Barn Owl Primitives started out small. Christi, the creator, started out making handcrafted Christmas gifts, specifically hand-painted, door-hanging snowman, when money was tight. Friends and families became her first customers but, then, the word got out…and friends of friends started placing orders as well. Since snowman is rather synonymous with winter, Christi started other ideas that weathered seasons: word art that are perennially appealing. Barn Owl Primitives was born and “signs to decorate your life” becomes her signature motto. Since then, her Barn Owl Primitives has birthed various categories of word art:

Family Rules

It’s true every family has its own rules, but some rules seem to be universal. Short of repeating yourself often, it would be neat to have these rules written out and place in strategic places as reminders. Need help to maintain order in the playroom? Enlist the help of Playroom rules word art – all the gentle reminders conveniently placed on the canvas (or neatly framed) – a great way to reinforce rules without nagging. How about kitchen rules? Barn Owl has a series of that too: Sit up Straight or simply entitled “Kitchen.”

Encouragement

We could all use a little “pep” talk now and then, a little pick-me-up encouragement. What better way to motivate yourself or others than a word art décor? Whether you want to be brave (or reminded you’re brave), strive to be real or just want to love and be loved, Barn Owl primitives have a range of selection to cater to your needs.

Holiday Signs

Want to create a festive mood? Or get into the holiday spirit? Holiday word art can help you do that without really trying too hard. Hang one up and allow the magic to diffuse the room with that seasonal joy and longing, a little nostalgia or warmth. Christmas, Halloween or just to welcome a new season, take your pick. Order up some holiday cheer, it's that time of the year.

Sports

Know a husband, a father, a son, a brother or a friend who loves sports? They live, eat and breathe sports and you may experience a little neglect when the sports season is on? They would love one of the word art on sports. Football or soccer, these word art will make great gifts for sports fans.

Using Barn Owl Primitives word art for decor is a great way to add character, swag or mood. Buy them for yourself or to give away as gifts. Feel free to browse our website or contact us for more information.

What do Billy the Kid, Hoss Cartwright, Jack Sorenson, Wyatt Earp and Charles M. Russell all have in common? The answer, “They’re all beloved figures that, in one way or another, represent the Wild West. Two of them, Jack Sorenson and Charles M. Russell, are Wild West artists that have managed to touch people’s inner cowboy or cowgirl with their creative visions. 

Born in the 1950s, Jack Sorenson’s wild west art was clearly influenced by his early years, which he spent part of working at his family’s dude ranch and frontier town. It was a popular tourist stop and Sorenson learned early on how to play to the crowd. As such, his Wild West artwork has a great mix of touching and humorous ranch family scenes. It also contains western landscapes, high intensity action shots and wildlife paintings that are sure to stir one’s inner adventurer.

Charles M. Russell, on the other hand, had a much different upbringing than Sorenson. Born in the late 1800s, he spent his teenage years employed by a working sheep rancher and living among the Blood Indians, with nary a tourist in sight. So his Wild West art tends to portray a very realistic view of ranch life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It shows cowboys working and interacting with Indians, early explorers and animals. That said, art patrons who view his paintings often remark that they are like having a window into our country’s past.

Of course Jack Sorenson and Charles M. Russell are not the only men associated with Wild West art. There are many more and each understandably brings his or her own unique perspective on western life to the table. That’s part of what makes decorating with Wild West art so interesting. Depending on the artist and the subject matter, a wide variety of moods, interests or messages may be conveyed.

Take Jack Sorenson’s horse paintings, like The Bay and A Sound in the Timber for example. They would look lovely hanging in a room filled with saddle furniture, leather flooring and a working fireplace. On the flip side, Charles M. Russell’s Wild West artwork would look amazing hanging in a study filled with history books, antiques from the 1800s, animal hide throw rugs and saddle blankets.

To learn more about Jack Sorenson, Charles M. Russell and other wild west artists’ notable pieces, please visit  Fulcrum Gallery today.

Are you looking for art pieces that are classy and chic? They hold style and elegance and are perennially pleasing? Classy/chic art may not scream for attention but they draw you in with their understated charm. If you're looking to decorate with classy and chic art works, here are some pointers:

What’s Your Theme?

Do you have a theme in mind? You want a theme that withstands the test of time and doesn’t look jaded with the passing of time. Consider themes that are timeless – for instance, art pieces that celebrate the beauty of nature - flowers, plants, landscape, garden, seasons, or the beach. Bring the sun and surf into your house and allow the beach theme to dominate and transport you somewhere where breezes caress and the waves soothe. 

Color Scheme

While there are no strict rules for color scheme for your home, some colors will withstand the whims and fancies of time better than others. For instance, psychedelic may be reminiscent of the 60's, where funk and bold collided in a surge of cultural beauty. If you’re decorating a space to reflect that time period, it will work well. However, if you’re striving to decorate a space that will still look classy with time, opt for colors that are more neutral. With a basic neutral color, you can then choose to play it up with a main color or an accent color. Choose art pieces that complement or contrast your basic room color.

Style of the Artist

Perhaps you’re a fan of a particular artist. Their art works speak to you and feel most like you. Find a number of pieces and build a collage with them or use that one piece to define a room or space. For instance, Cheri Blum, an American painter uses simple lines and shapes to create a sense of peaceful balance in her art. Another popular impressionist artist, Barbara Mock, puts her strong sense of design to good use when creating pieces that capture floral theme, charming birdhouses or delicate teacups and whimsical landscapes. And what about the contemporary artist, Carol Robinson? She offers renditions of beach scene, kitchen décor and landscape with style and splendor. Because their art pieces are classy and chic, you may get more mileage out of them in the long run.

For more information on how you can use art pieces that are both chic and classy, feel free to contact us.  

Warm up a rustic kitchen or family room with the earthy hues of Tuscany. From neutral wall paint colors to cultural art, you’ll feel like you’re relaxing in a foreign land. The best part of travel art is that it creates a home that is both cozy and worldly.

Tuscan art for your Kitchen

When decorating the kitchen with travel art of Tuscany, focus on images of wine bottles, grapes, apples and lemons. Or go for the bigger picture with a garden landscape. The blue skies in garden art complements the warm brown and orange tones of the Italian landscape.

Decorating ideas:

* Clay tiles, from your local home improvement store can be used as a back splash, or use the individually as drink coasters.

* Wooden decorative objects in the shape of pears, pepper mills or wine bottles add to ambiance.

* Try your hand at decorating a small area with a leafy green stencil. Keep linens including table settings and window treatments in off-white hues.

* Upgrade cabinet hardware French Country knobs and handles.

Black wire baskets and candle holders finish out the Tuscan look in your kitchen.

Tuscan Living Room

For a Tuscan theme, consider your rooms with beige or golden mustard walls. For pops of color in the room, use large golden yellow or burn orange candles.

Add details to every corner:

* Use small garden statues as bookends.

* Spice up the room with coffee-colored furniture or decorative objects.

* Decorate the largest wall with multiple pieces of Tuscan art.

* Use small images in wooden frames on shelves and end tables, to resemble personal travel photos.

* Decorate windowsills with leafy vines in stone vases.

* Create a focal point in the room with a tall garden vase to complete the worldly transition.

Shop your favorite Tuscan art today and save 50%! For more information on decorating a with culture art, please contact us. 

Framed mirrors can really make a home appear to expand in size and reflect incoming light to make rooms feel airy and full of light. They can also be a great alternative to hanging artwork. Wherever you want to add wall decor but don't feel you have the right piece of art or other decor to place there, consider a mirror as a solution.

Here are some key tips for decorating with mirrors instead of artwork:

Finding the Right Frame: You want to frame your mirror to highlight it but not to overwhelm it. You don't want a small mirror to have a big, bulky frame and you probably don't want a large mirror to have a thin, delicate looking frame. The frame should accent the mirror, making it a highlight of your room when used as an alternative to artwork on the wall.

Location and Size: One of the first steps in choosing the right framed mirror is to decide exactly where you plan to hang it and look at size considerations. Is the mirror meant to hang above a fireplace? Do you want it to reflect a pleasing outdoor view from a window? Do you want to reflect the light fixture on the ceiling to double the apparent light? Look at the space and measure how large the mirror should be for that location. If you are placing the mirror above a sofa, you don't want the mirror to overwhelm the seating, so choose a size about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the sofa. The same is true if you are choosing a framed mirror for hanging over the fireplace mantel.

Color Scheme: In most cases, you will want the mirror frame to stand out against the wall treatment. If you have light colored walls, your options are endless. If you have a wall treatment with a significant pattern or texture, you might consider a wooden frame that contrasts strongly with the wall colors. You can have metallic accents on your mirror frame is you like no matter what color or type of wood you choose, creating an endless combination of designs to satisfy any setting.

Style: Choose a framed mirror that blends with the overall style of the room. If you have a formal living room, you want a very formal look for your framed mirror but if you have ultramodern or rustic country, you can find a frame that suits that style just as well. Whatever your furnishings and decor you can have a framed mirror that blends well with that style.

Shop our selection of framed mirrors today and get 50% off! To get the right framed mirror to meet your requirements for accenting a room as an art alternative or as a functional mirror, contact us and we can provide you with exactly the custom framed mirror for your needs.