I agree, I liked the pics as you had them originally. I like your candle holder, maybe just remove everything else and see if that is better.

hmmm, thats a 'toughy'. I am thinking I like the one with the blue in it, and maybe you can find a piece of pottery or jar that is weighty in either the green or the blue? with the other side having those pretty candles in a close grouping, but neither right under the sconces as that might distract the view from the pretty sconces. Have them more in the are in between the sconces and the painting? IMO. Very pretty fireplace and mantel you have. Your idea of keeping it simple is great. If you decide to do the green painting then you could balance it with a green object/vase etc.

I like the simplicity of the first picture with only the candle holders.

I'm one who likes stuff too, so I know how you feel. As for the paintings, in real life is it really that dark in the corner? If not I'd leave them the new way for a few days to a week and see how the room "feels".
By the way who is the artist of the picture that was first in the corner? The long narrow piece. I love that style and would love to see if I can find more work by them.

justgotabme, the artist of the lighter color painting is Jane Dahmen. Link to her web site below. Warning, we spend a lot of money on art, so don't be shocked by her prices (although I don't think they are posted on her site). We have another painting by her, too, a landscape of Tuscany. Her style is so interesting. DH would like one of her still lifes too, but they don't appeal to me as much.

I keep thinking of the idea of a long, low box -- of some sort -- sitting on the mantle under the painting. Maybe an artist-created sort of box with the colors of the painting reflected in it. I haven't seen anything like what I'm envisioning, but maybe I'll come across it one day!

Here is a link that might be useful: Jane Dahmen

Hi,
I prefer the first pic.

Thanks so much for the info and link Sue. I'm heading there right now. I'd expect originals to be priced for what they are, a work of art.

I am so surprised at the difference in what I'd call "talent" of her work. both in the landscape and still life. Some look very amateurish where others are excellent! It almost looks as the amateurish ones were done by someone trying to copy her work, but not having the talent she does.
What do you think?

I totally agree, justgotabme, there is a huge difference in the quality of her work.

Sueb20, have you thought about framing them and lighting them? It's a lot of money to be spending and you must enjoy them but by putting them on the wall like that, it does seem to be cheapening them.

Well this discussion has certainly veered off into areas I didn't expect to cover! I have not spent a lot of time looking at all of JD's work, especially not recently. When we have bought her paintings they have been at a gallery that had maybe 10 of her works along with a lot of other artists. Out of say 10 paintings, I might like 2 or 3 of them. OTOH, the other artist shown in my pictures? -- Margaret Gerding -- I like almost everything she does!

Like I said, I have never liked JD's still life work, but I do like a lot of her landscapes. Some of the birch tree paintings I have seen in person, and they're striking. Her style is not for everyone though, for sure.

htnspz, both of these paintings were not meant to be framed. The one we have over the fireplace (originally -- the darker one) is painted on a board and the sides of the board are painted, which is hard to see in my photos, but they are painted decoratively in such a way that it is obviously not meant to be framed. In the Dahmen painting, the picture goes all the way around the sides of the canvas; again, it is not intended to be framed. We have a lot of artwork, most of it framed, and I do know the difference between art that should be framed and art that does not need to be framed.

As far as "lighting" them -- well the one over the FP is flanked by two sconces. I think hanging a picture light over it would be a little overkill. As for the other one, I don't know. It's never occurred to me.

Having the sides painted does not necessarily mean the art is to not be framed. When I was art school we were taught to do that to finish off the painting (I was an artist before I became an Interior Designer)and it is considered a professional standard even if it will be framed at a later date. Ultimately, You can do what you want with your painting, it's yours and it's your house.

Btw, I agree, those birch paintings are to die for and it's nice to see someone paying for someone's artistic talent.

I like the first painting, but really wanted to reply to tell you that I think your crown and box beams are beautiful!

I like the first painting too.

Another voice for the original arrangement. Is that a green bunny head to right of fireplace? Love it. And the other objects around the room.

Couple of ideas, that they may or may not work. The center placement of the linear candle holder feels a bit static - maybe try it to the left of center. Possibly move painting down to meet the mantel, or nearly meet it.

I like the first painting where it was.

I'm not great with accessorizing but I also like stuff. :)

I also noticed your cool looking bunny head, globes, and love that wire cage thing. What's in it? Also like the beams, chair, rug... :) I like your room!

nhb, thanks, we like the details in this room too. The house was built in the 1920s and the woodwork in this room is mahogany. It's the only room in our house that has such nice trim, though.

gwb and sheesh, thanks for noticing my bunny. It's actually a mask that we bought during our recent trip to Italy. The artist's shop was one we went to just because it was in a book we had, not intending to buy "one of those tacky Italian masks" -- LOL -- the masks were amazing! I had to have the bunny.

The wire cage thing... I guess you call it a finial? Um, more leftover Christmas decorations -- it had been empty but I was going to fill it with ornaments/balls for Christmas -- didn't have enough to fill it, but then I kinda liked it partway full. And yes, it's almost Feb. and they're still there! I think I'll keep them there.

So far the general consensus is to keep the paintings the way they were and keep the candleholder there by itself... at least until I find something better! If I could find some pottery, maybe 3 squatty pots in various sizes that picked up the dark greens and purple tones from that painting, that might make me happy...

Just for fun, I'll show you my latest arrangement that I came up with while drinking my morning coffee. Somehow I just couldn't deal with having the candle holder be the *only* thing on the mantle. So I added some friends. ;)

Close up of new additions:

This little monkey is looking at himself in the mirror. (I have an addiction to amusing animal 'figurines'.)

And this guy was sitting on the floor, so I moved him up here.

I love your art, but the little figures are lost, as they're both almost the same color as the wood. I think you'd get more decorating mileage out of something that contrasts with the color of the brick and the wood, and then put the monkeys out in another area where they would stand out to better advantage.

Another vote for the first painting. I have to say I'm not loving the candle holder, at least not there. It's too low and the top of the votives hits the mantel at an awkward height. I'd like it better on a dining table or coffee table, but it's too low and horizontal on your mantel. Normally I'd like to see more height on the mantel, but your sconces make that difficult. How about something bold but earthy, maybe a pair of rustic pottery bowls or jugs, one a bit taller than the other? Something in simple shapes and 12-14" high, although the 8" depth limitation might limit the size you can do. It's a lovely room and fireplace, and the painting and the woodwork are great.

IMO, simpler is definitely working better...

I agree that the charming brass figurines are getting lost up there. The larger monkey is big enough to make it there, but the little guy (he's cute!) just interrupts the eye.

I love the second painting over the mantle (great proportions for the space, and the simplicity of the painting plays well with your architecture), but that leaves your other painting hiding in the dark corner. If you can light the corner maybe?

What I'd like to see is the second painting and 2 or 3 very simple pots in light colors on the mantle -- nothing else. Or maybe the larger monkey can stay...

As I said, I am thinking pottery too. I just need to find the right thing -- I have lots already in the house, but nothing in the right colors or sizes. I spent (too much) time poking around on Etsy the other day and didn't find anything quite right, but there's no rush. I'll find something! Thanks, everyone.

I'm with sweeby-prefer the second picture over the mantel. It is so dynamic. Thanks for the link to her website.