Jacqueline Becker: Harness the Power of Your Art

You’ve taken the plunge, fallen in love with and purchased artwork for your home. Perhaps you already know where it will be sited. But even if placement seems predetermined by available wall space and your interior design, you may wish to keep in mind a few guidelines to get the greatest pleasure from your art.

Layering
Interior designers advocate ‘layering’ lighting, allowing you to accentuate parts or all of a space depending on your mood. Layering artwork is similar.  By keeping in mind the visual relationship between various works of art seen from any particular vantage point, you can lead the eye through a space and make the individual works of art even more exciting through their association with one another.

Create synergy between your artwork and your architecture by ‘layering’ art.

Photographs courtesy of Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services unless otherwise noted

Photography by Michael J Lee.

Engaging the viewer from the front entrance of this condo, art on multiple planes is orchestrated to pull you through the space.

Photography by Michael J Lee.

Height
In my thirty-three years as an art consultant, perhaps the biggest common plunder I encounter is hanging art work too high or too low.  Take your cue on height from the function of the room and what that means for the typical vantage point of the viewer.  Hang art on the low side in dining rooms, living rooms and other spaces where the viewer is customarily seated.  Conversely, if you have a tall, grand architectural area, bring the eye up by hanging work on the high side.

Hang work low over a couch to create intimacy.

Photograph Courtesy of Nicole Hogarty Designs

When you have dramatic architectural volumes, celebrate them by guiding the eye with your artwork.

Galleries
Arrange a gallery by grouping varied works of art ‘salon’ style to create pleasing asymmetry. Limit your frame finishes to just a few colors but in varied moldings to keep it interesting. Use an uneven number of works to further balance the layout.

Salon style gallery groupings are a wonderful way to enjoy an eclectic assortment of artwork while achieving a refined, interesting display.

Create a strong statement by hanging multiples in a grid pattern.

Groups of four similar works of art arranged in a square take on a quiet authority.

Photograph Courtesy of Nicole Hogarty Designs

Photography by Michael J. Lee

Hallway Galleries
Hallways are natural galleries since the viewer is almost always standing in the space. Artwork is seen from close up, and can be placed to enhance one’s experience of the space by drawing you through the hallway. End walls are ready made ‘theaters’ that visually frame your artwork. Pictorial work can evoke virtual windows in light challenged halls.

A dead end wall at the end of a hallway becomes a visual destination with the right artwork.

Photograph Courtesy of Nicole Hogarty Designs

Photography by Michael J. Lee

A small hallway alcove serves to frame the art as it becomes part of this charming tableau.

Since 1982, the award-winning firm of Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services has been guiding residential and commercial clients in finding their perfect artwork. Jacqui holds an MA in Art History and a BA in Journalism, and has been thrilled to share her passion for art collecting with live and print audiences throughout New England.