Decorating with Art in Your Home

[MISSINDI]

I think we have officially decided not to sell our house, and will, instead, add on to it. That said, I've been going through all my decorating clippings for ideas and such.

I've never really hung any prints, paintings, etc. up before, and don't know too many artists' work, except for the popular ones and ones my parents liked growing up.

What do you hang on your walls? Do you have any favorite arists? What draws you to them?

After seeing Jen's (jphilg) thread about the redo of her house, I spied a piece on her wall that I liked. It's a Downe Burns, and as soon as I find a reasonably priced one, it's mine! ;) :D To me, it exudes warmth and conveys an image of family.

I just bought Poppy 1927 from Georgia O'Keefe for our bedroom. Our bedroom is a bright sunshiney color, and I think this will look great in it.

[jtoepfert100]

No tips for you but I'm glad you posted this thread. Wish I knew! All we have on our walls presently is a big giant velvet Elvis smack above the mantel:o I am a disaster when it comes to home decorating - hopefully some of the experts out there can give us some great advice!:)

[jem927]

Not really advice, but just what DBF and I did...

We both have a huge interest in music, jazz specifically - so we have acquired several prints and photos that are jazz/music related. I had a few items prior to DBF music related that really go well with the other purchases we have made.

Also whenever we travel, we try to pick up a piece of two that are 1)memorable from the trip and 2)go with the decor in place.

I still have probably 7-8 pieces that I need to have framed - just haven't had the time or money to do it as of late. UGH! He has told me I am not allowed to purchase anymore until what I already have is framed and hung.... :-(

Oh well...

Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

Jamie

[Beth]

I have just the opposite problem. I have more thing to hang than walls now. I have a Georgia O'Keefe poster too (replacement of one that was stolen when my home was broken into -- I liked the edition I had better). I love a lot of her work. I like the warmth and perspective. Most of her work has a strength and a softness at the same time.

I got suckered by Jane Wooster Scott puzzles many years ago and thought I would have to settle for working one and hanging it on the walls. My husband gave both my mom and me prints of hers one year for Christmas after my oldest was born. Since then, we have added others. I like her details, the people and the touch of humor in every one. There is one more I regret not having bought before, and I hope to still track it down someday.

We have a number of things we got in the Auction for America of from artists on eBay that we got to know through that. Nearly all of them are original pieces, and they were really affordable. They also hold special value to us because of our experiences -- we love them all. Most of them speak to the time -- they reflect the warmth and caring, the patirotism, the strengths and the sorrows that followed 9/11.

We also picked up some prints and original works at a local art festival, and I even have a 2 watercolors and a print I bought in New Orleans when I was still in college. And then there's the single silk screen I can show from my silk screening class in college (don't take an art class as an elective -- it's totally humiliating to be the only person trying to get by without major talent). That one is taken from a photograph I took on the New Orleans trip and was part of a photo essay I did for my photojournalism class, a d I have a few of my photographs framed, but they are falling out of favor lately.

I guess I like art, because I don't feel right without pictures on my walls, and I keep wanting to buy more. I just can't paint them. :p For me, it can be color, subject, but art should leave you feeling something, make you think -- stop to observe it from time to time. It speaks to something inside of you. For me, the worst reason to buy art is to match your sofa, etc., but I know that's what matters for a lot of people.

[Beth]

Originally posted by jem927
He has told me I am not allowed to purchase anymore until what I already have is framed and hung.... :-(

That rule doesn't apply in our house. We have a huge folder we keep our extra prints in. When we move or rearrange furniture, we may pull out another one or two. I think we framed a few more when we moved into this house. Thanks goodness I know a great framer at Michaels and take all my things in when they have 50% off sales!

[KimK]

Other than family photographs or art people have made for me, I like to pick up artwork by local artists, and sold in local galleries. Just last week, I bought 3 smallish paintings from local artists, for under $175 total. They're pretty cool - and quite inexpensive for original artwork.

I generally stay away from mass produced art, like what is sold in BB&B's, World Market, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc., that I've seen in many homes I've been in. I dislike having the same things other people have. Although I confess I do have one large piece of mass produced art I LOVE, which I've never seen anywhere else, but am bound to some time soon!

Good luck with your hunt!

[KimK]

Another thing I like to do - I've bought a few neat old postcards on eBay, that I've framed and hung. That's always an option, and there are postcards for just about every subject and interest.

[tbb113]

I have had very good luck buying artwork at street fairs. My wedding anniversary was in August and as opposed to buying each other something, we would buy something for the house. I kept most of the prints (he did take some) when we divorced.

[wallycat]

Years before I got married, a trip to New York got my artistic juices flowing and I bought some seriographs(sp?) and lithographs (numbered). I mainly bought them because I loved how they looked, but had hopes that in years to come, they may appreciate in value. I have heard never to buy art for investment alone so I was thrilled when I met DH and he actually liked the pieces I picked out.

I have 4 ...2 by Erte and 2 by McKnight.

DH and I have walked through some antique places as well as art galleries and places that sell reproduced posters and can't wait to buy a few of these for our new walls.

[tperes]

The suggestion of looking at local galleries or at the upcoming rounds of spring art fairs is a good start to find original pieces that are usually very reasonable. We have a local co-op that has a cafe, and they exhibit local artists' work on a rotating basis. I am still mad at myself for not buying one of the paintings I saw there years ago. :rolleyes:

In our living room I have a framed Monet my brother gave me b/c it is of the beach, and he thought it was similar to our home town. I also have a pen and ink drawing of the log cabin church were DH and I were married. I have a mounted poster from the Gainesville, FL, spring arts fair from 2001, that is of the beach just up the road from my hometown. It currently resides under my bed to keep it flat until I buy the little kit to hang it with.

I also buy postcards or notecards that are unique and frame them. I have found mounted pages from old books at antique bookshops that I have framed and hung.

And, the one thing that I want to do, and have somewhat started, is to enlarge pictures we have taken of places we have been, and frame those.

I, do however like to browse around at allposters.com for general ideas. I know it is mass produced, but some of the stuff I really like!

[RebeccaT]

We have a giclee print from this artist: http://www.jeraldpeterson.com/ that we got at an arts festival. We met the artist and love his work, and decided that this would have to do until we could afford 2-3K for his originals. This is the print that we have, and we LOVE it:

http://www.jeraldpeterson.com/Images/Monastery_Shadows.jpg


Another thing we have on our walls are antique botanicals and other prints from 19th century textbooks, music books, atlases, etc. We love the look and details.

[jmarie]

Missindi, did you mean Downe Burns? If you google it, you can find it on sale at several websites. Good luck!
Joyce

[jabelt]

A few years ago, DH & I took an Alaskan cruise and sat through an art auction. I learned alot and we ended up making our first investment in art. We purchased giclees which are usually limited editions of artists paintings. My understanding is that they are painted using stencils that are created based on the original. Some artists have open editions, which make purchasing them even more affordable.

I bought 2 pieces on that cruise by Alicia Quaini. She paints still pictures, with primary subjects being fruit and flowers. I still love her work.

On a recent vacation to Hawaii, I fell in love with 2 other artists -Curtis Wilson Cost and Brian Davis. Curtis does Maui scenery - primarly countryside, absolutely breathtaking. Brian Davis does still floral pictures, but he has the most incredible use of light. http://www.costgallery.com/

If you're into photography, Peter Lik is an Australian photographer who takes simply the most stunning photographs. They are printed on 100 year paper and are really dramatic. We own a 6 ft panoramic lighthouse picture of his. It was my husband's splurge on the Hawaii vacation (I would have preferred paintings from Cost or Wilson, but I figure I pick out 95% of the art in the house, can't really complain when we gets a turn.)http://www.peterlik.com/flash/default.asp

Gallery Direct Art is a good online resource for purchasing art. Quaini and Davis are both carried there. http://www.gallerydirectart.com/

My next option (since I can't afford this habit thoughout the whole house) is craft fairs. There's one in Edison, NJ, 4x a year, that I really enjoy. I just went a couple of weeks ago, so it will probably be back in a few months. It's not as country as it advertises to be. http://www.countryfolkart.com/

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by RebeccaT
We have a giclee print from this artist: http://www.jeraldpeterson.com/ that we got at an arts festival. We met the artist and love his work, and decided that this would have to do until we could afford 2-3K for his originals. This is the print that we have, and we LOVE it:

http://www.jeraldpeterson.com/Images/Monastery_Shadows.jpg


Another thing we have on our walls are antique botanicals and other prints from 19th century textbooks, music books, atlases, etc. We love the look and details.

RebeccaT - that painting is gorgeous!

[MISSINDI]

Thanks, Joyce. Yes, I meant Downe Burns (www.downeburns.com).

This is what I bought this afternoon for our bedroom:

http://www.acclaimposters.com/_gallery/small/10009246.jpg

I think it will be a great addition.

I'm hesitant to do too much buying now, since with our plans, virtually only one bathroom and our bedroom will remain untouched. That said, I do want to have a game plan and decide what to do with each room now (over the next few months), so I'm not wasting time down the road, with a bunch of unfinished rooms, you know?

Thanks for all the suggestions -- I'll be checking them out tonight. :D

And Jen, yup, that velvet thing has got to come down. ;)

[RebeccaT]

Thanks, Jen! (not like I painted it, but I'll happily take credit for liking it! ;) )

It's actually lighter in real life, and we have it over our mantle with a spotlight that really enahnces the sunbeam/shadow effect. We'd love to get more of his stuff someday!

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by MISSINDI

And Jen, yup, that velvet thing has got to come down. ;)

Try telling that to DH! The only reason I allowed it to go up is because we don't own anything else to put on the walls and I was tired of looking at bare, white walls I just don't think that DH realizes that is is NOT permanent. I did lie, though, we have one other thing on our walls - DH's life size NYC subway map is hanging in our spare bedroom. He will not part with that thing. That last few places I've banished it to the spare bedroom but I'm hoping one day to have a house with a room that is all his stuff like this. I know that's a cliche, but, really, I don't want my decorating motif to be college-dorm chic, you know?

[Paula H]

I'm with KimK - I like to pick up pieces in local galleries, and never really worry about who they're by, just whether or not I like the piece!

If I do know the artist's name, it's usually because I've seen their work around and liked it, so have been keeping an eye out for more of their work. A photographer whose work I really really like (he takes extreme close ups of flowers - it looks much cooler than it sounds) just had his first formal exhibition. Dr Love came along to have a look with me... and really really liked one of the photos. Hoorah - much happiness for me because (a) we're going to buy a photo that I really like, (b) we're going to buy a photo that Dr Love really likes, and (c) this will be the first piece of Dr Love-selected art to go up on the walls (the rest of our art is all mine from before we met - except for the piece I had a friend paint as Dr Love's first christmas present from me).

Because of my haunting the local galleries, nearly all our art is (a) original, (b) not particularly expensive, and (c) by local artists.

Our tips for buying art:
1. Pick something that you like.
2. Pick something that looks nice (to you, at least).
3. If you don't like anything, buy lots of cheap art, so at least the walls are covered.
4. If you don't like anything, buy one or two expensive pieces, because at least someone else thinks it's good.

[MISSINDI]

Jen, what is the color scheme/vibe in your living room now?

[mcraig13]

We have everything from framed album covers, artwork by friends and local artists(we have framed caricatures of DH and both DD's done by a friend and a great piece of hanging pottery done by another friend.), an original painting by a Virginia folk artist that I splurged on (we have a couple of his prints too), and very old magazine ads. My advice is to go with your personality. To me there is nothing more boring than a home with pictures and prints picked out by the interior decorator.

[leebee]

I have several large pieces painted by my sister, and a few others by friends of the family. Plus, we have one framed print of a painting that DH & I picked up at a museum on a lovely afternoon once. We have a lot of family photos, as well.

I also wanted to add--Wallycat, I LOVE Erte!!

[slknight]

Originally posted by jabelt

If you're into photography, Peter Lik is an Australian photographer who takes simply the most stunning photographs. They are printed on 100 year paper and are really dramatic. We own a 6 ft panoramic lighthouse picture of his. It was my husband's splurge on the Hawaii vacation (I would have preferred paintings from Cost or Wilson, but I figure I pick out 95% of the art in the house, can't really complain when we gets a turn.)http://www.peterlik.com/flash/default.asp


I just wasted a lot of time on that website. Wow!! Those photos are breathtaking. :cool:

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by slknight


I just wasted a lot of time on that website. Wow!! Those photos are breathtaking. :cool:

I completely agree ... one purchase later. :D Gorgeous pictures.

[wallycat]

I know that Maureen's (Kima) husband is an artist.
She had a link to his website here and his stuff is awesome!

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by KimK
Other than family photographs or art people have made for me, I like to pick up artwork by local artists, and sold in local galleries. Just last week, I bought 3 smallish paintings from local artists, for under $175 total. They're pretty cool - and quite inexpensive for original art
So - where did you buy them???

We gotta go shopping, girl.

[jabelt]

Originally posted by MISSINDI


I completely agree ... one purchase later. :D Gorgeous pictures.

You bought one???? Do tell!!!!!!!

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by MISSINDI
Jen, what is the color scheme/vibe in your living room now?

Red couches, pretty casual. Not real light, but not dark wood, sort of a mission/pine type thing (?). Since we still rent, we have the prototype off-white carpets and walls.:rolleyes: I don't mind it being casual, as it's where we spend a great deal of time (and our pets would ruin anything nice), however, I would like to spruce it up some.

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by jabelt


You bought one???? Do tell!!!!!!!

The rainforest one. I'm really bad with measurements though, and have NO IDEA how big the thing actually is. Whatever size it is, I think it will be a nice addition. Very tranquil, calm and soothing. Thought it might be a nice piece to plan the new, soon-to-be-expanded dining room around. :D One of these days, I'll be able to get you guys to come over for dinner. ;)

[jabelt]

Congrats! You'll love the picture. There's no comparison with the internet version. It just can't begin to do it justice.

I'll hold you to dinner, though from the sound of things it will be a while ;) . You've definitely got your work cut out for you.

Good luck!