Artwork

Good Morning!

While standing at the top of my friend Pam's stairwell, I realized she had all these wonderful blank white walls. Our conversation prompted this post!

If you have blank walls, white or otherwise, I am going to help you fill them. If you are a saver like me, and you have kids, then you have art in OVER abundance. If you are sans kids, then you might have to do a little more work, but never the less, you still can get GREAT artwork on the cheap.

1- Make a photo gallery. Use family photos and make your own photo gallery. This can be done in a couple of different ways. Find a common denominator. i.e. Use the same color frame, all black and white photos, all the same size, etc. Once you have your common denominator, start grouping your photos. Hallways and stairwell walls are great for these arrangements because there are usually long walls and great for larger sized pieces. I am a more symmetrical kind of girl, (at least today), so I tend to position my gallery photos symmetrically. There is no right or wrong, it is a personal decision, depending on your personal preference.

I like to buy black frames at garage sales, and second hand stores such as Goodwill, I keep them on hand for when I need a frame for a new piece of art. I also keep a list of sizes that I am in need of. Then when I come accross them, I know what size I specifically need. Of course, you can always buy new. However, I try to reduce, re-use, and recycle as much as possible. Sustainable, green design!!!

2- Kids artwork. Frame your kids' artwork and use it as unique artwork. You can also buy inexpensive canvases at your local art supply store, ours is JoAnn's or Michael's (they usually have coupons in the Sunday paper for 40% off too). Give your kids the brushes, paints, and water, and let them create their own masterpiece. A helpful hint, make sure they paint the edges around the canvas. :)

If you don't have little kids, enlist your nieces and nephews or grandkids into creating a masterpiece for your blank wall.

3- Nostalgic pieces. Take that old calendar you have been saving. Take it apart and use the prints on your walls, again in frames of the same color. Remember those old theatre programs, frame those and use them in your guest room. How about that old sheet music you found cleaning your great grandma's house? Use that too! Nostalgic pieces make for great conversation starters too.

Good luck on your artwork search. We'll talk soon. Happy Monday!