Ah, yes…the holiday that you LOVE if you have a sweetheart to share it with & the holiday you love to HATE if you’re spending it alone.

This year, don’t make Valentine’s Day about your romantic status…make it about showing those you love that they’re special (your mom & dad, your kids, your best friend, your dog, your pizza delivery guy …you get the idea).

But how to show your sentiments? Now don’t get me wrong, I would never refuse a gift of chocolates or flowers on Valentine’s Day (or any other day)…but talk about predictable! Why not show the love in a creative way while supporting North American Artists at the same time?

Try these ideas:

Make your own custom made perfume & present it in one of our beautiful art glass perfume bottles. Eloise Cotton’s “Love & Kisses Perfume Bottle” is a perfect way to show your affection.

Love & Kisses Perfume Bottle by Eloise Cotton

Mark Orr’s “Raven on a Heart” is whimsical, fun & can be displayed nearly anywhere to remind your loved one how you feel.

Raven on Heart by Mark Orr

The red “Bark Shawl” will keep your amour warm & cozy on cold & dreary winter days still to come.

Bark Shawl by Anke Fox and Lesley Armstrong

For the animal lover in your life, Jill Mayberg’s print “The Dog I Love” is a precious tribute to pooches.

The Dog I love by Jill Mayberg

Finally, if you’re really set on finding yourself a sweetie, enlist the help of Dawn Estrin’s “Voodoo Valentine” brooch. It couldn’t hurt.

Voodoo Valentine by Dawn Estrin and George Wilson

However you decide to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, do it (He)artfully!

Horse Eye Giclée Print by John Maggiotto

Is your taste in art is as eclectic as your taste in music? I’m drawn to Prince, Billie Holiday, Kanye West and Pavarotti; Jan Van Eyck, Karen Heyl, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Kehinde Wiley, John Maggiotto and Oren Sherman. I suppose the substance that threads my favored artists together is passion, the “soul” that emanates from their work. Consider these artists’ voices and music and artwork. Is there anything like the fine detail of a Van Eyck painting, a Prince guitar riff, or a Pavarotti aria? Prince is not afraid to be in his own skin – to lay down his fingerprint. Pavarotti and Van Eyck seemed to like sharing what compelled them, and the result was brilliant. I have a passion for passion. I’m not committed to one particular genre or medium, I am committed to variety, to experiencing and marveling at what each era and category of artists has to offer. Variety is the spice of life, right?

Reflection Giclée Print by Oren Sherman
Le Roi a la Chasse (2006) Oil on canvas by Kehinde Wiley	The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, 1434 Oil on oak panel by Jan van Eyck