How do I mix art styles?
B L E N D I N G
L A N D S C A P E S +
A B S T R A C T S
When I started collecting art in my early 20s, I was drawn to sleek, museum-like homes with predominately abstract works that were typically realized through prints. As my style and budget developed, I became increasingly interested in original landscape and portrait paintings. I am now in my mid-30s and have found myself with a varied collection of originals and multiples, some colored and others in neutrals, by recognized and under-appreciated artists, that I love. I shift in and out of wanting to see more modern or more traditional works––honestly, not by month or even day, but by the hour. I think this is because I am especially interested in the combination and juxtaposition of styles which allows me to see and appreciate each work differently than if they were displayed on their own. I am drawn to the subtle storytelling that these pairings provide. Seeing each work brings back memories of different points in my life. For all of these reasons, I want to display a variety of styles in my home instead of choosing what to put “on view” when.
If you follow CLG on Instagram then you may have seen a new reel I posted earlier this week on three quick tips to mix art styles. Although I focused specifically on blending landscapes and abstracts, the truth is these tips can be applied to mixing many different art styles. Today’s blog post delves a little deeper into the tips. I really hope you find them applicable in your own home!
Tie artworks in different styles together by highlighting the existing palette in your space
Tip one / Coordinate colors across styles and tie them into the palette of your space. My living room decor is heavy on tangerine, green, and blue, so I selected artworks that used that range of color for both the primary base and the accents. I used Rebecca Atwood’s “Dashes” fabric in Tangerine for the window treatments. This big pop of orange running from ceiling to floor meant that I needed a smaller amount of orange in the abstract artwork by Artie Vanderpool. A pair of landscapes by Joyce Corns flank the abstract to provide additional color, movement, and character to the space.
Small, medium, and large markings across works helps maintains visual balance
Tip two / The markings in either the landscape or the abstract should be larger in scale. In this case, the abstract’s broader brushstrokes fulfills the need for larger markings while the more predominant elements in the wispy marshes provide the medium markings (compare the size of the pink circles in the abstract with the trees in the landscape). Thin lines extending horizontally in the abstract work also help draw the eye from left to right.
A framed marsh scene by Joyce Corns on the left is juxtaposed with a larger-scale, unframed abstract by Artie Vanderpool on the right
Tip three / Keep one style framed and one unframed. In order to keep one style unframed you want to be sure that the sides of the canvas are finished––otherwise, you’ll need to frame it to keep it looking tidy. Framing can completely change the feel of your art. If you have inherited or purchased a pre-framed piece and enjoy the content but feel like something is a little off, it may very well be the framing. For a smaller sampling works like the three above––especially if two are a pair flanking the different style––it’s best to match the frame and matting on the similar works and let the third work remain unframed. Rather than trying to force the framing of the alternate piece to resemble its matching companion pieces, I would recommend that you let each style remain true to itself.
Are you an eclectic or same-style collector? Do you have tips for blending styles in your house? I would love to hear your comments!
––Tc