Forget Basic Photo Frames: This Artist Uses Clay To Turn Them Into Something Magical

Your photo frames are a bit boring. Well, no offense, but all of them are kind of boring. While most of us have been stacking IKEA frames on our gallery walls, one artist had the genius idea to transform a humble one into something that's completely unique. Using a bit of clay and a lot of imagination, nikiarrt on Instagram made a basic photo frame look like a dripping, gooey, melting piece of art.

The artist took an old photo frame and cut off its corner with a saw. Then, using modeling clay, they created what looks like falling droplets, as if the piece were literally melting into a puddle. The puddle extends into a base around the frame and looks like it's about to droop over the edge of the shelf and onto the ground. Once covered in gold paint, this piece is stunning and unlike anything you've seen before. The artist went as far as drawing and painting a picture to go inside the frame. But that's not all — they painted some of the colors from the picture onto the frame to make it look like the art itself was melting, too. This extra step bridges the gap between the painting and the frame, turning the entire piece into a showstopper.

The framed art is a romantic, old-time painting of a woman. She's wearing a crown and holding a cloth to her chest while reading, her skin bright against a dark background, as if she were lit by a candle. The painting looks like it's from a fine arts museum, but the transformed frame makes it hip gallery-worthy. It's like a mix of modern and classical art.

This piece is bold, so it fits perfectly with loud and eccentric interior design. Because of the old-time aesthetic of the painting and the frame's golden color, it would fit well into modern baroque decor's neoclassical elements. However, the piece can also fit beautifully with non-traditional design styles like industrial lofts, too. If your home looks like a modern art gallery with large white walls, exposed pipes, metal beams, or concrete, this type of bold artwork might be a great central piece that creates contrast and grabs attention. 

This particular piece is small and designed to go on a flat surface. It's perfect for a shelf but could also go on the edge of a credenza, for example. Because of its size, it works well with smaller spaces, making it a great first art purchase for a young adult living in a studio or small apartment. If you're decorating a larger room, the artist, nikiarrt, has other pieces meant to go on walls, both small and medium-size. 

If you love the look of this, try to reach out to the artist and inquire about commissions. For the more savvy DIYers, this project can serve as inspiration to upcycle an old photo frame. You can also take a similar approach and use clay to create droplets and puddles around other household items. For example, you can make a lamp, mirror, or candle holder look like it's melting and falling over. To do this, purchase modeling clay, sandpaper, and paint, and have fun experimenting!