Buying art that works in your home

On a budget

Hey gang! I’m actually writing this in bed with a hot water bottle because whilst we do have heating upstairs, because the whole back of the house is open (and I mean we have no roof or back wall downstairs) it’s basically impossible to keep warm. Oh also I’ve become low key obsessed with this air purifier I’ve bought. They’re not cheap but the satisfaction watching it turn rooms from red (the worst score for air quality) to blue (the best) is beyond satisfying. Also it sounds mental but you can literally taste and feel how much better the air is- sometimes I just stand in front of it and get high on that dust free oxygen.

God I sound like I’ve lost the plot - I’m fine don’t worry.

Anyway, back to art. I took a painting to the framers today and just thought maybe I’d give you a few tips on how to curate cute little vignettes of art work.

Obviously art is hugely subjective so this is more around how to get different pieces to work together, whether in a gallery wall or just in the same room.

Here are a few little tips:

• Buy second hand (even if it’s just for a frame you like) - I probably trawl eBay for art weekly. No joke. People always ask me what to search- search for the medium you’re after. So pencil drawing/sketch or architectural print or oil landscape painting. You get the idea. It doesn’t take 5 minutes so you do need a little patience.

• Old is always good

  I love a piece of art that has some character. I was going to write history but that’s way too highbrow for me. I’m purely going for the aesthetic here but some wear and tear is good IMO.

• Mix materials

  I think we can all agree that a gallery wall full of digital prints with plastic frames does not shout ‘timeless and carefully curated’. The trick is really to mix it up. The same approach should be taken for framing. So here are some types of art I like to use: Pencil drawings/sketches (I love a naughty nude), oil landscapes or still life’s, prints are often fun in kids rooms, abstract acrylic or oil paintings, black and white photos and if you’re feeling a bit funky, then you could opt for some folk inspired art work- very on trend. In terms of the material, again variety is the spice of life here- yes there is paper and canvas but some of my favourite pieces are drawn/painted on wood (like this big piece I did in my hallway!) Mix glazed pieces alongside unglazed, thin and thick frames, wood and painted, mounts and no mounts. Big and small. This is the key to having a collection that looks thoughtful and well balanced.

Gallery wall with mixed sizes, frames, mediums

Big piece of ply and poly filler

• Frame your canvas artwork!!!

  I love a floater frame for a canvas- it just elevates the artwork and makes it seem much more expensive. The little shadow gap all the way round- perfection.

Framed oil on canvas

• Don’t forget about sculptures and wall hangings

  My current obsession is woven wall baskets but I’ve even seen people make straw hats look cool on walls. I think the key is making sure you have quite a lot of that one thing- 10 hats I going to look much better than 2, obvs. This logic also applies to artwork where you have a set of something- more is more if you’re going to have a group of the same thing in the same frames etc.

12 of a set of drawings to add impact

• Have a go yourself!

  I love painting, I’m not the best but I can copy things and it’s an affordable way to fill your home. I’m always taking screenshots of pieces I like/think I can replicate myself and it’s a great rainy day activity. Love the simplicity of this one here - as you can see the frame makes it.

Good inspo

Hope that was helpful, let me know if you have any questions! 💜