The spotlight is on the extensive range of artworks at this midtown residence, giving a nod to a classic MGM musical. For art collectors Jeff Spira and Wally Prawicki, there truly is no place like home. Their 1,700-square-foot midtown abode is an homage to all things whimsical, including The Wizard of Oz. The foyer is decorated in mid-tones and, just like Dorothy, once guests enter the living room a burst of color welcomes them. “Every detail is intentional,” states Jeff. “People can feel the effects of the more muted tones hanging on the walls as they walk through the front door, then they see the living room and bam!It’s like a hit of Technicolor!” In the living room, striped papier mâché Wicked Witch legs, created by Sedona artist M.R.Daniels, peek out from under their couch — adorned with those famous ruby-red slippers, of course. The private residence is called,“Casa de Colores,” and as the name implies, the Old Pueblo house is decorated in an array of vibrant hues and art media. “My description of our home would simply be ‘a revolving and ever-changing landscape of our personal collection,’” says Wally. “Each room offers a mix of elements: whimsy, modern, Western and a little bit of everything in between." The couple met through mutual friends in 2004 and began transforming their home with their personal collections by 2007. Many homeowners purchase art as an added decoration, but for Wally and Jeff, the house is viewed as a large canvas, built to show off their true passion: the art itself. Each room flows into the next, a detail Jeff says is intentional and necessary when contemplating where to display their creative works. “The rooms are designed to best show off the art as a collection, keeping its flow as much as possible,” Jeff says. The living and dining rooms feature an open floor plan and hold ceramic sculptures, oil paintings, fiber and glass art, and papier mâché. A large oil painting of a mountain landscape by Louisa McElwain, titled “O Prima Vox” (Oh First Voice) is placed directly above the couch. Enter the dining room and you’ll find gourd art by Casey Luria, along with yellow, crimson and green glass balloons that appear to be floating about the room. The price of each piece ranges from thousands of dollars to $100. Jeff explains it is not about the cost, but about the feeling one gets from looking at the art.“I get excited about the look, feel and energy of the art and how it will complement other pieces in our home.” Can anyone become an art collector?The couple says yes. Wally, retired from working in the airline business and Jeff, who is employed at a health insurance company, says there are no rules to becoming a collector, except that one must have a passion for it. At Casa de Colores, even the ceiling shows off art. Painter Lois McDonald’s depiction of a celestial sky hangs on the ceiling in the foyer, along with a bi-plane by Troy Neiman from a BICAS art auction that appears to be soaring through the dining room. Here, Jeff arranged fluffy clouds, made from materials found at a local art store, to create an extra element. How the art is displayed is paramount to Jeff, who personally has hung each piece in their household.He builds one-of- a-kind stands and pedestals, along with reframing the artwork, to enhance the look. The kitchen, family room and master suite hold an assortment of modern and Western motifs. Nothing is without thought — even the corner walls have artwork on display. “I like to add art to the corners as well, which is an area many do not utilize,” states Jeff. The guest room holds a special treasure for the couple. Here, an “Artist Palette,” conceptualized by Jeff and made by metal artist Lynn Rae Lowe, has become their personal guestbook. “When an artist comes to our home, we ask them to sign the palette as our way of remembering who has viewed our collection,” Wally explains. “The 39-plus artists who have been to Casa de Colores feel honored.” The current number of art pieces collected is unknown because Jeff and Wally continually purchase new pieces and rearrange the rooms. “Let’s just say that we have so many pieces, people are telling us that we need to build an addition or buy a bigger house,” Jeff says. Along with collecting art, Jeff is on a new venture as an art consultant for his company Art in Motion. “I hope to work with art patrons and assist them by offering guidance to possibly enhance or display their own art collections and/or have them collaborate with an artist to find that special piece that speaks to them,” notes Jeff. He also is working with artists as a consultant, and currently is helping Tucson sculptor Randy O’Brien to expand his art narrative. “I purchased some of Randy’s sculptures that were originally all squares and asked it he would change one of the squares into a circle,” recalls Jeff. “Sometimes, simple changes can spark a completely new and exciting direction for the artist. I look forward to doing this with more clients in the future.” For others wanting to become art collectors, Jeff and Wally suggest the tips in Give It a Try(right). Give It a Try You may not be professionally trained in the art field, but according to Jeff and Wally, that doesn’t matter. “Buy art that speaks to you,” says Jeff. “If you walk away from it and are still thinking about the piece later in the day, then it is probably worth getting.” Lights, please Now that you have purchased that “must-have” work of art, how do you display it? Before you break out the hammer and nails, think about lighting.“We added spotlights to our ceiling to highlight the art,” states Jeff. “Always consider how the natural sunlight coming from your windows can enhance the artwork. ”For an aluminum and ink patina landscape called “Red Rock Splendor” by Lynn Rae Lowe, Jeff placed the art in an area that faced a large window. “When the sun hits the aluminum throughout the day, it changes color,”explains Jeff. “Had I left it in a dark hallway, you wouldn’t see all of the rich details.” Bottom line, lighting is critical when displaying your art collection. Take risks So you’ve hammered some fixtures into place, now what? Wally notes that as long as you are a collector, you should constantly try new placements and take risks.“Keep trying new arrangements,” says Wally. “Whenever we buy something, we don’t just fit it into the one blank space we have left on the wall. Instead, we think about where it should go and often will move around many pieces to make it work.” Mix it up Instead of sticking to one art medium, think outside of the box. “Many people try one medium and never experiment with different types of art,” Jeff says.“Feel free to mix media when putting together a vignette.” Wally agrees, noting that Casa de Colores also is a combination of styles. Make it your own: Frames and pedestals Instead of keeping the original frames or stands, try incorporating your own style to enhance the look of your collection.“I’m constantly thinking about how I can build a new stand or try a different frame to make each piece flow with the overall look of our home,” says Jeff.“Don’t assume you have to display the art the exact way the gallery did.” Jeff added elements to many of the items in his art collection. One example is an antique skate and fiber sculpture by Peggy Wiedemann. Instead of placing the skate on a table, Jeff had a stand made that was blue with a black border that he attached to the wall. “I wanted to choose something that would complement the art in color and design, yet still be functional.”