Wednesday, April 20, 2022

How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store

There are folks who secretly shop at thrift stores and garage sales because they are embarrassed to be buying second-hand bargains...I am not one of them. As a matter of fact, I am proud of my thrift store and garage sale finds. I love sharing how little I paid for something. 

This curated wall of vintage art that surrounds the black box (more of a black rectangle these days rather than a box) brings me joy. 
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
The most expensive thing in this picture and the ONLY item (well, besides the sound bar under the TV) purchased at retail price was the plant on the right, $7.99 at Home Depot. Keep reading for tips on how to curate art from thrift stores and garage sales.
The TV was given to my son and then us, the sideboard was in our garage, the chairs were a freebie, the candlesticks, the wall lights, the spider plant, EVERYTHING is either from a garage sale or thrift store.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
Most of the items on the wall I have gathered over the past month. A few items were purchased at thrift stores last year. 

I do not believe in hiding my TV. We watch it more than we should and I am not a "pretender" or hider. I don't think refrigerators should be hidden and hard to find in the kitchen, I don't cover appliances I use frequently, and I don't need to disguise my television as random barn doors hanging on the wall. If you do hide your stuff and it makes you happy, perfect! I believe homes are for living in and watching TV is part of our lifestyle. (Schitt's Creek is a recent binge!) I knew when we rearranged our family room and moved our television to this wall, that I wanted to decorate around it. If you remember earlier in the year I had a branch wall hanging in this space.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store

So, when I knew I want amateur, eclectic, vintage art displayed on this wall, I set out to find it. Here are the parameters I set that helped me to find interesting and unique art pieces:

I wanted original art pieces, not prints. This watercolor and ink piece of a cabin and pond and the oil painting above it are perfect example. Both pieces are signed. 
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
The watercolor was not framed, but I found a frame for it at a different thrift store. The watercolor has a different scene painted on the back.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
I had a color scheme or plan in mind. I looked for art that had greens, blues, and oranges in it. This pastel of tiger lilies (?) has lovely, vibrant colors. It had a silver frame that I warmed up by adding antique gold Rub-n-Buff to.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
I looked for vintage pieces. Dates on paintings and artwork helps. The pastel portrait, whom I call Carol, had a 1967 date. She was drawn on a flimsy piece of brown paper glued to piece of cardstock--I framed her. I purchased the modern aqua painting above Carol at a garage sale. It is titled and signed, but not dated. The seller said it was from a Colorado artist and she purchased it in the sixties. While I haven't been able to verify that, the paper definitely seemed quite old. And, because I am not an art collector for investment purposes, I am okay without that verification.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
The vintage, green, crewel pieces are also from a garage sale. I m looking for new frames for them since these white ones are just plastic, but they work okay for now. And that is my next tip, you can always find a new frame for a piece. 
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
The round wood art piece sitting behind the TV was designed and created by my son. The little mirror in the middle might move over when I find a piece to put next to it. The watercolor in the middle was framed in the sixties in Illinois. The pastel above the chair was framed at the same shop.
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
My final tip is to buy what you love, don't worry if it is professional or even "good"--beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Amateur art has its own lovely quality. I often put a piece of art in my cart and walk around the thrift store with it for awhile. If I am not sure, but the price is right, I go ahead and buy it. I can always resell it if I decide it is not for me. I don't recommend the philosophy, "If it is still here next time I come, then it is meant to be." People are thrifting and discovering the amazing finds out there. Patience can pay, but so does jumping on that deal. 
How to Curate an Art Wall from the Thrift Store
Know what you are looking for, but be open and most importantly, enjoy the hunt and be proud of the items you rescue.

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