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Zatista’s contributing writer Katie Enna sat down with New York based designer Anthony Cochran to discuss some of his favorite art purchases, his insights on buying art online and enhancing beautiful and timeless interiors with art.

What is the first piece of art you ever purchased for yourself?

When I was working as a waiter at Tribeca Grill in the early ‘90s, one of my co-workers, Claude Martz, brought in some drawings he had done of a girlfriend. I thought they looked like Matisse and was so moved, I asked him to do a portrait of me. It only looks a little bit like me but it’s a very simple line drawing and is still one of my favorite pieces today.

Those first few art purchases can sometimes be the most daunting. Do you have advice for those who are starting out?

The first piece of art that you buy should be beautiful to you whether it be comical, clever, crazy, edgy, or cool. Art can and should make a statement, but just remember to ask yourself “Is it necessarily a piece I want to live with for the rest of my life?” When I buy a piece of art, I think, “Is this something I can’t live without?”

What inspires you when you walk into a client’s home? Where do you begin?

I find that most of my clients will at least have one piece of art or furniture that they are emotionally attached to. I’ll usually work from there and try to incorporate the client’s personality into the rest of the room. I often look to him or her directly for inspiration.

Buying online is obviously different from seeing a piece of art and falling in love with it in a gallery. What are your suggestions for those buying online and how did Zatista help you find the right pieces?

I love painting, so I started by choosing a medium. Then I searched by size, and then by price. Then maybe I’ll search for a specific color and work from there. The great thing about Zatista is that they do the looking for you, all the hard work is done.

If you had to decorate an entire room on one color palette what would it be?

Sky.

On Zatista we provide only original, one-of-a-kind pieces that can often require you to buy on an impulse seeing how they may not be around forever.  How do you make sure you don’t miss a great piece?

If you see a piece of art that literally moves you, and you can’t stop thinking about it for three or four hours, it’s probably something that you’ll love forever. I once found a small, Cezanne-like oil painting by Charles Sibley at a flea market. I walked away from it and thought about it all day long. I finally went back and bought it. The painting cost me $600, which was a lot of money for me, and for most people, but it’s one of those pieces that I know I’ll keep forever.

More on Anthony Cochran:

Anthony’s design firm ACD is renowned for sleek yet comfortable interiors. He is also Cofounder and Creative Director of QCollection, a pioneer in high-end, environmentally friendly furniture, fabrics and home accessories.

Prior to QCollection and ACD, Anthony served as Senior Style Editor for Martha Stewart Living and worked with a variety of other influential design firms including Victoria Hagan Interiors, Stephen Mallory Associates and John Saladino Inc.

I don’t care who you are: as a guy, “wine” and “art” are two terms that are likely to give you sweaty palms or even a mild case of the hives. Rumor has it that John Wayne himself was known to wither a bit in the presence of sommeliers and disapproving gallery directors with angular haircuts.

Look for a theme: Zatista.com Petra Simmons "II" $525

The fact of the matter is that you already know what you’re talking about in both areas.  The average guy has been making informed decisions in nuanced, subjective realms (albeit with less pomp and circumstance) his entire life. We all have our favorite bands, authors and sports heroes we’d follow into battle.  And while art is it’s own universe—one that you may only be contemplating for the first time—you can rest assured that just like basically everything else in life, your “taste” can be boiled down to a simple gut reaction.

And run with it: Zatista.com Ann Calfas "parian octopus IV" $550

Looking at a piece of art for the first time is no different than flipping through radio stations, and just as with wine, relying on your own reactions with a little bit of confidence is what’s important. Sure, you can study up and focus on deciphering the cryptograms of terroir and varietals, but what it really comes down to is “what do I like?”

Or match the piece to your place: Zatista.com Brent Schneeman "Zilker, Zilker, Zilker" $400

Don’t trust yourself to make that informed decision?  Well, you should.  After all, who is it that reaches over and turns the dial from Kenny G to John Coltrane?  And who devoured The Old Man and Sea and then bought the cliffs notes to Pride and Prejudice back in college? And while that Prius was the right choice for your transportation needs, you still can’t stop obsessing about that ’82 Land Cruiser, can you?

Or just find something that speaks to you now and will for a long time: Zatista.com Busser Howell "Blue Square" $10,800

Granted, there are a few faux pas (the incorporation of your favorite team’s logo in a painting, dogs playing poker, and any thing that can actually be specifically classified as “Man Art”–even if it’s going in your Man Cave), but they’re as easy to avoid as the pleated jeans in the men’s section.  When it comes down to it, art is about relating universal elements of the human experience, so “I don’t know, I just really liked it” is the perfect justification for almost any purchase.

Friends of mine are getting married this summer and although they have registered for housewares at the usual places, they have also asked their parents for a fine art photograph as a wedding gift. This photograph will be the start of what they hope will be a life long hobby of collecting fine art together. A brilliant idea, no?

When I heard about this, the wheels in my head started turning immediately. Could I buy them art as a wedding gift, too? I barely even had to ask, they could see the excitement in my eyes. Luckily, I’m brave and I know the couple well enough to attempt this tricky task. I wouldn’t try it otherwise. Art is a very personal choice and no matter how well you think you know your friends, there’s always a risk that art you choose for someone else may never get hung.

That said, I’ll give myself a budget of $150, and I’ll make a list of some things I know about them:

- They’re foodies and they spend hours in their kitchen cooking delicious meals for all their friends

Zatista.com S. Josephine Weaver "Big Tomato" $135

- They’re dedicated to their organic garden

Zatista.com Susan Beauchemin "Lemon Tree" $120

- One of them buys sunflowers all season long at the farmer’s market

Zatista.com Jim Larimer "Sunflower at Day 68" $250

- One of them lived in Maine for several years

Zatista.com Jim McGinley "Enroute Popham Number 8" $120

- They meditate

Zatista.com Tadeusz Smusz "Flower Mandala"$120

- They love color in their home

Zatista.com Sharis DeJaynes "30" $150

- and they love the outdoors, especially hiking with their dogs in the woods

Zatista.com Keith Dotson "The Enchanted Forest" $110

It’s going to be a tough choice.

Encourage your marrying friends to request original artwork for the walls of their new home as a wedding gift. If you want to select art for them, make sure you know them very, very well and get their permission first. If you understand their tastes you will have fun buying original artwork for your friends. If you’d rather they pick out their own artwork, give them a gift certificate to their favorite on-line original art seller instead.

Make it a wedding gift they’ll truly remember and treasure.

Zatista.com "Cupcake" by Gwen Bell

As I sat in a Brooklyn patisserie one morning enjoying my perfectly flaky almond croissant, I overheard a mom next to me cooing over a recently commissioned portrait of her son. It was all I could do to refrain from nosing into her business by saying, “Lemme see! lemme see!” Weeks later, I regret being so polite. She probably wouldn’t have minded my interest, in the name of art. Who can blame me for being curious to see the artwork people find and choose to incorporate into their homes?

This got me thinking that it has been nearly three years since my husband and I decorated our soon-to-be newborn daughter’s nursery with a cheery wall color and Blik decals. But in a few months our little girl will move into a new bedroom and into a big girl bed and it feels right to mark the occasion with her first piece of original artwork. My parents did this for me when I was young and years later I am still fascinated by the works they selected for me. Not only are these drawings, watercolors, and prints little windows into what my parents’ tastes were back then, they are also little hints about the kind of world they wanted to create for me. Luckily, they are good examples of the style of artwork popular at the time as well.

If you like the idea of collecting a group of artworks or art prints for your kids, consider purchasing art at intervals so your grown kids will have keepsakes from different stages of their childhood. Do the shopping on your own or include your kids in the selection process, whatever works best for your family. I know my 2 1/2 year old will want to have her say in things so I’ll show her the same images I’m showing you here.

Zatista.com "Shines for All" by Amanda Beckmann

katecosgrove.com "Pass the Branch" by Kate Cosgrove

petitcollage.com "Pink Monkey" by Petit Collage

I’m looking forward to this because unlike the process I get into with some clients who want to buy art as an investment for their children, for me the process is about enjoying the moment,

Zatista.com "Cupcake" by Gwen Bell

having fun,

Etsy "Ted Box Art Robot" by John W. Golden

celebrating shapes and color,

Zatista.com "Abstract 2" by Bobbi Heath

exploring imagination,

Etsy "Piggy Back Race" by Sautter Pictures

and creating memories with my daughter.

Etsy "The Life of the Party" by Ali Herrmann

Be sure to check out this link to a British artist I love: Freya has some wonderful illustrations for both kids and adults.

There is so much fun artwork out there, I can’t resist showing you these that tickle me too…

zatista.com by "Ten Four" by Amanda Beckmann

Zatista.com "Just a Swingin' " by Tony Dunphy

kateendle.com "Lion" by Kate Endle

“What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.” - Katherine Hepburn

Raise your hand if you’re like me and you ate chocolate, bought chocolate, entered a chic chocolate boutique (my fave du jour), gave chocolate, baked with chocolate, drank hot chocolate, sprinkled, melted, shaved or dusted chocolate this holiday season.

So I’m not alone, eh?

I did all those things and more last month and believe it or not, my appetite for chocolate still lives on. To put a cap on my Expanding Waistline Potential (EWP) I’m considering buying original art that reminds me of chocolate or just gives me a warm and cozy chocolatey feeling.

Untitled - Oil Painting by Lisa Caccioppoli

Creating a chocolate environment is a suitable alternative to chocolate consumption, or so I tell myself.

Untitled - Mixed Media (Tootsie Roll Wrappers) by Amy Kauffman

How one prefers his or her chocolate is a personal thing, but I’m feeling bold and want to share my picks with you.

Time Lapse Streetlight - Oil Painting by Matthew Stiles

These images are speaking to me from the front lines of my post-holiday, hot cocoa mood.

Give and Take - Mixed Media by Randall Parker

What Lies Beyond, Photography by Tracy Mewman

What’s the point of all this, you ask? It’s just a reminder that buying original artwork doesn’t have to be a big mystery.

Sequence 10 - Oil Painting by Tracy Burke

Outlook - Photograph by Tracy Mewmaw

If you fall in love with an art print or original painting, even for the simple reason that it reminds you of your favorite food or last year’s great vacation, that counts. Start the new decade right. Buy art you love.

Zatista.com artists: Lisa Caccioppoli, Amy S. Kauffman, Matthew Stiles, Randall Parker, Tracy Mewmaw, Tracy Burke