Increase Your Art Sales With These Important Design Concepts

Emphasizing Organic Forms, Natural Materials, and Environmentally Friendly Nature-Inspired Art

As an artist who wants to sell more art you want to have as much leverage as possible. You may want to present your art for consideration to galleries, interior designers, architects, healthcare art consultants, and individual environmentally conscious art buyers. Your knowledge of some new dominant design principles will be extremely helpful.  This article explains the meanings and significance of EBD, LEED, and Biophilia Design. It also includes some notes about organic forms, natural materials, and Feng Shui. I hope the information here will help you increase your art sales with these important design concepts.

What is EBD?

Since COVID, more individuals are buying healing art for their homes and home-based businesses. There is also an increase in healing art for healthcare. If you are an artist interested in filling the growing demand for healing art, you’ll want to understand the terminology and industry standards used by art consultants in this field. You will want to know if and how well your art fits the criteria.

Evidence Based Design (EBD) is a field of study that emphasizes credible evidence to influence design. In 1984 Dr. Roger Ulrich, professor of architecture at Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden, published a pioneering study on the effects of a natural view on patient healing. In his “seminal article” in Science, Ulrich determined that surgical patients with windows overlooking natural scenes had shorter hospital stays and took fewer “analgesics” (painkillers) than patients in rooms with windows facing the brick walls of a neighboring building.

An increasing amount of research studies conducted with patients have been done and the data is mounting about what kinds of art, subject matter, colors and more, are proven to have the most positive benefits.

Simply stated, art that contains nature scenes and pleasing colors are one of the areas that are most desirable by healthcare experts who are in charge of selecting art for such venues.

What is LEED?

You probably have been hearing a lot of buzzwords like sustainable architecture, green architecture, and environmental architecture. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,  plays a significant role in directing green design of new and future medical facilities. Incentives and ratings are awarded for sustainability and environmental protection. It is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide.

Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods that aims to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.

Many U.S. federal agencies, states, and local governments require or reward LEED certification. However, four states (Alabama, Georgia, Maine, and Mississippi) have effectively banned the use of LEED in new public buildings, preferring other industry standards that the USGBC considers too lax.

As an artist who is aware of LEED you can identify where your art will be most suitable and the growing opportunities that will be available for you.

What is Biophilia Design?

Biophilia means “love of life” in Greek. It is based on the belief that humans need a connection to nature to thrive. Humanistic philosopher Erich Fromm coined the term biophilia in 1964. In his book The Heart of Man: Its Genius For Good and Evil, Fromm wrote: “I believe that the man choosing progress can find a new unity through the development of all his human forces… biophilia, love for humanity and nature, and independence and freedom.”

Later, in the mid 1980’s, the conservationist Edward O. Wilson popularized this term and  wrote the book titled Biophilia. It was motivated by his own response to nature in addition to a pronounced statement of the conservation ethic. Wilson argues that “our natural affinity for life—biophilia—is the very essence of our humanity and binds us to all other living species.”

Biophilia Design is a growing concept used by the architectural and interior design fields. It emphasizes the need for living creatures to be surrounded by living things or items — such as works of art that are inspired by nature. These works include biomorphic elements.

Builders view homes and buildings as “habitats for humans.” According to Terrapin Bright Green, Introduction: The Economics of Biophilia, “Case studies have documented the advantages of biophilic experiences, including improved stress recovery rates, lower blood pressure, improved cognitive functions, enhanced mental stamina and focus, decreased violence and criminal activity, elevated moods, and increased learning rates.”

An interesting news flash: A government proposal in Canada regarding the medical field includes prescribing fewer pills and syrups and more art and culture. Yes! This approach called “social prescribing” aims to highlight and illustrate the benefits of art-inspired, therapeutic treatment for a range of ailments and afflictions.

Organic Forms, Natural Materials, and Feng Shui

In interior design specific materials that connect people with nature are important. Organic forms are  sought after because they are nurturing, healing and comforting. The painting above, by Georgia O’Keeffe, would fill the needs of an interior designer who follows Biophilic Design principles.

Also consider using natural materials when choosing your frames for your paintings and pedestals for your sculpture. And, consider products available including recycled paper and plastics.

Natural materials  connect us to nature and they can be rich, warm and authentic. They have a calming effect on the space, as well as improving one’s creative performance.

Interior designers often apply the principles of Feng Shui using organic forms and geometric shapes. When used together they bring harmony and balance to a space. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese discipline that examines object placements and how they affect the energy in the space. They are also followed by artists when composing elements in their works of art.

Julia Underwood, jewellsart.co.uk, is an artist who uses feng shui principles in her art. She also offers extensive information about the topic on her website.

Your Environmentally Friendly, Positive, Nature-Inspired Art!

The next time a prospective buyer expresses interest in your art, you can share this valuable information with them about design principles and how your art fits the criteria. You can point to the many benefits they will derive from owning your art. You can quote the philosopher Erich Fromm and conservationist Edward O. Wilson.

Having this knowledge, seek ways to collaborate with gallery owners and designers who are environmentally conscious and whose clients are those who understand the need to bring more nature into homes and businesses. They may be seeking art like yours to recommend and purchase for their clients.  The relationships will be rewarding when you share the same philosophies.