While I quite like some of them, there's something fundamentally wrong about tailoring a painting to go in a space. I usually really like his designs until we get to the painting, and once that's added, it so perfectly matches the room that, despite the vivid colors, the total effect is a sort of overdesigned hotel room blandness.
Of course, no danger of that when you're buying a print of his for a space you've designed. But with so much amazing and affordable art on etsy, do you really want the image in your living room to have a print of something done by the hot HGTV guy?

Yes.
I want a print of something done by THAT hot HGTV guy.

He paints, he decorates, he's sweet and on top of that he's got the most beautiful smile...geez, some people do have everything!! lol

That's interesting - I live near the Ringling school and am always over there scouting artists, as though I could afford them (even as students!). The sunshine here really seems to inspire bright, open pieces, from painting to sculpture, and his work fits that (very much appreciated) mold as well.

Thanks for the info!

I love David Bromstad and I like his art. However I have to agree with Ingridli. While I do understand that a lot people love the whole furniture art thing. It does look hotelish. I prefer to hang art because it moves me and evokes emotions. Not just because it matched my sofa. Then again I am an artist so I may be a bit bias. But I am a collector as well and none of the pieces I have collected are matchy matchy I just love those artist and their work. Too each his own I suppose.

Meh.

As someone who doesn't really "get" art, but likes what it can add to a space, I see nothing wrong with what David does. I always seek out art that matches my decor.

Different strokes for different folks.

You could start out with a piece of art you love and THEN get furniture that works with it or gets out of the way and lets the art be the main attraction. David's works are fun and colorful - it could lend inspiration for the rest of your decor without having to match it - your choice. I always see his paintings as being inspired by his designs -- haven't seen anything that creative in a hotel. Maybe you have?

I never even thought about his art being too "matchy" with a room he has designed. I have always been intrigued by his creativity. The art seems (to me) to simply come to him when he and his team are working very hard on the reality of the room remake.

I think that we tend to romanticize art and artists. You can take "inspiration" from anything--including a beautiful interior. Great art doesn't emerge from a mythic muse, it comes from hard work, practice, and trial and error. If we think of art this way, it becomes less intimidating and more accessible.

I don't particularly like the art and I agree with another commenter that designing a painting to match the couch is soulless and uninspiring.

as someone who earned an MFA, I feel a certain level of annoyance that this is considered "art", but then again, I'm annoyed with myself for caring at all.

Yeah, I am an artist and I do that. I have been for years. I prefer for things to match. I cannot stand artwork that does not match anything else in the room, or the house for that matter.

I understand that people get different things out of art, but what annoys me the most about this concept is how temporary the art becomes. The art becomes part of a trend, so when the trend goes out of style the art becomes meaningless. I'll admit that not every piece I own has a deep meaning, but at the very least I don't envision having to discard it because I want to paint my walls a different color.

Am I the only one still cringing over the wall he built for the apt studio challenge :)

As someone that can't stand static imagery excepting maps, I've always liked the almost kinetic vibrancy of most of his abstract works.

I'm happy to see he's branching beyond HGTV because they've forced Color Splash miami to be more about celebriality than design and last season's horrendus Design Star bodes ill for future hgtv shows.

Bland? The last thing David's art is is "bland." Some may feel tailoring art is too much for a space, but mostly because they couldn't afford an artist to do such work, but rather go to a store or an online site to try and find a piece of art that will compliment their decor. Most people posting such comments probably are in real need of a makover themselves. I would be curious to see their homes. Having a custom piece to compliment your home is extremely expensive. I checked out some of his originals and they run up to $10,000.00. You can put that on my wall anytime, while the rest of you run out to "Home Goods" to find something to match your tacky homes on the sale rack.

Ya know, I'm just not a big fan of the show and so I don't watch it, I do love some of the pieces above. Very pop art. I've got a primarily black & white modern space with a ton of white, try to do bright pops of color with art and accessories so any of these would be great.

I don't see all custom art as being to "match", more to "go" with the feel/design of the house/room. I think it can be inspired by the design of the room. My friend is a fine art painter and is working on a piece for my housewarming gift. I sent her pics so she could determine size, get inspired. She'll likely do bright colors based on my decor, as a neutral colored landscape piece clearly wouldn't "go" with the my decor/design. I've seen her past work and in no way will it appear to match my furniture :-)

I for one, love his paintings as well as the rooms he designs! I see nothing wrong with the art matching the room. However, I feel bad for the homeowners who once had a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, because now anyone with a few hundred bucks can buy them. I'd be rather hacked! But they're David's paintings, and he can do what he wants with them, so whatever.

Art snobs are so funny. Look, just because you don't like the art doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the art. You like what you like. Whether you're an artist or not doesn't mean a damn thing. You're not an expert in what people should or should not like.

And MJPWSH, I find your attitude sad and terrible. No, most people can't afford original paintings. But it's not to say that $10,000 paintings are actually worth $10,000. I find it sad to ridicule others based on what you think is the "right" way of doing things. You are not the arbiter of what looks good to everyone.

And I have a painting from Home Goods. That I love. So there.

Just responding and giving my opinion like everyone else. I found the the first comment rude. I don't find it sad and terrible, I find it true. If someone can voice their opinion on someones art and design style, then I think it's only fair to be able to do the same in response. To each his own. If you find it sad, I'm sure you'll get over soon and your happiness will surely return in short while.

I really can't stand the debates on AT regarding what is considered "art". It's incredibly snobby. Just because its on a product, print or website instead of hanging in a fine art gallery, doesn't mean its not art. Art can be commercial and it can be a simple graphic.

There are artists behind all the images we see daily, on signage, on products in Target and on the web.

I have many close friends who are artists, including those with MFAs from prestigious schools. They appreciate the creativity they see in all areas, not just in what they do. Life is just so much more enjoyable if you can see the art in the every day and not just some elitist viewpoint of what "art" is.

I have no problem calling what Bromstad does art. While I like his work and him, there's also a lot of work by others that I both recognize as art and dislike. What I can't call art is the talentless, two-minute, dead-canary-in-a-cigar-box sort of thing that is no more art than is fake vomit.