Welcome to GardenWeb x3 and thank you for helping keep us safe.

There are two general approaches to artwork. One is that the artwork is a personal choice and reflection of you. Buy what you love and put it on the wall. The other approach is that the artwork should complement the style of the room.

Taking the latter approach, from what I can see, you have a transitional to maybe contemporary style going on in the room. A Monet print would look fine, or something more contemporary like the picture on the right side of the screen would look nice.

If I were decorating that wall, I would put something large and square up there. I would go for a simple frame (maybe pick up the brown (?) tones of your fireplace surround) or even frameless, depending on the painting.

I second graywings' thanks to you for protecting our country. thank you so much for what you're doing.

You should find something (obviously in the right size and shape) that you LOVE. allposters.com is a great place to look, you can spend hours and hours! They come in different sizes. You can get most of them as canvas transfers, or as prints. You can even get them framed.

Since you have accent lights shining where the painting will go, I would not put something with glass, or it may just be a big glare bomb. Canvas transfer would be good. I think square, as graywings said, is fine. Or rectangular (the tall way) and flank it with a pair of tall candlesticks, or a pair of hanging sconces, or a pair of topiaries, etc. I think they should be large enough so they don't look tiny. Scale is important, and IMO the picture needs to FILL the space, with just a bit of "breathing room" around it, a couple inches on top if you go with a rectangle. You can also sit it on the mantle and lean it against the wall if you go that route, rather than hang it.

Thank you again for serving your country, and many thanks to your family too. Bless you!

i've been searching endlessly for a picture to go above my fireplace too. I like this site called allposters.com because you can search by artist or subject or style, etc. I have a few I liked saved to favorites, but haven't made a decision yet.

I really appreciate all the responses thus-far. Until now, I had never really delved into AllPosters as much as I probably should have. For the last 30 minutes, I've been going page by page attempting to find something I like, that I think my wife would like as well. Half a world away, and we are both going to now go through their site, and begin constructing a separate lists of the artwork we both like. Once we are finished, we are going to compile them all and see if any of our choices match....generally, our tastes have been very similar, so I anticipate that we could actually pick several of the same ones.

For that space on the wall, do you all think that the best way to go would be with a picture that is longer HEIGHT wise, or longer width wise?

I know the picture I initially attached was pretty blurry. After my wife had painted the room, she had taken a picture with her iPad and had sent it to me over here. Since she painted, she did send two others that might give everyone a better idea of the "space" and green color we are attempting to work with:

You can't see the whole wall here, but I think the green we chose looks alot more clear here:

....and, I don't know much about decorating, however, if anyone needs to see more of the room/space in order to see what we are working with, here is another picture (Kind of dark, I know):

....allposters is really one great site. With their plethora of choices, I think this is going to be a tough decision to make. Part of me thinks that maybe a black and white colored picture would work best....

Thanks again for everyone's help!

Absolutely second the idea of going to allposters.com and searching for something you like by size, subject matter and price--- perhaps two framed posters (or on wood backings that make them stand out from the wall) side by side --- as an interim use until you find just the right thing for that space. Love that color with your wall colors, not sure if I would put a reproduction Monet there, though. If you are interested in travel, there are some wonderful vintage travel posters at the above mentioned site--- or any other type of interest, airplanes, trains, people, places, etc.

If you are willing to spend several hundred dollars on something unique, go to betterwall.com and look at their art gallery /museum exhibition banners from around the country. They are large and have a great impact, and you will not see them anywhere else--- the run is limited by the nature of the item. Good luck with all your projects, and I hope you are able to return home soon

I can't help with the art choice except to emphasize to buy what speaks to you- that seems to be the key. (my walls are filled with oils by my daughter- so I don't buy art- but I pay attention here on the forum)
But mainly I wanted to thank you for serving our country.
I hope your tour of duty ends soon so you can return safely to your loved ones.Have a healthy and happy New Year.

I think you're doing a darn good job from what I can see. Can you tell me what color is on the walls in the rest of the room. The reason I ask is that you can find wonderful original art on Ebay with a little patience. Just click on original in the left column when you go to art in ebay. Etsy also has good art but more expensive. I like art that shows the outdoors so I generally narrow it down to that category. Perhaps you'd like an American scene, that would look very appropriate. Jasper Johns did an amazing painting of the American Flag that can be found on the poster site. Paste a piece of paper on the wall to determine where you want it mounted and what size you'd like. That will also narrow down the selection you work on together. We're all happy to help you as you're helping us.

Another good art source is art.com. But I'm thinking that maybe since you're so far from home and family perhaps it would be nice for you to have a favorite family photo or a picture of a place you love blown up to poster size and matted/framed. For example, in my old office I kept a large framed photo print of a field where I used to go to clear my head when I was in college. It was beautiful in the setting and made me happy when I looked at it.

The focal point of your room should be something you love, something you'd like to see every day, and if you're not attached to a particular piece of art, then feel free to think outside the box. It could also easily be a wreath, wall-hanging or grouping of candles.

I really appreciate all the help, everyone.

In our desire to fill that area with something ASAP, my wife and I did find a picture that we both liked, from allposters.com... (thanks for the tip on that site!)

http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?startat=/getPoster.asp&frameSku=6269507-15390045

Torn between canvas and a frame, we ended up going with the "HIGHLAND Walnut Wide (2.75 in)" wooden frame in order to fill the space just a little more on the sides.

What does everyone think of the colors in that painting, in relation to the green walls? We had wanted something that "popped" (I think the flower adds some vibrancy and life to the room), while also maintaining a similar green as the wall. From that picture, I think we could even get away with some brighter furniture, as well...reserved, of course, for when I get home.

We've never actually been to Italy, but "tuscany" brings us back to the college days, when there was an Olive Garden we would frequent that was right next to our college while we went through Nursing school together.

Needless to say, she fell in love with the picture...and, influenced me too, as well.

I'll be sure to share what it looks like on the wall once we receive it and hang it!

With what you chose, use the canvas option. And let go of acrylic covering if this is their norm. I think the acrylic would bounce light and canvas doesn't need this. It should retain the colors for a very long time. Although I'm not sure what their process is. Usually a painting medium is added as a layer over the print after mounting on canvas.

Nice to hear there is a common memory for both of you.

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How fun to know GW is part of your caring as a family during trials of being in Kuwait. Oldest son was in Kuwait and have many pictures of living quarters. Probably a lot of "no" pictures were not sent. It must bring you some solace from the sand and landscape of metal buildings working together with your wife on home.

She's a lucky gal and you are a fine man. Humility and kindess shows with nothing said about your rank or responsibilities.

Either I'm nosey or love a mystery. You must be in the medical area and an officer rank...little clues of info. This in itself takes an even greater person. Thanks for honoring all.

Yes, please return. Nice to share with you and your living room is wonderful. Tell your wife she has done a great job and that we noticed the painters tape was removed from the wall...a bit of humor...she really did get the photo to you quickly.

Thank you for your service, soldier (including the sacrifices made by your family). IMHO, this is the perfect time in your decorating to invest in original artwork, perhaps a painting or watercolor, something which will appreciate in value over the years. Your wife could check the local antique shops, etc. for something suitable and send you a picture. Perhaps there are some local artists you both might like. Best of luck to both of you.