Does Art Matter?

by Stephanie Andrews

Spoiler Alert: Hell yes, it matters!  Art creates a vibe that can change how you and other people perceive your home.  It can stimulate, relax, talk to your wanderlust, or remind you of someone special.  Art also tells other people little truths about you, if they are paying attention.  Art is personal, and your partner, best friend, and family often have very different thoughts on what “good” art is.   I am speaking only of the art you choose for your home.  This is different from the museums, murals, and art you see everywhere outside your space.  Let’s focus on the personal art stuff inside our walls.  There are plenty of considerations here.

The funny thing is that you can have the most pulled-together gorgeous rug, comfy furniture, good lighting, and functional side tables, but if you are missing the art, your room feels naked.  That is how important it is.

For a minimalist, art can be more important.  It may be a shelf with a bowl and a watercolor to create a statement of intention.  Alternatively, when your art is gigantic, you can create instant drama.  An art wall can tell the story of your travels, your favorite color, or even simple thrift store paintings that you have collected.

I would like to share some basic art rules for hanging art.  As soon as you know those rules, feel free to break them; after all, this is art!

1- GOLDEN RECTANGLE RULE: When determining the size width above something like a sofa, mantle, console, dresser etc. try to make your art 2/3 the size of the item below it.  Or you can choose divided art that uses 2 or 3 pieces to make this sizing width.

2- GOLDEN TRIANGLE RULE: Hang the piece so that it speaks to what is beneath it.  Often, people hang the art too high, and it does not read as a triangle vignette.  So consider the height of your ceiling, and hang items 6-10” above the lower piece.  If your ceiling is higher, use the higher 10”, and if your ceiling is lower, the 6” may work. You are looking for a cohesive statement of item and art to read as one, not two.

3- DON’T HANG YOUR ART TOO HIGH:  If you have nothing below to support your art, consider hanging your art around 60” to the center of the art from the floor.  This is so the art can be seen around eye level.  Some tall people may go up to 65”, but for most people, 60” feels quite appropriate.

Enough with the rules; let’s go back to the art.  How do you find art that speaks to you?  I have found art while traveling, and I enjoy picking up a beautiful reminder of a special trip.  For example, on the art wall in my dining room, I have a Thangka piece from Nepal.  This mandala-looking piece has tiny details in concentric circles and is often made by a Tibetan monk in a meditative state.  I also have a carved Buddha that is from a place in Nepal that is known for its wood carvings. Sadly, this place was nearly destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes, and many of the carvers perished.  On another trip to Italy, I picked up 2  architectural watercolors in Florence.  I coupled these with some Florentine marbleized paper and used that as my matte in the framing process.  I also have Japanese koi fish in the circle symbol of forever, given to me by my husband, and a Japanese temple block print.  This block print was given to Ed long before we went to Japan, but it pushed us to put Japan on our travel list.  Our travel wall has stories and memories that we treasure.

I also love to collect art from people that I know and love.  My collections include art by my mom, Crysta Luke, Courtney Khail, Christina Kwan, Rusty Walton, Kevin Peskin, and Penny Treese. Over the years, I have gotten to know these artists, and sometimes, they have become dear friends.  To be able to celebrate them and their art and know that I am supporting them gives me joy.  It also helps them keep doing what they love.  I encourage you to support local artists and learn their stories.  Not only does their spark of energy add to your home, but the stories keep the human connection close.

We have also found art at festivals.  Photography, ceramics, and fine art are usually more affordable than galleries because we are dealing directly with the artist.  The Inman Park Festival is our favorite.  However we love the Festival on Ponce, Candler Park Fall Fest, and the Dogwood Festival (just to name a few).

Festivals are an approachable way to pick up a piece of art that you love without breaking the bank.

A couple of honorable mentions for art acquisition are Art Openings, Etsy, Minted, and even Museum Gift Shops!  Keeping my eyes open for new art keeps me curious and gives me a shot of beauty, sometimes when I need it most.  I hope that you will share your latest piece with me and how you acquired it!  I love getting your emails at stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com.

Lastly, my new segment, “On My Coffee Table”.  This is the final word on what I am reading, and a mini still life that I am capturing weekly.  I also see it as a way to see what I was thinking about at a certain point in time.  Consider trying this exercise yourself!  This week, I went upstairs to our bedroom coffee table.  Our bedroom is a cozy, warm space that is more private.  This coffee table was passed to me by my grandfather, Jack McNab.  Over the years, we have refinished it, put new legs on it, and thoroughly enjoyed its mid-century live-edge walnut top.  The art above the sofa is by my friend, Penny Treese.

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, and I will talk to you next week!

Thank you for reading,

Stephanie