THE ART OF ART YOU SAW IT, YOU LOVED IT, YOU BOUGHT IT - NOW WHAT?

Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor

A wonderful painting can enhance any home. But how do you decide whether to go modern or baroque? What's a fair price? And just how important is it to match the sofa?

During the next 10 days, a flurry of art shows in Los Angeles will feature thousands of works for sale, with everything from big-ticket items by renowned artists to lesser-known, more affordable works by newcomers. These one-stop shopping opportunities not only showcase a diverse collection of art, but also offer a crash course in art history, with lectures and design events. It's a nonthreatening way to learn more about art styles, prices, trends and even what may work in the space you have.

``Art shows really take art down off the museum pedestal and bring it to the people,'' says Beverly Denenberg, co-owner with husband Stuart of Denenberg Fine Arts in West Hollywood, a participant in the Los Angeles Art Show. ``People should feel free to ask questions. Art dealers really welcome the opportunity to share their knowledge and can act as guides to help you understand what a piece is all about. Art shouldn't be intimidating. That's a frustration shared by everyone in the art world. It's something that should be enjoyed.''

The Los Angeles Art Show in Santa Monica, which runs Thursday through Jan. 29, promises five centuries of fine art ranging from old masters and impressionists to regional art, abstract expressionists and contemporary art.

``A show like this can show you where art has been, where it's going and help you become confident about what you really like,'' says show producer Kim Martindale. He encourages visitors to ask dealers questions about work that strikes them, such as where the artist is from, what the artist's era or style is and why the piece is important.

Questions about why a piece of art commands the price it does can also be raised, Denenberg says. ``One can find value at every price point, but it needs first to have value for you. Don't be afraid to comparison-shop.'' And if a painting by your favorite artist is too expensive, ``you can often find drawings or prints of lesser value that are still from the hand of an artist you love.''

At Photo L.A., also in Santa Monica, more than 70 exhibitors are showcasing vintage and contemporary photos that range in price from as little as $25 for work by anonymous artists to more than $100,000 for pieces by renowned photographers.

``The contemporary art world is much more receptive to photos than ever before,'' says show producer Stephen Cohen. ``It's a great place to see work that's never been seen.''

To view art at the shows, Cohen suggests planning for a full day for the event, which is today and Sunday at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. ``Wear comfortable shoes and bring a note pad.''

Cohen also produces the contemporary art show Art L.A., also at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. It features mixed-media, video and digital cutting-edge art by established and emerging artists.

``People have to remember that it is contemporary art and they will be challenged,'' Cohen says about the show, which will run Friday through Jan. 29.

Regardless of artistic preferences, dealers like Denenberg, as well as art consultants, may not only help clients make purchases, but also advise them on placement and help them find installers to hang art.

Denenberg compares understanding art to learning a new language. ``It's really the artist's response to the world they live in and the viewer has to be educated. Each piece has its own history and can be revealed by those who studied it.''

She cautions people never to rush into the decision to buy a piece of art.

``It can be overwhelming, so take your time. It should be something you really love, because art is something that lasts a long time.''

In the end, dealers say it's important to consider more than what will match the sofa.

``Be open and willing to educate yourself,'' says art dealer Stuart Denenberg. ``Resist what is easy, and challenge yourself a little bit. Indulge your mind.''

Diana McKeon Charkalis, [phone]

diana.charkalis(at)dailynews.com

Mix it up ... it'll work

Art consultant Troy Thompsen faced a happy challenge when he agreed to help client Priscilla Pesci choose and display modern art in her 1920s Spanish-style home.

``It was all about making seemingly incongruous design work together,'' says Pesci, co-founder of Intuit media, a new L.A. marketing firm. ``And he did it.''

In order to make her Andy Warhol pop art agreeably coexist amid teak and mahogany antiques from southeast Asia, the co-owner of TKOart in Los Angeles and Newport Beach used ornate, classic frames and velvet matting to tie the look together.

``I've found that traditional decor is timeless,'' says Thompsen. ``Adding strong contemporary art on top only adds character and depth.''

Here are more tips on art placement from Thompsen, whose clients also include Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams and John Travolta.

Install art lower: ``In my experience, the top designers do this and it helps ground the art to the room. It allows the art to better interact with the furnishings and in general feels more natural.''

Consider the view: Analyze how you interact with and view objects within your space. ``It could be that while sitting at the dining room table you view art in the living room the best.'' This may mean scooting it lower or a few inches over to the right or left.

Get the layout: To create vignettes, place artwork on the floor and keep trying different combinations until you're satisfied. ``It's amazing what can work together if you find the right grouping.''

Cross-culturize: Mix it up. If it works, it works, Trust your instinct. ``I have installed a rusted boxcar hinge next to a Picasso and it looked great.''

Think out of the box: ``It's better to go out on a limb and risk failing than to stay with the same 'bland' choices.''

- Diana McKeon Charkalis

Hang it safely

Thompsen's career in the business began with a job installing art for clients such as MGM, Warner Bros. and many of L.A.'s top designers. Although he no longer does installation himself, here are some tips he picked up along the way, with an emphasis on staying earthquake- safe.

Overkill is always best: Use two hooks. ``In an earthquake, two points of contact are better than one - an added bonus to using two hooks is that your pictures will hang straighter.''

Crimp the hooks: Bend or pinch them so that you can barely get the wire into the hook when you hang the picture. ``That makes it much harder to pop out when the world starts shaking.''

Even more secure: Lose the wire and hang the art from the ``D'' hooks on the back (they form the shape of a ``D'' and are what the wire is attached to). ``This is harder to install, and get perfectly straight, but once it is, it will remain so forever.''

Bolt it: Thompsen sometimes has his installers hang art using a security system designed to prevent ``casual theft.''' It not only deters theft but also helps reduce liability. For example, he may use it for art hung in a tight spot where visitors may brush against a painting and dislodge it. He also advises using it for hanging art over a bed.

- D.M.C.

PHOTO L.A. 2006

Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica.

When: Noon to 7 p.m. today, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $20 for a one-day pass (includes catalog). Lectures are $10 per person, per speaking engagement, and on-site collecting seminars are $80 (includes a two-day pass to fair and catalog).

Info: [phone] or www.artfairsinc.com.

LOS ANGELES ART SHOW

Where: Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica.

When: Opening-night gala 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday (6 p.m. preview), $150 per person. For tickets, call [phone].

Regular hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Thursday through Jan. 28, noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tickets: $18 per person (includes catalog) at door. Half-price tickets to show are available to participating museum members with valid membership cards. Participating museums include LACMA, the Getty, MOCA and others to be determined. Parking is $6. www.LAArtShow.com.

ART L.A. 2006

Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica.

When: Opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, will benefit the MOCA Contemporaries. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling [phone].

Regular hours: noon to 7 p.m. Friday and Jan. 28, noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tickets: $15 for a one-day pass (includes catalog). Lectures are $10 per person, per speaking engagement, and on-site collecting seminars are $80 (includes fair admission). All exhibition and lecture tickets are available for purchase at the door or in advance. Seminar tickets should be purchased in advance. [phone] or www.artfairsinc.com.

LOS ANGELES PRINT FAIR

Where: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LACMA West, fifth floor, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Fairfax), Los Angeles.

When: Opening reception 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, will benefit the Prints and Drawings Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. For tickets and information, call [phone] or e-mail gac(at)lacma.org.

Regular hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 28, 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tickets: Free. Call [phone].

Parking: Lot at corner of Wilshire and Spaulding, or at the Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd.

(1 -- cover -- color) no caption (collage of photos)

(2 -- 5 -- color) Clockwise from above, ``Fireflies'' by Keith Carter; ``Petite Bretonne by Jules Breton;'' Sunflowers and Zinnias'' by Sven Birger Sandzen; and work by Beatriz Monteavaro

Artwork courtesy of Los Angeles Art Show, Photo L.A. 2006 and Art L.A. 2006

(6 -- 7 -- color) Art consultant Troy Thompson helped client Priscilla Pesci choose and place art in her Culver City home.

(8 -- color) no caption (hook)

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) Mix it up...it'll work (see text)

(2) Hang it safely (see text)

CAPTION(S):

8 photos, 2 boxes