Need. More. Art.

In two weeks, I will be embarking on a super-intensive spring-cleaning mission, which entails reorganizing and redesigning every single room in our apartment (including the basement). Naturally, I’ll do it all on a budget, and I’ll chronicle the entire “makeover” right here on this newly redesigned blog. But before I begin this massive project, I’ve been gathering ideas on what I’ll need… and I’m thinking it’s more wall art!

The project will begin with the second bedroom, which houses our well-loved iMac, a couch, and usually our ironing board and drying rack full of wet clothes. When we moved in, we hung some of our least-liked wall art in this room just so the walls weren’t totally empty. But now I’m thinking it’s time to take down those framed college diplomas (they’re nice, but not very stylish) and put up some artwork that reflects what we want the room to be—a fun place to come and relax, listen to music, peruse Google Reader and just cheeeel.

Right now, we’ve got this print from The Poster List above our couch:


I’d like to find another print to accompany this one, as it looks a little lonely. So far, I’ve come across a few contenders, both of which are gig posters (my go-to wall art):

From Insound

From The Small Stakes

The bird and phonograph-style flower in the Andrew Bird print above remind me of the print I already have. It would be kind of funny to echo that element. Hmmm... so many options!

What would you choose? Are you into posters or more traditional wall art?

Similar posts:
Affordable art: the work of Matte Stephens
Grown-up band posters
Deck the walls with framed LPs
The search for affordable art

New art every day

If you dig the grown-up gig posters look, chances are you might be feeling the new book from Gig Posters entitled "Gig Posters Volume I: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century." The book includes 101 (!) perforated, ready-to-frame 11" x 14" posters, so you can change up your wall art on a whim. A cluster of three or four prints, or even just one or two on a narrow part of the wall would look stunning. Several of my favorite poster designers contributed to the book, including Strawberryluna and The Small Stakes.

The book is just $40 at Gig Posters and will be available in April 2009. What a deal!

Affordable art: the work of Matte Stephens

This print by Matte Stephens has been on my mind for a while. I'm not typically into animal art prints, but I am strangely drawn to his work, which often features birds, foxes and bear monsters.

Perhaps I am drawn to his color choices? I think everything my husband and I own is brown, green or blue -- including clothes! I am also a big fan of this particular style. In any case, this print is going on my 2009 wish list. See more of Stephens' work here.

Grown-up band posters

Until this year, the last time I owned a framed band poster was probably in 1988. When I saw that New Kids on the Block poster encased in a black plastic frame, I knew it had to be mine. Later, I discarded the NKOTB boys and the frame in favor of No Doubt, Silverchair and thumbtacks. In college, my hubs and I decked out our respective one-room dwellings with posters of such bands as Rainer Maria, The Shins and Ben Harper.

While our musical tastes have thankfully changed, our affinity for band posters has not. But these days, we forego the glossy mass-produced posters in favor of silkscreened gig prints. Not only are they much cooler looking, but allow you to showcase your impeccable taste in music without looking like you actually framed a poster.

Etsy seller Strawberryluna has some great silkscreened gig posters for indie rock’s finest bands. We purchased a Spoon poster (which is no longer available) that draws our living room together quite well. I’m also coveting her Death Cab for Cutie print.

Other sites that offer ultra-hip, silkscreened posters for the grown-up indie fan include:
The Small Stakes
Hammerpress
GigPosters.com

Deck the walls with framed LPs

A stylish and cheap way to personalize your space and fill your blank walls is to frame your favorite records. Whether you want to display the cover art from your favorite indie rock album or show off your “ironic” collection of Journey records, you can do so on the cheap.

LPs are still available in local and national record stores, believe it or not. In fact, vinyl versions of your favorite current albums are usually available for under $15 each. Several stores now even carry inexpensive record frames.

For the blank wall in our dining area, we chose to deck the walls with some indie rock greats. Our selection of Neutral Milk Hotel, The Postal Service and Bright Eyes records not only conveys our music tastes, but also adds a nice visual element to our home. Now we can feel like Rob Gordon on a daily basis, minus the “what does it all mean” freak-outs and Cosby sweatahs.

If you’re not into indie rock, go for glam and make your place feel like a recording studio. Line the walls with LPs by your favorite R&B divas or rappers.

Or, peruse the local flea markets or secondhand stores and load up on vintage records from bygone decades. If you’ve got a wicked sense of humor, display a collection of records featuring Barry Gibb’s signature mullet-and-beard combo. (I think I just gave myself an idea for our second bedroom.)

The search for affordable art

One of the best ways to customize your space is through wall art. However, it can be quite difficult to find inexpensive prints that aren’t hanging on the walls of dorm rooms across the country.

Thankfully, with the surging popularity of online sites such as Etsy, you don’t have to settle for the same old Salvador Dali or Ansel Adams print all your friends had in college. A variety of unique and attractive pieces created by independent artists are available online for surprisingly affordable prices. Plus, you’ll likely feel even better about purchasing from a “real” artist rather than a big box store, as the sellers are usually very gracious and ship your order right away.

I recently purchased this print from Etsy seller Swallowfield for just $26. As I was looking for a slightly larger size, she set up a custom order for a 12” x 16” print. It came in the mail three days later. I matted it nicely in a 16” x 20” frame that I scored for $22 at Michael’s. All told, I spent about $50 on a great focal point for our living room!