On Monday I spent probably two hours painstakingly arranging ten framed Japanese woodblock prints, circa 1895-1904 in a perfectly symmetrical arrangement on one wall of the salon (living room). But the result was - bland! Bleah! All one noticed was the symmetry of the arrangement, not the beauty of the prints. My husband came home from London last night and didn't seem too enthusiastic about the look. But he was happy to see something on the wall, other than nail holes. I'd started this project last Thursday and left the wall blank while I thought about what to do.
So today I took the Japanese woodblock prints down and started over. The photograph above is the result. Not sure if it will remain for long; I am forever switching art around from room to room and place to place. But the person to be blamed for triggering this particular redesign is Victoria of sfgirlbythebay. Recently she posted photos of the latest changes to her apartment. Her wall of prints looked so interesting, I was inspired to switch things around. After all, a girl has to take an occasional break from the computer, never mind those deadlines! A calm environment is a productive one, right?
From top left, a hand-hammered mirror from Amman, Jordan; needlepoint flowers from the garden district of Monroe, La., (found on eBay and reframed); 1940s beaded French flowers; an 1897 Japanese woodblock print found at Liberty, London; a 1903 Japanese woodblock print from Liberty; French oil painting of a Moroccan woman selling oranges, circa 1870; a trio of Moroccan-inspired collages by Kristen Robinson and an original cover of La Plume magazine, Paris, 1899, designed by Alphonse Mucha. Not sure about the flowers; originally I had nothing there, but the space seemed too empty. So I added a crystal and gilt sconce, which was too frou-frou. Something else may yet replace the flowers.
Of course I had to change two additional walls in the room to accommodate art! Hmmm, maybe it's time to sell more things...By the way, Kristen Robinson's art is featured on the cover of the August issue of Somerset Home! It's her second magazine cover this year - bravo, Kristen!
I love the energy of this collage ... I'm getting quite tired of symmetry in my world! Love, deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 06 August 2007 at 07:03
Oh! How much do I LOVE that La Plume print? Very much. Very much. I adore Mucha!
:)
Posted by: Amber | 05 August 2007 at 08:05
It looks stunning. Don't touch a thing. And I had no idea that Kristin had such Moroccan inspiration locked inside!
Posted by: Maryam in Marrakesh | 03 August 2007 at 19:41
Good job. Leave the flowers there...they're a nice surprise.
Posted by: karen | 02 August 2007 at 14:46
Tara the wall looks lovely, as always I am touched and honored by your incredible words thank you so much my dear friend!
XOX
Kristen
Posted by: kristen robinson | 02 August 2007 at 06:00
I really like this "carefully un-arranged" look~it's very appealing to me, but it's hard to get my husband (the engineer!) to appreciate it!
Posted by: Becca | 01 August 2007 at 22:12
Looks pretty good to me!
Posted by: Colette | 01 August 2007 at 20:28
I think you did a wonderful job Tara! The wall color with the gold allows the art to shine with class. I must try this down the line in my blog room in new house with memory photos of old house. :) XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 01 August 2007 at 19:22
I can arrange pictures on the floor but when they go up on the wall they never look as good. I leave that sort of thing to Harvey as he just seems able to get it right first time. Smart Ass
Posted by: Di Overton | 01 August 2007 at 16:13
Tara,
A study in patience!
I see your talents extended.
For me the arrangement is as important as the content.
rel
Posted by: rel | 01 August 2007 at 12:21
How very lovely and beautiful indeed.
Blessings my friend.
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 01 August 2007 at 12:11
I really like the arrangement, Tara - it's fun to shake things up every now and then. I'm overdue for some of that myself. It takes me by fits and starts - things will hang for years, then suddenly, one day, I just have to run around rehanging everything - and I may play with it off and on for a few months, till I find an arrangement that pleases me. Then it gets left for another couple of years, lol.
I love the salon style you're using - it's much more interesting to the eye, I think, than the "perfectly-symmetrical - matched-frames and-coordinated-prints" designer look - that look always reminds me of model homes, rather than an actual home.
Glad you found a fun way to take a break from the computer - you deserve it! xoxo
Posted by: tinker | 01 August 2007 at 09:54
I think you are on the way ...your frames look great .
I love particularly tthe franch painting of moroccan girl . I love this kind of painting
Mélanie xx
Posted by: Mélanie | 01 August 2007 at 09:35
I really like the way you have organised everything-it's somehow very pleasing to the eye! And I am the queen of procrastination....
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | 01 August 2007 at 09:06
I like your groupings, Tara. I see both the art and the arrangement. Of course, a picture of pictures only tells part of the story, but from my view it good.
And I'm sure this project was a great distraction from writing.
Posted by: January | 01 August 2007 at 03:00
I feel I have been away from visiting for so long. Your prints look lovely. Hope you are well. hugs.
Posted by: Rosa | 01 August 2007 at 02:47
This comment was received by email, as Typepad is once again inadvertently blocking some legitimate IP addresses as spam!
Tara I find it curiously odd that I can post a comment on your blog the one
day you honor me with an award, then a few days later I’m unable to comment!
Darn it! So I am emailing. Love the aesthetics of your framed art. It is
very cohesive! I’m sure you’d get a thumbs up from any of the American
design programs I so adore!
I found the Meme interesting, finding it hard to believe you could be over
taken at scrabble. Possibly you need a little lesson in the strategy!
There is a book called “Word Freak” it pertains to strategies of the
addicted scrabbler! I found it a pleasurable read!
I enjoyed the meme of eight. Tara you have never appeared anything more than
a southern lady, courageous with high intellect. I just love your political
chutzpa! Your brave and powerful demeanor empowers woman!
Have a great day!
Hugs Sherrie
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 01 August 2007 at 02:24
Hi Tara,
I recently found your blog and have been enjoying it so much! My family and I used to live in France (1999-2003, outside of Clermont Ferrand) and your pictures and writing takes me back. It's all so beautiful--it feeds my soul!
Thank you!
Becky Ramsey
Posted by: Becky Ramsey | 01 August 2007 at 02:01
Hi Tara,
I recently found your blog and have been enjoying it so much! My family and I used to live in France (1999-2003, outside of Clermont Ferrand) and your pictures and writing takes me back. It's all so beautiful--it feeds my soul!
Thank you!
Becky Ramsey
Posted by: Becky Ramsey | 01 August 2007 at 02:00
Dear Tara,
I'm so impressed that you are willing to shake it up!! It takes me SO LONG to get it right, I wont move it after. I admire you and will have to check out the woman who has been inspiring you. Thanks for your willingness to pray for Pam. She is a special person!
All for now Sugar Babes
Posted by: rochambeau | 01 August 2007 at 00:49
I don't know what the "before" looked like, but this looks rather nice to me. I am not good at arranging artwork at all, even though I've got a good eye for color and design in other ways. My sister on the other hand seems to have a natural gift for decorating!
What I was doing today when *I* should have been writing: planning my vacation itinerary and booking a Eurail pass to see more of Europe (finally!) It only took ALL DAY. But at least I wasn't wasting time on computer games or other garbage (for a change). At least you did something productive and creative!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 01 August 2007 at 00:14
It looks fabulous! I just cannot arrange things like that on my own. One friend is very gifted in interior design and art. She came over and I hammered the nails in the wall where she told me to and now my favorite things are on one main wall, at a pleasing eye level. Afterwards we celebrated with a glass of wine. We thought it best not to drink and then decorate or there would have been a Linda Barry poster next to a 19th century lithographed magician poster and a seashell frame.
Posted by: martina | 31 July 2007 at 23:15
I have been redesigning my studio room as well and have a wall of pictures going up. In progress pics in the next few days. Wonderful, the inspiration we get from others isn't it?
Posted by: AnnieElf | 31 July 2007 at 22:24
Grouping art can take months for me figure out. But when I do get it right, I really, really like it. I think you'll get it to where you like it, and then voila! no more moving. And with such lovely prints to work with, how can you lose?
Posted by: ally bean | 31 July 2007 at 22:14
I think it looks great too. Art in groupings like that always looks great. Sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees. Especially when you have been staring at those prints for over a week.
xo
Blue
Posted by: Blue | 31 July 2007 at 21:51
It looks great, Victoria's posts always inspire me.
Posted by: robyn | 31 July 2007 at 18:24