Want To Change Your Life? Change Your Art!

As I wrote my last house reno check to the contractors, I remembered when the house redo all began. It was a cold week at the beginning of 2021. There was a holiday trifecta — Chinese Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. I considered it a three-times-a-charm push to better design my life. Fortunately, the energy of Chinese New Year, a celebration of prosperity, great health and welcoming good luck, was accessible through the end of February. I saw that draft blowing through my need-to-be replaced windows as my feng shui gods telling be to change things up.

Chinese astrology, the basis of the holiday, along with the various culture-rich traditions are a history lesson in itself, but the non-appropriating take away is that symbols matter.

One of the laws of feng shui, the Chinese art of placement reminds us that our experiences are often influenced by what surrounds us. Literally and symbolically. Ancient interior decor masters suggest adopting a more intuitive eye about what we place before us.

The Art of Looking and Seeing

Looking to pad your Marc Jacobs wallet, place bowls of lemons and oranges on your kitchen counter (they are symbolic of tree energy and fruits of labor). Or place a flash mirror behind your stove top to double your burners and your money luck. But what does this really mean to you? When you see lemons, prosperity come to mind, or do you make a mental bee-line to Beyonce?

We can think of looking and seeing only in regard to art or we can consider the meaning we consciously and subconsciously attribute to image and symbols. For instance, the sight of a bedside table with loads of books can represent a literary lull to sleep or a thought provoking all-nighter. Take a look even closer to the types of books on that nightstand — go ahead and look at the cover. Ask yourself — What do I see? What does it remind me of? How does it make me feel? I remember a one-sided love affair I was having with writer Alain De Botton. I was rereading “Kiss & Tell” and “Essays in Love”. Both book cover images depicted trouble in relationships. Needless to say, I was single.

Artsy Fartsy

The masters also knew that art (paintings, sculpture, photos) can play a key role in energizing your space and inviting abundance, love, success and even glamour into your life. It’s no wonder that traditional Chinese art is rich with auspicious colors and magical animals. Remember, art is subjective and not everyone has a fondness for opulent golds, reds, bold tigers and dragons.

An alternative art source, contemporary art, while more easily available and relatable, comes with its own set of challenges. It breaks rules, establishes new ones and asks the viewer to perceive and value images based on new criteria — their own tastes and values. Contemporary art is also on occasion pretentious, indulgent, simple (as in “duh” or “that’s it?”) and at times displeasing.

Yes, beauty and art is in the eye of the beholder, but some pieces of art are best beheld in a gallery not your home — imagine John Currin’s portraits staring back as you drink your morning coffee or your entertain guests.

Art is more than canvas and photographs. Some call it design when applied to furnishings and household items, but is there really a difference between a sculptural teapot, candle stick holder, side table, lamp base, or stand-alone item with zero utility; that aside from being the object of gaze? And is the pattern of of colors more artful when framed than when on a pillow or rug? When does wallpaper not count as art on your wall?

So what’s a “beautiful life” feng shui apprentice to do? Aside from vision boarding your entire home by say hanging torn editorial spreads from your latest Harper’s Bazaar (not a terrible idea but a bit more university-chic than fantastic), investing in expensive albeit worthwhile Francesco Clemente painting, or wallpapering every room?

Is What You See, What You Get?

Fortunately art has become more affordable and egalitarian. Etsy is a great resource for emerging artists and artfully handmade crafts. You can experiment with artful objects, crafts and even hangable artworks without shelling out tons. Pexel and Unsplash offer free downloads of beautiful photography that you can print and frame at your own preference and cost.

Want something more personal? The Heirloomist, creates gallery worthy photos of your own stuff. While seated at your desk, you can eye-spy the beautifully photographed title page of that signed copy of Hillary Clinton’s Living History. Get work out mojo with a glance of the worn running shoes that crossed the Boston Marathon finish line with you beautifully displayed In a framed print.

Magazine aficionados will gush at Conde Nast’s online shop, where one can buy editorial shots, portraits and vintage magazine covers of most of their publications. One could maximize their closet and travel luck by framing modestly priced box-framed vintage Vogue magazines. If street-glamour photography (a hybrid of street photography and high society) better suits your aesthetic, visit Getty Images Gallery for expertly printed fine art photographs. The print-to-order service, commonly used by interior designers and decorators sourcing art for office spaces and even restaurants is accessible to the everyday Jane. Gorgeous black and white or color prints of real-life dinner parties, fashion shows and lounge days at the beach are available at sizes as small as 8×10 and as large as poster or even semi-mural size for a new collector’s price.

If there are areas in your life that need some juzzing, consider the symbols that surround you? Are you looking for love but have only images of single women in your home? Want to be perceived as a leader in your field, not a “woman leader”? You might want to chuck all those ‘boss lady’ mugs in your desk and find one that simply says “Boss”. As you walk through your space ask yourself if what you seek and/or inspires you is represented in what you see on a daily basis. If not, hang up a piece of new art and luck will flow your way.

Check more commentary about city living (all about you and yours. Personal exploration, relationships, family, parenting, work-life balance, self-care, mental and physical wellness) in The Homesteadista.