Reader Q: Canvassing for Ideas

Now that I have hung my awesomely large modern painting in my living room, I am finally able to decide what to hang on the other walls.  As I’m on a budget (the kind that doesn’t include, heaven forfend,  purchases of  professional art) I’d like to make a piece of art (maybe 2’x3′ or 3’x4′) to hang on one of the other walls.

I know I won’t be the first to make my own art.  Julia did it at Open Hand Living.  Sherry does it often at Young House Love.  Dixie did it at Dixie DIY. And I know there’s many more of you out there who have done the same thing.  (Just can’t remember specifics right now!)

But I need a vision.   I’ve been scouring the internet for inspiration pieces.  I’m hoping to do something along the lines of a mid-century modern work, but at the same time don’t just want to paint a blue square on a white canvas and call that art.    I don’t want to exactly copy a piece either – I’d like to take inspiration from several works and create something unique to me.  Here are some inspirations I’ve found so far:

Controllable Chaos, 2005, by Tonya Newton (Photo credit: Retro At Home)

Mid-century Vase Art (title unknown) by Robert Lyons (Photo credit: ApartmentTherapy.com)

I really like the simple yet playful lines of these vases.  This is probably the one I’m most likely to emulate in my art attempt.

MCM painting, artist unknown (Photo credit: Fabulousmess on Etsy)

I also looove this one.  It’s like flowers exploded on a canvas.  However, I bet this style is harder to recreate.

MCM-inspired painting by Dixie DIY blogger Dixie Davis, 2009
Don’t you love how, after seeing a museum exhibit on mid-century art,  Dixie took matters into her own hands and crafted this simple yet stunning piece of art?

So, readers, any thoughts on the above art?  I’m leaning towards making a MCM vase-inspired painting, but in bolder colors than the example above.  Have any thoughts on what would or would not work?  Have any examples of your own homemade art to share?