KAY'S DECOR TIPS X2

In regards to decor we must remember there are NO "right" answers but there are many, many "wrongs". So when curating our personal space we have no other obligation except to ourselves and our comfort. This seems like a simple task until you realize how subjective the concept of comfort is. For me, it exists in my fine art collection coupled with a clean and organized sense of structure. Without organization my collection is nothing more than a hoarders paradise (with decent resale value). As collectors and self proclaimed art enthusiasts we have a job to honor these works and their artists, to give them the most royal lives, and literally put them on a pedestal.

There are countless ways to honor our collections and we've all heard the age old tale "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but we often neglect the power of VALUE. Value is in the eye of perception! Meaning, when my guests visit and experience my studio they understand certain toys have higher value based on where and how I display them. The toys behind the glass are usually more important than those I display on the coffee table (usually....). The accessibility we give others to a figure can literally assign its worth. For example, my Dunny collection is out in the open, begging to be played with by my guests! Dunny's are durable and most are a dime a dozen, so I feel more comfortable risking their safety than say... a 750$ Kaws fig. Put a handful of your especially beloved pieces behind glass while you allow others to be touched and seen more intimately, perhaps on open shelves or a coffee table/server, and see the illusion of quality in real time. When choosing your ideal displays and furniture styles I advise toward diversity. Ultimately, you'll want to mix it up. Too many shelves leaves a room feeling simultaneously cluttered and empty while too many cabinets makes you feel suffocated. Try and strike the perfect balance between interaction and voyeurism (similar to a gallery setting).

 One large missed opportunity many collectors underestimate is LIGHTING!!! Not only do good bulbs help ourselves and our guests enjoy our valuables better but lighting literally manipulates the atmosphere of a room. You can line your home with the finest satins and silks but if your lighting is that of a low end strip club on MLK boulevard.....no one will appreciate what you own. One cost effective solution for those who don't have readily available natural lights are Smart LED bulbs. With the touch of a button the user can change the hue of their lightbulbs from cool to warm, etc. This not only gives us the ability to cater our lighting to the time of day but also makes for awesome photo effects!

 The best tip I could give anyone (myself included) is to embrace theme diversity. Even if your room is dedicated to your designer toys and figures it doesn't have to exclusively home your toys and figures. Introduce alternate yet complimentary decor items, a personal favorite of mine is PLANTS!!! Real or faux, go plant crazy. The neutral greens of most plant species pair really well with our toys; they're airy and organic which is a stark and at times, much needed contrast to the plastics. Another easy decoration pairing which is particularly scholarly would be BOOKS! A confident stack of your favorite novels topped off with a vinyl figure is playfully mature. One could even go a step further by playing with the books colorfuls spines creating interesting gradients on a bookshelf...the possibilities are endless. I try to mix in anything a bit more "adult" in nature to ground my toys in a more sophisticated way.

At the end of the day everyone's space is uniquely theirs. The biggest favor we can do for ourselves is to identify what and WHY we like someones setup and appropriate those aspects without copying. One should never want their home to look like someone else's but rather have nods to those they admire while making the space passionately theirs. I for one genuinely believe that our creative spaces are never truly "finished" but rather constantly evolving and growing to fit our needs. Keep your eye on the prize and ALWAYS honor your collection. 

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

Question: How do you store your figures when not displayed (I.e. Kind of containers).

Answer: Right off the bat I'll say I keep a general rule that: If the figure remains in its box in my closet for more than X amount of time, I sell it. Art isn't meant to be stored in closets but enjoyed on the daily. Enjoy your figures or give them to those that will! With that being said, I suspect you mean when I HAVE to store them. If that's the case I use an off brand tough box, it's a generic black and yellow PLASTIC lockable tote box. I always recommend something plastic over cardboard for a handful of reasons.

1. Bugs and critters will have a field day with cardboard boxes. Be weary of long term storage when using anything non plastic.

2. Moisture is our worst enemy. Even a small amount of water trapped in close proximity with our figures and their boxes can be detrimental to their safety. I try and keep large Desiccant packs around just in case. You can pick these up from most Wal Mart and Targets.

3. They're stackable and space effective. Everyone could use a little extra storage space. I typically opt to stack vertically before expanding horizontally which makes plastic tote boxes the ideal candidate.

Question: Will you ever stop rearranging? Is the super Sayan of layouts even obtainable?

Answer: No, and no ;) I've come to the realization that for me, organizing is half the fun! The collection only takes me so far...I find so much value and comfort in handling my figures and since we're adults and don't typically engage in "make believe" or solitary play in that capacity, re organizing my toys is the closest I can get. I genuinely derive so much pleasure getting one on one physical time with them (as weird as that sounds....) but I think we can all agree TOUCH *is* a strong experience. From vinyl to ceramic, these figures have identities outside of their visual presence. Handling them allows me to understand them and even the artists better. It's also an easy/effective way to clean as I go!!

Question: Are there any rules you use for layouts?

Answer: This is a great question and one that comes with a lot of nuance! I have many, many, rules but as we know, rules are made to be broken ;) There are a few general "basics" most creatives follow, such as group things in three's/odd numbers, avoid too many "smalls" on your gallery wall, and don't overcrowded your detolf's. Beyond that I think the rules need to be catered to your space as it's not a one size fits all solution. Some rooms have higher ceilings and warrant massive shelving units while places like my studio couldn't accommodate such so I find myself relying on physical furniture pieces. In MY home, I have to be weary of the floor space. I have a natural inclination to display items on the ground which can quickly appear cluttered. To avoid the junky look I try and prop my figures up onto make shift pedestals like books and larger boxes, though actual high end pedestals aren't egregiously expensive.... 

While it's not a conscious choice, I think my brain finds solace in symmetry. My setups aren't wildly unique nor do they push many boundaries, but they're clean and concise and what I DO collect is interesting and somewhat unexpected (compared to the typical Kaws exclusive collectors....we all know one). I typically rely on at least one powerful gallery wall to make a serious statement and accompany it with a few MCM (mid century modern) furniture pieces to ground the aesthetic in a classic flare. Find your flare and know where and how to sprinkle it without over spicing!

Question: Where did you get your original ideas on how to display your art, it's very individual and influential.

Answer: Wow! Kind words and extremely bold praise. That means the world but I'll concede, I don't find my setups particularly uncommon. I think my strengths lie within my ability to curate talented artists and bring them into one room with good lighting hehe. I wish I could say I scour the internet and insatiably study the highs and lows of modern decor, but I'd be a lazy liar. It's certainly a 2021 goal to better educate and familiarize myself with the on going trends in pop culture and interior design, so thanks for reminding me! TLDR; My brain. I just do what feels right. Cliche, I know. 

Question: Do you make rooms totally separate schemes or is a house-wide design better?

Answer: I honestly can't even answer this one! I've not yet gotten the opportunity to decorate an entire property on my own. Probably a mix of the two. I wish I had the diligence and dedication to a single theme but I know in my heart I could never settle on just one. I'd imagine there would be a similar aura from room to room but no two would be entirely alike. Though my tastes scream modern and loud I actually indulge in a lot of colonial era architecture and patterns. I would die for a Murakami print over toile linen wallpaper! So in short I'd say a house wide THEME is better than anything too matchy-matchy and/or disjointed. 

Question: How do you take the quality of pictures you do of your collection?

Answer: You may be surprised to hear but majority of my photos are shot on my iPhone X! Nothing special, just the trusty dusty portrait mode and some balanced lighting. I'd argue your camera is only as strong as your lighting, and lighting is a B I T C H! If you're shooting smaller figures I'd strongly suggest getting an inexpensive light box (which I've neglected buying for some reason) which can be purchased really anywhere online, especially amazon. Very rarely will I shoot on my old ass used Cannon. It actually may be a Nikon....I literally couldn't tell you lol. At this point our smart phone cameras are exceptionally crisp BUT obviously don't shoot in RAW format (which is better for editing).

Question: What do you find is the best way to hang a lot of art/prints together. Velcro strips, nails, etc?

Answer: I use a mix of a LOT. Its always size and weight dependent (more so the latter) but typically a small nail will do the job. I've gotten away with velcro strips and even thumb tacks for my particularly little prints! I won't lie to you guys...I do a LOT of Spackle-ing. That's just the nature of what I do and how I decorate. If you're like me and struggle with commitment issues (in regards to your setup and decor, that is ;) ) I suggest having a decent amount of extra paint on hand! Velcro strips are awesome for indecisive hangers such as myself but I advise to ALWAYS be mindful of their weight limitations. 

Question: Why are you creative and hot?

Answer: Someone's gotta bear this absolute burden! 

Question: I have a lot of art/collectibles as well, what's your insurance rec?

Answer: Great question! I have a general home owners insurance policy which covers up to X amount of damage (dependent based on your plan). My collective art doesn't surpass the dollar amount so I've yet to seek out an additional policy. I'll be certain to share when and if I get to that point haha.

Question: Where did you go to art school?

Answer: I'm one notch below a beauty school drop out...visual art school drop out ;) I spent a quick and lazy freshman year in DC at what is formally known as The Corcoran College of Art and Design (now owned and operated by George Washington University) before promptly transferring to MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) in Baltimore, Maryland. I spent about two years or four semesters as a student before ultimately deciding higher education didn't suit me.... I don't talk about it much as I don't believe it had any hand in creating the artist you see before you today. It wasn't the universities fault but more so my indifference toward the college structure. 

Question: What do you do with all the toy boxes? Store them? Throw them out?

Answer: This really depends on the figure! I don't throw any boxes away EXCEPT blind boxes and even then I'll TRY and keep at least one from the series incase I resell a chase or rare figure. I'm fortunate to have a 3 year old son whose clothes fit entirely into one dresser so his closet is at my full disposal.

Thanks for the read, please just remember I have literally NO formal training. I also have no idea what's going on, on any given day. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or rebuttals, emails me at CRAEFTMADE@GMAIL.COM