One Large Painting or a Collection of Small Works?

If you’re looking at a blank wall and wondering, “Should I go for one big painting, or a collection of smaller ones?” you’re definitely not alone.

It’s one of those questions I get asked quite a bit, and honestly, I don’t think there is a wrong answer. It really comes down to the room, the feeling you want to create, and most importantly, the artwork that makes you stop and think, “Oh, I love that.”

Personally, I’m a bit of a collector of smaller paintings. I have several collections dotted around my own home, and I love that they aren’t all the same. Different artists, different frames, different colours and different styles, somehow they all work beautifully together.

I love walking past and stopping to look at them. Sometimes I notice something I hadn’t seen before. That’s one of the lovely things about living with original art.

When one large painting is the perfect choice.

There is something wonderful about one large painting holding a room.

I’ve had many collectors choose a large original oil painting for a big wall, particularly above a couch or in an open living space. A beautiful large piece can become the focal point of a room without needing anything else around it.

My extra-large paintings, anything over about 140cm, are definitely a statement. I think they are particularly beautiful in modern Melbourne homes, contemporary spaces and larger country homes where there is plenty of wall to let the artwork breathe.

And if you’re lucky enough to have a lovely big wall in a Macedon Ranges home, a large Australian landscape painting can feel right at home there too.

The great thing about my work is that I use colour in a way that tends to sit comfortably with lots of different interiors. Whether your home is light and neutral, full of earthy tones, colourful and eclectic or very contemporary, the paintings can bring colour and texture without needing everything else in the room to match.

Sometimes, one large painting is all you need.

Or perhaps you’re a collector at heart…

This is where I come back to my own home.

I love a collection.

Small and medium-sized original paintings can be wonderful when they’re grouped together, particularly if you enjoy a more collected and personal feeling in your home.

They don’t need to match.

In fact, I think it’s much more interesting when they don’t.

A collection of original art can grow over time. You might find a little painting while visiting a gallery in Melbourne, discover an artist at an exhibition in the Macedon Ranges, or fall in love with something while travelling. Then, a few months or years later, you find another piece that somehow belongs with it.

Before you know it, you’ve created a little collection that tells a story about you.

And this is something I see with my own collectors too. Someone might start with a small painting because they have fallen in love with it, then later find a larger work that speaks to them in a completely different way.

There doesn’t have to be a plan.

That’s part of the fun of collecting original Australian art.

What size works where?

Here’s roughly how I think about my paintings:

Small — under 30cm
Perfect for smaller walls, shelves, bookshelves, bedside areas, little nooks and, of course, gallery walls. They’re also a lovely way to begin collecting original paintings without needing a huge amount of wall space.

Medium — around 30–80cm
These are incredibly versatile. They can work beautifully on their own as a feature on a smaller wall, or become part of a collection of artworks.

Large — around 80–140cm
These can make a real impact while still working in many different types of interiors. Above a couch, over a console or on a generous feature wall, they can give a room a wonderful sense of presence.

Extra large — over 140cm
Now we’re talking statement piece! These paintings really need some room around them and can be spectacular in larger, modern interiors and open spaces.

Of course, these aren’t rules. They’re just a starting point.

A little trick I always suggest

If you’re unsure about the size of a painting, don’t try to imagine it.

Go home and get yourself some brown paper (or wrapping paper will work too).

Cut it to the size of the artwork you’re considering and tape it onto the wall.

Then live with it for a few days.

Walk past it. Sit on the couch and look at it. Have your morning coffee. Look at it at night.

Does it feel too big? Too small? Just right?

I’ve had collectors do exactly this before deciding on a large painting. And sometimes they’ve discovered that the size they originally imagined isn’t quite right for their room.

That’s completely okay.

I’ve even had people decide they would like something made to a different size, and that’s where a commission can be a wonderful option.

So… large or small?

If you’re asking me what I would choose, I’d probably say a collection.

But that’s because I love collecting art and I love the feeling of discovering another little piece to add to my home.

For someone else, one beautiful large painting might be exactly right.

And I think that’s the wonderful thing about original art. Your home doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s. Whether you’re furnishing a contemporary Melbourne home, a country house in the Macedon Ranges, a cosy cottage or a beautifully collected family home, the right artwork is the piece that feels like it belongs there and, hopefully, feels like it belongs to you.

Because ultimately, I think art is much more than filling a blank wall.

It’s something you get to live with, so trust your own judgement.

Not sure what would work in your space?

If you’re looking at a painting in my collections and wondering whether the size might work in your home, you’re always welcome to get in touch.  

I have a very nifty app that can place a painting into a picture of your space, so send me a photo of the wall you’re thinking about, along with the approximate dimensions, and I’m very happy to have a chat and help you think it through.

Shay x