Design lesson: Artful choices

Dos and don'ts

DO collect various media. Oil paintings are not the only true art. Consider watercolour, photography and original print processes like etching, silkscreening and lithography. Beware of "limited editions" that number in the hundreds or thousands -- that's not very limited and they're unlikely to have been hand-done by the artist.

DO visit galleries with an open mind. You may envision one large painting over a sofa when a series of works could be grouped for similar impact. A watercolour may be what you had in mind until you get a glimpse of a photographic series.

DO work with respected galleries and don't be afraid to ask questions. Educating yourself is one benefit of the process.

DO choose artwork to mark important occasions -- a trip to Paris, the year a child was born, or the promotion that finally came. Sign the back of the piece to note the occasion.

DON'T match artwork to furniture or visit galleries with your favourite fabric swatches in hand. For a piece to have impact, you should feel emotionally connected to it, and it shouldn't blend into the background.

DON'T let the mat board overshadow the artwork. Its purpose is to separate the artwork from the frame and provide a context in which to view the piece. Never pull a vibrant colour from a painting and use that colour as matting -- classic white or off-white is usually best.

DON'T match frames to furnishings. The frame works solely for the artwork within it.

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