Decorating my Dining Room with My Own Art and Others' Art

Etsy Shop:  ShenVintageCreations

I finally finished my "Steampunk Wall" in my dining room and thought I would write a blog about the art that went into this wall design as well as my dining room as a whole.  If you have had a chance to read the About Me section of my website, then you already know that I live in an 1880s Victorian home.  Victorian decorating lends itself to over-the-top displays of competing textures, colors, designs and the concept that MORE is better.  If you lean more towards minimalist or contemporary styles of décor, this may not be your cup of tea.  Perhaps, though, you can appreciate the individual pieces of art and think of ways in which you might integrate whimsical assemblage art into your own home décor.

I will start with showing the individual pieces of art and then end with photos of the room as a whole.​

MY OWN ART

Majestique

Tootsie & The Magic Rings

Hootie

The Offering

Carnivale de Paris

Wings Begotten

In Memorium

Stilts the Clown

Next is a photo of a glass covered oak wood cabinet within which I have placed various found objects, antique tins, and some of my assemblage sculptures.  This cabinet became the first piece on the wall around which I created the other works.  The photo is with the glass door open to get rid of the glare.  The pony piece (Mustard), two dogs (Princely Beau Boxer and Frenchie) and two dolls (Meanie Queenie and Overly Corseted Cora) are my own assemblage sculptures and are also individually shown below.

Cabinet with Different Assemblages

Frenchie

Mustard

Meanie Queenie

Overly Corseted Cora

AMY FLYNN'S FOBOTS

Below are photos of my 4 Fobots (Found Object Robots) by Amy Flynn.  I had seen Amy's work through internet searches, on Pinterest and even in an airline magazine!  I finally got to meet Amy in person when she was selling in person in November 2018 at a nearby Juried Art fair through Paradise City Art Fair in Marlborough, MA.  I was so thrilled to be able to pick out these 4 fabulous one-of-a-kind pieces!

JANET SCHUSTER ART

These next few pieces are by Janet Schuster at VisualApothecary.com.  I was honored to sell next to Janet at the 2015 Springfield Vermont Steampunk Festival.  Click here to view my blog about that steampunk fair.  I loved Janet's use of antique photographic portraiture to give each of her one-of-a-kind pieces their individual character.  Here are Janet's pieces that I incorporated into my steampunk wall:

MIXED MEDIA ART OF VALERIE BUNNELL

This next piece is by a long-time Mixed Media Artist, Valerie Bunnell. She incorporates her own pottery heads and arms into her assemblages.  I was very drawn to this piece because of the circus theme.  You may be aware that I had the opportunity to design and create a whimsical circus-themed window display for the American Folk Art Museum in NYC back in December 2016.  Click here to read my blog about that wonderful experience.  I met Valerie at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, MA in October 2018.  I remember telling her that I had wished that I had known her when I was designing the window display as it would have been fun to do a collaboration.  Here is a photo of her piece that I purchased.  I put her piece inside the box which I lined with acid free circus imagery and topped off with extraordinary Victorian brass furniture pulls:
​

Here is a photo of how I combined Valerie's piece which I placed in a wood box and then placed my own piece Stilts the Clown on top:

BARTHOLOMEW'S BRILLIANT BOXES

This next piece is called Rocket Man by Bart's Brilliant Boxes.  I also bought him at the Paradise City Arts Fair in Marlborough, MA.  What is amazing about this husband and wife art team is how they not only make fabulous found object robots, but also integrate electricity in various clever ways.  This piece has a special bulb that looks like a flame!

Rocket Man by Bart's Brilliant Boxes

VINTAGE ANDROID ART BY AMY ALISON KNUTSON

My newest acquisition is Gunther, the Bugle Boy by Amy Alison Knutson of Vintage Android Art.  I fell in love with him while perusing Etsy.  I thought he fit in very well with my Amy Flynn Fobots and my Rocket Man by Bart's Brilliant Boxes:

Gunther, the Bugler by Amy Alison Knutson of Vintage Android Art

CALMWATER DESIGNS BY STEPHANIE YOUNG

A very different style of art from what is displayed above, but nevertheless integrates well into the design of my dining room, are Stephanie Young of Calmwater Designs' exquisite one-of-a-kind hand carved and painted porcelain art nouveau vases.  I discovered her also at the Paradise City Arts fairs in Massachusetts. Here are the 5 vases I currently have in my collection: 

ALEXANDRA TANSEY

And last but now least, my dining room has two of my own teenage daughter's oil paintings that complement the coloring and décor of the room (whose primary colors are blue and red).  

Transition in Light by Alexandra Tansey (aged 17)

Self-Portrait by Alexandra Tansey (aged 16)

THE BIG REVEAL OF DINING ROOM DECOR

Here are the photos of how all these pieces have come together to bring character and interest into my Victorian era dining room:

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.  If you are interested in signing up for my e-mail list/newsletter, please click here and you will be directed to my homepage where you may do so.  Happy Artistic Collecting and Decorating!