I just bought this print (via More Ways to Waste Time) from atwhim:
When my grandmother came over to see the house for the first time, she noticed a little something… I have a lot of prints of ladies. Not only that, but they’re ladies that are dressed like me, or have the same hair color, or stand in a similar fashion, and so on. “Is this you?”, my grandmother would ask over and over again.
I don’t think that I’m narcissistic, but I am drawn to art that I can ‘see’ myself in. I also like organic shapes, graphic patterns, and bold, modern florals.
What about you (all of you)? If you look at the prints and drawings and paintings you have around your home, do you notice a recurring theme?
JanelleGee
October 24, 2007 at 10:24 amI don’t usually like pictures of people, but this one drew me in.
I hang all of my art.. But when it comes to other art, as cheesy and cliche as it sounds, I really love nature and I love colors. So I love flowers, no matter how girly that is.
jane
October 24, 2007 at 11:14 amI liked that print best, too, of the ones shown. So interesting that you purchased it!
I tend to buy colorful modern art prints (i.e. Milton Avery); graphic & colorful (rather than country) prints of barns—bcse I grew up in Southern Wisconsin, and they say “home”; and, now that I live in NW Indiana, I love the old South Shore posters.
Color probably has as much influence on me as form. :)
Maggie Sumner
October 24, 2007 at 11:43 amThe new picture is really nice. It feels very homey for some reason.
In terms of my decorating choices in the past, I purchased very romanticized paintings/prints of women–very Pre-raphaelite. I think it’s because I was longing to see myself in a calmer, more beautiful, less chaotic environment.
Now that I share my home, my tastes have definitely changed. I have two Kit-Kat clocks, a vintage refrigerator poster and a weird 3-D metal portrait of a pig character I found in a Norwegian thrift store hanging in my kitchen. My husband is really into vintage cartoons/ films and I think my decorating sense has definitely become more quirky, colorful and fun having him around. Also, I like to decorate with things that remind me of our experiences together.
Valerie
October 24, 2007 at 1:54 pmYou know, being an artist myself, I’m always amaze on how people respond to my illustrations! I think that when your clients recognize themselves(are touched, moved, make them feel) in your art then you have achieved something more than work. That is the true art, in my opinion. Your tastes are a representation of yourself, and to put it in your home on your walls is personalizing your space.
Your new print is lovely :)
Julieta
October 24, 2007 at 3:44 pmHmmm. My tastes have changed over the years. In the past, I think I was a lot like you and was drawn to work that I saw myself in. Now, I find I’m drawn to illustrations of boys, obviously because I have two very young boys. I have a few that I like on my Wist.
I’m very picky, though. I like a lot of things, but rarely love anything enough to purchase.
I saw this artist via MWTWT yesterday, too. Didn’t you think the skinned knee print seemed so different from all her other work? It surprised me, really!
Leah
October 24, 2007 at 6:40 pmHey Nicole,
I think that one was my favorite, too, for reasons that I can’t quite articulate …
Anyway, thanks for the shout-out!
Leah
Anonymous
October 24, 2007 at 7:43 pmI actually really love that print, and would have bought it myself, though maybe not for the same reasons. I love things that look illustrated — pen & ink, vintage, etc. Your choices are really quite excellent, and I live this blog.
Melissa
October 25, 2007 at 5:37 amHow funny that you mentioned this! I recently got a new office at work and bought some prints from A Black Apple to decorate. Everyone that has come in has commented about how they all look like me. “Is that you?” they ask. Then I have to swear that I’m not a narcissist. I think the thing is, I like that look. Pale girl with black hair and glasses. (C’mon, we’re super cool, right?) I don’t buy art that looks like me, I style myself after that look. It’s a chicken or egg kinda thing. :-)
Jane Flanagan
October 25, 2007 at 10:13 amI love this idea. I bought a print that I resonated with me from Black Apple on Etsy. Only I forgot I went blonde (from dark brunette) this year! I also bought one that looks very much like a friend for Christmas.
I think we are all drawn to art that resonates with us. I have certain “spirit animals” that I love artwork of, or images of landscape that I’m familiar with and miss.
I think artwork is very much an extension of personal identity, and whether that’s emotional or physical, I don’t think it’s narcissistic!
Skyzi
October 25, 2007 at 12:37 pmThis is the first time that I have looked at how I am reflected in the art that I own.
Historically all the larger are is very romantic. A Mucha print of a full size woman, A 19th century woman being blown in the wind, an abstract which is in the style of a Monet, landscapes that are not clearly defined. Apparently I either want to be the art (the women) or be in it (the lanscapes).
Mary
October 25, 2007 at 7:24 pmMost of the art in our house (75% I think!) is black-&-white. This seems kinda odd because our furnishings are very colorful, but at least each piece looks great in every room, right? I’ve started moving things around every couple of months just for the hell of it! :)
In the last few months I’ve found myself drawn more and more to colorful prints, especially women who look suspiciously like myself. Like Jane, I’m a fan of Emily over at Inside A Black Apple. And like Skyzi, I’m a fan of Mucha, but I don’t own any … yet.
Marilyn
October 26, 2007 at 9:18 amYES! I have a few Black Apple prints which are all brunette girls (like me) and even the paintings my boyfriend has made are also dark haired-curvy women. I think it’s kinda cool. :)
Making it Lovely
October 27, 2007 at 4:50 amLots of Black Apple fans here… I love Emily’s work too!
robyn
November 19, 2007 at 11:28 amhaha, the same thing occurred to me recently. I have a lot of prints of women. An exception to that is my bearded man from ashleyg that I just got last week…I kind of think of it as the male version of myself :D