One other thing--you don't need to hesitate if the painting isn't working for you. The artist can sell it to someone else.

The navy seems to be distracting and not visible in the rest of your room.

A rug that relates to the chair

HI -- Being you commissioned this piece from the Artist , sometimes the Artist will help you by suggesting the type of frame and where they think it should be hung and how it should be hung , up ,down , sideways etc. Have you asked the Artist for their input ? It can be very insulting to the Artist to misuse one of their pieces . Is it signed and where is the signature ?

Hang it in the garage.

I like the loveseat and art as it is - where it is. I agree that broken "rules" yet making it work looks best. I'd like to see the blue brought down on the floor with a solid area rug (a bit larger than the skinny one you have now). But, even though the loveseat is oversized for the wall, I think all seating needs a spot to put down a beverage. A small, mirrored table offset in front of the loveseat may do the job and add some sparkle.

I haven't read through all the comments but I agree that this painting would do much better on a larger (and preferably white) wall. Too much going on here, and not enough breathing room for this painting.
Can you try it elsewhere?? Maybe propping it up with something just to try??

Hello rickster88,

Making the best of a bad situation is not easy.

Quick question: Did you give the artist any photos of your room and where you intend to put the artwork?

If you didn't, this is the crucial element to remember for future, it will save you from many frustrations, wasting money and time. If you did, then you know what to do with that artist contact details, don't you!

If you can bring yourself to like it enough, I think getting it put in a floating frame would help, also a couple of scatter cushions on the sofa to bring a little complimentary cohesion with the rest of your furnishings and the artwork is about the only sensible options I can see.

If you don't like and can't live with it, then you've got more options here - donate it, give it to charity, re-gift it for somebody else, store it out of sight, who knows, it might come in handy one day, etc!

I wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do.

The fundamental issue here to me seems to be, you commissioned the art, aren't happy with the result, so what should you do? You pay the artist because he gave you an original piece of art at the price you agreed to. If you aren't happy with the result, then sell the art or use it however you want, but you owe him for the work he did to produce it. That it doesn't match your decor isn't the artist's problem.

I don't know if this is typical, but the two times we have commissioned paintings, the artists both made it clear that we were under no obligation to buy the works if we didn't love them; they were confident they would have no difficulty selling them elsewhere. Thankfully, we were thrilled with both pieces.

I suspect for the artists it was, at least in part, because they wanted their works to be really loved and appreciated by the people who bought them.

Also, I don't know if this is helpful for the future, but one artist visited our home with a sample painting, and for the other we had photos of the spot where we were planning to hang the proposed painting.

At the end of the day, it's your home and nobody else's. I think it's rather rude to suggest that someone should donate their furniture because it doesn't work with the room. If you can relocate the couch to the basement, garage, or even to your bedroom, that'll be money not thrown out.

Personally, I do think the couch takes up too much space. Though, what's done is done. Take what you learned and do better in the future.

I agree with Barn & Willow. It's on the wrong wall. Keep in mind "art doesn't have to match your furniture." It's art, not a pillow, ottoman, etc. Love the piece with the darker at the bottom - love the motion in the painting. Hang higher and not on a wall with a distracting air conditioning unit - too much going on with that wall.

It looks okay there.

The piping on the loveseat is kind of fighting it.

It would look wonderful on a dark blue wall.

Is it possible to put the sofa with it's back against the iron railing, then turn the desk so it is against the glass wall with the doorway? That would get the sofa out of the walkway, still give you a nice view from the desk, and then you could mount your painting on the larger wall behind the sofa.

Must say, the comment to "hang it in the garage" was pretty rude, especially coming from a "pro."

I agree w/ Iron Studio, art stands on its own, it doesn't have to match. Art's different from prints you buy at chain store for decoration. However, I do have concern about the artist's biz practice. This is not a finished piece you bought at his studio. You commissioned this. I commissioned a piece a couple years ago. My artist regularly sent me .jpg's & we discussed it. He recommended things, to most of which I agreed, & I requested things, many of which he dissuaded me. As a result, he shipped a piece of which I was most happy.

Hi everyone. Thanks for the responses.To answer your queries,perhaps I should explain a little. The artist didn't have many paintings in his shop so I guess he does a lot of commissions. He showed me what were his other works that he did on pictures. So I'm not too sure if he can sell it to someone else easily? I didn't think of sending him photos of the space I wanted it in, but he didn't ask either. This is the first time I've commissioned art so in hindsight I should have - but I guess there'll be some of you that would criticize such an idea. When I told him I was expecting a little more yellow in it and whether he could add it, he said he had sealed it and couldn't paint over that. What he said after that was if you don't like it then don't buy it. His English isn't good so I didn't know if he was genuine in saying that or if he was pissed off. He didn't send me any work in progress photos throughout the process.

He has not signed his name yet and I have not taken possession of it yet but it can be done prior to taking possession of it.

Is it common for people to tell them they don't want it after commissioning it? I do acknowledge that I've wasted their time and resources hence the reason why I'm deliberating over it.

This room is a private study to relax and work. I do not take guests over. The sofa was something I already had and I usually relax, read or watch movies on it therefore two single chairs doesn't work for me. I find it absurd to replace function over form.

I didn't like the idea of my desk legs sitting on my rug indefinitely. I find that it is difficult to clean when I need to and it sort of ruins the rug.

I do agree that something isn't working with that art on that wall. But on its own, I love the art. I can't think of anywhere else in my home to hang such a modern piece.

I do not think the art will fit on the staircase wall as it is far too small. But I did try photoshopping it next to the tiled wall. What do you think? There's something about it that is not soothing.

I always had it in find to use floater frames and had told the artist that I will do that on my own.

It will be a tight squeeze if I had the sofa against the banister.

Would my bedroom suit the art? I kind of felt it is too 'lively' to go into a bedroom.

When I read "on its own, I love the art" I think there must be a way to make it work!!!!

I think it could work in the bedroom, but could you post pics of other areas of your home?

I think it looks fine on that wall. It may not look soothing because you hung it upside down...lol. Still like the dark at the bottom :) Since your bedroom is basically undecorated, you could certainly hang it there and decorate around it....start by painting the walls.

I'm in the "stairwell wall" camp. It really holds its own there, centers the room, deemphasizes the more crowded side walls...

Yeah sure. Some of these photos were taken a few months back but things have generally not changed. I have a wall in the ground floor living room which is free but I plan to frame up a vintage rug on that wall. There is another wall next to the fridge that I wanted to put up some of my own hand made concrete art which is yet to complete. I could put this artist work on that wall but I feel it clashes.

Hmm.. it does look a lot better in this orientation.

Love your home and your style. I like it on this wall. The tiled walls carry their own weight and don't need additional art on them, it looks too busy. Dark on bottom though

ACM I'll need to check the size of the art against that wall - it might not be as big as you made it out to be. Do you feel that it looks out of place with the banister coming about 1/3 across its width?

Swap out the rug to something bigger and lighter and add some pillows.

Yeah, I know I had the scale wrong. Too hard to judge well. Not worried about the bannister, which mostly blends into the tile from a distance -- through the glass you'd just see the centered art.

(In principle, the wall to the right seems great, but I think it's sort of a hallway space, which seems a waste. I'd rather bulk up the painting a bit with more mat and framing, if need be.)

This is closer to right, different view...

I like it better on the wall that does not have the tile. Add a blue throw across the yellow sofa, and you are good to go.

Your home is FAB!

Your home is beautiful and you have great taste. Trust your instincts as I think your final decision will be just right. As of now, my vote would be in the "hallway". You can see enough to enjoy it, yet pique the interest enough to go further for a closer look. :)

My 2 cents.......change the rug to a larger solid blue or white flokati, paint the a/c, put a colorful paperweight or something like that on the desk. I like the painting, dark side down, above the couch or near the rail. Keep a neutral, thin frame in an unobtrusive color....not black or yellow! I like leelee's idea for the frame

I vote over stairs is the place. More in center of line of sight. No frame. Good idea to add a few touches of the blue on yellow loveseat and desk. Enjoy your new art. Commissioning art is always risky. Especially, when not monitoring a points along the way. Hope you learn to love it. Surely it will be joyful while sitting at Desk! Not on wall behind you.

Dark squares at the bottom look great !

I agree with Flo on no frame!

Beautiful place and I love your elan with unique ideas. Love the room divider with the large black sticks in wood base (bamboo?) all the thoughtful touches. Really well done and unique approach to a unique home/office! Good on you!

Thanks Flo! It is rusted iron rods. I didn't seal it so it is slowly rusting over time. Each time it looks different. I love things designed that ages gracefully and actually looks better - different and interesting.

I made and found some of the pieces at home whenever I can spare some time on it.

Agree with most of the comments! It's a beautiful piece and I think it's wonderful that you commissioned it versus buying a commodity. Especially when it's a boutique or commissioned piece, it's more about how the surroundings fit the art vs. how the art fits the surroundings. To give it dignity, perhaps "detach" it from the physical relationship to the sofa altogether, and see where it can stand on its own. They don't need to be next to each other to complement one another. Larger wall, for sure - it needs some space to breathe. Lovely studio, by the way.

Hello...What did you decide to do?

As an artist who does commissions I always have a contract with the client before starting the piece. Upon agreement I ask for 50% down, I send pictures as I create the work and tweak it to my clients likes as I progress and I never collect the other 50% of the commission until my client agrees and loves the final product. I would not feel bad about not liking the piece as the artist should have communicated with you through the process to cater to your liking of the work, that is usually the standard of commissions (at least in the art world that I occupy). I hope this helps you for future commissions and I hope this experience does not prevent you from working with artists in the future because if the process is don e correct you should own a one of a kind work for your space that you cherish forever!

When I commissioned a painting for our fireplace overmantel, the artist handled it much the same as Contemporary and Modern handles her commissions. I ended up very satisfied w/ the result.

As it hasn't been signed yet perhaps you could hang it portrait orientation? Also put a small pillow on sofa to draw eye towards the art & away from the a/c

If I can make a suggestion? The piece is great...but the wrong size for the wall. You love the piece but it just won't fit on the wall you had in mind.

My suggestion would be to have the artist create a SECOND piece in the appropriate size - as in a "second study" of the event (with a bit more yellow). You would purchase BOTH items. You could have the larger piece (the big one) on the wall to the left of the sofa (I agree it looks very good there) and hang the new one (with the CORRECT dimensions) over the sofa for the look you originally wanted.

Have your cake and eat it too. Just a thought.

What about beside the TV where the two little blue chairs will connect with it. where there's currently some pieces of paper on the wall.

Find a different wall. It doesn't belong in that space.

I like the painting a lot. I think the painting should hang according to the artist's vision. I can't tell if the surface of the painting is smooth or not but if there are any paint drips or impasto then it would look weird if the painting were hung in the wrong direction!

I agree that the piece is too large for the space. The loveseat is also too large for the space but I can see why you want it there. For me it would be very easy. I would hang that painting over the staircase (centered to the railings) and I would leave the space over the loveseat empty (because of the AC unit). However if you feel you need to put something there, how about a painted skateboard deck (I have a yellow one in my kitchen which has cartoon eyes and says Stimulus that would look really great above your loveseat) or a Dogon piece or a Maori paddle. Something 3 dimensional that won't compete with the AC unit.

You need to light this piece of art properly to make it pop, a simple MR16 (Halogen or LED, either will work) with natural white emission (4000K) will suffice for that. None of the locations pictured have adequate light currently, so your would need to look at a monopoint or potlight install, and then have a lighting expert use some filter lenses to stretch the light so it lights just the artwork and creates a little shadow beyond the frame.

Good luck, it is a pretty easy fix.

Hi im an artist. i would recommend that to leave it on that particular wall the artist or someone confident needs to cover the blue with more yellow acrylic, to tie it in more to the chair. alternatively, add navy blue cushions and a blue rug infront of the sofa.

Failing this, the previous suggestions of putting it onto a larger wahite wall would be excellent.

Old post

There should be a category " Old Post" .............or " Boring Posts gone on far too long "

There should be a category "art is more than decor." You don't change art to match the furniture.

I like the piece where it is. It seems to be on a stretched canvas so it doesn’t need a frame. If the piece were any smaller it would compete with the AC unit. It has presence. It has just the right amount of yellow to coordinate with the sofa. Why make small spaces any more insignificant? You made a small area bold, good job!