My wall started as a collection of black and white photographs. The very first two were from a photography studio in England and given to us as a wedding present from a dear college friend.
The photographs have grown to fill up the space over my sofa. Each photograph has a story or represents a place that I love. The grouping has pops of red here and there and in the center is not a photograph at all, but a chalk drawing of a Thai dancer done by my great-grandmother. The unifying factor is that all the frames are black. Together, they make up the “Great Wall of Beltsville.” I can almost hear the “Great Wall” shouting at me, each picture telling its’ story over the other, like children vying for attention.
I have balanced the “Great Wall of Beltsville” with a single large photograph across the room. It is a way to add calm and to quiet the room. The scale of it alone commands attention and the x-ray plant radiates some sort of photosynthesis–chic.
Grouping art together can evoke the feeling of a gallery. The center of the group should hang at eye-level. I love the way my collection stands out on the painted orange wall. If you want a more formal look, hang the pictures symmetrically, side by side, like in this grouping from a Starbucks.
Art is complicated, but in a good way. It is versatile and can change the look and mood of a room. It can enhance your style or help create contrast. A group of art with a similar thread tying the pieces together can be more cost-effective and have just as much impact as a large-scale piece.
© copyright 2012 Mariam d’Eustachio
