HELLOOOOOOOOO NEW YORRRRRK! Or wherever you are. Today in NYC, we are getting some winter storm called a “bomb cyclone”, so that’s a little dramatic. Kind of like the art in this post!
This post is going to be a fun one. I obviously love all forms of art and I currently want to move because I am running out of wall space for MORE ART PLEASE. I would thrive in a space that would let me art to my max. Art is so fun and so personal and I feel like this is turning into a PSA. Putting art in your home is such a wonderful way to show off that personality of yours.
I truly believe that art is always a solution.
Literally, for any design woe you might have, you can add art to tie everything together like a pro. I mean, how many objects do you know of that can contain like 100 different colors simultaneously without looking insane? Seriously, nothing beats art. It is what holds the room together. Art is very psychological and if it’s not currently a part of your home, try to find some that you love and that evoke an emotion.
Art makes a house a home; it is the heart.
Today, I am going to teach you how to curate art for a space. I will give you different art categories to consider including and the reasoning behind my choices. I am both an artist and interior designer, so I promise you’re in good hands. I want to remind you that as with anything, there are no rules, I will just be showing you what I believe works the best. So, let’s go get expressive!
Categories of Art to Include:
- Graphic/abstract
- Recognizable
- Realistic and/or vintage
- Fun/funny
- Handmade (by you!)
- From a local artist/artisan
- Photography
- Typography
These are 8 categories that I use time and time again. I have every one of these in my own home and use them in my interior designs. These categories are especially helpful when curating a gallery wall because each category is so unique. The key to pulling art from many different categories is to choose an agreeable color palette or style; something that will tie the art together. You can also use the popular “mix and match” motif, where things match because of how much they don’t match. It’s a thing; I promise. Now, let me show you visuals of each category so you know what we’re working with.
1. GRAPHIC
Graphic art prints are wonderful. They add edge to a space and give your eye a party. They can be a focal point or a supporting role. Graphic prints can stand alone or they can be added in clusters. I often group together prints from the same artist to make a mini-gallery wall of maybe 4 prints of equal size. This is a great way to amp up your graphic prints because when they are all from the same artist, a similar style will emerge, giving these unique prints a more streamline approach. It seems to soften the impact, like if you were to throw a veil over them. The juxtaposition of bold prints with the softness of similarity is my favorite thing ever. Above, I have 2 prints from my current favorite graphic artist, Matthew Korbel Bowers.
ABSTRACT
Also in this category, I have included abstract paintings. Now, you don’t have to do both, but obviously I do:-) I love abstract paintings because they take something so soft like paint, which can literally be blended to oblivion, and turn it into something bold with each brush stroke visible. It’s magnificent and also the category in which I thrive as an artist. Here are 2 of my favorites above.
2. RECOGNIZABLE
Even if no one you know is an art aficionado, they at least know who Van Gogh and Andy Warhol are. Everyone does.
Art is meant to be inclusive, even if you are not familiar with it.
Adding a recognizable print to your art collection will result in more appreciation of the other art pieces just by someone being able to recognize one painting. It makes them feel connected to that piece because they know it, and that connection therefore extends to the rest of your art. This is my best tip and probably the most important if you’re seeking the best and easiest way for your collection to be truly appreciated. Everyone likes to feel like they know something, so let them!
How great would the Gustav Klimt be in a bedroom? How cool would The Son of Man print be in an office? These are timeless pieces and also pretty fun.
3. REALISTIC/VINTAGE
The reason realistic and vintage are in the same category is because soooo many truly vintage paintings are of landscapes, portraits, things in real life. They have this warm quality to them that makes you appreciate yesteryear. Designers like Kelly Wearstler and Emily Henderson really really love vintage and you better believe they utilize this category to no end. It’s kind of impossible to choose my favorites, because I’m literally pulling from hundreds of years worth of art. But, I will show you paintings that 1) I love and 2) am able to find.
Pro tip: many times a vintage art piece will come already framed with some amazing gold clad frame that makes you yell ERMAGERD, but if it does not, you should consider buying your own antique frame and returning that beautiful painting to its roots. In my own home, I have 3 vintage original New York City maps from the World Atlas in the early 1900s. I have 1 for Brooklyn, 1 for upper Manhattan, 1 for lower Manhattan and on each map there is a heart drawn on the location of places my fiance and I have lived together. I got this for him as a birthday or anniversary gift; I don’t remember. But I plan on keeping these forever and adding hearts wherever we move in the city. Vintage is awesome. Check your local thrift stores, or you can just buy prints of vintage paintings and give them a great vintage frame. How great would the Norman Rockwell painting be in a kitchen? It’s so friendly.
4. FUN!
This is obviously my favorite category. I love love love art that is fun and/or funny. Bathroom art is my bread and butter. In my own bathroom, we have a Picasso of a rear facing silhouette (fancy for saying “a butt”); I like to call it our “bathroom fart”. Get it? Instead of bathroom art because of the butt. Hardy har har.
I love Andy Warhol and have 4 of his Campbell’s Soup cans in different color ways in my kitchen. The other artist is a recent favorite, Chad Wys. He has tons of these fun prints of sculptures with markings on them. It’s awesome and FUN! That’s the category we love, right?
See what I mean by fun art? I love pieces that are full of quirk…just like me. Ha! Get creative. If a piece seems weird, keep looking at it. It might not be “weird”, you’re just not used to being so expressive in your pickings.
The more expressive with your art you are, the most your home looks like a direct reflection of your amazing personality.
5. HANDMADE (BY YOU!)
Now, after looking at all of my examples, you might be thinking that there is no way you can make art yourself. BUT YOU ARE INCORRECT, YOUNG GRASSHOPPER. Yes, I am an artist, but anyone can make art. Hellooooo, toddlers have art classes! One of the most famous artists, and a personal favorite, Yves Klein, made art by painting the bodies of naked people and sliding them across a canvas. And he has pieces in MOMA NYC. Art is amazing because it is personal.
When I was a nanny, my little 2 year old buddy made a Rorsharch-esque painting with washable Crayola paint (you know, the kind that’s like see-through), and it might be my favorite thing ever. We live in an age where everything is accessible. Be it through Youtube, Pinterest, Twitch, or even a quick Google search, you can teach yourself anything. Don’t be scared.
Still not convinced? Pssssst…Apartment Therapy posted a list of other great DIY art pieces you can create! Check it out.
6. FROM A LOCAL ARTIST/ARTISAN
Now, I know that living in NYC has it’s perks when it comes to being an artist and being an art customer. There are so many street fairs and flea markets here, not to mention the artists on random streets selling on the sidewalk. A couple months ago, during an upper west side street fair, I bought a beautiful hand woven Moroccan style basket for $30. It now houses all of my makeup in the living room (because when you’re living in NYC, you don’t have things like a “vanity” or “bathroom counter” or “designated area serving only one purpose”. I do my makeup in the living room on the couch because that’s where the natural light is. But you would never know because it’s a beautiful basket from an artisan.
So, I get it, it’s probably easier for me to shop local. But, you can still buy directly from the artist or artisan. You can do that through Etsy or through sites like Minted, Saatchi Art, and Society 6. On Etsy, you can even filter pieces by location to ensure you are supporting artists in your area. You might think that this would be a more expensive option, but no worries because it is definitely not. Yes, many artists do original paintings, but what else pays the bills and has much less cleanup and supply cost? Reproductions in the form of prints. So far, I have 4 prints from Society 6, and a wish list of many more. Chad Wys, I want all your stuffz. PS: Society 6 always has sales. You can literally get a piece of art for less than $20, and your money goes straight to the artist. HUZZAH!
True, it takes a specific customer (and budget) to request a custom painting, and for me at least, that is not how I roll. In between these expensive custom paintings, modern artists are scanning their art to be easily (AND AFFORDABLY!) reproduced and sold online. One large painting can only have one owner, right? Whereas prints of the painting can be reproduced hundreds of times and are sold for a fraction of the cost. In my own home, I have over 30 pieces of art (I know, I can’t help myself), and I paid no more than $40 per piece, with the average being about $17. Prints are the way to go if you want art but don’t want to spend a lot. Art really makes your home a home, so I wouldn’t recommend just skipping it. That’s why hotels and doctor’s offices make an effort to have art. It helps you feel more at home in a place that isn’t even your home! How much better would your curated art feel in your actual home?
7. PHOTOGRAPHY
Now this one kind of requires some finesse. By that I mean that there are a lot of photos printed on canvas and sold in stores like Home Goods, Target, and TJ Maxx, and while that is all well and good, that’s not what we are looking for. WE are looking for photos by a professional photographer that are printed on paper. Personally, I prefer photos printed on paper because I believe in preserving the crispness and quality–the photographer didn’t spend thousands on lenses and cameras for the end product to be pixelated on canvas! I love photography because it means literally buying history. I haven’t been everywhere in the world (not even close!), but I can purchase a photo of somewhere I have never even visited. Photography is perhaps the truest art form because you can only use raw materials. One of my favorite photographers is Gray Malin. Two out of these three examples are his.
8. TYPOGRAPHY
Last one! This one requires some explaining, though. There are 2 types of styles for typographical art that I prefer: either very small or very large. I do not think the in between sizes work well. Typography is meant to be bold, so a small print with a bold lettering design will stand out, as will a large print. In my own home, I have typographic prints in 4×6 frames and 8×10 frames but no larger. I like them to be at my desk and scattered places that would be eye level when you’re sitting down. If it’s a typographic print, it will say something meaningful, and it’s a nice little surprise reminder to be awesome or think positively or something like that. I also like to reserve larger typographic prints for the rooms of babies, kids, and young people. I find those prints to be the funniest and most creative ones. We all know babies and kids can’t read, so my theory is the encouraging prints are more for the adults anyway.
The prints branded for adults, however, are less creative (because adult life is hard!) and say varying versions of “live, laugh, love” or whatever is the typographical equivalent of a therapist. If you have a mantra or quote that gets you through the day (we all do, btw), it is very personal and is meant just for you. So why blow it up and throw it on a wall? Why not have smaller versions in the private places of your home just for you like your night stand, work desk, next to the kitchen sink, next to the door for you to enjoy right before you leave? So your best bet if you’re choosing typographic prints in an adult space is to have them be small features but not the main attractions…unless you can find something funny and not *too* personal.
That is why I created my ‘Mini Messages’ series. All the mini messages are only $6 to download instantly. I love inspirational quotes and bible verses, but, like I said earlier, I don’t want them to be visible for everyone to see what I might need to get me through the day. You know? I have the on my art desk and on a table next to my work desk. They are priced at only $1 because my goal is to give you a little something inspiring to get you through the day. Life is hard and we all need a boost. Check them out.
Typography has really skyrocketed in popularity in recent years and is truly an art form. I’m going to link my favorite instagram accounts, because these people are SO talented: Stefan Kunz, Lauren Hom, Tobias Saul, Michael Moodie, Joey Bearbower, Steph Says Hello, Matthieu Tarrin. And accounts pulling from all artists: The Daily Type, Type Gang, Good Type, 30 Days of Bible Lettering, Ligature Collective.
That’s all folks!
-K