Artsy Hideout

One of the challenges of going FT RV is losing the ability to display more inspirational art on the walls.  For years I have enjoyed visiting antique shops, thrift stores, and art galleries and picking up pieces that spoke to me.  It was one of the few things the 4000 square foot house offered - lots of walls upon which to hang things!  We had to get rid of tons of it.  I tried to gift much of it, but much also ended up in boxes in storage.  Only a few choice pieces were chosen to move with us into the Hideout.  There was really no discussion about which ones because the most obvious choices were some of the pieces by Laura Wacha.  Her social commentary expressed through struggling cartoon monsters tells the dangers of excessive consumption, the dark drama of political theater, and the daily grind of parenthood (among other things).  From the first time I saw her work I felt like she was a kindred spirit who was able to capture the madness of life.

For years we have talked about getting the pieces we purchased framed, but it seemed like a necessity when talking about hanging work in the Hideout.  So a couple weeks ago we took four pieces to Hobby Lobby and were assisted by a very excellent and competent framing professional.  We wanted simple frames that would accentuate, but mainly protect, the paintings.  Three of the pieces were small and we opted for plain black frames.  The fourth, entitled "Want Not," is special.  The representative suggested a number of choices before presenting us with a simple goldish frame that is mounted with a gap between the painting and the frame.  It is certainly hard to describe...so here are some before and after pictures (I only have my phone camera - please excuse the quality of photos).

Day In, Day Out

With a plain black wood fram

Want Not

Framed with a .25" gap to the frame

So after getting them framed, the question has been how to hang them!?!  The walls in this trailer seems to be made of a pegboard-like material and are just as thick.  There are few studs - we were able to hit one to mount a TV - so the goal was to mount Want Not in a stud and find another solution for Day In, Day Out and the other two of the same size.  The frames certainly added weight to the paintings.  I was thinking command hooks or strips at first until I saw these Monkey Hooks at the store...

Holy hanging, these are excellent for places without a stud.  They are made to work in drywall but they also work in crappy wallboard in trailers!  Here are an assortment of various kinds.

Thankfully we were able to hit the stud for Want Not and the Monkey Hooks work great for the little ones.  We would never leave these hanging when we are moving - we will lay them on the bed.  But while we are parked, having these on the wall makes this little Hideout is feel much more like home!