Lockdown Diaries Day 1: Art sets & series

With the extended shelter in place deadline, and some uncertainty still ahead, I’m starting a lockdown series and will share 30 posts over the next 30 days. Design, art and beauty can definitely lift the spirits, so here goes!

Today’s theme - Art Sets & Series. A series of prints, paintings, photographs or objects can be a great visual element in a room, and tell a great story. It can also unify and create connections between spaces. Here’s a few ideas and examples.

A set of (what appears to be) oriental battleship paintings spotted at SF Decorator’s Showcase last year. You’d have to see them up close to really appreciate the detailing. I tried to capture it in the closeup below!

design by Alexis Humiston, photography (above) by Christopher Stark

A set of vintage car prints by Leslee Mitchell, in a room designed by Erin Gates. This is her son’s big boy room and the little fella loves cars and trucks. This was a cool way to capture that in the room.

Minimalist botanicals in antique brass frames

Lee Radziwill’s 5th Ave apartment (maximalism done right!)

A still life series by artist Susan Hable.

An abstract art series by the same artist. Love the archival paper & gray matting.

A set of gentleman prints unifies the space

An entry that would make you take a pause. Love the ribboned hats!

via Design Sponge

Beautiful gold medallions in this bedroom designed by Anna Burke Interiors.

Framed vintage Vogue covers

Dana Gibson’s iconic leopard motif

Giclee watercolor portraits by Mary H Case. Love the depth of the faces!

Cubist faces by Hayley Mitchell. So chic.

A cheerful color block series by Pen & Paper Co.

Fantastic Art

When I walk into a room, one of the first things I notice is the art. Good art can really make a room come alive!

Lately, I've found myself being drawn to great, original abstracts. I know a lot of people look at abstract art and think "Oh I could've made that!"  (I've definitely been guilty of this!)  & ok, maybe there's some abstracts out there that aren't great and don't justify the hefty price tag.  But I've found that making a good abstract is freaking difficult. The composition, color choices, brush strokes,  all give a painting that certain "feel". Easy to look at, very hard to accomplish.

 I've been seeing a lot of rooms lately where a more traditional room is accessorized with a contemporary abstract, and I have to say, it's a winning combination!!  I love this mix of styles. It's what makes the room interesting.

Here's some images of rooms where the art is really bringing that extra something to the space. And I've rounded up some of my favorite art sources for you below! Art does not need to be expensive to be good. There's some great, affordable art out there.  Check 'em out below  and feel free to browse through the sites and pick your own favorites!

Love, love, love this abstract on canvas in a little boy's nursery, discovered on Elements of Style.  It's got a fantastic blend of colors & goes perfectly with the gray walls.

A gallery wall of birds in the Southern Living Showhouse 2016 , designed by Mark D Sikes. Love how the gallery extends down the entire wall , givingit height (also loving the chandelier but we can talk about that later! :) )

These framed chinoiserie panels are beauuuuutiful. The clean, powder blue upholstery and the panels are a perfect complement to each other.

A great example of mixing styles...this room designed by Mark D Sikes, has mostly traditional elements (chinoiserie vases, the floor lamp, the hurricanes), and then there's that one perfectly-sized, eye-catching squiggly abstract!  Genius.

Stunning horse photography...

And here's some of my favorite picks right now! :)

Love, love, love these minimalist watercolors by Lauren Adams Art on Etsy. Their so interesting to look at & the framing is spot on.

I'm in love with this abstract on canvas by Kelly Witmer.  Original oils on canvas tend to be higher priced but you could always get a high quality giclee print and frame it!

These abstracts on canvas by Renee Bouchnon are a thing of great beauty. They’d bring instant character into a room.

Going in a completely different direction - these GORGEOUS ginger jars found on Furbish.

As well as these black & white botanicals. Perfectly framed in a light wood!

There's a wonderful new art source on the block -  Artfully Walls. They have a great selection of varied art & they have some fantastic, ready-to-go, curated collections by designers as well.

Here's a few pieces from Mark D Sike's curation...blues, blacks, whites.

Large scale photography can give a room dimension & depth. Here's a great example by Erin Gates Design .. what a view in the dining room!   (Fun fact: centuries ago, monasteries would mount huge paintings/tapestries in the area where the monks ate their meals. This was so they could ponder on it in silence while they ate. I like the thought of that A LOT!)

Beautiful seascape photogrpahy by Mina Photography

And lastly, Pure Photo. Their nature photography is PHENOMENAL.  

I hope you enjoyed that round up!  I have lots more where that came from. Let me know if you enjoyed that and I’ll share a round 2.

Also, share this post with an art-loving friend...someone who likes to discover new art or  someone who's in the middle of a redecorate. You never know who's in need of some inspiration :)

Any artists you're crushing on right now?