Category Archives: Original Art

“Tips To Consider When Choosing a Piece of Artwork
(for Your Home or Office).”

It’s super gross outside–dirty and grey in the days between Winter and Spring. The trees are still bare, and there’s no fresh snow. No flowers have bloomed. No street sweeper has cleared the detritus from the Winter Melt. It’s all monotone and blah.

If you’re like me, you’re longing for color. That’s a huge reason I’m an artist. I bring Beauty and Joy into the world through my colorful, abstract original paintings. When we perceive beauty in the stained-glass-wings of a butterfly, in a loved one’s smile, in the curve of an old cedar tree, we feel Hope. And that’s what we need more of in this world–especially in the grey days after Winter.

Choosing a piece of art can be an overwhelming task for some and a challenge to articulate what you actually are looking for to bring into your home or office. And, so much of art is an intangible aesthetic of subjective Beauty.

Among many considerations to make, I want to share a few tips to help you choose artwork for your space. It’s helpful to consider whether you want an original or a print. Knowing what size of artwork you’d like and what size of space you have to fill is important, too.

Considering the other items in your room is valuable to know how to coordinate a new piece might be necessary. Emotions play a role, too, and knowing how you want to feel when you experience the art can be considered.

Because art can be such a personal experience, for some, knowing the artist is significant. And, for some collectors, the title of the artwork is important to be able to curate the story a room tells.

Once considering these questions, you’re likely to have a clearer idea of what artwork to choose for your home or office.

1. Do you want an original piece of artwork or a print? Do you want to commission a piece from a local artist?

When you choose an original piece of art, it can feel special to know that you are the only one in the world in all history and future who will have this exact piece in your home while you’re alive. The prestige, honor, and privilege of getting to commission a painting from an artist can feel valuable, too–not only are you the only one with a piece of art like this one, it was made especially for you. And, that’s super cool.

Price can be a consideration of this, too. Original art can have a large price tag–as it should. Artists are skilled and talented at their work and need to be compensated as such. Because of this, and your available budget, you may choose to start by owning a print from an artist whose work you love, and then, save up to commission a piece later on.

2. What size of space do you have to fill?

The size of space you have to display art is necessary to consider. I once painted something that I thought was big enough for a wall in an event venue, but the room dwarfed my painting. When I was in my studio, however, this painting was massive and filled my entire wall.

Taking literal measurements with a tape measure–and writing them down–to have available when considering becoming a collector is important. Are you looking to fill one wall with a statement piece? Or, maybe you want to have a pop of color and story on multiple walls. Hanging a painting above your fireplace will work differently from hanging a piece on a nursery wall or in a hallway.

Considering the space your new piece of artwork will live in is helpful information to share with the Artist when you commission a piece, too.)

3. What other items do you have in mind that might coordinate with the new piece of art?

Interior designers know that each item in a room needs to function on its own, as well as in the presence of all of the other pieces. There’s a certain flow that encourages a feeling or experience in a space.

Introducing new artwork to a space will likely change the dynamic and flow of that room–this may be why you are considering choosing artwork in the first place.

Details like wall color and texture, whether or not you have bookshelves and what you put on them can have a significant impact on what type of art would be the most appealing in the room. Items like floral arrangements, framed photographs, other pieces of art, decorative vases or figurines can live on display alongside artwork, but may need rearranging.

The style and size of furniture, the pattern, color, and texture of cushions can affect how art works in a space, too. Even seasonal and holiday decorations or cultural decor can play a part in choosing what artwork you’d like to collect and feature on your wall.

4. How do you want to feel when you look at the piece?

Experiencing artwork is subjective and it’s important to know what you want to create your space to feel like. You may love a piece of art in an artist’s studio or on the walls of a gallery, but that’s a different type of space where it’s displayed. In your calm sitting room, what was bold and busy enough to stand out on a wall in a gallery may be too energetic in a space you want to feel restful.

One of my favorite memories of meeting a collector of my paintings is meeting a woman in England who said she’d spent the last three years searching for a painting that could live on the hallway wall outside of her bedroom, so that she could wake up, see the Art, and feel happy to start her day. She held my painting, beaming with relief and joy that she’d finally found a solution to suit the Beauty she longed to experience daily.

Perhaps you want art to have a calming effect. Maybe you also want to feel happy first thing in the morning. Or, you might want to feel energized. The subject matter could be important, too, and how you feel inspired by nature could help you choose a piece of art that helps you feel like you’re by the lake or hiking in the woods–even when you’re snuggled up on the sofa, reading.

Other factors to consider:

5. For some, knowing who the artist is, and how you feel seeing their art and them plays an important role. You may choose artwork simply because it’s a memorable experience from having interacted with the artist. Sometimes the painting that hangs on the wall is a reminder of a place you loved being or the human who created it who made you smile, feel seen, or listened to, comforted in some way.

6. The titles of a piece can be important to you, too. For me, as a writer, I always intentionally title my paintings to tell the story that I see in the painting as a starting point. Knowing what story you want to tell in your home or office, or to remind yourself of, could be intriguing as you select artwork you love.

7. Do you want art from me, Molly Ovenden?

An ongoing project I’m perpetually excited about:

I write pieces of poetry or short prose or fiction to pair with my paintings which share the same title. When I name my paintings, I call them what I see. Sometimes they are simply like, “May” here and other times they are more complicated and involved like, “Late Night June–Almost Seeing the Moon Between These Trees” here. I love bringing the viewer into the world of color and beauty I create in my paintings. So, I choose to write the poetry and stories behind the paint.

Once you’ve considered these questions, you’ll have a good foundation to approach a gallery or local artist to make an informed decision about becoming a collector and owning art you love and that you are proud to display on your walls.

To see the artwork I have available, visit my gallery shop online here. And to follow along with the creativity joy in my studio and behind my typewriter–you can be the first to know when new paintings become available by signing up here.

Thank you so much for reading this article and for following along my creative journey. I’m so glad you’re here!