiling!

Murals

Why not blow up that landscape to full wall size? Murals and serene scenes are great for accent walls and infusing your space with natural inspiration. A global-inspired scene can add some wanderlust while silhouette prints can add a twist on a classic look. Visually rich wallcovering that resembles different materials, such as marble, wood, or terrazzo, will add a luxe and modern style to your space. And wallcovering can be an easy way to introduce metallics into your wall décor to make a memorable moment in your room. Mural wallcovering can turn your design into one-of-a-kind!

Patterns

Patterns are a common wallcovering trend, but there are many different ways to infuse it with your own style. Geometric patterns are popular in design, especially with Art Deco design having a resurgence, and the symmetrical nature allows for bold, playful colors. Simple tonal stripes and small-scale prints, such as dots, can help make a room feel larger. Large solid and color-blocked prints in wallcovering can create a timeless design, especially in a dramatic black and white color scheme or crisp, classic blue hues.   For a light and minimal space, try oversized prints in botanical, fruit, and bird imagery!

Florals & Painterly Prints

A floral print might initially come to mind when you think of wallpaper or wallcovering. Florals are a traditional décor staple that is getting an updated look, helping to create modern spaces with bold colors and large-scale, abstracted patterns. Painterly florals and imagery can be unique and easy on the eye, while lively abstracts are energizing and great for an eclectic look.

featuring “River’s Run” by Jeff Iorillo

At Third & Wall, we not only have many different images to choose from for your wallcovering, but also several different styles and textures to add extra detail to your walls. Textured wallcovering is great for a monochrome look, as it adds dimension and character while keeping it simple. A suede wallcovering has a similar texture to, you guessed it, suede fabric. This light texture works well to reduce glare from direct light, while adding warmth to the print. With a flat, smooth, and low-gloss finish, we recommend a matte wallcovering for crisp, sharp-edged prints such as photography or detailed designs. A canvas wallcovering will give your wall an elegant and painterly effect, as it mimics the texture of a painter’s canvas. Lastly, Terralon wallcovering is a PVC-free alternative wallcovering material made from 31% post-consumer recycled materials, with various LEED credits. It is smooth and breathable for a sleek finish!

wallcovering samples

However you decide to decorate with this trend, we want to help you find the best image and wallcovering option!  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Commercial Design Trends

In commercial design, function, practicality, and style all align to create an environment tailored to the needs and culture of the business it represents.  With personal spending trends moving more and more toward travel, experiences, and comfort, every environment, whether it is where you work, sleep or explore, is rich with design potential. Because of this, creating a functional and impactful place to work or stay is becoming a larger focus for many companies.

featuring “Concentric I” by Dina D’Argo

The design and décor of an office space can not only create an impression of the business by capturing their culture and vibe, but also be a place both employees and clients really enjoy spending time. In hospitality and hotel design, interiors create a welcoming environment for guests as a home-away-from-home and we are seeing commercial designs taking a few tips from this approach.  As we’ll discuss below, this comfort-of-home feel can be seen reflected by creating soothing green spaces and bold walls while still meeting its functional needs.  We’ve noticed a few popular commercial design & décor trends and wanted to highlight them!

1. A Nod To Nature

Although it’s not exactly a new trend, more and more commercial spaces are giving a nod to nature in their design elements.  Whether it involves using naturally sourced, sustainable materials or adding green to their spaces, commercial design is embracing biophilic design and bringing the outdoors in.  Foliage and greenery can freshen up an interior and help boost productivity in an office space.  Just adding pops of green on the walls with paint color, landscape imagery, or some botanical artwork brings a calming and natural style to a welcoming space!

2. Comfort Is Key

In rising commercial design trends, comfort is key.  Designs are focusing on an at-home feeling with eclectic elements and lots of character.  They are including communal spaces that feel like living areas and adding local influence to reflect the culture.  Contrasting colors and vivid patterns are creating warm, relaxed, and inviting spaces in commercial design.  We love how unique and textured wall decor can liven up a cozy atmosphere!

featuring “Soft Views III” by Lisa Ridgers

3. Bold Walls

Wall décor can help create a lasting first impression in a commercial space! Diverse wall treatments are a popular wall décor trend with bold wallcoverings and alternative substrates for wall art.  Abstract artwork in metal, acrylic, or wood is adding a textured contemporary flair to commercial and hospitality design.  Hanging eye-catching elements on the walls creates a dynamic space and a one-of-a-kind style!

featuring “London Calling” by Liz Jardine

Whether you want to feel soothed, wowed, engaged or a balance of all of these and more, there are some really fun things happening with modern commercial design!

Go With The Flow: Fluid Abstracts

featuring “Silver Storm” by Laura Van Horne

A big abstract image hanging on your wall can add the perfect modern touch to your design. But with so many different styles of abstract artwork, it can be hard to find the best one for your space. One style that can add contemporary detail with soft lines and organic shapes is fluid abstract imagery. Reminiscent of water reflections or rising smoke, abstracts with these flowing qualities can bring some soothing style to your space!

We love how hanging fluid abstract imagery can complete your stylish design with a calming and modern finish!

The images featured above are available in our Print-On-Demand collection.  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Stellar Decor: A Cosmic Trend

One up-and-coming design trend that caught our eye is the cosmic craze. Interiors are embracing an astronomic influence, using starburst shapes and celestial patterns, iridescent materials, mixed metals, and deep hues to create out-of-this-world designs. We love how this trend can give a luxury, futuristic style to any space, no matter how much cosmic inspiration you incorporate!

An easy way to bring some cosmic influence to your design is with celestial inspired artwork.  Incorporating stunning imagery that mimics the cosmos and the night sky can add stellar details to your dreamy space.  Light fixtures in starburst shapes, rock-like materials, mixed metal accents, and deep blues and violet can help complete your sophisticated cosmic style.  And for some show-stopping intergalactic inspiration, try a wallcovering in a celestial print.  Finding the perfect cosmic-inspired imagery can help create a chic and striking design!

The images featured above are available in our Print-On-Demand collection.  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Decorating with Jewel Tones

featured piece is “Peacock Blossom” by Liz Jardine

Lately we’ve grown inspired by a rich and vibrant color trend that is shaking up the neutral color palettes: jewel tones. Using these deep colors in your space will give you the feeling of cozy luxury, especially when pairing them with velvety texture, bold pattern, and metallic accents. Each jewel tone can bring a different energy into your design, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite gem-inspired colors and ways to add them to your space.

Sapphire

Adding a sapphire hue can bring a soothing touch of glam to a space.  Blue is great in rooms for rest and relaxation, such as a bedroom, and adding elements of sapphire is a bold way to activate your Zen.  Paint your wall(s) this blue-gem color or add sapphire furniture and decor for a striking transformation.

Magenta

For a fresh burst of energy in your room, try magenta or a sweet, pink jewel-tone.  Balance out the bright and vibrant hue of magenta by pairing it with other jewel tones, such as soft amethyst, cooling aquamarine, or rich ruby red.  

Amethyst

Decorating with shades of amethyst will bring drama and elegance to your space.  Mixing a deep, saturated jewel-tone with softer colors can help lighten up a space, and using a decadent purple in a room with a lot of sunlight can keep it from feeling too dark.

Emerald

Green brings a sense of healing to a space, and decorating with emerald tones can evoke calming and nature-inspired luxury.  Even better, this dazzling green hue will pair perfectly with shimmery gold accents or deep blue colors.

Ruby

For a striking and warm color, go for a ruby red.  Adding this rich jewel tone will instantly energize your space, and because red is such an activating color, using it in dining area or living room will make your space feel social and inviting.

Whether you choose one vivid gem color to set the mood of your room or mix them to transform your space into a beautiful jewel box, finding the perfect jewel-toned art piece will add a touch of elegance to your walls!

The images featured here are available in our Print-On-Demand collection.  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

From the Studio of Julie Denise

We have been so busy at Third and Wall that we haven’t had a chance to update our blog in a while.  But we are back and excited to introduce one of our artists to you!

Meet Julie Denise!  Although originally from California, Julie has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1991.  Julie paints from the landscape, combining gestural brushwork and knifework into a distinctive, semi-abstract style.  With a detailed eye for composition and light, she captures the spirit of the landscape she paints.

What do you first do when you get to the studio in the morning?

I open the window, turn on the fan, and make some tea. Then I select my music. Billie Holiday is a favorite, especially on rainy days in Seattle. Or a collection of women jazz vocalists. 

How many paintings do you work on at a time?

I like to focus on a single work at a time, but there are times when I’ll have two or three paintings going.

Do you have a dream project that you would like to work on?

I’d like to paint something enormous that is luminous and inspiring. An abstract landscape that is life size—one you feel you could walk into. And I’d like it to live in a public space where many people could experience it. 

featuring “Territory” by Julie Devine

If you could paint with anyone, who would it be? 

Oh, that is a good question! There are so many artists I’d love to paint with. If I had to choose a living painter, my first thought is Eric Aho. He paints these amazingly gestural, bold landscapes that bridge traditional and contemporary art. If I could paint with an artist who has passed, I might choose to paint in plein air with Van Gogh. I adore his tree landscapes and his aim to paint the life energy of his subjects. Louisa McElwain would be another contender. She painted Southwest canyon vistas on giant canvases in plein air with a speed and confidence that is astounding. 

What’s your favorite way of generating ideas and inspiration?

“Honey Canopy”

Recently I’ve been paying a lot of attention to composition. When I see something in nature that interests me, I photograph it, then work with the photograph online or in sketches. I also like to look at master works and determine why they work so well. I read this excellent book a couple of years ago – Composition of Outdoor Painting by Edgar Payne. He demonstrates several successful strategies for arranging objects in a landscape. I think about these a lot as I’m planning a painting. If the composition isn’t strong, why bother creating the work! 

How has your art evolved over time?

I trained at Gage Academy of Art and started with an academic approach to painting. I paid close attention to achieving a likeness of my subject, creating a sense of depth, light, and temperature. I painted carefully and focused on observation and color mixing. Gaining these skills takes time. Once I felt I had these under my belt, I experimented on my own. I travelled to Southern California and New Mexico and saw work inspired by Russian impressionism. The paint was bold and thick, the style was expressive, and yet the work remained true to the effects of light. I also spent time with Abstract Expressionist works. Joan Mitchell, Arshile Gorky, Lee Krasner, and Perle Fine are some of my favorite artists in this style. What I admired most about the art I saw was the confidence and bold use of paint. Over time, I have found my expressive style.

“Fresh Shore”

What do you like most about your work?

I like the shapes in my work. I also like the confidence and the gestural quality of the paint handling. I like the subtle shifts in color temperature that create vibrancy.

What is one word that best describes your style?

I think of them as “spirited.” I hear “luminous” come up a lot from collectors and people who follow my work.

Someone once described my work as “spiritually kind.” I love that description! 

Is there an idea you would like to explore?

Yes, right now I’m exploring large rocky landscape formations.  I’d like to explore these on a very large scale.

What is your favorite time of day to paint?

Anytime is a good time. 

Do you ever get “stuck” on a piece? If so, what do you do?

Yes. It happens less often now that I spend a lot of time working out a composition before I begin to paint. But when I get stuck, I take a look at the work in a mirror. Sometimes seeing it backward will reveal problems in its composition. The mirrored image helps me see the image with fresh eyes. I’ve also been known to take it to my kids for their insight. They are very candid, and my older son has a good sense of design. He’ll say things like “this part looks good, but it’s messed up here.”  

What is up next on your easel?

A wolf portrait that’s being commissioned, and a semi-abstract, horizontal mountain landscape in a high color key.

Julie’s paintings live in international private collections and have been exhibited in the Pacific Northwest.  Seattle’s Group Health Hospital has acquired several pieces of her work for their permanent collection.

All of these pieces featured and more works by Julie Devine are available in our Print-On-Demand collection, and some of her originals are also available on our website.  Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

You’re Invited to our Friends & Family Fall Art Sale – 50-90% Discounts on Art!

Twice a year in the Spring and Fall we invite friends, family and all art lovers to visit our South Lake Union gallery and take advantage of phenomenal 50-90% discounts on contemporary art, from original artworks to rich giclée prints on canvas and paper. You’ll find abstracts, landscapes, florals, figuratives, whimsical, vintage – we have beautiful, affordable art for every taste and every wall.

Visit our Facebook Event Page to RSVP and stay up-to-date on Sale news!

F&F_FALL SALE_EmailAttachment

Our gallery is in South Lake Union, on 9th Ave. N and Harrison St.  If you haven’t visited our gallery before, we’re surrounded with great places to dine and shop. Whole Foods is just a few blocks away, as is West Elm, Cactus, Serious Pie and many other hot spots. So come out and make an adventure of it!

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Third & Wall – Introduction from Third & Wall Art Group on Vimeo.

Third & Wall offers exclusive contemporary and transitional imagery for wall decor and licensing, with a wide selection of Posters, Originals and Print-on-Demand/Licensing imagery. Some areas of our website are password-protected. If you are a member of the trade but don’t have full access to our website, www.thirdandwall.com, please contact us at customerservice@thirdandwall.com.

Ringing in 2015 – New Transitional Art from Liz Jardine

What a marvelous way for art lovers to transition into 2015 – with a collection of glorious new transitional abstracts, landscapes and florals from artist Liz Jardine.

transitional floral, seattle art, aqua, blue, neutrals

“Powderpuff Floral”

Jardine’s neutral, earthy palettes evoke a sense of groundedness, while her luminous aquas and blues drift the viewer into a place of possibility and dreams.

transitional landscape, neutrals, liz jardine, seattle art

“Between Bridges”

Jardine’s new works are every designer’s dream, with a level of sophistication, intrigue and accessibility that make them perfect choices for hospitality, corporate and residential interiors.

abstract, liz jardine, neutrals, seattle art

“Liquid Amber”

Liz Jardine’s original works, posters, and print-on-demand imagery are available from Third & Wall Art Group.

If you are a member of the trade and would like information on becoming a Third & Wall member and accessing our online collections, please contact us or call us at 1-206-443-8425 or toll-free at 1-877-326-3925. Our fax number is 1-206-441-4299.

If you are not a member of the trade, please email us to find a retailer near you, or visit our showroom at 312 Ninth Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109. Our showroom is open to the public.

All images © Liz Jardine and published/distributed by Third & Wall Art Group.

 

 

 

Summer Selections

Recently, we released our new Summer Preview Poster Collection. Selecting imagery for these releases is always challenging, because our artists send us so many fabulous image options! We usually start pulling new imagery by reviewing recent submissions from each artist. From there we narrow the choices down by subject, with the goal of creating a dynamic mix of abstracts, landscapes, figurative, etc. We aim for a nice balance from each artist that encompasses diverse color palettes while staying sensitive to current and upcoming trends. Lately we’ve had a lot of requests for Coastal imagery, so we’re really excited about our latest collection of serene sailboats.

OSTO-416, "Sparks In The Tide" by Sarah Stockstill

OSTO-416, “Sparks In The Tide” by Sarah Stockstill

ORID-490, "Sailor's Day II", by Lisa Ridgers

ORID-490, “Sailor’s Day II”, by Lisa Ridgers

OCAT-116, "Full Sail" by Joseph Cates

OCAT-116, “Full Sail” by Joseph Cates

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romance is another popular image category. It is always interesting to see the various artists’ perspectives, from Kelsey Hochstatter’s lovely collages…

OHOC-257, "That Afternoon", by Kelsey Hochstatter

OHOC-257, “That Afternoon”, by Kelsey Hochstatter

 

to Lisa Ridger’s contemporary ladies…

ORID-494, "Fond Reflections", by Lisa Ridgers

ORID-494, “Fond Reflections”, by Lisa Ridgers

to the almost-abstract figurative by Sarah Stockstill.

OSTO-417-ALT, "Evelyn", by Sarah Stockstill

OSTO-417-ALT, “Evelyn”, by Sarah Stockstill

 

Selecting Abstracts for the collection can often be the toughest part. Many of our artists specialize in creating transitional pieces, so narrowing down the selection is challenging.

 

Now for the the fun of waiting to see which images inspire our clients!