The Swarez Guide To Choosing Art For Your Home  Part 2 – Finding The Art You Want To Buy

In Part One of this blog series, we talked about finding out what your artistic tastes and preferences are.  If you’re new to buying art and you don’t know what you like then the first part of this guide will help you narrow it down a bit.large square red and black abstract painting

For one thing, buying art can be a great investment: it will last a lifetime (even longer, if you leave it to family and friends), and if you buy the work of an emerging artist, you may see a significant increase in the value of the work at a future date.

There are many collectors who when buying art do so to build up a collection that will grow in cultural and fiscal value as the artist increases in popularity and success.

There are less economical reasons to purchase art. Many collectors buy art based on their own aesthetic and emotional responses to the artwork and the personal value that they feel the art carries. They buy it because they love it.

Art has many powers including the ability to change the feeling of a whole room.

You might be a budding art collector or simply want to decorate your new home.  Whether it’s an investment you want a visual or emotional experience, buying art can seem daunting if you don’t know where to start.

What next?  Where do you find the art you want?grey sofa and small art

If your budget is a restrictive factor, get yourself down to TK Maxx or Ikea for a reasonably priced reproduction or print, pick up a smart frame and voila, but if you’re looking to make more of an investment and you want something to love, appreciate, and enjoy for many years to come then you may to have to look a little bit harder to find it.

Galleries no longer hold the monopoly on the accessibility of art. There are many ways in which you can now acquire art thanks to developments in modern technology.

Here are a few suggestions on how to find that special piece, if you didn’t already find it on my website.

Art Online

Any Google search will throw up a huge choice of online vendors of Art. There are thousands of website from which you can choose to suit any taste, medium, form and budget.

If its Modern Art you want we recommend Saatchi Art, with hundreds of Artists and work to choose from you can narrow down your search by style, subject, medium, material, price and even size.  

Interior Design websites like Houzz provide inspiration and ideas and introduce you to the work of artists both in the UK and abroad.

Galleries

Buying from Galleries gives you the opportunity to get to know more about the art itself as well as the artists who created it.Contemporary paintings hanging in a gallery space

There are professionals on hand who can provide advice and guidance on choosing a peice. It’s not just a case of walking in, pointing out the piece you want and arranging payment.

To avoid any surprises, check with the seller about added costs, like shipping fees and value-added taxes. Do a final check to confirm you have all of the relevant documentation, from invoices to certificates of authenticity, so that if you wish to resell the piece later on, you can.

Auctions

Auctions offer you the opportunity to buy art and design at competitive prices, whether you are interested in impressionist prints, contemporary street art, or mid-century modern furniture.

Shopping Local?

  • Museums- It’s not just Galleries that have the monopoly on great art.  Museums curate a lot of art for their own exhibitions and this can be a good place to start if you’re looking to get a piece from a particular artist.
  • Craft Markets – Local Arts and Crafts Markets exhibit a wide range of inspirational creations including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, artwork, photography, glass, wood, food and drink.  This may be a good place to look if you want to support the work of local artists. Pouring thinners into paint

Artists Personal Studios

The best way to get a sense of what artwork speaks to you is to go to an artist’s studios and get a feeling for these works in person.  Visiting artists’ studios will let you get to know the artist better.

It can be difficult to find a studio if you don’t know the artists to begin with, but a quick Google search will often show you who the local artists are in your area and where their studios are.

A quick phone call or email and you should be able to arrange a visit fairly easily. Artists are always keen for their work to be seen, touched and experienced.

Commission Your Own Piece

If you find an Artist whose work you connect with and you want them to create something especially for you then commissioning can be the way to go.

If you have a specific idea, emotion, concept or colour you’d like expressed then working closely with an artist to get it made can be an extremely fulfilling experience.  If you have never commissioned a piece of art work before you can find out more about how you go about it here.

If there is something you’d like to know more about or would like us to provide guidance on, get in touch and let me know!

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