When we think of the word ‘luxury’, the first colour that pops into our heads is usually gold. While many art lovers tend to go for more neutral colours that fit effortlessly into their existing décor, gold is undoubtedly a vibrant colour that’s best reserved for that standout piece. It gives a sense of timeless sophistication and makes the most impact when used sparingly across the home. However, gold goes a treat with other colours that are used more dominantly across your living room, hallway, kitchen and bedrooms, like white, turquoise, purple and earthy green.
Here, we’ll take you through some of our favourite gold paintings and prints that are available at Art Republic, and how we think they’ll bring that sense of luxury to your living space. Let’s get started:
If you like your iconic skylines with a metallic twist, Jayson Lilley is the artist making it happen. His work is known for demonstrating a clear passion for urban, densely populated landscapes using a combination of different painting, collaging and printmaking processes.
Cross Over the River by Jayson Lilley
His series looking at the London landscape from viewpoints such as Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park showcases the stunning impact gold leaf can have when used as a backdrop. Here, it helps the architecture really jump out despite the distant perspective.
We love Lilley’s incredible use of layered colour schemes and how it works so well with gold as its canvas. The switching between the tints of skyscraper windows and vibrant red of cranes, to the black and white of the inner city, finally moving to the green in the foreground creates a three-dimensional effect that pulls you in from the very first glance. Whether you’re a Londoner, frequent visitor of ‘The Big Smoke’ or simply love the city skyline aesthetic, these wide landscapes would look perfect in a central position at home, either in the living room or above the bed.
This piece by London-based painter and screen-printer Gavin Dobson is a fine example of the subtle class the colour gold can add when used as an embellishment rather than the central colour.
Originally a beautiful watercolour painting, Dobson’s technique here is hand-printing using half tones to create the varying shades of blue, giving the print a gorgeous textured effect. However, we think that final gold layer adds the perfect finishing touch to this creation. It steers the colour palette away from neutral to give the print a strikingly decadent edge – one we think would look fantastic in just about any room at home, but especially in spaces with a blue or pastel green colour scheme.
Louise McNaught has a passion for raising awareness about endangered species in the form of paintings that touch upon the often-problematic relationship between humanity and nature. And ‘Large British Blue’ does just that, drawing attention to a critically endangered species of butterfly that became extinct in Britain in the late 1970s.
Large British Blue by Louise McNaught
The Large Blue was reintroduced to the UK thanks to the tireless work of researchers and conservationists, and this painting really highlights the beauty and vibrancy of the species, particularly with the gold leaf background. On her work with wildlife, McNaught has said, “I've always been inspired by the amazing variety and beauty that exists within the natural world and I just want to communicate this feeling to people”. We feel that the gold backdrop does this to great effect, and would bring out the beauty in the design of your living space as well as the Large Blue itself.
We love art depicting nature, and this hand finished screenprint by Rob Wass perfectly demonstrates the striking effect the colour gold can have when used with black and white. Here, the golden leaves bring a sense of autumn to the piece, while their blot form skilfully juxtaposes the delicate, carefully painted lines and twisted branches that make up the tree.
Working with watercolour and ink to add the finishing touches, Wass uses a combination of techniques to reflect the diversity of patterns found in the natural world. The use of gold for leaves transforms the piece from something rather melancholic to joyful, highlighting the beauty in the cyclical nature of life. While gold is certainly the standout colour, this piece would suit any room and any existing colour scheme, making it a fantastic gold art print to add to your collection.
Looking to add that golden touch to your home? At Art Republic, we’re proud to sell gold artwork and prints from both icons of the art world and contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of today. Why not explore our full collection and add that sense of luxury to your décor? Whether you’re looking for a series to display around your home or a feature piece to wow friends, family and guests, you’ll find the piece you’ve been looking for right here.
