My Favorite Source for Affordable Art (No, It’s Not IKEA)

Arlyn HernandezMay 30, 202115 Comments

Here’s a provocative statement: A room is not finished unless there is art up on the wall. I’m pretty sure I lived in my first two apartments without any art up on my walls, and it wasn’t until I started nailing up pretty things to look at that things really started coming together. Art, of course, can be something you make, find, buy at a store, or collect from artists and galleries. I’ve had some really wonderful pieces up that were nothing more than scribbles from an artsy friend, or even an old palm frond I spray painted and mounted on pretty paper. Honestly, you could put a torn paper out of a textbook in a frame with a wide mat and it could look interesting. Matting and framing is an art form all their own but that’s not what I’m here to talk about today.

Nope, today, I’m sharing one of my absolute favorite sources for affordable art that I’ve used time and again for personal projects and even larger photoshoots at work. Ladies and the two gentlemen that read, you should know about Juniper Print Shop.

I’m not super fond of just finding a bunch of stuff online or in some random aisle at the local Ross and calling it a day. Your art should say something about you and to you, but it doesn’t all have to be so precious. Sometimes, you just need some color and visual interest over a case good, or to fill a hole in a gallery wall you’re building. Juniper Print Shop has so many great pieces without getting overwhelmed with choices like, say, Minted.com. I love Minted.com, but I’m often wondering what I didn’t see, and I hate that feeling. Apart from being well-curated, another thing I love about JPS is all the options you get in terms of sizes. Most if not all are available in seven sizes ranging from 16×20 at $40 all the way up to super large-scale like 55×70 at around $150ish (for the record, buying a piece of art that large anywhere else would be several hundred if not thousands, so it’s a steal). Plus, if you chose to do an instant digital download—$20— there are even more sizes you can pick at different ratios. This girl loves options (but not too many).

If you’re familiar with Jenny Komenda of Juniper Home (way, way previously of Little Green Notebook), she’s the mastermind behind Juniper Print Shop, so you know it all has a designer touch. Can we all agree to stop going straight to IKEA for art, now? Pretty please? I already had to have a talk with one of my close friends about this. Don’t make me do it with you. IKEA for frames, yes, but not for what goes in the frames. Deal?

Feel free to peruse around the online store yourself, but here are some of my favorites right now:

I have plenty of more sources up my sleeve, so I’ll start sharing them here and there for you all. That’s it for today. Have a beautiful Sunday and holiday weekend (if you’re stateside).

See you tomorrow, FOAS.

Project 365

wally says:

May 30, 2021 at 4:55 am

I’ve gotten some great art from chairish – not super spendy and sometimes original arts or prints of original art.
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  May 30, 2021 at 7:18 pm
  
  Oh you saying this makes me also say Etsy. Great vintage art, too. But Chairish is awesome for so many things.
Rusty says:

May 30, 2021 at 5:37 am

I can’t get myself to buy prints. Being artistic and being (so grateful) able to throw ceramics, paint and draw, I’ve only bought a handful of print art in my lifetime.
But, I appreciate the cost-effectiveness of prints and the depth they bring to a house to make it a home.
One of those prints is in my spare room – love it! Another is a vintage print of a botanical drawing of sunflowers hanging in my hallway – cozy warmth.
So, yeah, even we really artistic people can find special pieces to add depth, interest and cozy into our homes.
Nice recommendations, Arlyn! 😊
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  May 30, 2021 at 7:20 pm
  
  I can’t paint or draw to save my life. I did two take art classes in high school, and when I learned some of the techniques, I wasn’t completely awful, but it’s not my art form, that’s for sure. Doesn’t soothe me or come naturally to me at all!
  1. Rusty says:
    
    May 30, 2021 at 9:10 pm
    
    I can actually literally lose hours when I’m in my creative zone!
    Art, gardening, cooking and singing are my soul activities. 😊
Emie says:

May 30, 2021 at 6:37 am

My parents collected art. A LOT of art. When my mom moved into her 1 bed, 1 bath place she insisted on taking it all. EVERY single square inch of her place is COVERED with art (it’s also full of furniture). My mom has issues with letting go. There’s no place for your eyes to rest and it’s too stimulating for my taste. For myself, I’ve chosen fewer pieces with deep meaning to me and evoke a feeling of warmth.
1. Rusty says:
  
  May 30, 2021 at 8:55 am
  
  A couple of years after we came to Australia, my parents bought an 18 piece painting collection by an artist from the Heidelberg School (it’s a renowned art movement in South Australia). After my mum died, we divided it up. I have two paintings and I love them. They were just on paper and I framed them in IKEA frames, bug yhey look fabulous. They’re landscapes of mountains in the Australian outback and worth quite a bit. They collected coins n stamps too.
  Holding onto all that art must be difficult. It’s a shame your mom hasn’t done a living will and passed it on to you n your siblings, so she can choose where each piece goes?
  1. Emie says:
    
    May 30, 2021 at 10:40 am
    
    Unfortunately neither my sister or I want any of it… they’re beautiful but not really our style. Some paintings are from artists who are regionally well known. My brother may take them… otherwise, who knows? My mom is a “fancy” lady or what others would “deem” formal. 😁
2. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  May 30, 2021 at 7:20 pm
  
  Yikes that sounds visually stressful!
MKW says:

May 30, 2021 at 9:38 am

Ohhhh…. I miss “Little Green Notebook.” It was an inspiring read.
1. Arlyn Hernandez says:
  
  May 30, 2021 at 7:18 pm
  
  Me, too! It was one of the first home blogs I ever encountered way back when.
Misty says:

May 31, 2021 at 3:57 am

I’ve been debating purchasing wall art from Juniper Print for quite some time. I’m just in a design rut. I plan on painting my walls soon and guess I should do that first. Maybe? Anyway, thanks for sharing your faves. We had many in common.
Pam says:

May 31, 2021 at 11:05 am

Thanks so much for sharing this source. I adore botanicals, landscapes and birds in artwork. Those in your selected favorites are drawing me in. The pasture scene could just be “the one” for a wall in the dining nook at our farm that I’ve been wrangling with in my mind for the past month!
1. Deborah in Seattle says:
  
  May 31, 2021 at 1:09 pm
  
  Art does add the final touch to a room and expression and I love seeing it up on the walls. I have two pieces of my own artwork (done in collage) on the walls of my home, though the rest (too big) are stored in my basement, it makes me happy to see them. I hope to begin painting again sometime later this year, I have the supplies, I need to set up the space after clearing it with a big purge!
  
  Art student work is a wonderful way to add original art to your home, most art schools have senior group shows at the end of the year, and many pieces are for sale at mostly affordable prices. Also, many artists will accept payments on artwork, so if you fall in love with something, don’t be afraid to ask.
  
  I bought my first original art at the end of an art demonstration on mono printing, it was a pretty floral of a protea. I asked the demo artist if the piece was for sale and for how much, she said $50 – it was also my birthday – so I bought it!
  
  Thanks Arlyn for writing about sourcing art!
  1. Deborah in Seattle says:
    
    May 31, 2021 at 1:11 pm
    
    Whoopsie I meant to leave a general comment, not a reply!