Vancouver Interior Art

Almost everything we sell is an original painting, made by hand, signed and one of a kind. The single exception is fine art photography by one photographer, sold as signed limited-edition prints and labelled that way on the listing. We sell no posters, canvas copies or open-edition reproductions of the paintings, so what arrives is the only one of it.

For condos we usually suggest oil or acrylic on canvas, because those need no glass and so throw back far less lamp and window glare in a tower. We also suggest one main piece per wall instead of a cluster, since condo walls are broken up by windows, doors and heating units. Colored pencil work suits a hallway or bedroom where you stand close.

About $600 is the middle of this collection, and it buys a mid-size original on canvas by artists such as Nahira, Phaedra or Roshan. The full range runs from about $72 to about $3,000, so $600 is a real painting rather than an entry piece. Expect a mid-size canvas, not one of the largest, which reach about 135 by 152 cm here.

We talk people out of a large dark canvas in a small, low-light unit. Vancouver light stays grey for months, and a heavy piece that looked strong on a bright screen can flatten a room by November. We also push back on choosing art to match a sofa, because the sofa goes first. Buy the painting you would carry to the next place.

The 14-day trial starts when the painting reaches you, so ordering months before a move means the window closes before the piece is on your wall. Tell us your timing and order closer to the date if you can. If it still does not work once you hang it, the Lifetime Trade-Back lets you return it in good condition for store credit.

Choose one calm mid-size piece, hung slightly off-centre behind your shoulder, rather than a busy high-contrast image. Cameras compress detail, so a painting covered in small marks turns to noise, while a simple composition holds up. Avoid glass and heavy gloss because of lamp reflections. Colored pencil work on artboard and quiet oil canvases both do this job well.

For a condo with standard 8-foot ceilings, paintings 60 to 100 cm tall (24 to 39 in) fit comfortably with room to breathe. Hang the centre about 145 cm from the floor. One mid-sized original on the main wall almost always beats several small pieces spread around a compact suite.

Hang paintings on walls perpendicular to the windows so they get bright, indirect light instead of direct sun. UV fades pigment permanently over time. If the only wall available takes direct sun, add UV-filtering window film, put works on paper under UV glass, or choose a different wall entirely.

Warm palettes hold up best: ochre, terracotta, warm white, and gold stay alive through eight months of rain-grey daylight. Cool blues and greys can go flat in winter unless they carry strong tonal contrast. Rooms with warm artificial lighting can carry cool palettes more easily.

Our small originals start around $72, and a main-wall painting for a condo living room typically falls in the mid hundreds. Every piece is hand-painted, signed, and one of a kind at those prices, because we work directly with emerging artists rather than reselling name-brand work.

Sometimes not yet, and we say that as a gallery. If you move yearly and cannot control your walls or light, start with small works that travel well and hang from a single hook. Save the large canvas for a home you expect to stay in for a few years.

Originals only. Every painting is hand-painted, signed by the artist, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity naming the work. We do not sell reproductions, so no other home in Vancouver, or anywhere, has the same piece hanging on its wall.

Normal indoor humidity in a heated Vancouver home is fine for oil and acrylic on canvas. Avoid exterior walls with condensation problems, unvented bathrooms, and direct sun. Dust the surface gently with a dry, soft brush a few times a year, and never use sprays or damp cloths.