Looks to me she is surrounding it with things she loves..

It can be important to display things that we don't like as things, but
we like what they represent--a relationship, a time in one's life, a
philosophy. Even if it's something as basic as keeping a grouchy aunt happy, it can be more important to keep the peace than have only "what you love" in every corner. Because it still is love, just a different aspect.

I'm glad you're making progress on THIS one!

This piece is certainly interesting! You can ask people questions about it for fun: Hey? do you think she has two right hands because she is both going and coming?

Tetheridge......is this your LR...so traditional...is this the room the art is for? Was in your idea book..just curious because we need to go into a different direction if it is!:)

I totally agree that you can also love something for what it represents to you versus what it is or how it looks. Anyway, it seems as like OP has a new appreciation for it. Personally, I think the colors are beautiful. I don't like the hacked off looking leg.

Lol... many art critics on here with opinions ... rather than dissecting the merits ( or not ) of this piece I think it all comes down to whether it’s meaningful to you based upon the person who gifted it to you ... which is more important? As I stated earlier, I think it could be displayed in an appropriate setting . It really doesn’t matter what others think of it ... follow your heart. Modigliani wasn’t appreciated earlier in his career ( the “ out of proportion “ body parts ) , but someone eventually did.

I think there are things more important in life than one’s personal aesthetic. HIWE, I think you’re right about the chair. That one is great! Also, that was my pre divorce house. It’s much more traditional than my current plans for this house.

Ridge, omg, what a beautiful picture of a beautiful baby. I love the way his spindly, not yet fully under his own control, arms look- one arm's movement being caught- you see him and the beauty of that stage of newness- heaven.

Did you embroider his name or the month on the blanket? The embroidery is gorgeous. I have always wanted to learn to stitch like that. My mother needlepointed and that did not interest me. My grandmother embroidered and she had no patience for my poor attempts. I may look for a YouTube tutorial ....

Friday, I really don't want to sound preachy; but alas, it is sadly my wont. You have a tremendous talent. I understand taking an artistic creation personally. I understand not wanting to take a commission and only wanting to make pictures that interest you. But there is need in this world for artists. And since you have a gift for making art and you have worked to develop your talent, maybe you could find a way to share a bit of it with a grateful public.

Perhaps if you found a group of artists to work with and get support from you could consider sharing your talent with others. Think of the course of action you would want for your son should he be in the same position as you. I have found that line of enquiry quite clarifying for me over the years.

As for the subject at hand, the more I look at the work, the more I like it. Personally, I understand caring more about a relationship than my personal likes and dislikes- I care for relationships more than I care for art.

I love all the additions to the wall. It is dynamic and engaging.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of his/her Sunday.

Do you still have the navy chesterfield sofa?

It seems as if you've found a win-win solution since you don't "hate" the art anymore. Great discussion!

sofikbr I adore this:

Ridge, I just noticed you said you were closing on a new house tomorrow. Congratulations!!

Rita thank you for your kind words. I will add more thoughts in a few hours, as I am on my tiny cellphone keyboard that drives me insane.

HIWE, I didn’t take any of the furniture with me, that’s why I’m pretty much starting from scratch. I do like the Houzz console we’re using in the mock up. It’s here:

[https://www.houzz.com/products/currant-sideboard-by-greenington-black-walnut-prvw-vr~91160016[(https://www.houzz.com/products/currant-sideboard-by-greenington-black-walnut-prvw-vr~91160016)

Thank you Rita! My son and I had a rough year so we’re looking forward to fresh and fun beginnings. We’re currently sharing a room, so I’m really invested in loving all the bits of our small home. Here is the pre renovation front room. I imagine it’s supposed to be a formal living room but having that door smack dab in the middle really confuses things for me, and we neither plan to use the front door for regular access nor do we want a formal living room. I don’t have a post renovation picture because I’ve just been pretending it’s not there, but I would put the gallery wall on the right side, a sofa on the left side, and an indoor/outdoor area rug. Unless that’s a bad idea!

Here is a picture of the attached dining area (opposite view).

I made this little table and plan to get black Eames chairs with maple and eiffle legs to go with.

Fantastic! You are going in a beautiful direction....so sorry for your tough year..both my sisters went through divorces and it is so hard on everyone so just know I totally understand...new surroundings is a great start and going through the process refreshes the soul! March forward and never look back;)

love the Houzz MCM Console...if you decide to order it I would be happy to send you my Houzz discount code..it is not much but every little bit counts..just send me your email in a message on my account.

You made the table? Love it!

Friday, I spent the year on my parents land, I made an incredible amount of things lol. It’s just a butterfly slab from a fallen maple tree. Now I’m back to reality!

Can I ask what do you see in the grouping? You have a group of things I don't object to, but I just don't see them all on one wall. To my eye (and art is subjective), that grouping does nothing for the painting or the other pieces other than make everything feel out of place. They don't relate to each other, compliment each other or combine to create a larger reflection. They mostly fight each other (treating the 3 on the left as one item).

The console and chairs are nice -- but they aren't going to make the grouping look better and I suspect the grouping will detract from them as well. If the more modern styles don't fit the rest of your home, they will look out of place in addition to the art. You can use abstract art with traditional or transitional furnishings as well as contemporary.

Justerrilynn gave you a good collection with a color theme that would tie pieces together. I was thinking along similar lines but picturing a warmer palette overall. I would repeat the blue and orange in the room and use a warm beige on the wall.

Someone mentioned shutters -- I thought they were going to suggest hanging them either side of the painting, peeping Tom style. LOL

The lack of precision in the human form doesn't bother me -- I don't think the artist was trying to be realistic so much as capture a feeling. It is abstract, after all. It is not a piece I would see myself buying either way, but I could easily use it in the right room. To me, it evokes tranquil feeling. Because of the colors, I first thought of an outdoor setting in autumn, but it could be indoors. Either way, it suggests that peaceful, relaxed feeling just after bathing or swimming, or possibly the anticipation of one about to step into water and relax. It is a piece you feel more than you see, if that makes sense. That's my take on the piece -- take it for what you will, but think about it and see if it changes how you see the piece or what you would want to do with it.

I know you just had it framed, but the black line is not enhancing the painting. If you ever think about reframing it, give her some space -- a little breathing room between the canvas and the frame. I recently bought an abstract piece from an artist who had the pieces framed with a simple frame -- similar to yours, but brushed metallic paint finish and with a negative space between the canvas and the frame -- a breathing space without adding a liner. I could see that working well for this piece.

I would give it some time. We got a framed watercolor as a wedding gift. I thought it was an odd gift and I wasn't very fond of it. I might have hidden it way or gotten rid of it, but DH loved it. It is a landscape that just didn't mean anything to me at the time, but now I would love to go there. The painting is in my foyer -- pretty prominent spot for something I didn't like. Feelings change. But if they don't, don't design a room around something you hate.

Hi lascatx, I really appreciate your thoughts. I agree that the painting would have been better in a floating frame. The problem is the artist left little more than half an inch of white around the actual painting. Consequently, we could only use very thin stretchers and to try to gallery wrap the painting would have resulted in the loss of most her head. The whole process has been challenging. I’m of the mindset, and I know many disagree, that my family, my friends, my respect for others are all more important than my personal aesthetic and so I’m choosing to keep and display it. I think a gallery wall makes it most interesting to my eye. I also don’t mind that the objects are disparate. They all tell a story and evoke emotion for me. In reality, I think I will try the baby animal photographs elsewhere and put a lemon tree on the left side. Otherwise, I’m really content. I’m sure no one wants to hear the stories of the artwork, but they’re there so to my eye they do tell a story and it’s beautiful, certainly one of support, and joy, and overcoming. That’s enough for me. Finally, terrilynn’s mood board is dreamy! In my last very large, formal, traditional home, with cleaning lady, it would have been perfect. But tomorrow, I’m beginning my journey as a single mother and I’m terrified and looking for sanctuary. I don’t want to fret over cream furniture or properly placed toss pillows or worry about replacing things as trends change. I’m trying things on and I’m sure there will be lots of trial and error, but I’m certain I’ll work it out in the end! I really do thank you for your comments, I’m learning so much from the critical eyes of others. I love most original artwork and this is the first time I think I’ve ever had a strong negative and visceral response to anything and that in itself, makes it interesting to me. Finally, I know I want a dark sideboard that I can transport to other homes in the future. I’ve always wanted a map print of Sevilla because my son is obsessed with maps and it’s my favorite city in the world (lived there for a year, got the tattoo to prove it!). So really, I’m curating my own personal gallery with what I have, I’m not buying specific to this painting. That would be too far I think and I think that’s what a more nuanced room, like terrilynn’s would require. I certainly don’t like it that much.

Personally, I do not think you should start your new home with something you love. I would just say it did not go with the new look you were incorporating in your new place. If you have to put it up, add a floating frame. I wish you luck!

It is best just to display it in a room that you will not use that often.

Flannel Guy DIY - On Youtube

You could always display this artwork around a variety of other artworks. If you were to cluster several pieces together, comprised of different mediums, frames, and matching colors, you might be able to draw attention away from the subject matter and composition of the one you don't like. Put the focus on the group of art, not this one in particular.

A few years ago people never commented on dilemmas without reading first. I dislike this trend much much more than I dislike this artwork. Ugh.

tetheridge0315 - I would love to see photos of the other items you have made.

Finally had time to read through most of the comments, and I am confused about 'layering' oil paint being considered difficult. Just about all paintings are made of layered paint. I see nothing that looks extraordinary.

And y'all are funny!

I hadn't noted that unfortunate shade of red, nor its placement. Now that I do, it looks like a dripping bloody gash = S

There's a lot going on in that painting - most of it unfortunate.

And I agree about placing it among many other things that draw the eye away. I like the hallway idea too.

I wouldn't hang something I don't like in an main area of my home. I might not hang it at all. I also wouldn't lie about it. (Was suggested a few times.)

If you're going to use it, I don't care for it with the neon paintings. I think the neon ones are too bright and clean to work with the other painting. I also think they both fight for attention.

my lord this has created a huge amount of conversation!

teth, i too note different things everytime i look at it. i am a big collector of unloved art work. and although i have never done it on such a large scale, one of the things i have done with some artwork is put different colors of border on the painting. you also can just place the painting on the appropriate color of paper-acid free of course. you would be how much it can change an artwork. Off the top of my head, i would try a broader band of black, the blue that is on there, and that forest green, one other good color would be a bronze. you would be surprised how different it can make it look. i would not use a matting, i would lay on the paper use a floating frame of good size and present that way. unusual, I know, but it can be amazing.

Ridge, what a gorgeous table you made- wow- you are talented. I too would like to see more of your work.

Your new house looks lovely. I hope you continue to post as you turn it into your home, putting your wonderful stamp on it.

Sending you and your son all my best wishes tomorrow as you close on your house and take the first steps in your new chapter.

Ridge, I divorced in 2016. After 25 years. I also left without too much "stuff". I DID take the abstract paintings which my ex said had no financial worth. I didn't care, never have. They are all quite prominent in my new little townhouse. Starting over has been stressful. It's also been a huge adventure. Enjoy this journey with your son. I swear it goes by very fast. And you have wonderful taste. Stay confident in that.

Wow.....what a thread! I couldn't read all the comments and maybe this is repetitive but if me I'd try and relay to the artist how the painting affects me. Because it's abstract, people DO see different things as evidenced from the comments here....from awful to wonderful. Go with something that gets across the fact you REALLY can't live with it such as: "To me it appears to be blood dripping down her body and perhaps that isn't what it's supposed to be but that's what I see.... it really makes me uncomfortable." Maybe someone already suggested this since did I did see a comment saying it's violent. I personally am this way; I can't go to violent movies, esp those with bloody scenes so for me this would be truth. If you can't be honest then you're going to have to do the "now you see it, now you don't. I did the closet thang once for 7 years with an inlaw gift...yikes, it was awful! I wouldn't hang this where anyone had to look at it for any length of time...like a guestroom. The blood association would be too common I think.

Interesting piece even if they look like they have been attacked with a chainsaw !

All this trying to make it part of a group is not working....look for a wall space that is just a little wider than the painting and remove whatever is there and give this piece a spot all to itself...it is never going to go with anything ....so isolate it ....on its own little wall where it won’t need to go with anything......on a personal note I liked it until all the derision made me uncertain....and bless you for sticking to your commitment to display this .....as a gesture of honoring the gift from the artist.

Don't live with art you hate. It can live in a closet if you must keep it...but don't force yourself to look at it every day.

Love your table!

And wishing you joy in your new journey.

Now as for the art I wanted to chime in :) I love my family and friends, and I seem to have many friends who are artists or makers of some kind.

That being said I feel art can be almost spiritual.

So. . . I’m definitely in the ‘don’t hang what you don’t love’ camp. admittedly it’s somewhat about aesthetics-but its a thousand times more about vibe and essence.

art *says* something. It speaks. And if I cant get on board with what its saying then why would I hang it to see daily?

You never shared your relationship with the artist but I really wonder if he or she would be surprised to know your feelings and to know that you felt like you *should* hang something that you disliked.

In my view a person with generally positive energy would not want you to hang their art if they knew you disliked it. Theyd want you to be free of that burden!

Now, a person with a vibe of toxic/selfish negative energy might in fact feel that you should hang their art that you hate—but then in that case – WHY would you want their art (and by extension, their vibes) around?

Finally for what it’s worth – everyone has different opinions! :) —but just fyi, I happen to also have a strong negative visceral response to your painting. There is a turbulent masculinity vibe that I read from it that leaves me feeling unsettled. For me – it does not evoke peace and so it would not be on my walls.

Can you? Yes but why? If you need to display it place it somewhere you don't have to look at it every day. But I would hate to hang that in a guest room unless you don't want them to stay. I find it unsettling and scary to be sleeping with. Placing it a grouping may help but it would be hard to hide.

I'm no designer, but if I wanted to hide a piece of art I had to display, I would hang it on the least viewed wall in the guest room in a grouping with a biiiiig, full potted plant in front of it. Perhaps provide a scarf for your guests to drape over it when they stay with you.

Is bulding it a room in the attic out of the question? Hehe!

Wow what we all perceive. I see a beautiful angle of the models head. Some colorful flower images on the left. Beautiful blue colored details. I'm a half glass full kind of gal so I wouldn't see anything negative first off. Also a fan of Chagall's work. Would be interesting to have a conversation with the author of this piece and find out what his/her thoughts were as they painted it.

I am beginning to wonder if “hiding” it isn’t as insulting as not hanging it....but it is not obvious to me that your post here was to ask permission or justification not to hang it...I admit I fall into the “Like it” group..and I take you at your word you would like to put it somewhere it looks good...have you gotten any ideas that you like yet?

What an amazing thread and makes me sad I never saw it before..Houzz is maddenning lately, really

I haven't read everything yet..I just want to say that I absolutely love love love the other nude that you do love

I don't know whether I'd meet them together in one composition or not. Would be a dilemma..and I have to look at them first..for several months lol..separate, together, etc..My first inclination is "no!" but who knows. Time and angle of vision change our perspectives..

while you're looking at the one you like less but feel that have to display-you might start liking it more..which, as far I understand from the thread, happenned to a degree already..))

I was trying to hide it for you.

I vote for this. It's simple and it de-emphasizes the artwork.

I'd put it in the foyer for these reasons:

- It'll make the artist, whom you DO like and DO value feel good that it's in an important part of your house.

- It's a part of your house which people "hurry through", so it'll be seen quickly.

- Since your house is traditional, this will not need to "match" as much stuff.

I like that idea but without the other art...maybe just a striking and large potted plant...on the left .....this lets the art stand on its own....simple striking pieces...that don’t try to match the art but create a stark setting for the unusual art...making it more right in my mind

I actually like the colors and style of the painting but for whatever reason voodoo, the afterlife and death come to mind. the red I guess. she looks attractive but I would have a hard time displaying it.

I don't understand the question. You either don't want to look at it, or you do. It's that simple.

I have art that I've outgrown. Nothing more to say about it. It sits in the closet for a length of time and, if my mind doesn't change when I bring it back out, it gets chucked. I don't hate it, I just don't want it anymore. Let someone else enjoy it. I don't make things complicated by wondering if I should try to locate the artist and offer it back.

There's so much art I want that I can't imagine hanging something up that makes me seethe. Don't come back with "it cost so much" or whatever - I've chucked pieces that weren't inexpensive, and that were mightily expensive to me at the time I purchased them.

The upside is that I've developed a more critical eye. I only buy stuff that's a ""10" now.

Patrick, my husband is a photographer so we have tons of pieces to hang and there is always a new one. I agree with you only purchase or hang a "10".

i have not been here or spoken in a while. but i have been checking in. you may not have noticed but i while back i suggested putting it with other things that are important to you in your life to make it kinda personal collage wall. In this case i think that all this stuff about like or dislike should not matter. you said they were someone really close to you. therefor they gave you this for a reason. maybe you need to ask them the reason, or spend more time looking at it. There are a few things in my home that i do not really like but i honor them anyway. one is a bracelet, made of a tail of someone. I hate it, as i do living fur things. but a very very important woman, whom i really respected gave it to me, because i said "Oh, i am just dying for one of those!" she totally missed my sarcasm. she moved heaven and earth to get me this, because they no longer had them, and it made her late to a party, because it came late.The lesson and the respect she showed for me that was what was beautiful.

sometimes i think we just worry too much about ourselves and no longer have enough respect or concern about others or how they matter in our lives.

Also i have looked at it alot now. If you look at the red is I believe that it represents how she has accomplished every thing with so much of herself she bled. all the hard things women do. birth, keeping your figure heart, etc.

I really like it, but I think having it as part of a collage isn't right. You can't make a painting like that be a part of a whole. You will hate it even more.

It needs to stand alone on a small-ish wall.

I tend to gravitate towards art that would be a bit outlandish in the eyes of some, but this piece is not one that appeals to me. Art is so incredibly subjective and personal, though. Of course, it's YOUR art in YOUR house, so you have to determine how you're comfortable living with this piece (if at all), but personally I do not care for it as part of a grouping. It doesn't improve upon the piece, but just seems to use it to fill a space and also detracts from the artistic aesthetic. (And that piece DOES have an artistic aesthetic. I just don't happen to be especially attracted to it.) I think if I felt I absolutely had to live with a piece I hated, I'd hang it in room that I seldom go into. Life's too short to purposely look at things every day in your own home that make you cringe.

hmm, i know i am having lots of brain burps, try once more then give up. my belief is that sometimes there are other reasons to put things on wall. not always just because you like the art. someone once that truly good art was supposed to make you uncomfortable. hope i got it across.

Ridge, It's nice to see this post pop up. I hope you and your little one are having a smooth transition to your new home.

@havingfun:

Yes—but not-so-great art can also make someone uncomfortable for altogether different reasons. ;)

It’s interesting how this is a topic that people feel so strongly about, in different camps. For me personally, I strongly reject the idea that I owe it to a giver (of art, or anything) to display their gift or even keep it. I feel I can appreciate the sentiment and beauty of a gift, without having it impact my life daily. It has nothing to do with my respect for someone. And if someone were hurt by me not using their gift then I have to wonder how much they respect me. . .respect goes both ways.

I for one would truly hate for anyone to feel they had to use a gift that I gave them from my heart that they disliked. For example, I like to sing. If I gave someone an album that I had done, i’d hate to know that they made themselves listen to it once a year to honor or respect me or our relationship. The giving of a gift, in my mind, does not compel the recipient to use it forever. Or at all.

What would truly be special is if they genuinely liked it and found themselves listening to it frequently. That would be a high compliment. Forcing themselves to listen would be something else altogether. To me, its actually an odd form of dishonesty. And for whose sake?