There is an old saying that art is the soul of a people. This concept, in my mind, is very accurate. For both the creator and the consumer, art has historically been a trusted friend and ally in times of joy, hope, pain, and fear. Art is not only an aesthetic act, but an exceedingly personal choice, driven by the desire to surround oneself with what nourishes the soul. All of that to say, the adage of art being the soul of a people is one I agree with, but I think it can be applied to where we live as well—as art being the soul of the home.
This week's essay initially started out as a simple picture frame round-up. It then dovetailed into a broader discussion on art as the soul of the home. A home is supposed to be a safe place of respite, a space to retreat, and is fundamental for mental health. I believe in filling that space with love in the form of family, friends, and community, yes, but also with art. Today we’ll be reflecting on the practice of framing art—from selecting the style to sourcing the frame, along with a few stops in-between. We’ll also peruse the idea of how cultivating art in celebration of your life and home can evolve into something more: the highly personal journey of creating a soulful and cozy home through art.
How to Choose, Frame, and Hang
What came first, the chicken or the egg? I was having trouble deciding which topic to discuss first—framing recommendations or the more abstract topic of a soulful home. The metaphor of the chicken and the egg is apt, though. It's that spherical, overwhelming type of thinking that can stop a person in their tracks—not unlike what happens in the process of decorating a home. It might help to shift metaphors: consider the art you are cultivating (and the supporting actors of the frames) as puzzle pieces slowly fitting together to tell the story of your life.
hi, ignore the heating pad, please
Selecting exactly what art to have in your home may seem a somewhat illusive task, mainly because art is such a deeply personal choice to make. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, one fail-proof method is to pick art that's personal. Anything is art once it’s in a frame—receipts, tickets, money, fabric, and treasures found on the street. Collect trinkets from experiences and fill your home with memories and art that makes you happy. As for collecting "professional" artwork that may not have that direct personal affiliation, go with the feeling in your gut when considering purchasing a piece. Art is about feeling and I think it's wise to lean into that line of thinking when choosing.
Selecting frames is less intimidating and more tangible. When choosing a frame, the goal should be to support the artwork and not overwhelm it. I tend to gravitate toward understated and thin wooden, black, or white frames, though my entire frame collection is a hodgepodge of wonders that I have collected over the years. I gravitate to the understated frame because my preferred art style tends to be messy and imperfect, and the balance of the minimal is a nice finishing touch. There are, however, many pieces of art and many opportunities to have some creative fun with your framing and matting. I therefore present my super handy list of framing options gathered below.
A collection of frame resources:
- My favorite go-to source for frames are thrift shops for inexpensive and unexpected finds
- Etsy is great for unique and handcrafted frames from small businesses
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Art to Frame and Framebridge are both online sources for easy, custom framing
- Michael's for both customizable and ready-made framing options
- Jerry's Artarama for ready-made frames in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials
- Paintings on canvas tend to be left unframed, or with a floating frame around the edges with no glass on top
Other details can be creatively tweaked in the framing process, such as adding a mat, playing with the overall scale of the piece, as well as the placement of the piece in your home.
The addition of a mat is a removable layer and its use is dependent on the context of the space. I will mix in some of both into my gallery walls, matted and unmatted framed art (as well as a large unframed poster and a cork board littered with personal photographs), and it gives the wall some variety. Other creative ideas include but are not limited to:
- Painting the mat the color of the frame
- Painting the entire frame the color of the artwork for a nice, color-drenched finish
- Using a really large mat to frame a very small piece of art to evoke a more dramatic but minimal tone
Speaking of scale, play with it. Scale is a design principle in itself and can be used to make a big difference in a room—a huge framed print taking up the entirety of a smaller wall, or a small artwork framed and placed asymmetrically off to one side of a large wall, for example. The contrast would be striking.
Identifying and Creating Your Vibe
An artwork originates from within the artist’s self, becoming a vehicle for their expression and feelings. Once completed, it then goes out into the world where it could conceivably prompt entirely new, different, and personal feelings for every person that sees it. It’s this transformative power of art makes it not only an aesthetic practice but also a personal, emotional, and unique one for every viewer. With all of that potential for a soulful and magical space that is uniquely and emotionally you, it can be overwhelming to even know where to start.
I would start by building a unique mixture of beloved art and family photos, frame them with a mishmash of inexpensive thrift store frames, and have fun arranging them together above couches, beds, and in cozy nooks & corners. Have fun, and don’t get too precious with it; art, style, and taste are ever evolving, and it’s okay to mix things up down the road. I love shopping my own home; rearranging furniture and art pieces to create an entirely new room—I've been doing it since I was probably 8 years old.
When collecting, art does not need to be expensive or professional. The title of "art collector" may sound auspicious, but it really is more of a mindset than a high-end lifestyle. Whether you’re buying or creating your own, if a piece makes you feel something, it means something. Most of my favorite pieces are artworks that people in my life have made out of love—my dad’s recent practice of repurposing old wooden boxes (cigar boxes and the like) found at thrift shops, for example. He collages them into serene little worlds of thought and wisdom in the form of poetry, writing, imagery, and collage. They’re beautiful, and I consider myself lucky to have been gifted a few. My mom, on the other hand, is gifted with making wonky little ceramic dishes and cups that we happily sip wine from. The point being, collect the art that makes you happy, and be curious with your creativity.
Creating a home and space that feels enticing to come home to is an important antidote to the world. Just as art is the soul of a people, a house is an entity in itself, and when you pour love into your home, it will repay you with love, comfort, and safety in return.
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Sometimes I’ll go into someone’s home, compliment them on a piece, and hear, “Oh, I just told my designer what colors I liked, he brought me several to choose from and I picked this one.” I look at what’s on my own walls—some of it there for decades—and no matter what it is, there’s a personal story behind it, a memory it holds. Both ways of choosing art are good, but I feel more connected to my house because of the stories of the things in it.
Wonderful follow-up questions. While writing this, I did inevitably think of all of those who have lost their homes to war and climate, just this past year. I think both ideas are probably the case; there is a privilege to the idea of a curated life, and I also think it’s something that every human desires on a basic level. Definite cause for keeping this or something like it as a guiding compass.
Love the photos in this piece! Reading it, the term “curate” comes to mind. Wonder what that might mean in terms of the art in one’s home? It seems to imply the variable of change over time, which you touched on. Is it possible to curate a life? Is that just being pretentious, when so many are just flailing to survive? Or does it imply the presence of some guiding compass?