Buy what you love. If you come back after a week and don't know, that would be a no in my book. Art is with most of us through changes in furniture or paint color and if you don't love it and love it on more than one day, you aren't likely to love it later on. If you love it, it will always go with other things you like. Everytime we more or change furniture, we move art and things get scrambled in different combinations -- and it works because we buy what we like rather than something to fit a space.

Thanks, all. I too generally buy what I like. And I like the Edelstein painting, but I don’t know that I love it. What is holding me back is the notion that I can see it in a bedroom but not in a living room.

The original question was do a group of women in a painting make it feminine.

I think a grouping of women does not per se make the piece feminine. Compare this Dale Rayburn that I love to the Edelstein women and you can see what I mean.

@Zalco/bring back Sophie! I went to the Sarah Wiseman gallery website. I especially like the last photograph you posted. It was as I thought, enamel on copper. I had a good friend who did her MFA thesis using enamel on copper. She said it was a very difficult medium to work with.

I am completely drawn to women in art. I think the subject does not make it feminine. It has more to do with the way in which it is presented, both in the art itself and how you display it in your home. I love that last piece of seven women. Hang pieces that make you dream.

The painting in question isn't too feminine. There's nothing wrong with feminine. There's no reason something feminine can't be front and center. We have to get over the idea that girly stuff only belongs in bedrooms and bathrooms.

(That particular painting though? I just don't like it. :P)

I am also drawn to female subjects in art, but I don't consider any of mine "too feminine." I don't know if I would have used that phrase for the Edelstein piece you showed (I also skimmed his website), but the combination of pastels, and the dresses in 1950s silhouettes, and the ruffled hems comes off as a bit twee. Of course there's a place for that, but it sounds like maybe it's not your living room.

I just got this one and dropped it off for framing today, a print from a carved rubber sheet.

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Printmaking-Maman-du-Monde-Limited-Edition-of-10/1638504/7842003/view

And I have these two ladies in my living room.

This is timely - I have been just starting to collect low-price vintage paintings (under $500). Fortunately my tastes are pedestrian- still lifes, botanicals, domestic life, landscape.

Looking at the suggestions with interest!! I have a hard time determining exactly what I like, or differentiating between cheap/fun and bargain/good.

I like a lot of the stuff in this Etsy shop but admittedly it’s so Canadian it hurts

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/YodasHut?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=893298697

Take a picture of your fireplace wall, but stand back a bit so some of the rest of the room is shown, then we can put the picture in the room and get a better idea of the look.

I understand that art is art, but if it is a focal point, I think the room has to acknowledge and complement the art.

I'm drawn to art in the style I decorate with. I don't seek a specific type of artwork, but what I do buy it fits my decor. Hope that makes sense.

KSWL needs these prints in her bedroom lol I love them and they'd go with my decorating.

Here are some art works by a friend of mine Mark from San Francisco

that feature women. I am not drawn to overly feminine women, such as are common in French art, but I do like Italian and German paintings of women.

Here's another view of Mark's painting of Marlene

and here's another painting of his, but not of a womanI have a lot of my brother's paintings in our houses, and those are also very personal for me. The other art that I have is mostly Mexican, African, or tribal.

Suppose you "ran across" Goya's Maja? Or perhaps a Renoir lady....how about the Mona Lisa? Would they be too feminine for a living room?
If you like it ....buy it and hang it. art is never 'bedroomey"....and if you have chosen well won't become "second hand furniture" and you can sell it and buy something different.

bbstx when you talk about the artist you say you like him, your friend recommended, not you love his work. For that kind of investment do you think it’s possible to find an artist you love?

I think the particular piece you posted is not too feminine and I could picture it especially in a more contemporary context.

@robo (z6a) I looked at the etsy shop you linked. I liked a lot of those pieces! The subjects reminded me of vacations in Canada. I just wish they were larger. But then shipping would be prohibitive, I’m sure. As to “pedestrian subjects,” I’d love to find a good landscape or still life.

As to the Edelstein pieces, I like the whimsy and the colors, but I don’t think they have staying power. I‘m concerned that, like @lindac92 said, it would become “second hand furniture,” not something that I could sell when I grow tired of it. And @cawaps also expressed another thing that has been niggling at me. It seems a little twee.

Linda, I had the same thoughts, would I think the Mona Lisa belonged in a bedroom because the subject matter is a woman? Obviously, no (although IIRC at some point La Joconde hung over a bath tub). Nor do I think Dale Rayburn’s Church Ladies belongs in a bedroom.

In the mid-60s, my aunt talked my mother into buying a painting by a regional artist in San Antonio. I’ve had it hidden under the bed for years. In rearranging some furniture, I pulled it out. It is cringingly twee and oh-so 1960s: a woman wearing a kerchief sitting in an oak kitchen chair holding a pot of geraniums. I think looking at that piece started me thinking about the Edelstein piece becoming dated.

Lars, how lucky you are to have such talented friends and a talented brother too!

Fun2B, I agree. When the piece of art is the focal point in a home, either the art needs to complement the home or the home needs to complement the art. Perhaps my problem is that I cannot see decorating my LR around the Edelstein piece.

I appreciate the thought and time you have put into helping me distill my thoughts on this piece.

Here is my favorite artist working on her opus magnum

My feeling when I look at the art you posted pulled the following word for me: juvenile.

When I asked myself why, I came back with this; subject matter, color palette, style.

Feminine didn’t get in my way. It has a pottery barn feel. I didn’t look at the rest of his work, but I just think the combo is not something I’d put in my public space either. And I also have eclectic taste.

Good word, @1929Spanish-GW! I think it is time to walk away from this painting.

Bbstx I’m genuinely impressed by your little artist :)

I, personally, would not buy art so an ID could work around it. I would have her help you put together a nice, cohesive living room and take your time finding art that you love. We have some "focal point" art in our house that has been added over time, to existing rooms, with no ill effect.

As for the art becoming "second hand furniture" that you won't be able to sell-- unless you are an art expert it is pretty hard to acquire art that will appreciate or even retain its value. That's why it's important to buy pieces that really speak to you and that you won't tire of. Obviously the Edelstein piece does not speak to you in that way or you wouldn't need to ask our opinions.

Give your favorite artist a larger canvas and commission a piece for your living room!

@maggieq, I’m seriously considering that! HA!

Bbstx, I'd buy that painting your favorite artist created! I love it, truly, and would frame it in a heartbeat. With her efforts, you don't need to buy art at all. You have a resident artist at hand!

Her other Gma got that one. I’m on the list for the next one. 😁

bbstx, did your favorite artist do that piece completely by herself? Her use of color is extraordinary. Her other Gma is so lucky to have it. You should definitely commission her. :)

Yes, party_music, she did it all on her own. I think DD had also set up an easel for her twin brother but he couldn’t care less about painting, except the time they decided to paint each other instead of the paper. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hooked, thanks. I’ll look them up.

I had to look around my house to see if I had any “feminine” art. I guess I do!? Never occurred to me.

I never thought we’d buy a portrait of someone we didn’t know — or really anyone — but DH and I walked into a gallery in Charleston several years ago and both started giggling because that last portrait looked so much like me. He bought it for me for Mother’s Day.

However, I don’t think of any of these as “bedroom” art. I think it’s more the colors and the subject (ballerinas) that make the painting in the OP seem suitable for a bedroom, even a girl’s bedroom.

I agree that you should look around and find something that you love. I have never searched for art based on a color scheme, but I’m drawn to certain colors in general so the art does tend to work fairly well with the colors already present in my house.

And now, darn it, I want to buy one of the paintings from Robo’s link.

I don't think the subject of that painting is too feminine for a LR, as many have shown with other paintings with female subjects. I think it is the treatment of the subject that would make it not a LR piece for most people. It is both the cool pastel color palette and the style -- simple and undeveloped that are at odds with the feelings we tend to want our LRs to evoke.

Sue -- I like your paintings. Warm, fresh and a little whimsy.

IME, if you have a lot of art, it can be a total jumble and looks fine. It should be selected entirely on its own merits and not as decor in any sense of the word

But, by contrast, if you have only one painting in a room, it looks odd to me if it does not relate as decor.

That's my 2 cents from someone who hates buying art and sux at it. I'd rather punt by using maps or photos, and I still love symmetrical groupings.

People have recommended various galleries or etsy for modern artists, But, you might also find vintage paintings, prints, and so forth to your liking on Ebay. I have purchased several paintings including a couple from Europe, on there.

Other sources for my art have been estate sales and the city's yearly arts festival.

The advice to not rush into a purchase, but to wait for something that really speaks to you, is extremely sound.

Oakley, those prints remind me of fabric.

bbstx, I have a beautiful old painting of a woman at a piano. It is a bit hard to place, in my opinion. She seems out of place in the great room (it’s a large painting).

while we only but art that we love or speaks to us, I do want it to work with the colors in our hone. we gave mostly vintage art and much is landscapes/seascapes and I have started collecting a few old ship pictures. Those work well with the (mostly) blues and green shades in our hone. I guess I am drawn to those colors in art also.

Don”t rush. And yes, a piece from your favorite artist would be great! Too cute!

The advice to not rush into a purchase, but to wait for something that really speaks to you, is extremely sound.

I generally adhere to this advice, but I have a cautionary tale. My living room has niches all the way around the ceiling. I like them a lot, but did not know what to put in them. The universe *still* has not spoken and they have had "for the time being" stuff in them for ten years.

I have a friend who is an artist and a world traveler. Her walls are covered nearly floor to ceiling with art. She has a carved piece from India; she has a Chinese screen with jade inlay; she has a couple of pieces that are drawn on metal sheets; she has naive art, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, oils, watercolors, acrylics. A couple of the pictures are her own; most are the work of other artists. You get the picture (I’m so punny). Her furniture is neutral; her rugs are colorful. Her house looks great. I think in my house, it would look like a mish-mash.

Mtn, I looked at some maps a week or so ago, thinking that might be interesting over the mantle. But I want more color than they would provide.

ETA: Mtn, so funny that the universe has been incommunicado for 10 years. I have decided that if I have to have a place holder, it is going to be an Audubon print.

I have pieces of art in closets, under beds, and in the attic. The problem is none of them are the size I need and the color I want. Some are one but not the other.

One of my fav pieces is from ebay, raee. It was not expensive at all. Limited edition of 300, so not really all that limited. I believe it was $20 or less. It hangs in the DR.

BBSTX, I cut up an old Atlas and framed maps of places we had vacationed. They have an aqua background. If you did a grouping, you could also add color with frames, matting, etc.

I remember now that you did that! And I love the idea. However, the wall opposite my fireplace has a grid of Russian architectural woodblocks. I probably ought to limit groupings to one per room.

Doesn’t art kinda have to go with the decor? Would you put a black and red painting over a pastel sofa?

I have only one piece of art that I still like 40 years later. The rest are all just Ok or placeholders. I’m fickle and indecisive with decor and art—-what I purchase today I’m questioning 6 months later. As a result, I end up stuck and do nothing—like hanging art. We are in the house two+ years and I still have many bare walls.

I just ordered this painting. I blame Robo.

I think robo ought to get credit for that one, not blame! 😉 I like it!!

Art is deeply personal and for needs to speak to you. If it doesn't it's like eating a bland diet, keeps you alive, but doesn't make you happy.

Please excuse me, but one of my passions is how children are given art opportunities. Please ignore anything I say if you are not interested and I apologize if I am overstepping. Your granddaughter is doing amazing work for her age. She is balancing her colors and depth of color, adding texture to her work by the amount of pigment used, not creating mud (too much mixing of colors and most importantly she is using her whole canvas which isn't easily reached as she is working vertically. She is also fighting gravity. If you want to encourage her to move to more sophisticated work I would suggest she be given the opportunity to sometimes work flat on a table top. She would not have to worry about drips and runs and can see the whole piece at one time. In addition only use white paper not newsprint colored paper. I would eventually offer her some cheap canvases or canvas boards from Michaels. A wonderful book for educators/parents of young children about art is Experience and Art: teaching children to paint, by Nancy R. Smith

GMTA BBSTX, I have always thought Audubon prints would be good, too (not for that spot)

hcbm, thanks for the comments on DGD’s art work. DD is picking up canvases for her this week. In addition to the regular art segments in school (pre-K), she is also participating in an after school art class one day a week.

After her first class, she told her mom that they had learned about O’May and had painted like him. DD was puzzled. She had never heard of O’May. After talking with DGD a bit more, she realized it was Monet! I laughed so hard when DD told me about O’May. That was pretty close for a barely 4 year old.

DD’s golf coach gave me very good advice when DD first took up golf at age 6. He said let her play and have fun. Don’t try to teach yet. DD is pretty much taking that same approach with DGD, both in golf and in art.

Sueb, I took special note of that one!! Very Montreal. Will definitely complement your FAB collection! Let me know if it comes to you in good condition and if you’re satisfied with the purchase.

Problem is, I have NO idea where I’m going to put it! 🤯

Joanie, somewhat. I buy what speaks to me, but where I place it may vary based on what else is in the room. But I have no problem placing an impressionist type of paining near a mid-century piece.

I agree that art is not decor. Yes, someone might indeed put a black and red abstract over a pastel sofa, although black and red sounds like something from the expressionist era and if someone loved that, they might not be the person to choose a pastel sofa. ;-). I have a painting with lots of orange in it. There is no orange anywhere in my house. It still looks absolutely marvelous.

My husband and I have very different tastes in art. Well, no, actually I love a lot of what he likes, but I also adore abstract art and have bought a lot of it. We have many traditional still lifes and landscapes, but my abstracts are scattered near them as well. I have run out of wall space since I don't hang groups of paintings (most of my things are fairly large canvases) since the ones I have stand better alone.

All my art has come from local galleries or galleries and individuals on our travels. However, I do have to say that my favorite piece is a small watercolor that I bought when I was 20 or so at an art show in the King of Prussia plaza when only part of it was enclosed (early 70s). Yes, I am a dinosaur. I bought it for $25 from the artist who was in his 50s-60s. I wish I could let him know how much I still love it.

Another source for art is high school and college art shows, although you probably can't get anything now since they won't be hosting such shows. There are some terrifically talented young artists to be found.

Totally agree that you should provide a large piece of paper to your family artist and then frame that. I love her opus magnum! Maybe offer her a higher bid for it! Haha.

HA, cyn, I never thought of trying to outbid the other gma. I can hear it now, ”I’ll see your 2 cookies and raise you a cookie!”

Exactly! Be ruthless!!!! ;-)))

Thanks, Robo! I love this, and I think it was a bargain.

Hung while DH was out...let’s see how long it takes him to notice. Ignore my paint dab repair above the frame!

At the top is a painting of a babe lounging on a sofa (it's nearly 3 feet wide). Below that, the very first piece I ever bought, an etching, before I had even gotten my first paycheck in publishing. Both are in my living room, along with two other paintings of women and two industrial scenes. I have a large oil painting of a pear in my dining room, as well as a tiny oil of a stag beetle. I'd never thought about suitability of art to a room's purpose, only the size of the piece and available wall space, always a challenge.

I love your Botero-esque babe! I don’t usually worry about the subject matter too much. I think Degas ballerinas in the living room would be fine, but Edelstein ballerinas are totally different. I think 1929Spanish finally articulated what was making me hesitate. The Edelstein has a juvenile feeling about it.

Sueb - JEALOUS! It looks great!!

The Dale is a terrific piece of art. Ime, the Edelstein is art lite, very art lite.