Unless you are an art curator, gallery owner, or artist, chances are that buying art does not come very naturally to you. Ready to get rid of those blank walls? Read this top tips, and you’ll be on your way to becoming an amateur art curator (for your home, at least). 1. Like What You Like While your home décor can obey certain rules, such as investing in neutral couches or flooring, I urge people to use their walls for irrational or eclectic choices. Buy What You Love Whether it's original or mass-produced, expensive or cheap, make sure to buy only what you love. Original artwork is a great way to add something unique to your home and it can certainly give a room a certain amount of character, but it can be very expensive - particularly if it's a known artist, or if it's something rare and/or unique. Plenty of people have found themselves guilty of making an investment in a piece simply because it's an original and they think it has value, but this can be a big mistake if you don't truly love it. If you want something original but don't want to overspend look for artists that don't already have a huge following in order to get a good price, and make sure it's something that makes you smile every time you look at it. If it's a cheap-looking print you find for $5 at a garage sale then so be it! Art is a place for expression through color, content and texture. Choose art at a heart level, and don’t forget about sculptures and rugs! They can make artistic statements too. 2. Get to Know the Artist Getting to know the artist that made your art helps you to understand the content of the work and the context around the piece itself. If you don’t get the chance to meet the artist in person, read up. Many contemporary galleries such as Uprise now offer artist profiles online. Read up on the people who produced your art, or follow them on Instagram to get a glimpse into their lives!
3. Payments Plans Or Trades Are Often Totally Legit You can always suggest a payment plan or a trade. It never hurts to ask. Did you fall in love with a piece that’s slightly above your budget? Maybe that artist wouldn’t mind receiving a few hundred dollars a month, or maybe they need your mad Photoshop or portrait-taking skills as much as you need their art in your life! Harness your own talents, and see if you can be useful to the artist in any way. 4. Be Ready to Act Fast or Miss Out There are exactly three pieces I regret not investing in at the time. How do I know that? I still think about them. Art is often unique and one-of-a-kind (unless you’re buying from a photography or limited print series). If your heart leaps at the sight of a piece, don’t hesitate too long, or you could miss out. The film Herb & Dorothy is a great example of how you can buy what you love and still live on a budget. We’re adding this one to our list of films to watch.
5. Attend Art Events Featuring Emerging Artists Find out what’s happening in your city in the arts, and then show up! This is a great way to expose yourself to emerging artists. Why buy from up-and-coming artists? You wouldn’t buy real estate when the market is sky high, would you? Buying from young artists who are only starting to make a name for themselves is like stumbling upon a great real estate deal. Decades ago, my step-dad spent $500 on a print from a young unknown artist named Andy Warhol—true story.
6. Buy on the Secondary Market This is a whole other game. I highly recommend getting advice from savvy friends and attending auctions. Books such as Seven Days in the Art World and The 12 Million Dollar Stuffed Shark are great ways to immerse yourself in the historic and ever-adapting gallery and auction systems.
7. Learn About Paper Works and Framing You can buy inexpensive frames, but make sure that the mats touching the actual artwork are acid-free. Paperworks are often much less expensive than, say, oil on canvas, but keep in mind that many paper works are not sold in frames. If you want to save money on framing check the acidity in the mats first and foremost. Acidic mats found in budget ready-made frames can quickly deteriorate or discolor artwork, so invest in a mat that’s acid-free. I’ve had this happen to my artwork before, so I can 100% vouch that she’s on the money with this tip.
8. Get a Piece Commissioned Don’t ask the artist to stray too far from their style or try to control them too much. This is a recipe for disaster. Getting a commissioned piece of art is a great way to get exactly the right size for your space while collecting the work of an artist you love. When choosing an artist, make sure he or she has experience in making commissions, or ask a client who’s worked with the artist in the past to share their experience. Make sure you clearly state your expectations before the work begins so that you are not disappointed.
9. Color Matters Color is the number one thing people get caught up in when trying to choose art, oftentimes because they're trying to find something that matches with the other colors in the room. But while matching some of the colors is a perfectly acceptable method for choosing art, it's definitely not the only method. Sometimes the colors in the art you choose can be the direct opposite of what you already have in your room, or in some case you might want something that's only black and white. What matters is that you find something that compliments the space - sometimes it's through color, but not always. Look for a piece that attracts you to it, and don't worry too much about perfectly matching colors.
10. Size and Scale When it comes to choosing art bigger is usually better. In fact, choosing art that's too small is a very common mistake. Take for instance the wall space over a sofa. As a general rule the art above it should be approximately two thirds the width of the sofa or larger. Same goes for the space above a bed. However even this rule can be broken. In a gallery wall several small pieces can work together in one display. In this case think of the overall display as one unit and try to follow the same guidelines. If you have a particular painting or print that you adore but the size is too small, consider having it framed with an extra large matte in order to increase its visual impact.
11. Mix Old and New Contrast is what keeps a room exciting, and art can play a big part in creating that excitement. So consider art from different eras to create a robust and compelling collection. In a traditional room a piece of modern art can create a striking focal point, just like classic pieces can lend some tradition to more contemporary spaces. And when used together in the same room old and new pieces can complement each other in wonderful and unexpected ways. It can also be a lot of fun to mix colors and themes, so when choosing art don't get stuck in a rut - mix it up!
12. Shop Around While love at first sight should never be discounted, it's usually a good idea to shop around before settling on a piece of art for a particular spot. There are so many options that you want to make sure you know some of them before settling (it's obviously impossible to know all the options, but do yourself a favor and shop around so you can get to know what you like). The good news is there are plenty of sources, both online and in brick and mortar shops. Also check out local galleries, craft shows, vintage shops and garage sales.
Do you have any great tricks for buying art, or experiences to share on this topic? Sound off in the comments below.