Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1458429
ANSWERS TO YOUR ART-BUYING QUESTIONS What is the most common mistake people make when art shopping? Buying art that's too small! Larger art is a larger investment, but the visual statement it makes is worth every penny. What tips do you have for hanging art? The vertical center of a piece of art (or the center of a group of artworks) should be around eye level, which for most adults is between 57 to 60 inches off the floor. If you have ceilings taller than 8-feet high, you may want to move the center of your art to about 60 inches, which will feel more proportionate to the scale of your home. I want a gallery wall. Where do I start? I'm a fan of eclectic, collected gallery walls that don't look too perfect. I like to gather a mixture of framed photographs, paintings, prints and even 3D items (think woven wall hangings, a metal horseshoe or even a vintage hat) and lay them out on the floor to start playing with the arrangement. Start with the most visually heavy piece (it could be the largest, or the one with the thickest frame) in the middle and work outward from there. Before you start hanging, take a photo of your arrangement on the floor for reference! What are some of your Etsy favorites? Mae Chevrette is a mixed- media artist I've loved for years. @maechevrette Mei Sheng has lovely large- scale textured canvases in gorgeous colors. @MeiShengArt I love Heartfish Press' bold and simple letterpress prints. @HeartfishPress never going to tell the kind of story or have the meaning that an original piece does. I can assure you, of all the art I have hanging in my home, people never ask about the art I got from HomeGoods. If collecting original art is still financially out of reach for you, there are ways to include unique art pieces for your home if you're willing to think outside the box — or frame, as it were. I have two framed original paintings in my entryway that only cost a few dollars. They were created with craft paint on paper by my kids at ages 1 and 4, and they're always a conversation starter when guests arrive. I've framed illustrated children's book pages, record album covers and wallpaper samples. I have oil paintings by my late grandmother, fedora hats and guitars hanging on my walls and propped up on bookshelves. I've framed vintage family photos rescued from dusty basements and mounted colorful wooden serving boards on the wall. Tapestries, quilts and even worn-out vintage band T-shirts can all become art if you decide to include them on the walls of your home. When it comes to original art, anything goes. The important thing is that what you hang on your walls sparks something in you. That it makes you feel something real; maybe it's a warm memory, a sparkling sense of curiosity or a convicting tug on your heart. For me, art is intuitive more than rational, which is why curating art for my clients is so difficult. I can't always explain why I love a piece of art; it's not about the logical elements and principles of design. Art is about connection, about feelings, about memories. If you've been hesitant to collect original art, just start. Piece by piece, your walls will tell your own rich, unique and colorful story. Lesley Myrick is an adventurous, organized and enthusiastic interior designer in Macon who helps high- achieving moms bust out of boring homes. Contact her at lesleymyrick.com. Excellence in Education, Since 1903 St. Peter Claver Catholic School 133 Ward Street, Macon 478.743.3985 spccatholicschool.org maconmagazine.com 89