During the housebuilding process, you often imagine many things and like to think a few steps ahead. While still discussing the foundation and utilities, mentally you’re already thinking about the decor.
We still have a large, almost empty wall measuring 2.50 x 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in x 8 ft 2 in) in the kitchen, and I would like to place a painting there. Canvas, not necessarily framed, but that’s also fine. Preferably vertical, maybe about 1.20 m (4 ft) wide and nicely tall.
Where can affordable paintings be found nowadays? I’m not looking for valuable or collectible items. It can be by unknown artists or mass-produced, but preferably oil paintings. Are there good online sources for this?
We once got lucky and found a hand-painted picture on eBay (photo attached). 1 meter x 1 meter (3 ft 3 in x 3 ft 3 in), oil — and the flower wreath was made from crumpled newspaper. I never understood the artistic intent, but we love the look. Unfortunately, it only fits in the current kitchen; the new one will be more modern and black and white. We’ll have to find a new spot for it.
We still have a large, almost empty wall measuring 2.50 x 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in x 8 ft 2 in) in the kitchen, and I would like to place a painting there. Canvas, not necessarily framed, but that’s also fine. Preferably vertical, maybe about 1.20 m (4 ft) wide and nicely tall.
Where can affordable paintings be found nowadays? I’m not looking for valuable or collectible items. It can be by unknown artists or mass-produced, but preferably oil paintings. Are there good online sources for this?
We once got lucky and found a hand-painted picture on eBay (photo attached). 1 meter x 1 meter (3 ft 3 in x 3 ft 3 in), oil — and the flower wreath was made from crumpled newspaper. I never understood the artistic intent, but we love the look. Unfortunately, it only fits in the current kitchen; the new one will be more modern and black and white. We’ll have to find a new spot for it.
HausiKlausi4 Aug 2020 22:27I would ask around in the local area. That has relevance – and you will likely find something that fits your ideas. Probably better than just choosing "something" from the internet. There are also initiatives everywhere that support a region culturally and have corresponding networks (farms, associations, etc.). Besides, the money then stays with a local artist.
H
hampshire4 Aug 2020 22:30Artothek is also great: Borrow instead of buy. The one in Cologne, for example, is excellent.
A
Alessandro5 Aug 2020 09:05I would also buy something that I have some kind of connection to. Region, vacation, family, etc.…
If the connection doesn’t matter, I currently find white oil paintings on a white wall quite striking! It looks very modern and is timeless.
Edit: I like modern photography and often browse the Lumas galleries. I have a large wall myself covered with a 1.5 x 2.5 m (4.9 x 8.2 ft) photo.
If the connection doesn’t matter, I currently find white oil paintings on a white wall quite striking! It looks very modern and is timeless.
Edit: I like modern photography and often browse the Lumas galleries. I have a large wall myself covered with a 1.5 x 2.5 m (4.9 x 8.2 ft) photo.
Painting yourself!
I mean it seriously—abstract paintings aren’t that difficult, the cost of materials is quite reasonable, and it’s a lot of fun.
Watch various tutorials on YouTube, for example on squeegee techniques. Simply put, it’s not really painting in the traditional sense, but spreading paint over a canvas with a large spatula or squeegee. This creates interesting textures.
You can also apply texture paste on the canvas and then paint over it. There are many ideas that don’t require you to be a great artist, but the results still look impressive. As mentioned, YouTube is a great source for inspiration.
And you can choose whatever color palette you like.
In a physical therapist’s office here in town, interesting paintings are displayed. They are all the same size, many with texture, and sometimes just painted green with plastic cows (those toy figures) glued on top—it's really funny.
I once asked the therapist who created those paintings. He said: my wife, who got some boards, plaster, and paint and was allowed to go wild. Some really great pieces came out of it!
So, don’t hesitate.
Since we can’t really afford original artworks (at least not the ones I really like), I also took up brushes and spatulas. I am not an artist, but the paintings are always well received by our visitors.
Here are a few examples of different techniques:
Squeegee technique (where the colors look blurred):
With a spatula:
Painted with a thin glaze over it, partially wiped off again:
Go ahead and give it a try!
I mean it seriously—abstract paintings aren’t that difficult, the cost of materials is quite reasonable, and it’s a lot of fun.
Watch various tutorials on YouTube, for example on squeegee techniques. Simply put, it’s not really painting in the traditional sense, but spreading paint over a canvas with a large spatula or squeegee. This creates interesting textures.
You can also apply texture paste on the canvas and then paint over it. There are many ideas that don’t require you to be a great artist, but the results still look impressive. As mentioned, YouTube is a great source for inspiration.
And you can choose whatever color palette you like.
In a physical therapist’s office here in town, interesting paintings are displayed. They are all the same size, many with texture, and sometimes just painted green with plastic cows (those toy figures) glued on top—it's really funny.
I once asked the therapist who created those paintings. He said: my wife, who got some boards, plaster, and paint and was allowed to go wild. Some really great pieces came out of it!
So, don’t hesitate.
Since we can’t really afford original artworks (at least not the ones I really like), I also took up brushes and spatulas. I am not an artist, but the paintings are always well received by our visitors.
Here are a few examples of different techniques:
Squeegee technique (where the colors look blurred):
With a spatula:
Painted with a thin glaze over it, partially wiped off again:
Go ahead and give it a try!
Similar topics