I have had a strong pull for years to write a blog and share anything and everything art related with anyone who has an interest. I hope to keep these posts short and simple. I want to offer easy-to-follow tips for integrating original artwork into your home or office space and perhaps touch a bit on how to use your own children's artwork in new and unique ways as well.
One of my founding beliefs when curating artwork for your home is that it should first and foremost spark joy, interest and ultimately be a piece that you absolutely love walking by everyday. These emotions can be a response to simply looking at the artwork; knowing the artist personally; a reminder of a favorite place or time; or evoke a sense of serenity (which is why artwork based on water is always popular). It won't always be clear to you why you are drawn to a particular piece or style; but if it tugs at your emotions - you have probably found a piece worth considering for your spaces.
Start small. Are you just starting out in reimagining the walls in your home? Often we want to quickly fill large, empty walls with works found in box stores - and this is totally fine! But as you start to find that you want to incorporate special and meaningful original pieces - it's okay to start small. Find a work that is both smaller in scale and in your price range to start with (think 16"x20" framed or on stretched canvas) that will fit a smaller wall and (*this is important) - is a size that you can move around or easily move with you. When you first start buying original art - you truly just want to connect with the piece and be happy with it anywhere in your home.
I have a great deal of original artwork from my mom - but below is a series of small watercolors that I purchased in college while studying aboad in Italy. They remind me of a special place and time where I truly fell in love with art and art history - I didn't at the time aspire to be an artist, but I appreciated my connection to these works. They have been in and out of different frames - first in simple storebought frames to preserve them - and now in profressional frames that my mom helped me select and that I love. The bottom piece is approximately 8"x12" - so they are quite small and hang by a door our family uses daily.
Thank you for reading my first post. Writing, much like creating art, is a vunerable process. One of my favorite things is to talk about art - so I am excited to start this conversation. More to come including sourcing frames; buying new mats for frames you might already have; local sources to shop for art; things to consider or ask; and sizing (to name a few). Do you have a question surrounding aquiring original artwork - send me an email and I will reply personally and if I don't know the answer - I will help you find it. AlisonDonaldsonArt@gmail.com.
Until next time!
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