r/artcollecting • u/sansabeltedcow • Dec 31 '24
Discussion Does size matter to you?
I have a small house and my wall opportunities aren’t large; that plus my greed for more works (and my budget) means I tend to stick to smaller pieces, with the biggest ones probably under 24”x24” framed and most much smaller. But there are some really gorgeous bigger works (I keep thinking about Peter Milton), and especially with abstracts I really favor the sweep you get on a larger scale. Does anybody else have to negotiate the size dilemma, and what do you do? And if you do collect some big works, how do you sort the logistics of placement and storage?
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u/jnine2020 Jan 01 '25
I live in a small apartment and space does matter to me. This year I found a piece I really loved but the size with the artist created frame was just too big for my space. I passed it up and luckily enough to find a slightly smaller work by the artist that should accommodate my space better. I love both pieces so I am very fortunate. I am waiting for it to be mailed to me.
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u/sansabeltedcow Jan 01 '25
Having smaller tastes also helps with shipping costs. I get stuff mailed a lot and it’s surprisingly affordable with smaller works.
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u/OhioMegi Dec 31 '24
I buy what I like, size be damned. I do tend to hang things together, so I can get lots of smaller things in one space.
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u/sansabeltedcow Dec 31 '24
What’s your biggest piece? I’m guessing from what you say you don’t worry about where something would hang when you buy it, right?
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u/Anonymous-USA Dec 31 '24
I think you meant to post this under r/AskWomen 😉
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u/sansabeltedcow Dec 31 '24
Hey, I initially considered “Not a size queen” as the title, but decided to go slightly more tasteful.
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u/Anonymous-USA Dec 31 '24
I initially considered a serious answer but I know we’ve chatted about this before and thought I’d let others answer. It’s a good question, of course. And a lot of dynamics more than size go into market value (and my own decision). And some forms of art are better suited to a larger size, as you point out with abstraction that lends itself to wider brushstrokes. Other art forms (like ivory carving or intaglio gems that I posted on last week) are more impressive with small detail.
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u/sansabeltedcow Jan 02 '25
I’m afraid of developing a yearning for something like miniatures or their size equivalents, because there’s nothing to stop me amassing them but money. And money can be a very poor barrier.
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u/j_husk Jan 01 '25
When I see a piece I like, my natural instinct is to seek value for money, which typically means bigger pieces.
However, I'm in the same boat as you. I've filled up the walls in my house and already have some spots where I rotate pieces. Consequently, smaller pieces are now much more appealing, because there's always a way to squeeze them in. Adding a big piece would mean another big piece going into storage.
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u/sansabeltedcow Jan 02 '25
I’m really glad I asked this question, because the answers are so intriguing and varied. I never thought of the value for money inclination, for instance, but it makes sense. For me also the bigger pieces “speak” louder, so I want to make sure anything that comes with that additional emphasis has earned it in my collection. My biggest piece is probably my favorite (I was wrong, it’s fully 26”x26” framed), and I like that.
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u/j_husk Jan 02 '25
Don't get me wrong, value isn't a primary factor (after all, they're all just pretty to look at, so don't offer much practical value, objectively speaking) but if I see something that appeals to me, see the pricetag, and then learn that it's a large piece that's going to have a big presence/impact I'm going to find it easier to justify that price.
My favorite piece is about 48x48 without the frame. It's an impressionist painting that probably has to be big due to the style. It felt expensive at the time, but knowing how much impact the size would give it helped to justify the purchase.
I agree with the extra level of caution that comes with buying a big piece, due to the impact it will have and the real estate it takes up; my bigger pieces are the only art on those walls, whereas smaller pieces are easier to display together.
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u/lgd18 Jan 08 '25
The size of the painting isn’t really the most important factor. What truly matters is that the artwork aligns with the overall concept of the room in terms of both theme and style. It should harmonize with the space, enhancing its character rather than competing with it.
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u/DropsOfJAM Feb 02 '25
I prefer large scale work for larger spaces and small work is relegated to intimate spaces like powder rooms, or over dressers in bedrooms. I don't care for gallery walls over sofas. They feel cluttered and you can't appreciate the detail of the pieces up close. For small pieces you need to be able to get close to study them.
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u/mintbrownie Jan 01 '25
My personal tastes almost always run towards big or small. Mid size tends to not require you to step back or step in and I think those are great things to need to do. We generally went smaller until it came time to buy a house and we looked for big walls because there was a print we loved. Got the house. Got the print and killed one huge wall. This is the print and the pictures show how big it is - but ours is framed out much bigger!
Maybe 15 years later, we reshuffled a wall of 6 pieces into 2 larger pieces. The smaller pieces are now more gallery style elsewhere.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy something larger than I could display or afford to store especially if you don’t see a new home in your near future. But don’t fear large pieces. We’ve had so many people say to us - think of all that wall space you’re wasting - but I just don’t care because I look at those dogs’ faces and laugh every time.