Help me to choose some art?

[ArtNeophyte]

This is my living room and it is crying out for some art above the sofa!

also considering doing the wall behind the sofa in dark blue - would appreciate opinions!

can anyone recommend something big that will break up that wall - but it’ll have to be a print, I don’t have the budget for original art yet.

Have also got intentions to change the light fitting, but I have swapped out the shade.

I like gentle abstract and Harry Potter 😂 I’ve added an AI image of potential art that I quite liked but no idea where to find.

Any help would be amazing!

Pllleaaaase 🥰

If you’re looking for prints a good place to start is Etsy or artify. I’d you can afford a Lino cut or woodblock print (instead of a digital print), it will be much warmer which is I think what you’re looking for - the piece you have suggested is very textural which is hard to get with a digital print.

As you have a large space, maybe consider buying three framed prints as a set. Remember to factor in framing costs - a decent frame with non reflective glass will cost a bit more (don’t skimp on this if you can avoid it!) but will really be worth it

Are there any art departments of universities near you with degree shows? My nearest city has them in may for the BA and august/sept for MFA.

Sorry, I didn’t mean artify - I meant art finder!

www.artfinder.com/

I really love your cushions. Hope that helps 😀

I would look around markets and local student exhibitions. Find smaller pieces you like and arrange them on the wall. I don’t think a big piece would work as well due to the low ceilings.

If you are near London the original print fair is on next weekend at Somerset House

Dunelm! I love my bright cushions. Much needed on the boring sofa in front of the boring wall

North west unfortunately but that sounds fab

Are they low? 😂 oh dear I didn’t realise
standard sized house and room height though

There are some good galleries and independent artists in the north west...I once bought a couple of medium-sized prints from small exhibition for just £100, and chatted to the artist. They make me very happy. (I do not know the region well...just visiting.) I picked up a small print today from a local shop for £17.

Sorry meant in relation to the width. I think big pieces behind a sofa work in older Edwardian houses with high ceilings, but for modern houses the aspect ratio is different. The area behind your sofa is much wider than taller, so a few pieces broken up across the wall will give the impression of height.

There is an art market in Liverpool on May 10: https://www.artinliverpool.com/events/115230/

Manchester, perhaps https://thewhitworthshop.com/collections/print
There are guides: https://eastsidestudiolondon.co.uk/blogs/inspiration/where-to-buy-art-manchester?srsltid=AfmBOop9-x5AKQ-n_G-YxbFhN4HuG_Ki9tmVpJJcPVTz0Kh6WL3Qvf6e

Etsy has some Harry Potter art with the sort of colours you are looking at. Also consider art that reflects meaningful places and other interests you or your family might have. ChatGpt can be good for suggestions if you upload a photo and explain what vibes you are open to, what colours you want and what you are interested in. If you don't like it's suggestions give it more info until you narrow it down.

There is lots of advice online about size of artwork and how high to hang it above your sofa.

I appreciate most of us can't afford original art or can't find what we like, but if you can run to it, I would really recommend it as it adds texture in a way that prints can't. Etsy is good for this.

Vinted also has some great secondhand pieces.

I just picked up a Jolomo and a Ron Lawson print, both framed, for £60 the pair.

Prints can mean two things. Repro of original artworks. Or handcrafted oldstyle printing (letter press art, block printing etc.). Linocuts and engravings are fun and so is tapestry and other textile art. The second kind of thing is affordable but also original.

This is really helpful thank you. Don’t suppose you could link any examples? I don’t have an aesthetic eye

I have some in my bedroom of places that mean a lot to us but it’s smaller and less visible than the living room - the living room feels like a lot of pressure!

Agree about the texture. I have this in my dining room and love the uniqueness

If you are into crafting you could buy more of the lovely bright cushion covers and staple gun stips of them to a blank canvas in varying widths / sizes. I often do things like this to tie in with curtains / cushions.

Have a rummage at a carboot sale or charity shop.