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How do you select the right art for your home?
I’ve been selling original art for a long time and it is rare that a painting is bought as a merely decorative piece to fill a space. Occasionally I’ve seen people buying paintings to match the curtains, or the frame is the right colour for the walls. I’ve even seen someone holding a swatch of soft furnishing fabric up to a canvas. This doesn’t happen often, but we should really treat art as an integral part of the design process, or even the starting point. At best you have to love the piece you buy before it becomes one of your intimate treasured possessions. If we buy art for the sole purpose of fitting it conveniently into a certain space it is rarely successful, we should buy it because we like it. After all we won’t always live in the same place all our lives but will move with our treasured furniture and paintings. Surrounding ourselves with the things we love is deeply satisfying and elevates us. Our choice of paintings can speak for us and define us and become an extension of our creativity.
‘If you see something you like follow your instinct’
The phrase “you’ll know it when you see it” often applies to art when we find ourselves drawn to an artwork for no particular reason, other than love at first sight. It can be as illogical as that. Why do we like things? Possibly because we connect with them in a subliminal way. The artist’s process to completion is an emotional journey as well as the practical one of applying paint to canvas, or casting in bronze. The most successful artists do not just conveying an image or likeness but also conveying this emotion or engender a feeling. Ask yourself, how does it make me feel? Contemplative, happy, calm, uplifted, exuberant, elegant, feminine, strong?
Decide on a budget
Have a rough idea, but don’t let budget constraints hold you back from buying something you really like. Original art; paintings, sculpture and ceramics have a unique texture which is absent in reproductions and can give a room a more intimate tangible feel. Having said that you don’t have to spend a fortune, there is lots of original affordable art available, you just have to be selective. Also many galleries offer terms by which you can pay in instalments.
Research the artist
Do take the time to read the artist’s biography and their method of working. This can re-inforce your initial choice and shed light on the reason for your attraction. Learning more about the artist and their practice augments our choice and can become a talking point.
Be Impulsive
Don’t spend too long making up your mind. Original art is just that, completely original, and cannot be reproduced exactly. If you see something you like follow your instinct. If the artwork you like is sold to someone else it will always be ‘the one that got away‘ and believe me you will think about it for years to come. Don’t worry too much about where you will put in your home, as careful ‘home curating’ can always be made to work.
I have bought an original artwork - how do I place it in my home?
The exciting thing about buying a new piece of art is bringing it home. Where you put it can be an enjoyable and creative process. We can become curators of art in our own home, grouping works together, or highlighting one work in particular. In this way, the love of art can be an extension of our own creativity.
Most of us will have to make these decisions. A good way to start it to lay all your paintings against the wall or on the floor and decide where you are going to put them before hanging them. Keep this in mind - having a focal point is a tenant of design and can set the tone for the whole room. Also grouping different styles and paintings together on one wall, a corridor or on a stairway can be really effective. Depending on the style you want to create this can be quirky and funky or symmetrical and ordered and can play with the dimensions of a room. Have a look at my blog; “Hanging Art in the Home” for more practical tips.
Consider texture and Colour
Think about the texture of the artwork: is it smooth, mixed media, collage, thick oil, or cold bronze? Contrast it with other textures in the room. When it comes to colour, think about the mood it evokes. If the painting is colourful, will it light up a darker corner of the room, or inversely will it need to be by natural daylight? Play around with artificial and natural light. Sculpture and ceramics can add gravitas to a room and has the added benefit of being portable. You can place them in a dresser or shelf or on a mantlepiece or piano. Larger sculptures look great in a hallway or on top of a console table. Don’t forget to consider garden sculpture which is brilliant as a focal point in the garden. In short, art is important, because it add texture and colour to our lives, and not just in the literal sense. It reflects who we are and is part of our culture. Buy art that you love and find a balance between furniture and artwork, playing with the dynamics and dimensions until it seems right and enjoy!
Author: Hadfield Fine Art
Photo credit: The Dormy House, Andover
Illustrated: ‘Pink Stems’ by Jane Skingley, available through Hadfield Fine Art
