Painting Over a Vintage Abstract


I picked up this mid-century abstract oil painting at the flea market a while back. I liked it enough but it definitely wasn't love. I bought it for about $20, so I figured I could make something hang-worthy out of it.


When I got it home, I knew it had to be changed. The colors looked so, so drab with my mustard rug and ivory sofa. So using just a couple tubes of oil paints, I mostly went right over the top of artist's patterns and just brightened up the drab colors. So easy! And it looked like a brand new painting in just a couple minutes. :)



Top and bottom images were a part of the photo shoot we did last week at the loft. Photography by Nicole Franzen and styling by Kendra Smoot. I'm going to be showing more images from that shoot this week while we are getting unpacked at the brownstone.
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30 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 13, 2012 at 6:47 AM

    I've been wanting to find some interesting vintage paintings to paint over. Also have to say, that little gray chair is simply stunning! xx

    Anna (My Design Ethos)

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  2. NazAugust 13, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    It boggles my mind when I see people paying top dollar for what a little imagination can do. Your painting now looks so fresh and new.

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  3. pve designAugust 13, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Your propped painting looks much happier to be near those pretty pillows. You always imbibe such freshness in everything you do.
    pve

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  4. Crissy @ House of MarloweAugust 13, 2012 at 8:28 AM

    This looks amazing!..... and fun!

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  5. SamiAugust 13, 2012 at 8:29 AM

    So much brighter!! I love that wall full of art and that grey chair is just so cute!

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  6. Emma (Glitter and Gold)August 13, 2012 at 9:05 AM

    Wow great idea!!!! I looks amazing!

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  7. blue chickadeeAugust 13, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    Is this an inside peek at the new place?! Love the gallery wall and amazing job on the vintage painting update!! Can't wait to see more pictures!

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  8. blue chickadeeAugust 13, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    Is this an inside peek at the new place?! Love the gallery wall and amazing job on the vintage painting update!! Can't wait to see more pictures!

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  9. ChristaAugust 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    Great idea! I'm always looking for art at garage sales and flea markets, so I'll have to keep this in mind.

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  10. FROM THE RIGHT BANKAugust 13, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    First, awesome art wall! I'm looking forward to seeing more photos. Second, I'm actually doing the same thing right now only it's a figurative painting and one of the figures is hideous so I'm painting over that part. I hope I don't make it worse! :)

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  11. Mary Ann PickettAugust 13, 2012 at 1:23 PM

    How clever! BH&G did a photo shoot of our living room and I borrowed a modern piece of artwork for it...I sooo wanted to keep it but it was out of my price range. NOW YOURS is in my price range :)

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  12. White LacquerAugust 13, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    Love your new updated version. :)

    Cant wait to see the rest of the photos, and even more so your new space!!

    Xx. Patience

    Whitelacquer.blogspot.com

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  13. HannahAugust 13, 2012 at 1:40 PM

    I would have never thought to do that, but I'm glad I saw this! Can't look at vintage abstract the same way now :)

    Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget

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  14. Matters of StyleAugust 13, 2012 at 2:52 PM

    So clever! Looks great!!

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  15. eLIZabeth FloydAugust 13, 2012 at 3:21 PM

    How clever!

    Also I love the arrangement of the purple pokeberries in the urn, another clever solution :)

    Liz

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  16. AnonymousAugust 13, 2012 at 4:16 PM

    Great idea! Only one more month until the next Antique Faire here. You know what I will be looking for!

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  17. a little sewingAugust 13, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    WOW. I am amazed and impressed.
    beautiful work!

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  18. MarthaAugust 13, 2012 at 6:43 PM

    dude. i love stuff like this. a little change made a huge difference! love it.

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  19. Jenna at HomesliceAugust 13, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    It was MADE for your sofa pillows. They're perfect together! Great job!

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  20. KarenaAugust 13, 2012 at 10:34 PM

    Jenny it is now bright light and energizing!! I love what you have accomplished!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena
    2012 Artists Series featuring Harrison Howard

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  21. BarbieAugust 13, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    what a fantastic tip! love the updates to your old room. can't wait to see what's to come.

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  22. AmberAugust 13, 2012 at 11:44 PM

    Your loft looks like an Elle Decor shoot here! Can't wait to see the brownstone.

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  23. FerrenAugust 14, 2012 at 4:44 AM

    What if that was a Kandinsky?!!! Just kidding. It looks great. I'm major jeals of that wall of great art!

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  24. Hollie @ I'm Busy ProcrastinatingAugust 14, 2012 at 8:17 AM

    I have been thinking about doing that same thing. Sometimes the colors just aren't quite right. Thanks for giving us the inspiration to try it out!

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  25. QuatorzeAugust 14, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Easy idea and no great loss from the original. Not to burst a balloon, but, you do realize that the abstract was a horizontal piece? If you turn the original one turn to the left, making the left the bottom, you see a chickadee, a person running toward you with an arm outstretched, a road, and another person running from left to right, albeit with an indistinct head, among other identifiable items...

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  26. AmberAugust 14, 2012 at 9:27 AM

    Your gallery wall looks so awesome. The painting looks so fresh.

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  27. ArtsnarkAugust 14, 2012 at 10:49 AM

    looks great! I've done the same with cheap "factory art" prints too, mostly classical landscapes. Great way to learn color relationships too

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  28. UnknownAugust 14, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    I'm excited to see pictures of the rest of the old loft! I love what you did with that old painting. It echoes the feel of the pillows so well. Also, so random that you know Kendra and Seth. Kendra dated my brother in law for a while. Small world!

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  29. UnknownAugust 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM

    This was such a good idea and it really works too! I'm not sure I'd be brave enough but then if it didn't cost must to begin with I could be tempted. I wonder if you increased the value!

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  30. KellzAugust 16, 2012 at 12:52 AM

    I am in love with the chair in this room. Where did you get it?

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)