I'm for choosing art that you like rather than things that "go together". I like your choices. I probably wouldn't include the more pastel one in a grouping but it could work.

I think your arrangement looks fine, and yes, the pictures work nicely together in the first display. I like the first large painting much more than the second one, the flowy pastel, which to my eye does not make nearly as interesting a statement and looks a bit odd.

You can certainly use different types of art! That's one of the points of a gallery wall such as you have done. Different kinds of frames, too. Although we have seen many good examples here of "matching" pictures in groups of 2 or 3 or 4, arranged symmetrically. Probably right here on Houzz you could search for picture gallery walls and see many examples.

I agree about the pastel one in the second one above - I've eliminated that. Two other variations:

Just my thought, but I think the photograph of the leaf is the odd man out. Perhaps it is too "real" and clear compared to the more abstract designs of the others.

I really like the 2nd piece shown over the dresser. Have you thought of substituting it for the photographic picture in the upper group? Perhaps the two larger watercolors could be on the outside of the grouping and the etching and small oil painting of the tree be stacked in the middle? (My mom painted in all sorts of media, so I do mix and match them throughout my house - even in the same hallway or room grouping.)

Look for color tone and saturation of hue when combining them. I will often group things together on the floor, step back and look at them slightly cross-eyed. The odd man out will normally pop out right away!

Hey, now that you show the new pictures, (we cross posted at the same time), I'd say the last grouping looks pretty good together -- I'd put a darker frame around the etching so that it doesn't get lost. They pictures now have a bolder statement that matches the dresser.

I like the last group with the dramatic trees above the tall chest, but switch the mountains back to the etching. Can you mock that up with all three top pictures lined up to be the same on top?

I was hesitant to reply because I am no expert at this. Then I noticed you said you will accept all feedback, so here goes. I do have a gallery wall and people always mention that they like it. I never set out to have the gallery, I just kept finding pictures I liked and needed a place to put them. One of my favorites is an old black and white photo that had been painted for color. I probably have about fifteen items. I say items because a few non-picture things are on that wall. I guess this is just my long winded way of saying that you might do better to search for one piece you love and wait for the rest to come over time.

To directly answer your question, neither of the vertical pictures work for me. The one that looks like clouds is fine, I just don't like it with the other pieces. I like the colors in the maple leaf photo. I'd like to see it over the dresser. Is there one here that you especially love?

I added a black frame to the etching and lined them up a little bit more.

emmarene - thank you! I will play around with with layout and respond to your feedback a little later.

Duh, I thought the etching was the far right picture of your first set. I think with three pics referencing trees, and the joyful etching in the middle, it says, "Yay! Fall!".

Each piece is nice but I feel the overall effect appears "bought together " and isn't spontaneous enough to feel like a gallery wall or art hung salon style. I think groupings need to be almost identical in style, subject, or artist or more random. These groupings fall in between somewhere.

I think they work very well together - the last grouping, I mean. I think I would switch position of the 2 smallest - the jumping/dancing figure would look better on the far right, I believe...

I think you need to get the shapes to work first before focusing on the content. The square over the armoire is a better shape than the vertical. A horizontal like the leaf would work too, and I think I like that better. But I'd leave the wall blank and place something on the armoire, like a glass or pottery bowl or a sculptural piece. For the grouping over the chair, I would hang it a few inches below the door molding. You've got everything too high trying to line it up with the armoire art.

To me, the best balance and design would be to cull out the small one with the frame and put the the remaining small one centered over the leaf one. It would setting in nicely.

If you like them, why not put them together. None of them are so far out of character that they look glaringly bad. If they were hung at bad angles it might be a problem, but I don't think art has to totally match, in fact I think it is better when it doesn't because then you can appreciate the individual pieces better. However, if they are TOTALLY out of character with each other, then that is jarring as well. So far I haven't seen anything that qualifies as that bad. Buy what you like and what speaks to you! (Within reason, lol!)

New version! Although I love the leaf photo, it seems to stand out the most at this point. I took that out and added two prints from the same collection. I love mayflowers idea about putting something sculptural on top of the desk, so I'm going to play around with that idea as well.

I am not totally hung up on the idea of collecting one piece at a time, but it sure would look nice to get it finished all at once if it looks good.

Using emmarene's idea:

Attempting mayflowers idea:

I like the grouping of four. I noticed you moved them down. ;) Now they have a better relationship to what's on the desk. Maybe you could find something like a large open-work bowl if you want to also put framed art over/behind it. I'd start there, with something special for the desk. It's more interesting than just framed art.

Going back to Auntjen's comments I find the art of most well-collected gallery walls may have a general theme that reflects the owner's tastes but its clear each piece was obtained on its own. I think your latest post above is too forced and, although the pieces go well together, the grouping as a whole does reflect that you chose all the pieces at once.

I do though understand your desire to get it done. I have many half-finished projects around my house that are waiting for me to find just the right piece. When people look at them, they'll never think "she did that all at once" but rather "when is she ever going to finish that?"

lisad - thank you! In reading Auntjen's comments, I definitely reflected on how I feel about each piece. My favorite is the little etching. It just makes me happy when I see it....so I did go ahead and purchase it today. I do really like the other pieces too, but that one is my favorite. In a perfect world, I would like to fall in-between "she did that all at once" and "when is she ever going to finish that?". :)

Check out local arts. This area is rich with art. We just had open studios in the 'burbs, as did you in the big city. We had an affordable art event a few weeks ago and we bought a little painting.

What size will the etching be? Good to start with something that makes you happy.

Counting pics from the top down, I like arrangement 7 best. The art looks balanced to my eye.

My favorite is the little etching. It just makes me happy when I see it....so I did go ahead and purchase it today.

Yay! It's a lovely thing when a piece of art just makes you HAPPY to look at! I'm so glad you purchased it since you clearly love it. I do understand about wanting it all done, though. I really do! I've got a few rooms in my home that have yet to be tackled and I tend to avoid even going into them because I feel a bit overwhelmed not knowing what I want to do, or where to start.