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A huge ugly piece of artwork

63 replies

artquejtion · 20/10/2021 09:57

Could I whitewash or do something with a very ugly piece of artwork? or does anyone have any ideas how to make it more palatable ?

I bought it a few years ago abroad, I didn't open it for several months as it was in storage with other stuff. When I finally opened it, it definitely was not the one I purchased, At that point I felt it was too late to do anything about it, so just stuffed it in a storage room.

Now I realise, it is a perfect size for a wall I need to put something on, but I think I will gag every time I pass it. It is an abstract painting in red and pink colours, and I prefer more earth tones, so not my taste at all.

It will also be expensive to frame, so I was thinking of whitewashing over the really vibrant colours, or any other creative ideas. Don't think anyone would be interested in buying it, plus it was not an inexpensive purchase !

OP posts:
Somuddled · 20/10/2021 10:00

We need to see it

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artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:01

I know, if I post a photo, can I delete it myself later or will I have to get MN to delete it ?

OP posts:
PissyMum · 20/10/2021 10:03

My mum had something similar- she’d inherited a God awful painting that was in a really lovely frame but impossible to remove it from said frame. She painted over it with something similar to the one I’ve (hopefully) attached. She’s not an artist by any means but it actually looks really good.

A huge ugly piece of artwork
SoItWas · 20/10/2021 10:03

You'd have to ask mumsnet to delete it.

artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yogawankonobi · 20/10/2021 10:08

I like it!

Kiduknot · 20/10/2021 10:10

I actually quite like that 😳

Haus1234 · 20/10/2021 10:13

I’m on your side OP I don’t like it. Might be best to try and sell it though and put the money towards something you do like?

Malin52 · 20/10/2021 10:14

Looks like Little Shop of Horrors with cucumber and Siracha.

arootintootingoodtime · 20/10/2021 10:14

Definitely sell it and buy something you do like for that wall.

ethelredonagoodday · 20/10/2021 10:15

@Malin52

Looks like Little Shop of Horrors with cucumber and Siracha.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 Spot on!
artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:16

@Malin52

Looks like Little Shop of Horrors with cucumber and Siracha.
Haha, love it. You have totally nailed it.
OP posts:
ThirdElephant · 20/10/2021 10:22

IDK, OP. Personally, I really don't like it, but am not sure you could improve it much either. Something about a silk purse and a pig's ear. You should probably sell it.

If I really wanted to muck about with it, I might see if I could PVA over the awful bold red lines and glitter them silver.

SoupDragon · 20/10/2021 10:22

If you don't like the picture, a frame isn't going to fix it unless it covers the whole of the front!

Chrysanthemum5 · 20/10/2021 10:33

I think it looks like a llama ascending to heaven (the white cloud in the middle looks vaguely llama like to me). Does that make it better?

Clandestin · 20/10/2021 10:36

Hang on, do you mean that the shop or gallery you bought it from sent you the wrong one, or only that you liked it when you bought it, but have changed your mind and no longer like it?

If the former, isn't it worth contacting the gallery, even if it was a while ago?

If the latter, I don't see what 'whitewashing' will do to improve it. Sell it, donate it, or give it away and buy yourself a print or painting you do like?

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artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:37

A llama ?? now I am seeing a yorkshire terrier in that white bit ! Grin

If I do decide to sell it, I will certainly have to have this thread deleted Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
artquejtion · 20/10/2021 10:40

@Clandestin

Hang on, do you mean that the shop or gallery you bought it from sent you the wrong one, or only that you liked it when you bought it, but have changed your mind and no longer like it?

If the former, isn't it worth contacting the gallery, even if it was a while ago?

If the latter, I don't see what 'whitewashing' will do to improve it. Sell it, donate it, or give it away and buy yourself a print or painting you do like?

It was someone, a neighbour at the time, selling on behalf of several artists, not a gallery or a shop. I bought one and only after it was shipped and pulled out of storage did I realise it was not what I had purchased. I never took a photo of the one I purchased, I am sure it was a genuine error on her part.
OP posts:
BeetleyCarapace · 20/10/2021 10:40

It has something of the Frances Bacon about it.

There's clearly skill and passion gone into the creation of it, whatever your personal feelings about the end result.

I like challenging art and I do think the right frame would improve it massively but I'm of the view that if you dislike it you dislike it.

I'd cut your losses and try to sell it -- the marvellous thing about art is that everything is someone's taste.

overthethamesfromyou · 20/10/2021 10:43

Looks like how my stomach feels after a big night out! Maybe donate it to a hospital

Clandestin · 20/10/2021 10:44

@overthethamesfromyou

Looks like how my stomach feels after a big night out! Maybe donate it to a hospital
Grin

OP, if it was an error, can you rectify it with the ex-neighbour, or contact the artist whose work you liked?

FinallyHere · 20/10/2021 11:04

I'd be tempted to paint an abstract over it in the colours that I do like. It is an interesting piece but colour is very important to me. If it's not my palette I couldn't live with it.

In the short term, I might buy a beautiful piece of fabric (in my palette) and stretch that over the canvass to display in the space you have.

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artquejtion · 20/10/2021 11:10

Interesting, I think it may have been a Russian or Eastern European artist, I don't remember at all, and I can't figure out the signature which is on the back of the canvas, maybe I could donate it for it to be sold and proceeds go to a childrens charity in Eastern Europe.

@FinallyHere, I like the idea of the fabric in the short term, thank you !

OP posts:
MintyCedric · 20/10/2021 11:11

I'm assuming it's not a print but and actual painting? Is it as textured as it looks?

In theory you could sand it down, cover the whole lot with white gesso and paint something else in acrylic...it's a lot of work though.

The other option as you say you like autumnal colours is to leave the green and apply a thin coat of a translucent yellow acrylic to make the oinks and reds more orange hued.