Affordable Design
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a professional artist to create your own art–for your home, or any other space. There are countless ways to make images that no one will be able to tell from gallery-bought pieces, and they’ll have have the special benefit of being things you made yourself. To start, you can use stencils in different sizes and/or tape in different widths to make paintings using controlled lines and shapes. Or you can go all Jackson-Pollock abstract and simply splash paint onto a canvas at random (his weren’t actually random after all, but most people won’t know the difference). You can also take your own ordinary snapshots and alter them in Photoshop. Don’t forget the kids! Most kids, given paint and brushes, will turn out abstract artwork worthy of hanging next to the greatest abstract expressionists. Set them up and let ‘em loose, and soon you’ll have your own home Louvre.
Here are some examples:
(Image courtesy of greenville daily photo)
(Image courtesy of addicted2decorting)
(Image courtesy of Julian Andrews)
(Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy)
Posted by Holly McWhorter at 26 January, 2010
I heart these gorgeous pictures by french artist and photographer Fabienne of Labokoff, who combines her love of painting and photography to create stunning mixed-media pieces. Her fine art photographic prints are inspired by nature and the beauty around.
Posted by keren at 20 January, 2010
“..Several years ago I began incorporating pictures into my paintings. I was looking for a fun and unique way to display photos of my kids that reflected their personality and experiences. The name, in fact, is inspired by my daughter’s love of a bird she named Kiki, and for her imaginary friend Polly. Polly no longer visits our house as she once did, but I try to keep the spirit of childhood, wonder and imagination with me in my Portland, Oregon studio….” (Artist Lisa Golightly).
Posted by keren at 14 January, 2010
“…The information I collect for my paintings comes from the place where suburban meets rural. Where forest and farmland gets cleared to make room for a new kind of growth. Housing developments stretch out to fields, strip malls with box stores, power lines, billboards, and highway exits with gas stations and fast food restaurants. I have lived most of my life in urban neighborhoods so much of my experience with this sprawling environment comes from glimpses I catch passing by on the highway. My paintings reflect my perception and memories of these surroundings. I am more interested in the idea of these places then the details, and create work from my memory and imagination. My memories can be vague or vanish quickly and sometimes the only thing I have left is color. I see a connection between my memories and these fleeting landscapes I create. I focus more on color and less on shapes presenting little information to the viewer. This allows the viewer to call on their memories of place and connect with the painting based on their experiences. Ideally my paintings will remind the viewer of a place they have been…”(Kelly Neidig)
Posted by keren at 12 January, 2010
As much as I love a new things, or a newly designed home, I love it that much more when the new flare added is something I did myself. If you’re a DIY junkie, then there’s a book for you, sure the holidays are over- but why not buy yourself a little gift. Make it! Is a new series of how-to print/pdf manuals that show you how to make your own mid-century modern design masterpieces!
These twelve of the MCM-inspired how-to projects will show you how to make a Calderiffic Mobile, Eames-embroidered napkins, a fantastic Girard-ish ottoman and more! Each article gives you some background on the designer who created it, the materials and tools list and then detailed step-by-step instructions on how to take the picture from paper, to your own living room! The best part is it’s easy to print right at home, you can get started on a project today and have it finished by the weekend! Go on challenge yourself, you may find out that it’s easier than you’d think.
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 11 January, 2010
Great modern piece from Ikea with a friendly price tag. ($399)
-8 shelves included, 6 of which are adjustable. Adjust spacing to suit your personal storage needs.
-2 smooth-running drawers with ball-bearing slides and pull-out stop.
Posted by keren at 11 January, 2010
