The Direct Art journal
Art Guides
Practical guides to choosing art with confidence: what size to hang, which finish to pick, when to order for Christmas and the stories behind the paintings.
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ArtistsFamous Frida Kahlo Paintings Explained: The Two Fridas, The Broken Column and Her Self-PortraitsThe Frida Kahlo paintings everyone knows, from The Two Fridas to The Wounded Deer: what each one means, where it hangs today and which canvas size suits your wall.
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GiftsPersonalised Christmas Gifts: Portraits, Photo Canvases and the Dates to Order ByThe personalised Christmas gifts that last are made from a photo that matters: a hand-painted portrait of family or pets, or a favourite photo on canvas. Here is how the options compare...
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ArtistsFamous Landscape Paintings Explained: The Hay Wain, The Fighting Temeraire, Starry Night and the Works Behind ThemThe ten landscape paintings everyone recognises, from The Hay Wain and The Fighting Temeraire to Starry Night and Impression, Sunrise: who painted them, where they hang, which exist as hand-painted reproductions, and...
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GiftsChristmas Gifts for Mum: Portraits and Paintings She Will Keep on ShowChristmas gifts for mum that stay on her wall: hand-painted portraits of family and pets from your photo, Monet and Van Gogh reproductions, sizes that fit, and the dates to order by.
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GiftsGifts for Cat Lovers: Portraits and Cat Art They Will Keep on ShowThe best gifts for cat lovers are about their own cat. Here is how a hand-painted cat portrait from a photo works, which cat paintings and prints suit which home, what size...
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GiftsChristmas Gifts for Couples: Portraits and Paintings for TwoThe best Christmas gifts for couples are things they share and see every day. Here is how a hand-painted portrait of the two of them works, which classic love paintings suit which...
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GiftsGifts for Dog Lovers: Portraits and Dog Art They Will Keep on ShowThe best gifts for dog lovers are about their own dog. Here is how a hand-painted portrait from a photo works, which dog paintings and prints suit which home, what size to...
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ArtistsFamous Monet Paintings Explained: Water Lilies, Impression Sunrise, HaystacksThe Monet paintings everyone knows, from Impression, Sunrise to the Water Lilies and Haystacks: what each shows, where to see it, and which sizes suit an Australian home.
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ArtistsFamous Van Gogh Paintings Explained: Starry Night, Sunflowers, Almond BlossomThe stories behind Van Gogh's best-known works, from The Starry Night to Almond Blossom, where each one hangs today, and which size and frame suit your wall.
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GiftsWedding Anniversary Gifts by Year: The Traditional and Modern List from Paper to Diamond, and the Art That Fits EachEvery wedding anniversary year with its traditional and modern gift, from paper at the 1st to diamond at the 60th, and the painting, frame or portrait that fits each milestone.
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CareFloating Frames Explained: Gold, Black, Silver, Natural or White, and When to Skip OneWhat a floating frame is, how the shadow gap works, which of the five colours suits which painting and room, what it adds to the hung size, and when a stretched canvas...
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GiftsPet Memorial Gift Ideas: 7 Ways to Remember a Dog or CatSeven pet memorial gift ideas for someone who has lost a dog or cat: a hand-painted portrait from their photo, a canvas print, a gift card so they choose the photo, a...
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GiftsMilestone Birthday Gift Ideas: 50th, 60th and 70thPersonal gift ideas for a 50th, 60th or 70th birthday in Australia: hand-painted portraits from a photo, the family home or a place that matters, a loved masterpiece, and how far ahead...
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