This post is not about a new painting, but it is about art, sort of. It's about what a small change on an art wall can do for the mood and look of a room and the mood of the resident thereof.
My interior art-scape is constantly changing with the rotation of art. My apartment doubles as art storage facility and gallery. As pieces sell and new pieces rotate in to replace them, my walls and the look of my interior space also change.
Recently this created some consternation for me with one of my living room walls. This wall is not neutral and the tones are warm. Naturally this poses a challenge for the art that hangs on it. The wall itself is a type of an art piece, created by the former owners of my apartment. Since I like the wall I have been unable to part with it for the sake of art-display, even though certain paintings look positively dead when displayed on it, as was the case with a recent art-rotation.
Without realizing it consciously, the dismal effect was causing me to dislike my entire living room and the art and my (albeit old) furniture and ultimately the look of my entire apartment. I found myself thinking about painting or wallpapering my opinionated wall, covering my old furniture and even MOVING! But after making a few simple changes I fell back in love with the apartment. And best of all, it was free!
I pulled an unused black frame out of storage and framed my favorite Beach painting in it. I removed Olives (a favorite, but whose tones clashed with the outspoken wall) and replaced it with the large Beach painting, added another, smaller, framed Beach painting and a Royal Food Mart, mounted print. Instantly the room came to life again. And the art that was removed now enhances the neutrally painted hallway.
This small change had a great effect on my mood and inspired me to make other small changes. Moving a plant here, an accessory there and soon, for no money at all, I had a new, pleasing and harmonious look again. The "life-giving" transformation has inspired me to keep everything sparkling inside and out. I will think twice before I dress a bold wall in an "outfit" of paintings that does not look good with its coloring!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
How Art Rescued a Room
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1 comment:
Barb from Las Vegas wrote:
Free Style! Remember that HGTV show from more than a few years back? I know just what you mean, though. I relate completely to your blog. (no surprise there) and loved reading your design dilemma and solution.
My chi often has been harshed to the point of wanting to discard everything or even move out over what turned out to be controllable issues. Of course you know what happened to my kitchen cabinets...that was the most extreme and labor intensive case...still under $100.
But lately I was convinced that our two end tables flanking the couch were too big for the living room. I wanted to put them on Craig's list and replace them with ones I found at Pier 1. My only living room wall has a fire place angled into one corner, a table, the couch, a table and then my piano. Too crowded and too linear. The corner at the other end of the wall is adjacent to some floor length bay windows that nothing is allowed to block for the sake of the view. I just angled the piano in that corner (not blocking the windows) so that it balances out the fireplace, and then moved the couch and end-table assembly to be centered on the wall. Voila...serenity at last. Before I was constantly distracted by the previous arrangement, to the point of not being able to read or play the piano.
Here's to keep on loving our homes!
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