Can’t Afford Wall Art?

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Sometimes a bare wall can be very depressing, especially if one can’t dole out large sums for original artwork. Many ideas come to mind that would cure the depression besides a trip to the doctor and pharmacist.

One could try to feed a starving student artist by offering a reasonable compensation for his or her latest Magnus opus. Student artwork can be found at university and college art shows sponsored by the art department as part of the learning process. Not only could you contact the student about work you might like but you probably will see the students best work since it is going in a sanctioned show. There are lots of other alternatives to expensive gallery work. Nevertheless, this is not what this article is about.

I have a few ideas for a little DIY that you could make to add interest to baren walls. By modifying and expanding these ideas, you could create an incredible number of variations.

 

Ovoids.
Ovoids.

 

Unless one is going for a minimal treatment, something on the walls can have all sorts of significant effects to the design of an interior. Besides artwork, repeating patterns and architectural details have been around from the beginning of civilization.

 

Egyptian Style Interior.
Egyptian Style Interior.

 

Ancient Greek Interior.
Ancient Greek Interior.

 

Ancient Pompeii.
Ancient Pompeii.

 

Ancient Chinese Interior.
Ancient Chinese Interior.

 

Kumamoto Castle, Japan.
Kumamoto Castle, Japan.

 

So, to spice up a wall or break up the monotony, a wall treatment provides visual interest to an interior. Below are just a few ideas of artwork or wall treatments in a modern mode, some more sculptural than others but quite versatile in the way in which they can be displayed.

 

Circular Disk.
Circular Disk.

 

A large circular disk can be painted in innumerable ways. In the above illustration, the disk uses shades of yellow hues plus the black center to create a visual vibration. This piece is artwork much like the Minimalists of the mid-century. It can be made from Masonite, 3/8″ plywood, MDF, or any material that can be primed and painted. The size is adjusted to fit the space in which it is placed. These can also be clustered or patterned in groups.

 

Vibrating Circles Inline.
Vibrating Circles Inline.

 

Yellow Disks Inline.
Yellow Disks Inline.

 

Here we have simple yellow circles inline in a rather Zen-like artistic display. Of course, all sorts of variations are possible when simply hanging these on the wall in a pattern. Variations can also include color as well as size.

 

Circles with Blue Dot.
Circles with Blue Dot.

 

With Elevated Dot.
With Elevated Dot.

 

Circular Disks in a Vertical Alignment.
Circular Disks in a Vertical Alignment.

 

Naturally, a whole wall of regularly spaced disks is also possible.

 

Circles of Different Sizes and Colors.
Circles of Different Sizes and Colors.

 

You may have a wall arrangement similar to the one above that uses different sizes and colors. Be sure to take care when placing the disks so as to maintain a certain rhythm and balance. Draw the arrangement out first and be quite willing to change them at any time. These disks do not require being made of the same material or thickness. In fact, variations of thickness can enhance the visual interest of your work.

 

Ovals Instead of Circles.
Ovals Instead of Circles.

 

Above we have ovals instead of circles and one which overlaps another. The problem with ovals is in the drawing. They haven’t the same simplicity of circles. Here are some videos that might help.

 

 

 

Here are some more circle and ellipse ideas:

 

Ellipse within an Ellipse.
Ellipse within an Ellipse.

 

The hardest part of the thin ellipse within the larger ellipse is the material used. This may be metal which can be bent against a drawn template of the desired shape or a thin form cut from wood and layered one upon another to get to the final thickness or relief. Or you can draw an oval and paint the various forms onto the surface.

 

Circular Arrangement.
Circular Arrangement.

 

You can get really creative with this. I have seen a bicycle tire painted purple with a smaller tire painted orange inside. A very bold sculptural arrangement.

 

Circular Arrangement with Internal Disk.
Circular Arrangement with Internal Disk.

 

As you notice in the above illustration, I haven’t placed the central disk in the middle. This is an artistic license to promote visual interest.

 

Octagonal Wall Treatment.
Octagonal Wall Treatment.

 

Octagonal Measurement.
Octagonal Measurement.

 

These octagonal forms are produced by drawing a line, in this case, 6″, parallel to each edge of a 2′ square, then cut off the corners at these 6″ lines. The lines at 6″ also mark where one cuts to form the central square.

 

Octagonal Forms Clustered Together.
Octagonal Forms Clustered Together.

 

As with the circular disks, the octagonal forms may be clustered in various ways to cover an entire wall. The colors can also vary and even sport the same finish of the wall where they are seen as a textural effect.

 

White and Yellow Octagons.
White and Yellow Octagons.

 

Different basic shapes can be combined to change the look. (Colors, too!)

 

The Same Octagonal Forms with the Addition of Disks.
The Same Octagonal Forms with the Addition of Disks.

 

Octagon at a Larger Size.
Octagon at a Larger Size.

 

Changing the size of a basic form produces different effects.

 

2′ Square with Four Disks.
2′ Square with Four Disks.

 

Squares such as those above may be used to feature other artwork or stand alone as decoration.

 

2′ Square with Four Disks.
2′ Square with Four Disks.

 

Squares on Smaller Squares.
Squares on Smaller Squares.

 

The above 2′ squares are placed where the larger square’s corner sits at the center of 10″ squares. Many types of material will work with this arrangement, even with ceramic tiles glued together with construction adhesive or suitable glue.

 

Squares in Blue.
Squares in Blue.

 

Squares with the Addition of 3/8″ Molding.
Squares with the Addition of 3/8″ Molding.

 

The addition of some molding detail produces a whole new look.

 

Squares in Green with the Addition of 3/8″ Molding.
Squares in Green with the Addition of 3/8″ Molding.

 

Maybe you have some scrap wood laying around. A less structured look is also possible.

 

Rectangles.
Rectangles.

 

Here we have a careful arrangement of pieces of varying sizes and colors.

 

Rectangles with Disks.
Rectangles with Disks.
(My Favorite.)

 

The addition of circular forms to the vertical rectangles adds visual interest.

 

Rectangles with Disks of Other Neutrals.
Rectangles with Disks of Other Neutrals.

 

The vertical forms may also provide a backdrop for a more practical application such as shelves.

 

Rectangles with Shelves.
Rectangles with Shelves.

 

These shelves simply attach to the appropriate vertical rectangles with construction screws.

 

Rectangles with Shelves in White.
Rectangles with Shelves in White.

 

The reason for the black, white, and neutrals on the shelves and disks is to prevent a clash with the playful rhythm of colors on the rectangles.

 

A Mid-Century Form.
A Mid-Century Form.

 

The above form reminds me of many of the modernist graphic forms from the mid-century. They are made by inverting the rounding of one corner of a 2′ square where the corners have been rounded. That simple detail changes the look of a square with rounded corners significantly. In fact, when these forms are grouped together, you get all sorts of interesting combinations.

 

Grouped Together.
Grouped Together.

 

Grouping the forms together where the inverted curves embrace, you form a circle. We can further emphasize the circle by adding cutouts.

 

Grouped Together with Circular Cutouts.
Grouped Together with Circular Cutouts.

 

Grouped Together with Circular and Rectangular Cutouts.
Grouped Together with Circular and Rectangular Cutouts.

 

Adding a rectangular cutout provides contrast and interest.

 

Larger Form with Applied Stripe.
Larger Form with Applied Stripe.

 

The above form has been enlarged from a 2′ square to a 4′ square with the addition of a large rectangular cutout and an applied strip of material that dilutes the effect of the large cutout.

 

A Triangle.
A Triangle.

 

A triangular shape has been important in art, architecture, and design throughout history. Pyramids exist all over the world in different cultures. The Renaissance used the form as a basis for many works of art. Triangles can have a dramatic effect.

 

1939 New York World’s Fair Perisphere and Trylon.
1939 New York World’s Fair Perisphere and Trylon.

 

Just mounting a large triangle without embellishment makes for a dramatic piece of artwork.

 

Triangles Inline.
Triangles Inline.

 

Back to Back as an Isosceles Triangle.
Back to Back as an Isosceles Triangle.

 

With two triangles back to back an isosceles triangle is formed which reminds one of the modern minimalist artists of the previous century.

 

Triangles Separated by a Space.
Triangles Separated by a Space.

 

Two Triangles and a Disk.
Two Triangles and a Disk.

 

We are reminded of Agnes Martin by the two triangles and disk above.

 

Untitled #!, Oil on Canvas, Agnes Martin, 2003.
Untitled #!, Oil on Canvas, Agnes Martin, 2003.

 

Triangles with Large Circle.
Triangles with Large Circle.

 

Many variations come from changes in color and strong differences.

 

Two Triangles Positioned to Form a Square.
Two Triangles Positioned to Form a Square.

 

When combining two triangles to form a square with space between them, one of the points of the hypotenuse should touch what is the corner of the imagined square, while the other triangle should touch the other corner. This gives a complete square.

 

Forming Another Square with Different Colors.
Forming Another Square with Different Colors.

 

Using colors of contrasting or complementary hues of the same or similar strength will provide a good artistic basis for your wall art and treatments.

 

Rectangles with Cutouts.
Rectangles with Cutouts.

 

Adding cutouts will change the whole look. The mid-century modern designer Jean Prouve featured circular cutouts in his architectural works.

 

Jean Prouve.
Jean Prouve.

 

Triangles with Circular Cutouts and Black Disk.
Triangles with Circular Cutouts and Black Disk.

 

Triangles with Circular Cutouts and Pale Disk.
Triangles with Circular Cutouts and Pale Disk.

 

The supply of design ideas for wall art and treatments using basic shapes is inexhaustible. This article could include hundreds more but this brief look was meant to stir creative juices.

Also, I will not include a materials or tools list due to the nature of the objects presented. Most of the wall art can be made from standard 3/8″, 1/4″, or 1/2″ plywood or other sheet material in squares of 2′ x 2′ or 4′ x 4′. Even 1/8″ Masonite is perfectly acceptable. In fact,  materials of different thicknesses will add interesting textures and shadows.

 

HBosler

Self-Portrait in Grey Watercolor.
Self-Portrait in Grey Watercolor.