Yeah there’s a lot going on here. I collect things. But it works, because I have a gift for artfully grouping objects that don’t belong together, like gorilla heads and chewing gum. Get ready to learn something because I’m gonna teach you how to turn this into this. Actually, I have no idea how to do that, but it looks like it took FOREVER.

Let’s get back to the lesson. When you’re displaying a bunch of random stuff, you need to stick to one palette, which is code for a couple of colors. Once you’ve chosen your colors, you’ll want to gather things that are A) similar in shape, medium, or subject matter and B) totally different in every other way.

Maybe that’s confusing. I’ll elaborate. Last night I went up to the keep, which is where I store my vice collection, and tons of other stuff. I pulled out four mirrors, and they are all totally different. I also grabbed a few portraits. One’s an oil, another a charcoal sketch and a third a photograph (different). The butterfly display case and feather choker adds an organic touch (same) and the modern clock plays off the antique cage above it (different, and am I talking down to you now)? There are also some nice circles in that corner, which is calm and happy, kind of like the way you feel after smoking a Gitanes.

Experiment until you have something you love, and then get rid of 1/3 of it because it’s too much. Trust me. Those last five things have to go.

I could go on and on, but that was fun, wasn’t it? Now go make something fantastic out of all of your own stuff.

Love,
Madeline