There’s nothing quite like an original piece of art to enhance the design of a room. A painting or drawing adds texture and a human-ness that instantly adds a down-to-earth vibe and grounds a space.

In our second installment of our “FR Art Loves” series, we look at a few of our fave painters right now, all of whom are perfect for early or new collectors.

PAINTERS

KARINA BANIA

Mixed media painter Karina Bania studied art globally before returning to her California home base to develop a style uniquely her own. Her stained washes and shapes on raw canvas have been featured in collections and publications like Architectural Digest, Restoration Hardware, LUXE Magazine, and Riviera Magazine. We love her use of earthy tones, organic forms, and textures to create a freeform balanced composition. (We’re hoping to integrate two of her pieces in two different upcoming projects!)

MCKENziE DOVE

Sometimes pretty comes in small packages. We are obsessed with the smaller works on paper by Alabama-based artist McKenzie Dove. Inspired by Expressionist Art, these simple line and shape works in a neutral palette are perfect for purchasing a dozen and designing a no-brainer gallery wall composition.

ALEX COLE

Local Sonoma artist (and bestie!), Alex Cole creates such stunning abstracts and landscapes that we tend to use at least one of her pieces in all of our projects. Whether it’s a larger commission piece or smaller abstract placed on a shelf, her pieces add vibrancy to any room. BFA-trained on the East Coast, Alex has developed an aesthetic influenced by her childhood years in the Mediterranean that she now brings to the Wine Country (and aren’t we lucky!).

KADER BOLY

From one of our fave local SF Bay Area shops, The Vintage Rug Shop in Oakland features the works of West African artist Kader Boly. Since the age of 12, Kader began drawing and painting using mud and dirt from his surroundings, and quickly thereafter learned to paint with techniques through the traditional methods of making mud cloth textiles. He uses distinctive storytelling to visually share with the world glimpses into his childhood growing up in a family of nomadic herders.