Vintage Litho Print Upcycle and Adding Art to Bookshelves

The art sections of the thrift stores have been my favorite and first area to visit lately. I love finding vintage, amateur, unique art that speaks to me such as this recent vintage, $2 print from a local thrift store.

It was a little wrinkly and had one small tear in it, but I loved the subject, a woman at the ocean and the soft colors and the price, so I bought it. I did a little research on the artist. Christine Rosamond (1947-1994) was a self-taught, feminist artist who began painting in the early 1970's. She showed her first two paintings in 1972 and soon became the most published artist in the world. 

I used a knife to cut the tape holding the print to the matte.

I was able to see more about this vintage print when I removed it.

I definitely wanted a better frame for this piece and wanted to add texture to it. A 99 cent thrifted frame and a piece of foam core board from another thrift store frame, both from my stash, were just what I needed to elevate this tattered print.

I used spray adhesive to attach the litho to the foam coard boar. Then using matte Mod Podge,

applied with a rough bristled brush,

I added texture and a finish to the print.

I fit it into the frame and hung it on my library bookshelves (which you need to keep reading to see why I hung it here).

It did end up with some wrinkles in it from the mod podge, but I don't mind them. Our lofted library...I have a love/hate relationship with this space. Here is a view of it from my kitchen:

Things I love about it: BOOKS, especially the hardback, older ones, the puzzle able, the view out the windows, the original windows, the shelves for display, great place for plants. 

Things I do not like: the blue/grey flat carpet, the railing, the short and shallow bookshelves built specifically for a certain sized paperback books, all of the paperback books, the windows are sealed shut. The previous owners were avid readers and left all of the paperbacks. We are readers, not necessarily the same genre. I also prefer hardback books--the look nicer. I am slowly getting rid of the paperbacks we will not read and adding vintage hardbacked books and books we have read.

The problem is these books are often taller and wider than what the shelves were made for so they have to be stacked and they hang over the edge. I will take a saw (because they are built oddly and will need to be sawed away) to some of the shelves some day. They are busy with my little collections, and I don't love that. Hanging art over the books helps to hide some of the paperbacks.

I could turn all of the paperback books around as some people do. But, I am not a huge fan of that look because it says, "Hey, we don't really read books at all so we don't need to see the spine to see the title." I plan to add more portrait art to the shelves.

I do love the warmth and organic feel that this frame gives to the library shelves. 

I like how a larger piece of art breaks up all of the small things on the shelves.

And while this lofted library space is definitely a work in progress, I am okay making and adding small changes over time.

 Do you have a space in your home that you aren't happy with? Do what you can gradually. Oh, and remember thrift store art is a great way to curate art for your home.