Four-Panel Photo Art: Our New "Quadtych"

About six years ago, I clipped an article from Real Simple magazine about funky ways to display digital photography on your walls (this was still a relatively new concept). Of course, I never got around to using any of these ideas...until last month. By some miracle, that Real Simple article suddenly materialized inside my desk and I considered it a sign that I should finally do something interesting with a blank wall in my living room. I chose one of Real Simple's more unusual ideas- a four-panel ("quadtych") spliced print of one of my favorite digital photographs. Of course, I have once again misplaced the article (I wanted to scan it in to show you), so instead I'll just try to talk you through what I did instead.

To achieve this design, Real Simple suggests that you choose one of your more unique landscape-oriented photos- such as an unusual nature scene or an unusual action shot of your children- and then splice it at an unexpected focal point. I chose this photograph that I took at the Jeff Koons exhibition on the roof garden of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2008. I like how the "focus" of the photograph (Koons's "Sacred Heart" (Red/Gold) 1994-2007)) is actually a representation of a foil candy heart, an object much tinier in real life than what appears smaller behind it- the vast landscape of Central Park and tall New York City buildings. See, my Harvard art history education has paid off...a little.



Next, I had to figure out what size print to order, and where to splice the print into four section. My math is weaker than my visual arts skills, so I relied on the Real Simple article for this one, and used their suggested dimensions- a 36 x 48" print cut into four 36 x 12 vertical segments. I ordered the 36 x 48" print from The Poster PLace ($46.95) and they very kindly offered to splice it into four equal vertical sections for me (they said that people who try do to this on their own often get it wrong). If you order from them, contact them beforehand and tell them that MyMomShops referred you, and they will give you complimentary "splicing" too.

On to framing. It is actually not that easy to find quality 36 x 12 vertical poster frames, at least not ones that aren't expensive. I ordered these 11.75 x 36 inch Black poster frames ($17.99 each) at RetroPlanet.com and I guess I got what I paid for. The four sides each slide off so that you can put the photo inside, but this also means that they never entirely line up properly. I don't really mind, but if you are a perfectionist it might bother you a little. Here are the frames (shown sideways, sorry):

And, voila. The finished result. Sorry about the glare in my photo, but, trust me, they turned out really nicely. They are a fantastic counterpoint to the Photofiddle canvas and red wall on the opposite side of the living room, and visitors to our home keeping asking, "Who took that picture?" thinking that it is "real" artwork (not a photo by yours truly). Most don't recognize Jeff Koons's work in the photo either (except for a recent visitor, Chris Oh). But I forgive the rest of you. Not everyone studied art history.



In my opinion, there is nothing like personal artwork to liven up your home, and by personal artwork I mean anything from artwork that your children made, to photographs that you took, to artwork or photos that you have found a creative way to display. Anything that shows your own creative touch. On that note, two final tidbits about our new "quadtych." First, R. gleefully noticed, "Hey, Mommy, that's you!" My reflection is at the bottom of panel #2, taking the actual photograph (and thanks to a distorting effect, it looks like I am my size 4 self from freshman year in college). And, while writing this post, I discovered that the Jeff Koons's sculpture is dated 1994-2007; my first thirteen years living on my own in New York City. Something else that I "heart", indeed!

Have any of you displayed your artwork or photography creatively in your home? Thinking of trying out a similar idea? Tell us about it in the comments!