Ed’s Western Decor

Whether you or your spouse is the hunter, a den which displays trophies as well as wildlife art will serve as a unique retreat for lovers of hunting and the outdoors.  Here are a few ideas for decorating your Hunter’s den. 

~Add wildlife wall decor—in addition to trophies, it’s nice to have depictions of wildlife in their full majesty, whether through photos, pictures, or silhouettes. 

~Put in a decorative rug—if the hunter doesn’t already have a rug, it’s nice to have one with a western or Indian pattern in the room, symbolizing appreciation of nature.

~A desk for documentation and planning—every den needs a desk, pick one made of a rich wood with a wide flat surface good for planning out hunting trips or research. 

Whether to chronicle your child’s growth, or just as a fun art project, shadow silhouette art is fun and easy to do at home.  You will need a movable light source, a few pushpins, a large sheet of paper, a pencil to trace, and another person if you are making a silhouette of yourself.  Have your subject (or yourself) sit down in a chair next to a wall.  Move the light source close enough to cast the shadow of your head against the wall.  Once this is accomplished, take the large sheet of paper, and pin it against the wall with the shadow of the head inside.  Then take your pencil and trace the outline of the shadow against the wall onto the paper. 

This process will give you a silhouette outline, which you can trace onto a piece of construction paper, and then transfer to a background of your choosing.  It’s a fun project for kids and even adults! 

The Southern Living Magazine gives unique articles and recipes to live by.  In the July, 2008 issue, pages 66 through 71, is an article on a Heavenly Garden located in North Carolina.

My hat goes off to Marty and Fred Hirons for bringing their skills and genius together when they designed this garden.  A perfect haven for the 3 B’s: Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, including wildlife silhouettes and birdhouses.  The garden has natural foliage and limbs for structure, and wonderful colors, crushed rock paths, and plant shapes for design.

For me, just to experience the photos in this article is like a garden of worship for prayer, peace, and a place of rest for my soul.  Thanks to the Hirons for their love and hard work, to Steve Bender for his photography, and to Rose Nguyen for styling.

A little miracle called a coincidence happened to me this week. 

I recently loaded beverage coasters to sell on my website.  The artist of the hunting dogs on some of the coasters is a world famous Western Wall Art  artist, Jim Killen.  The artwork on the coasters is exciting and full of nature’s fall colors. 

The coincidence occurred when only 3 days later, I opened up the magazine, Ducks Unlimited, Sept/Oct of 2008, and turned to pages 93 thru 97 and WOW!  . . . There they were, looking me right in my face . . . these awesome paintings illustrated by Jim Killen.  He was sharing his skills and talents with bird hunters and lovers of wall art just like me.  Thanks to the writer of the article, E. Donnall Thomas, Jr. and to Jim Killen for sharing.

Several years ago, my mother-in-law moved into a retired facility, leaving her home of 42 years.  One of the benefits to my wife and me was the privilege of digging up her Spider Lillies, Daffodils, and monkey grass that grew in her healthy environment.  The plants brought joy and appreciation to the family and neighbors for their faithfulness in returning each year, as they shined with their beauty each season.  We have a photo that’s a part of our western wall art.  Now the plants bring those same benefits to our family, transplanted to our home and garden.  It’s that faithfulness when the plants return each season that continues to remind us of the sweetness and loving spirit that my mother-in-law brings to us daily. I am one of the blessed sons-in-law to have known her personally.  I know her very well because she lives on, not only in the beauty of the plants, but also in her daughter that she raised . . . my beloved wife.  It’s not every man can boast that he is loved by two women and can love them in return.

So, bring cut flowers into your homes, husbands! Place photos, paintings or calenders with flowers and live plants, as a part of your tribute to love and faithfulness of your wives, moms, and mothers-in-law.

PS.  The tulip pictured above is a beverage coaster called, “Close to You.”

Silhouettes are used in artwork, often portraits of faces in profile.  A silhouette cannot convey a facial expression, but a silhouette artist with talent can create movement, mood and emotion nonetheless. 

Silhouettes were popular in America from the late 1700s to about 1840, when cameras began to replace them as the most accepted form of capturing a person’s portrait.  Silhouettes remain a unique and nostalgic way to preserve an image, as shown in our stunning and unique silhouette wall art.

Shah and Sarah were two Rottweiler puppies when their owners brought them home to their country ranch in northwest Idaho.  I was remodeling and painting the house, over a period of 12 months and $60,000 worth of improvements.  I became the adopted dog sitter and friend while the professors taught at Washington State University.  During that year, on my break periods, I played with both Shah and Sarah, treated them with love, and all the while teaching them obedience skills and discipline.

Every time I arrived at their home, Shah and Sarah met me with great excitement and anticipation for more of my affection and attention. 

You will have a hard time convincing me that Rottweiler dogs are mean.  I believe they could be, however, if treated badly.  I hope this breed of dog wil be added to someone’s pet decor.

How many people have 3-D wall art?  Not many!  There are animal and nature scenes available in 3-D that will make you feel like you are in that quiet cabin the woods you dream of.

Set your home apart with some three-dimensional pieces that will make the rustic décor of your home pop with energy.

Maybe you’re thinking, “I want some rustic wall art, but I don’t have any more wall space!”  Why not hang a piece of over-the-door metal wall décor?  This is an available wall space that is often overlooked in many households.

Pine cones, horses, a thunderstorm, Southwestern pottery…there are so many rustic motifs available for over-the-door wall art to bring the spirit of the West to your home.