When I was younger I used to go to the Rose Bowl with my dad and he would collect these absolutely horrible paintings of cowboys and horses from the 40s. He loved them because they were kitschy and western (and he's French and the French people I know are obsessed with the idea of the west). I didn't really get it until my twenties when I realized how something really weird and full of character can bring life into a home.
Lately I loved seeing the collection of portraits in yesterday's sneak peek of Rue Magazine (image 4) and have long admired Morgans incredible eye for spotting the best portraits in thrift stores and placing them just so in her home (image 3). And although I've never attempted portraits in my own home, I've been seeing so many affordable options around town and on eBay that I'm very tempted to try it in my next decorating spree (since I'm also facing a move after a breakup). I also have a soft spot for really bad paintings of bouquets of flowers, but maybe that's just me.
Do you collect vintage paintings or portraits?
Images: NK Interiors, James Merrell from the post Strangers Portraits In The Home, Morgan Satterfield, Tiny Water Photography, Dana's Sunny Logan Square House Tour
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I'm a big fan of the portraits idea but haven't acquired any yet because they creep my husband out. Bad paintings of flowers aren't my thing so much because they seem to have been featured in every "quirky/eclectic/vintage/bohemian etc" decorating book out there. I'd only ever consider buying a painting if I genuinely thought it was nice.
I have Giovanni Bragolin's mass produced crying boy print and I love him. My husband's not so sure. :) I walked into an Op shop & was having a chat with the assistant about a different vintage print and said, 'It's nice but the one I'd really like is ... (The Crying Boy) and described it'. She just looked at me odd and said, 'well, I think someone just brought one in...' and sure enough. So I HAD to have it! I'd love to put more in the house but I have so many different styles that I love that I have to be careful not to go overboard. :)
this-right here- is my- swag (soulja boy) lol I love it, it looks fresh and soapy. Very modern and clean
What makes a portrait "vintage"? and does it have to be "bad" to be good?
I love vintage portaits, but, like Lotti's husband, I don't know if I could hang them in my house. I'm not sure why. I guess it's that the bad portraits somehow bring you into that uncanny valley that makes us all so uncomfortable. On the other hand, I love naive art of landscapes and still life. They have such great character!
I have been working on a portrait wall for the past 6 months or so. It all started with a set of paintings my grandma picked up at a thrift shop for $1 each and gave me because I loved them.
I'd seen portrait collections done in some houses online and I loved the idea, so I decided to do it myself! I decided that I only wanted painted or drawn portraits, no photos & I want them all to be originals. I've bought a few in thrift shops and a couple on ebay and haven't spent more than $25 on any of them. Most of mine probably aren't the best paintings ever, but I don't think they're bad (and I think one of them is just amazingly beautiful). I think they bring some great character to my house (although a few friends have told me they think they're a bit creepy) and I've just had a lot of fun finding them!
I also have a collection of vintage portraits, they range from quite well-rendered and lovely to kitschy and pop-y. But my husband has brought a few portraits home that are super-creepy ones (especially one gigantic portrait of an indian chief with a wandering eye).
The creepy ones have been relegated to "his" room, our spare room. The chief scares me every time I see him though. *shudddder*