The bigger the better: collectors with large homes and big statements to make are turning to oversized art to fill the void

The vast sun reaches its zenith, giant oak trees rustle ever so slightly, and the intensity of a golden vineyard counters the boundless blue sky. This is painter Vicki Asp's Northern California--supersized.

"Valley of the Vines" is just one of the oversized canvases that Asp, like many artists, has introduced into her repertoire to keep up with the construction of expansive homes where art is needed to fill large walls and double staircases. Oversized art, which usually is categorized as any piece of artwork measuring more than 3 x 4 leer, currently claims a sliver of the art business pie. But Michael Young, CEO and president of Collectors Editions, says the market for large pieces has picked up during the past couple of years. Currently, less than five percent of Collectors Editions' sales are oversized, but Young says he expects more focus on this niche in the coming months.

Anne Katz of Artaissance--a unique art purveyor on the Web--has also reported a rise in oversized purchases, which she says is a response to both larger homes and the desire for homeowners to make bold and stylish statements. The artists who create oversized art say there is a special freedom in working with the expansive media, and they are often surprised by how quickly their pieces sell.

Progressive Fine Art made the move toward dynamic, oversized pieces about 10 years ago in response to the impact that contemporary architecture was having on both private homes and corporate office lobbies. In order to meet the new challenges these expansive spaces have placed on art dealers and consultants, the company deliberately sought after artists who craved to express themselves on a large scale. The company's popular artists in the oversized category now include Emilija Pasagic, Pietro Adamo and more.

Barry Smith, owner of Smith Gallery in Sacramento, Calif., takes pride in his discovery of Asp, as well as Steve Memering, another artist who creates oversized pieces. "I go big with Memering," Smith says. "His scope and his vision are just so big and so powerful. Asp specializes in California landscapes, and with her, I go big, too." Several of Asp's large paintings come in pieces, such as "Valley of the Vines," which is available in two panels, each 3 x 4 feet. Memering's "Golden Waterscapes," a limited-edition, two-panel oil painting measures in at 6 x 4 feet. Maple leaves, dragonflies, carp and lilies dance across a dreamlike, watery background of warm colors. The subjects in the piece have a certain power--a way of grabbing attention--courtesy of the oversized format.

But Smith wasn't always so confident about selling large pieces. "I used to sell, all the time, 'regular' sizes," Smith says. "But then my artists wanted to do bigger pieces, like four-by-fives. I thought, 'Geez, can we move these?' But they sold--quick and immediate. Boom! They were selling readily." Soon, Smith was selling 5 x 6 foot suites of multiple images. The popularity of these pieces is partially due to the rise in spacious homes, but Smith also credits Asp and Memering for his success. "You can have a lot of big art, but unless you have the talent, it's not going to go places," he says.

Smith's clients are heavily based on the West Coast, but his gallery's art sells around the country in states such as Ohio, New York and Florida. "Many galleries sell art to people who want reminders of places they've been, like California," Smith says. At the Smith Gallery, large originals, such as two canvases measuring 4 x 5 feet each, cost between $3,800 and $12,500. Limited editions are in the $3,800-$6,800 range.

Artaissance, a company that allows customers to select their favorite art from its online gallery, custom size it, choose whether it will be printed on canvas or paper and have it framed locally, typically sells a 40-x-60-inch piece in the $500 range. A maximum-sized piece, Katz says, would be 54 x 102 inches, priced under $1,000. Since any of Artaissance's 80-plus artists produce pieces that can be ordered in an oversized format, Katz says there are "no rules" in selecting big pieces--only that customers should buy what they can live with.

"Several different [themes] are popular as oversized art," Katz says. "Some consumers like large, color-block artwork that is more minimalist in design while others like to see very intricate details on a large scale."

Daniel Deljou, of Deljou Art Group in Atlanta, considers big art an elegant solution for interior design, as the majority of his client base in oversized art is made up of high-end designers and decorators.

"Abstracts are always big--and landscapes," Deljou says. "Larger-scale paintings have a tendency to be more sophisticated, and normally they do well in a more public area versus still lifes in residences and small rooms. But when used correctly, [oversized art] can enhance the room, bring more attention to the room, and it's always nice to have a more eclectic piece."