FINDING PEACE

In our byte-filled, hurry-up society, peace is elusive and finding it often seems impossible. So why not surround yourself with peaceful images on posters and fine art prints from posters.com? What are the images of peace? Let’s take a look.

Peace is a quiet place of solitude and serenity.

Peace is enduring or just for a moment.

Peace is a symbol of longings and dreams.

So whether it’s peace in the world, a peace sign, peace in your heart or peace in your home, take some time to browse the huge selection of peaceful sights and scenes at posters.com. Then grab a cup of hot chocolate (maybe a chocolate chip cookie too) and perhaps a good book, find a quiet spot, and peace be with you.

THE IMAGES OF CHRISTMAS

Whether you call it Christmas Day, Christmastide, Christmas season, Christmastime, Christ’s Mass, Yuletide, Noel, or Xmas—it’s a wonderful time of year filled with sparkling lights, festive decorations, joyful carols, colorful mistletoe and holly, sweet candy canes, ringing bells, evergreen wreaths, and stockings hung on the mantel—and, of course, Santa Claus.

 

Christmas is a time for stories too. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a favorite bedtime tale for Christmas Eve. And don’t forget the movie blockbusters like the family classic “A Christmas Story,” about Ralphie and his Red Rider BB gun.

Most important of all, and the real reason for Christmas, is the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the Bible doesn’t specify a date for this remarkable event, December 25 is the day when people in the US observe Jesus’ birth, when the angels declared, “Peace on earth and goodwill to men” and the wise men, or magi, came from the East to visit the Christ child in Bethlehem.

The images of Christmas make wonderful gifts as well as memories. Vintage art prints can be framed and matted online when you purchase a print from posters.com. And there’s something for everyone in your family and every room in your home or office.

All over the world Christmas is a time of giving, worshiping and gathering together in the Spirit of joy and peace. Wherever you are this Christmastime, enjoy the spectacle of the season and embrace the Spirit of giving. Merry Christmas!

QUICK & EASY ART COLLECTIONS

The phrase “art collections” brings to mind enormous galleries of priceless Van Goghs, Cezannes, and Renoirs. But you can own less esoteric and more economical art collections in the form of high quality prints and posters that will add color, charm and interest to the decor of any home, office or dorm.

Kids will like Tony Sarge’s storybook alphabet that starts with “A Is for Alice.” Then there are always collections of rocking horses, teddy bears, cats, dogs, and even Disney kisses.  

If you’re looking for something a bit more grown up, how about 15 models of Corvettes or more than 100 kinds of hot sauces?

And the outdoorsman (or woman) can pick up a bunch of butterflies or a collection of birds of prey.

Whatever it is that you love to collect, compile or condense, check out the art collections at posters.com and browse through thousands of fine posters and wall prints. Custom mats and frames are available too. Just click to order and ship right to your door. How quick and easy is that?

PORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

The American Indian is an integral part of the rich and colorful history of the United States of America. Indigenous peoples gathered in tribes and hunted and farmed for sustenance. In the 1800s and 1900s, several painters and photographers made it their life’s work to capture the noble and memorable images of the North American Indian.

American Western artist Frederic Remington (1861-1909) is well known for his sculptures, illustrations, and magical paintings of the American West. His favorite subjects were horses, cowboys, Indians and soldiers.

 

Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926) was born in St. Louis, but when he became a teenager he headed west and eventually settled in Montana. He painted more than 4,000 works and became one of America’s most popular artists.

 Known as the “friend of the American Indian,” Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) is one of the most recognized and popular photographers of the North American Indian. Although born in Wisconsin, when his family moved to Washington State, he devoted his gift of photography to capture the life and times of the American Indian. Art prints of his award-winning photos are highly sought after and treasured today.

These striking and memorable images from the pages of history are available in fine art prints with a selection of custom mats and frames at posters.com.

SIX EASY STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT GIFT

Fall is a fine season—lots of briskness and leaves and color and stuff—letting us know that winter is on its way. But do you know what autumn is REALLY telling you? It’s a warning that Christmas is just around the corner so you’d better start thinking about gifts and shopping!

 

Don’t get crabby. I know just how to help you with all of your gift ideas. Every single one.

 

1. You’re obviously in front of your computer. So you’ve already accomplished Step One.
   
2. Make your gift list. Don’t forget Uncle Harry who has saved every fishing magazine since the day he was born and Cousin Lisa who collects bears and her daughter who loves all things Disney and your husband’s brother who’s a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and your nephew who’s an aspiring astronomer and—well, you get the idea.
   
3. Go to www.posters.com and enter your gift idea in the search box (bears, Disney, fishing, etc.).

 

 

 

  
 

4. Browse through the large collections of prints, photographs and fine art.

 

 

5. Choose your favorite poster or print and mat it and frame it. 
6. Buy it and have it sent to your home or office.

 

And you’re done! All that’s left is to stick a bow and a gift card on your framed poster gift. Then get ready to receive everyone’s thanks and adoration for your thoughtfulness, shopping savvy, great gift ideas, etc.

 

You’re welcome.

 

Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

OLYMPIC MEMORIES

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear “2008 Olympics“? Most likely it’s Michael Phelps, whose swimming exploits will be talked about for years to come. I hadn’t planned to watch the competitions, but when I saw Phelps win his first race, I was hooked and, like most Americans, I kept coming back to the TV for more. I’m guessing that a Michael Phelps poster is a hot item on many wish lists.

As exciting and colorful as this year’s Bejing games were, they also evoked a bit of nostalgia, bringing back images of swimmer Mark Spitz’s seven gold medals in 1972, sprinter Michael Johnson’s gold shoes and gold medals, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee who was voted the greatest female athlete of the 20^th century. TIME magazine has a series of covers that feature these great Olympic athletes. You can check them out at posters.com

Between competitions, NBC’s informative jaunts through the Chinese culture and countryside were eye-opening and memorable. China is filled with beautiful scenery, ancient art, and architectural wonders. It’s easy to decorate your home or office with framed posters and prints of China’s art and images. Just do some easy exploring and ordering on posters.com. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find.

HOW TO FIND YOUR STYLE IN THE WORLD OF ART

 

“Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination;
do not become the slave of your model.” – Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night” is the most sought-after work in the world of Van Gogh posters and prints. Other works by Van Gogh, which are just as beautiful, tend to go unnoticed, and “Starry Night” is fast becoming the proverbial vanilla among thousands of beautiful works by this 19^th Century painter of post-impressionism.

 

 

But just because everybody else buys “Starry Night” doesn’t mean that you have to follow. Explore a little. Go to posters.com and enter “Van Gogh” into the search box at the top. Then enjoy some easy browsing through hundreds of Van Gogh offerings and find your own favorite. Discover something unique and personal to you.

 

 

 

 

Even if you aren’t that familiar with art, it’s easy to find something that speaks to you. Maybe you like flowers or trees or sunsets. Enter one of these words into the search box and when you find an image you like, click on the name of the painter or photographer and explore his other works. For example, if you’re searching for sunsets at posters.com, you’ll discover John Nakata’s “Waimea Sunset 2.” But clicking on Nakata’s name under the image takes you into a whole new realm of Nakata’s emotive photography art—where you’ll find a poster or print for just about any taste. In the art world, the possibilities for self-expression are endless.

 

 

So stand out in your crowd. Expand your search options, enjoy some exploring, and follow your heart at posters.com.

MARILYN MONROE

bombshell noun
1. bomb
2. any shocking surprise
3. something which arouses great interest or excitement; sensation; specif., a woman with remarkable sex appeal, typically one who is blond and buxom. Source: www.yourdictionary.com

This definition makes it clear why Marilyn Monroe was called “the Blond Bombshell.” Although other “bombshells” have come and gone since her glory days in the 50s and 60s, she still holds a special place in America’s heart—as a glamorous actor, comedian, singer, and sex symbol. Marilyn Monroe photos are highly collectible, and posters and prints of the Blonde Bombshell are still top sellers. Recently, a 47-minute candid segment of film shot on the set of “The Misfits” sold at auction for $60,000.

Marilyn Monroe’s photogenic beauty was discovered when she was 16 and working at a munitions factory in Los Angeles. Soon she landed a modeling contract, which eventually led to a photo lay-out in the first edition of Playboy magazine in December 1953. Her friend, Andy Warhol, was also captivated by her, and his pop art prints of Marilyn have been quite popular and very collectible for decades.

After several minor roles, she finally began to make her mark on American films as the ditzy receptionist in “Monkey Business.” Her movie list is a long one, but she is best known for “Some Like It Hot,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “How to Marry a Millionaire,” and “The Seven Year Itch” with its famous skirt-blowing scene. (Posters.com has a great selection of this memorable photo along with a huge portfolio of Marilyn Monroe prints and posters.)

“The Misfits,” filmed in 1961, was the last movie that Marilyn—and her co-star Clark Gable—lived to complete. Gable died of a heart attack eleven days after the filming was finished, and within a year and a half Marilyn died in her sleep from an overdose of drugs.

Today, people still speculate about the cause of her death, and conspiracy theories are still bandied about. Nevertheless, Marilyn Monroe continues to win the adoration and devotion of movie fans around the world. She was more than a Hollywood legend; by the end of her short life, Marilyn had become a cultural icon.

“Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” –Marilyn Monroe

BEACH ESCAPES

The beach.

No other escape offers the whole package: romantic sunsets, salty breezes, swaying palm trees, beach birds swooping, children playing, and surfers catching the waves. Or just peace, solitude and time to dream.

Even a beach photo or painting can work its magic on our hearts. Photographers like Ansel Adams, and John Nakata have captured the essence of beckoning beach scenes in their color and black and white pictures. And the works of painters like Claude Monet beautifully depict long-ago life at the seashore.

Whether your favorite beach is near or far, sandy or rocky, balmy or blustery, its siren song has the power to penetrate our busy lives and draw us away from our gerbil wheels of time and technology. On the barren cliffs of the Oregon coast, the trendy shores of South Beach, the romantic sands of Maui, or the tropical beaches of faraway places, the sand and sea invite us to play, relax, and dream new dreams.

Don’t you wish life really was a beach?

PS Check out the beach posters and fine art prints at posters.com. Escape for a little while. Decorate your space with your beach . . . and dream.

THE IMAGES OF BASEBALL

I love baseball! Whether it’s a clear, crisp night game or a blazing hot middle-of-the-day extra-inning contest, I love the dirt, sweat, and sometimes brawls that make baseball so much fun.

Baseball has been around since the 1700s here in the US. History has it that its early years were wild and raw, with a hodgepodge of rules (or no rules at all) and amateur and professional leagues that were here today and gone the next. It used to be that a player was allowed to throw the ball at the runner. If he hit him, the runner was out (ow!). Check out these great vintage baseball posters that capture the color and nostalgia of the down-to-earth fun and flavor of old-time baseball.

In the 1800s, some semblance of order finally found its way into the sport, and a few popular professional baseball teams began to form: “The Cincinnati Red Stockings” (which lasted only two years) and the “Boston Red Stockings” and later “The Boston Base Ball Club.” The Boston Red Sox are still among the most popular teams in baseball. Of all the hundreds of baseball posters you can find at posters.com, Red Sox images are at the top of the list, along with the New York Yankees.

Baseball is one of my favorite professional sports, and I still get a thrill from browsing through pictures of baseball’s legends–Ty Cobb (The Georgia Peach) sliding into third or Jack (Jackie) Robinson stealing home or Babe Ruth (The Sultan of Swat) hitting it out of the park for the umpteenth time. And don’t forget the likes of Willie Mays, Cal Ripkin, and your own 21st Century baseball hero.

On posters.com you can also take a tour of the legendary stadiums, packed with people, peanuts, pennants and hope that never died until that very last strike was hurled across the plate. Imagine the history that’s happened in Boston’s Fenway Park, where the Babe pitched, “The Friendly Confines” of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and beloved Yankee Stadium in New York.

So whether your favorite place is at the plate, on the mound, or in the bleachers, visit posters.com and take a journey through more than two centuries of the images of baseball. You’ll discover great baseball photos and prints that capture a little drama, some nostalgia, and lots of baseball memories that you’ll want to make your own.