You’re darn right I have some ideas..

This one’s from Anthropologie and includes woodland animals:

When they ask what’s wrong with you, a sink, Mom?! Why? You’ll admit how you stole mine and want to make amends by honoring me with this art.

Ok, ok, I kid!

This makes my heart smile so big — Mtn and family getting an Old West portrait done. It could have a very cool frame.

Example family:

Ok, ok! Never mind!

I’ll brainstorm some more (for real this time). :D

What do they like, if not sinks and saloons?

ETA: Sinks and Saloons would be an awesome name of something — an indie band, a Coen Brothers movie, a blog, a boutique.

ETA 2: For anyone reading who doesn’t know us all here, I’m joking with Mtn. ;)

What initially comes to mind is looking for something in shades of black and white as a possible starting point.

^^^ I like that!

Check out Janet Hill. I love love love her. In fact, I think that second one Jinx posted is hers. You can find her prints, in multiple sizes, on Etsy. Janet Hill Studio.

Just a few examples. I have the first one in my closet.

Do you have an exceptionally good photo from one of your family trips? Something that could be printed on canvas?

What about a Slim Aarons photo? Would they like that? This is one of my favorites and the colors would work.

You can have it printed in almost any size you choose.

Sue, I’m so glad you posted about her … when you did before, I saved her page, but lost it later. I love her art!

Had to add a few more, knowing your DD’s like fashion.

I think you need two pieces of art. Because they probably aren’t going to live together forever. carry on.

Some of these are interesting, too.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/samartisan?ref=usf_2020&section_id=19514949

I like this one.

And one more!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/amberalexander?ref=usf_2020

I have a tiny print from this shop, similar to this.

Oh funky, I love that photo. A friend posted it on FB a while back and I saved it!

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/ormond-gigli-girls-in-the-windows/

I don't have a ton of direction. They mentioned it, I sent some photos of HG stuff, and no reply. I think that was a thumbs down LOL.

They both wanted Chinoiserie and Toile, and they both love the rug. But they are very different. One is into crystals and astrology, the other is into crypto and ETFs, LOL. They both like to appear sophisticated. The one who is into crystals had a large glass topped desk, underneath which is a collection of post cards from art museums around the world. The other, I just noticed recently, had a bedside photo of her and her brother when they were toddlers. She and her brother are like oil and water, but she likes the black and gold frame and b/w portraiture. I had to laugh!

Jinx, you are misbehaving. I have an Olde Time photo like that, w friends. Have to find it.

Ilikefriday, I like the b/w idea. Picks up on the rug, and is "sophisticated."

Sueb, love the vibe of Janet Hill. I think the palette and mood might be better for their BAs or BRs. I am going to have to look through her site .... so much cute stuff!

BBSTX, I can see them liking Slim Aarons and I think that would work. I think they have seen his work in a SF museum. Or, they would think I was crazy, IDK!

The idea of prints from vaca is excellent. They both take a ton of pics when we travel. I wonder how big I can make them from an iphone though?

Maddie, You are right. I am not going to worry about that too much though. But it does shape my budget, since the longest they will be there is prob 3 yrs.

Funky, that is cool. I like the urban and retro and feminist vibe.

I just realized I did a puzzle by Janet Hill:

PS I just bought a while bunch of bday cards (including the closet one SueB has a print of) and holiday cards from Janet Hill!

They have Slim Aarons photos in one of the downtown Phila home design stores.. Luxe, maybe? Also in Jonathan Adler's shop.. but that was a number of years ago.

I like them ... but I think I'd tire of them in a primary space.

Perhaps a couple of vintage style travel posters? Society6 has lots.

Retro Travel Posters

I just looked at this on Society6!

3d glasses

Teeda, vintage travel posters is a really good idea. And I cant get one for each of them. Each kid was allowed to choose a trip for their 16th bday. One chose Paris, the other Greece.

Thhe travel posters are a good idea. I would never pick out art for anyone other than myself - how about a gift card for a print seller or a local gallery?

Look at Victoria Borges….so many pretty and unique pieces of wall art…this is one of my favorites… it is called “Soft Spot”

Mtn said ”The idea of prints from vaca is excellent. They both take a ton of pics when we travel. I wonder how big I can make them from an iphone though?”

I did a little poking around on the internet. Canvas HQ was recommended by one site. They have a 30 return policy and free shipping. https://canvashq.com/

Here is their answer to “What resolution does my image need to be?”

We are happy to say that we can accept almost any normal image resolution to make a good print. We recommend 800 x 600 as a good place to start.

On our order page, our system will present to you sizes for your image resolution. For a more concrete number – we generally need at least 60 dpi (dots per inch) at the size you choose for your artwork. For example, if you wanted to order a 16″ x 20″ piece of canvas art, your image would need to be at least 900 x 1200 pixels.

We print your art at 700 – 1400 dpi, so we use sophisticated software to increase the resolution. When we increase the size of your image, if we notice pixelation in your image, we can run your image through a very fancy de-pixelation process that usually fixes the issue.

Rest assured that our graphics professionals look at every single image to make sure it is going to look good for your canvas artwork.

not black and white, but pretty.

Black and white photography does have a cool, sophisticated feel.

Neko, I would generally agree with you, but I think im ok in this case. Would not spend a ton, though

Black and white photography does have a cool, sophisticated feel.

Does anyone remember the recent video tour of a gay couples' CT home? He had two huge b/w prints of a man dancing and a woman dancing? They were great but I am sure $$$$$.

I like the concept of the travel posters, but none of them send me. And can't find two I like together. I did see some luggage tags that I liked but I think they would feel that better suits their brother, an aviation enthusiast and amateur pilot.

Maybe I should look for ginger jars since they like chinoiserie and toile...

You said they take a lot of travel photos … what about having a couple of their favs made into art? It could be an oil painting, abstract, canvas, anything. I’ve done that with Shutterfly, but lots of places do it. I’ve also had books made from photos.

ETA: Oops, bb already suggested that. Sorry, bb! :)

ETA 2: This thread has inspired me to do a coffee table book on vintage sinks.

Go big… get a museum banner or two. betterwall.com has lots in stock that would work thematically and color wise. Impressionist exhibits, esp Mary Cassat, one for an exhibit of several female artists called Her Paris, more contemporary artist (love the woman in curlers) and if they’re into fashion there are a couple for deBorschgrave exhibits.

Bottom half of the above:

They are very different and can be rolled up and easily transported when they move.

KSWL, You know I always think of you when i see museum banners, and I was already there! Given the aspect ratio of the wall, they'd need at least two, but they would be uber bossy in the space. And two would be at least $800; more than i want to spend

Interesting to note, Getty museum sells their own, and for far less.

https://shop.getty.edu/collections/exhibition-banners

I have bought a few things from Laura Row before, and I like her style. I went looking for chinoiserie, but found foo dogs. The girls wanted ceramic ones but I could not find them in the size they needed. These can be done in blue

https://www.etsy.com/listing/243157096/2-art-prints-green-foo-dogs-chinoiserie?variation0=2853106320

You might want to check out the Museum Outlets (I shared the link when we were talking about favorite shops for gifts) It is a rabbit hole for sure.. but I mean that in the very best way. You will find treasures under each subsection .. so I encourage you not to skip travel posters!

Vintage French Advertising Posters — MUSEUM OUTLETS

ART & PRINTS — MUSEUM OUTLETS

You will find advertising images, botanicals, fine art prints, audubon -- a wild mix. I didn't try to choose my favorites, just a variety ..

Also, a number of festivals and events have well-known artists create their posters .. Georgia O'Keefe created the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival posters for a number of years. I have the second one below framed in a thin but ornate gold frame.

Santa Fe Chamber Music – PostersofSantaFe.com

The other one that comes to mind is Spoleto ,, but they tend to be a bit more funky and bold.

Buy a Poster | Spoleto Festival USA 2022 (spoletousa.org)

How about New Yorker covers? The larger size (32 x 24 I think) laminated to a board are a little more than $100 each from art.com

I bought four for DD and SIL’s new house. I also bought them a large French early 20th century painting of the Seine and a beautiful collage by a very talented local Atlanta artist and their faves are the NYer covers 🙄

ginger jars?

Dana Gibson

46x50

https://www.danagibson.com/products/red-dog

A couple of Vogue covers ? The mats and framing size can always be manipulated to render a larger size.

Looks like they are higher now. They are something that might make it to several subsequent abodes though.

One last idea ... and it is a wild card because not what you'd typically have in a main living space..

if you are looking to go black and white (I am not convinced that is best), I have collected a number of these original posters from Apple's "Think Different" campaign from the late 90s. They were produced for distribution to schools .. some of the originals are quite pricey but not all.. and there are some really good reproductions. Some of mine were damaged in a move but I still cherish them.

Some real icons and (for me) some personal heroes.

Or more for a collage -

STOP THE PRESSES! I’ve got it.

Those of you who have been around a while will get this joke. To those of you who haven’t been around a while, this is referencing a time when Mtn was first decorating the ME house.

Arapaho, very pretty!

BBSTX, LOL, I admire it all the time, esp the birds eye maple frame. And the flipflops (Pal's idea!)

Niccihg, those colors are *spot on*. Just love the travel one! Only issue I have is that, when i was in HS, my BFF used vintage Vogue posters in her room, so they feel out of date to me. My own peccadillo!

Funky, those are cool. I think in this case I'd have to be sure they liked/admired that particular person.

KSWL, love NY-er covers; they were a contender when I was looking for art for the ME dining room. In our house, Dad is famous for pretty much constantly reading the Ny-er. The girls will pick it up from time to time but it'd probably most remind them of their Dad. (maybe a good thing!)

BBSTx - red?

Funky, you are right, I could spend all night on that site. But it occurs to me there is nothing retro or vintage about their palette or style. The tones are more cool then warm.

The leading contender is the FooDogs, in blue. I am trying to decide if I can get away with 2 of them in 16x20.... the wall is 10' wide but there is also a large fiddle fern in the corner. I can get a cheap 16x20 frame in a thin black metal, and both prints are only $191 total. I am certain they will like them and it's not a big deal that they will feel obligated to keep and reuse indefinitely.

But I am also going to give them a gift ctf to have enlargements made of some of their fave photos, as BBSTX suggested. I think they'd like that.

With that blue I’d do an antique brass or champagne color frame.

You could also get them a GC to an art studio create their own sixties style spatter paint huge stretched canvas.

Funny, i was just looking at that --- do I want black to pick up the rug, or gold to pick up the mirror. There is also a black and gold floor lamp in that area.

As a rule i only like black frames that are heftier and antique. Thin metal frames in black look to me like a harsh outline.

I see the dogs come in blue but just thinking the green intrigues me- would you consider or am I totally off? ( it's ok . Just thought I'd mention it)

Is any of their own old (school or otherwise) art work suitable for framing ?

You know, I thought about green too, Salon, before the artist replied that she could do another color. But I think the blue may have a better shot of being used in the future.

Gargamel, There is, but I have it framed in our homes. And what's more they aren't crazy about it. go figure.

I think you can find a nice gold frame at a framer shop or even Michael's (they have lots of sales and coupons going) .. something with a little interest. I agree with kswl that unless it is photography a thin black frame isn't the best option for artwork.

They will be thrilled!

@mtnrdredux_gw, I didn't see the video house tour but I remember a thread with a poster who used black and white MCM art photos of individuals in rather contorted positions and now I am wracking my brain trying to recall the artist. Not for your room, but just because I think he was well known and I can't find any images. When I googled 1950s black and white photo woman dancing, I got...this...

For the foo dogs with them only 16x20 add wide Matt and wide gold frames…if you add 4” mat and 3” frame they will be a much better size for such a big wall…they will be 30”x 34” and look fabulous!

Yes! Definitely a mat!

While I agree it would look nice, not planning of matting or fancy framing; it has to stay up with Command hooks. They could always do that at some future point.

Gray Malin is currently having a 30% off sale.

I love Gray Malin, but even on sale they are 4x as much as the FooDogs, something I specifically know the will like.

Now going back to shop for me!