bad art gone good.

9a

via the brick house.

as most of you know, i have a thing for vintage portraits. the funkier, the better. i like the irony i find in a fun vintage painting, and the sense of humor. they can add a unique touch, to a simple, mundane room. i looked around at the selby, at etsy vintage, the paris hotel boutique — all places i know to find good inspiration for this kind of artwork, and found a few great examples of what i mean when i say kitschy, unexpected art, can look really, really good.

3a

via emma’s design blog.

4a

via divine debris vintage.

11a

via living etc. magazine.

1a

via the selby.

2a

via the selby.

6a

via sfgirlbybay.

5avia the selby.

12a

via the uncommoneye.

8a

via sfgirlbybay.

10a

via the brick house.

7a

via paris hotel boutique.

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28 Comments

  1. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:50 am | Permalink

    wonderful group of portraits. animals are my first love, the boy and his dog fishing, oh how I wish it was warm enough to do that.

  2. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:52 am | Permalink

    These are great. My mother despises some of these amazing family portraits that an aunt of our painted but I think they are amazing. There is actually one of my mother and she looks so beautiful. I’m sending this to her just to show her that portraits are totally in. :)

  3. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:54 am | Permalink

    oh man,i love all of these! and i’m KICKING myself for not buying this beauty when i was at Alameda in December: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkonmyfingers/4203689477/in/set-72157623019184006/

    :)

  4. Posted March 1, 2010 at 11:05 am | Permalink

    oooh, that was a good one, susannah. but tricky to transport to the UK, huh? ;)

  5. Posted March 1, 2010 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    Love this post! Pretty much one of my favorite things is to take bad art & make it awesome.

  6. Posted March 1, 2010 at 11:16 am | Permalink

    wonderful collection. my favorite thing about thrifting is finding those soulful, abandoned pieces.

  7. Posted March 1, 2010 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    you might also like this kitch number, but be gentle, it’s my mum :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/karins/3874270831/in/set-72157622479825004/

  8. Posted March 1, 2010 at 12:40 pm | Permalink

    I think they look great in the right environment! They could also look awful in the wrong homes… ;)

    It’s nice to find portraits like those in flea markets though, because there are tons of them, and most people just walk past them! :)

  9. Posted March 1, 2010 at 1:00 pm | Permalink

    Nothing like some vintage art (conventionally tacky or otherwise) to add charm and character to one’s home!

  10. Posted March 1, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Permalink

    so many beautiful portraits…

  11. Posted March 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm | Permalink

    My husband is obsessed with bad art and has an extensive collection. I’ve mostly banned it from the house but this gives me new perspective. He actually owns three portraits done at the same time (from photographs) of the same woman at three different ages. Crazy.

  12. Posted March 1, 2010 at 2:27 pm | Permalink

    You’ve inspired me! I’ve been umming and ahhing over this but reading this brilliant post just pushed me over the edge! http://www.lemonlight.org/weblog/2010/03/the-french-mistress.html

  13. Posted March 1, 2010 at 2:31 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for the inspiration. A great blog!

  14. Posted March 1, 2010 at 3:12 pm | Permalink

    great finds! these are lovely. xo

  15. Posted March 1, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    just amazing!

  16. Posted March 1, 2010 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

    It’s cool that kooky art can rock when it’s in the right setting. I love all the pictures you found!

  17. Posted March 1, 2010 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

    What a nice surprise! I’m reading the post, and there I am. Thank you sooo much! I’m crazy for them too as seen in my house. Thanks for the tips on the others. I’m off to look now!

    XOX Lynn

  18. Posted March 1, 2010 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

    this is amazing!! I love “bad art” Looks so good in the right settings! I love the office! great inspiration.

  19. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    I like that about you. SO unique in your collection. Every time I see one of these I want to ship it to you. =]

  20. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:10 pm | Permalink

    so glad you all like these as much as i did.

    lynn – my pleasure! :)

    leaca – thank you so much!!

  21. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:56 pm | Permalink

    Oh yes, LOVE these! You’re right, something so quirky and beautiful about them

  22. Posted March 1, 2010 at 10:57 pm | Permalink

    Creative pictures. Really nice work, Thanks for sharing.Keep on posting new creations.
    regards
    elleinteriors

  23. Posted March 2, 2010 at 12:27 am | Permalink

    I love portraits, it gives so much atmosphere to a room

  24. Posted March 2, 2010 at 6:40 am | Permalink

    Oh I love vintage portraits…especially when they’re hung in a collection. They just look so charming and whimsical and actually can make great conversation pieces too :)!

  25. Posted March 2, 2010 at 11:01 am | Permalink

    i love portraits (and yarn art), but my husband doesn’t. so they are all in my craft room. i found the BEST portrait of an old lady in a great matching earring and necklace set at a yard sale for 75 cents. the lady selling it said “You’re going to paint over that right?”!!

  26. Posted March 2, 2010 at 11:04 pm | Permalink

    I love found paintings and art. It’s quite lovely to bring someone else’s story into your home.

  27. Posted March 3, 2010 at 6:49 am | Permalink

    Portraits are my absolute favorite. Loved this post!

  28. Posted March 8, 2010 at 6:21 am | Permalink

    i would have never thought to display vintage portraits — but it’s lovely! my grandparents were both painters and their basement is FULL of old portrait paintings… i may have to go scavenging!

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