A Santa Barbara-based couple who had recently purchased their first home was looking for a work of art for their bedroom. Their budget was modest (under $1,000), and they wanted guidance on where to begin.

We worked together to better understand their collecting style, discussing artists they had encountered over the years, what they were drawn to, what they preferred to avoid, and the atmosphere they wanted the room to convey. Through that process, we identified several areas of interest, including historical landscape photography with a focus on California, botanical drawings and illustrations, and contemporary landscape painting. They were open to color and wanted a piece that would complement their olive green wall.

They ultimately selected a large black-and-white photograph by Ansel Adams, bringing their love of the outdoors into their home.