Podcast Summary: "Ep. 437: How to Layer Wall Art with Anne Bohne"

Podcast: How to Decorate
Host: Ballard Designs (Caroline, Taryn, Liz)
Guest: Anne Bohne Curtis
Release Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, the How to Decorate team from Ballard Designs welcomes artist and textile designer Anne Bohne Curtis. The discussion explores Anne’s artistic journey, her process as a painter and textile designer, practical advice for collecting and displaying art at home, and insights into current design and color trends. Listeners are treated to a warm, insightful conversation filled with approachable decorating wisdom and heartfelt stories about making art a personal part of home life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anne’s Artistic Background and Inspirations

• Early Start & Family Influence
  • Anne has been creating art since childhood, inspired by her grandmother, also a painter, who encouraged creativity without fear of messing up or wasting materials.
    "She really made me feel like nothing was too precious that I couldn't as a young kid… Just dig in." – Anne [05:37]
• Fine Art Success
  • In college, Anne’s senior show sold out, which motivated her to pursue art professionally and highlighted the value of supporting emerging artists through university galleries.
    "I had a sold out show. And from that point on, I was just kind of hooked." – Anne [02:13]

2. Transition Into Textile Design

• Professional Path
  • Anne became involved in textile design through a mentorship and hands-on experience, working largely by hand before modern digital printing.
    "Earlier in 2006, there was a different way of, of printing... But now with digital printing, you have such access..." – Anne [10:08]
• Surface Design Skills
  • She enjoys the ‘sneaky math’ of pattern and repeat, turning painted artwork into textile patterns.
    "I love figuring out how things repeat and what would make a good layout for a piece of furniture." – Anne [10:38]

3. Working in Different Mediums

• Preferred Mediums
  • Watercolor for its portability and ease of use, especially with children at home. Acrylic is used for other projects, but Anne avoids oils for practical reasons.
    "Probably favorite, I would say watercolor. It's the most portable." – Anne [06:28]

4. Art as Legacy and Personal Connection

• Anne cherishes the idea of art as a family heirloom and enjoys making art for personal spaces, often drawn from life experiences and family moments, such as ducks for her daughter’s nursery.
  "I hope it will be something that—like my grandmother—that I can pass on to the next babies in the family." – Anne [18:23]

5. Collecting and Layering Art at Home

• Advice for Beginners
  • Start slowly: visit galleries, emerging artist shows, or collect prints and children’s art. What matters most is personal emotional resonance with a piece.
    "You should have some kind of reaction to a piece ... you want to have in your home for a long time." – Anne [27:44]
  • Don’t get bogged down in matching art to room color—acquire what you love, and the room will evolve to support it.
    "There will be a place in your home for it... I move my pieces of art...around the house." – Anne [30:09]
• Layering and Mixing
  • Mix large statement art (e.g., 36"x36") with smaller works displayed on shelves or as layered groupings to create engaging vignettes.
    "The two sizes that I continue for commissioned pieces... are 36 by 36 and 36 by 38..." – Anne [31:45]

6. Trends in Art and Textiles

• Current Color and Pattern Trends
  • There’s a shift towards warmer, “muddier” tones—terracotta, ochre, soft greens—and away from bright, crisp hues. Geometric and architectural motifs supplement perennial favorites like florals and stripes.
    "I keep coming back to antique textiles and embroideries… drawn to some of those muddier colors like terracotta and greens." – Anne [35:12]
• Florals' Staying Power & Pattern Layering
  • Florals remain popular, but their prominence comes in cycles, balanced by geometrics or block prints for visual structure.
    "Florals are just always... they always will." – Anne [39:31]

7. Practical Decorating and Framing Tips

• Matting & Framing
  • Painted and patterned mats add dimension to art—Anne sometimes decorates mats or recommends fabric-wrapped options for interest.
    "They will cut mats for me, and then I paint on the mat, too." – Anne [47:43]
  • Floater frames work well for contemporary polish, especially with pieces on board, canvas, or birch.
• DIY Touches
  • Don’t be afraid to paint mats, try wrapping in fabric, or even paint lampshades to personalize rooms.
• Art in Everyday Life
  • Move art between rooms to refresh spaces; don't overthink placement or color matching—enjoy the process.

8. The Joy of Decorating Personal Spaces

• Nursery Art
  • Creating commission pieces or special works for nurseries holds a unique joy and personal meaning for Anne and her clients.
    "Some of my most favorite pieces that I have painted have been commissions for nurseries." – Anne [54:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Selling Out Her First Show:
  "I was like, oh, my goodness, I can't believe that, that people want, you know, my pieces of art." – Anne [02:41]
• On Collecting Art:
  "Just go to an art gallery, you don't have to buy anything, but just go…Because you should have some kind of reaction to a piece..." – Anne [27:41]
• On Watercolor’s Nature:
  "Watercolor is going to move, and you have to be okay with it...That's kind of freeing, too." – Anne [20:57]
• On Art and Decorating:
  "You can either start with an art piece to design around a room...sometimes it can be the last touch that you put on a room too." – Anne [30:09]

Important Timestamps

• Anne's Introduction & Background: [00:34]–[07:10]
• First Experience Selling Art: [01:32]–[02:51]
• Transition to Textile Design: [03:10]–[07:10]
• Medium Preferences & Practicalities: [06:21]–[07:31]
• Art as Legacy/Family Influence: [05:00]–[06:21]
• Watercolor Techniques & Artistic Process: [21:01]–[23:53]
• Advice for Art Collectors: [27:22]–[30:09]
• How to Layer/Mix Wall Art: [30:54]–[33:44]
• Color, Pattern, and Design Trends: [35:12]–[43:33]
• Creative Framing Ideas: [47:43]–[50:01]
• Decorating Nurseries & Personal Spaces: [52:24]–[54:59]

Where to Find Anne Bohne Curtis

• Instagram: @Annboniart
• Website: annboniart.com

Final Thoughts

This episode is a delightful blend of how-to advice, creative process, design trend discussion, and the joy of making art a beloved, functional part of home life. Anne Bohne Curtis’s warmth and practical wisdom, paired with the Ballard Designs team’s curiosity and camaraderie, make it a must-listen for anyone interested in making their home more beautiful and personally meaningful—one piece of art at a time.