There is good, beneficial art for the home, and there are paintings and art that are not good for the home. Art that is calm, serene, and invigorates one’s soul should be the key things to look for when selecting visual pieces for the environment. Here are some tips when looking for ideal feng shui art:
- Landscapes – Beautiful landscapes are brilliant for attracting chi (good energy) to a home. Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and John Singer Sargent are a few of many brilliant landscape artists. Beautiful landscape photos, like the one above of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, are also great examples – especially if it’s a photo of a place that holds significance for the occupant.
- No Wars or Shipwrecks – Images portraying war, hunting, or sinking ships are generally not auspicious for most rooms in a house.
- Severed Limbs are Bad – The same goes with paintings of dead bodies or severed limbs. This is especially true for kitchens and dining rooms where food is prepared. This type of art can literally ruin a person’s appetite, and dissuade people from using the space. Even if it’s a Salvador Dali, if there are arms, heads and legs just hanging about in the scene, the art doesn’t belong in a room where people eat or prepare food.
- Romancing the Stone – For the bedroom, acquire art that is sensual in nature. This will help to attract more romantic chi.. Art with happy couples also draws beneficial energy to the bed chamber.
- Winnie-the-Pooh – For children’s rooms, find art that is pastel in colors, and images that are calming and peaceful. Winnie and his group are great examples. Avoid fast items, such as cars or planes, and carnivorous creatures.
What do you see? In this painting from the WineExpo Tasting Room in Santa Monica, I see a woman in a ball gown about to shoot an arrow. But there can be several different interpretations of this vibrant work. For more information regarding WineExpo, and their sensational events and wine selection, visit my food blog, The Feng Shui Foodie: http://fengshuifoodie.com/2013/09/16/bacon-and-bubbly/
Whatever visual art of your choice you decide to use, remember this: You Need to Love It!! Art is subjective, and if there is a piece displayed in your home that you despise and loathe, I suggest removing it, or relocating it to a place where it will not be seen often. If one doesn’t like the art hanging, it will only attract sha (negative energy) to the area. I’ll be adorning my own home with some new art very soon, which will both be auspicious and suit my own personal artistic tastes. I’ll be sharing some of these works in another blog post in the coming months. Until then, add some more art to your life – either by hanging up a new painting, creating an art piece of your own, or by visiting a museum.