ART! Is there anything better to talk about? Not much, if you ask me. I think art is often overlooked in homes as a way to add colour, warmth, style and a point of view. Maybe that’s why it is overlooked, it can be intimidating to choose something that has such impact. But if done with some intention, I think art can have such an impact, especially in a small space.

Below I am going to share key art peices in our home. These pieces were collected over many years… sometimes saved up for, sometimes impulsively purchased. Sometimes agonized or lusted after, and sometimes not.

I think if there was a theme with the art in our home it is that I am first drawn to the artist in general and then I narrow down to choose one of their pieces. I just instantly feel a connection to their work and then I look for the piece to fit our home.

Something I have always loved about living small is that we don’t have many walls to fill. So we don’t need to much art to make our home feel complete. We have invested in a few key pieces and with so few walls they have had a big impact in our small space.

It’s hard for me to find the words to speak of Rubeena’s work. I feel very privileged to have her art in my home. Her art makes me emotional. I don’t know how else to explain it. I am so drawn to her art, I pretty much coerced her into being my friend. I felt like I knew her, from her art. I think she is an artist of a generation and will be in museums one day, mark my words. Hope that captures how I feel about her work, it knocks me out, every time.

I bought this carving after I discovered the work of Vancouver Island-based Kwakwaka’wakw artist Jazmine McCrimmon-Cook. It is a sandblasted cedar panel. This one is a thunderbird, and I love everyone she makes. Her colour choices are impeccable. I have since bought them as gifts for my mom and mother-in-law. Check on her instagram for commissions and sometimes flash sales. I hope to add more indigenous art to our home to honour and celebrate Trevor and the kid’s heritage. I also hope one day the kids can learn the traditional art forms of their Nation.

Tannis Marshall original painting
Saving outfits over HERE sometimes if you are interested in that sort of thing.

I was drawn to Tannis Marshall’s peaceful abstract art and now I am thrilled to have a small painting of her’s in my home. The tones, the movement, it calms me when I look at it. So much of her work appeals to me, from the saturated maroon works that fill the whole canvas to the works with lots of white space and smaller swirling abstracts in the middle.

Joy Kinna original painting above
Alyssa Lewis textile art below

Joy Kinna is a talented abstract painter based on Vancouver Island. I’ve been drawn to her peaceful aesthetic. I always think of the beach when I see her work, in the best way possible as a gal who loves to be near the ocean at all times. I feel lucky to have this tiny painting of hers as she now exhibits all over the world! Her pocket art endeavour is a great way to access her incredible art.

Scale

While I generally like large scale art for small spaces to ground the space and hold your attention, rules are also meant to be broken.
Smaller scale pieces can be stacked or grouped together
Smaller scale pieces can also be placed on smaller walls or tiny nooks
I’ve also seen examples of large blank walls and a small piece of art in the middle or off center. Love this! Don’t be afraid to play around with the art you have and love.
Leave some blank walls or negative space so your eyes can focus on the art that already exists

Jennilee Marigomen photography print
Mae Mazurek original painting

Jennilee is an amazing photographer based in Vancouver. Her dreamy ethereal photos and the way she captures light really move me. I purchased a print or two from her Poster Club collection but she also prints other works to buy directly from her. If there is an artist you love you may be surprised to find you can purchase their work directly from them.

Ways to Incorporate more art into your small space

Follow artists you love and wait for their art drops
If original works are out of budget consider prints of that artist
Buy licensed prints of the artist from shops like Poster Club, Wall of Art, The Jaunt
Go to local art shows and student art shows at your local college/university (in Vancouver the Culture Crawl or Emily Carr student shows are a great place to start)
Frame or hang kid’s art that is meaningful to you
Frame magazine or book pages
Frame family photos
Start with cheap frames and you can always upgrade at a later date (IKEA, Poster Club, or Thrift Store Frames)
I also believe that beautiful lights counts as art!

Ok that’s enough about art for today! Next time some other artists I have my eye on and rotating art in your space.

Choosing Art for a Small Space