Where to start collecting/decorating with Art?

[Elizabeth35]

Be aware of framing costs.
It is not cheap to have a piece properly matted/framed with archival matting and UV protective glass. So be prepared to spend more on proper matting, framing and glass than on the piece itself.
I have many times seen someone almost faint when they bring an inexpensive piece in to be framed and find out how much a decent mat and frame cost.
Creating a nicely framed piece of wall art is like creating jewelry. You can either buy the pre-framed, mass market piece (mall jewelry) or you can get the piece that you love and pay to have it set properly (if it is not set how you want it).
If you want something to enjoy long term it is worth investing in good matting and framing. If you are looking for trendy you can buy mass market and replenish every couple years.

 

[kenny]

would love to see some pics of your art.

Thanks.

I'll see if I can find some pics so I don't have to take things out of their frames to photograph them correctly.

 

[MMtwo]

As you look around to develop your sense of what you like, here are a few of my colleagues that may be of interest. These are all well known and highly respected artists in the art community, but they are not well known by the general public so their work is priced very reasonably. They aren't cheap, but the quality of their work is very high compared to the price.

Remember too that the size of the artwork will play a role in its cost. For me, I'd rather have a high quality work that is smaller than a lesser piece that is larger.

And artists also have "studies" that are beautiful but they may not have them posted online. You can always ask if they have any at a lower price point if you like an artist but their usual prices don't fit your budget.

The other thing to know is that when you buy artwork from a gallery, the gallery takes a 50% commission. When you buy directly from an artist, the artist gets the full amount. (However, more established artists often only sell through their galleries, so you have to ask the individual artist what they prefer.)

Finally, it is totally okay to ask for a discount, especially if you are buying directly from an artist (and they aren't splitting their profit with the gallery.)

Enjoy:

Richard Oversmith
Asheville, NC

Richard Oversmith Fine Art

site dedicated to oil paintings of exceptional quality.

www.richardoversmith.com

Elizabeth Robbins
Ogden, UT

Elizabeth Robbins Fine Art

Elizabeth Robbins Fine Art

www.elizabethrobbinsart.com

Mary Qian
Chicago, IL

Mary Qian -Fine Art

A Chicago-based fine art painter, Mary is a winner of many awards, including Oil Painters of America gold Medal.

www.maryqian.com

Haidee Jo Summers
UK

Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA

“My work is a celebration of light filled moments revealed in rich and vibrant oil paint using my personal visual language of fresh and direct brushmarks. Painting en plein air is central to my practice but I am equally at home working from a model, still life or interior. I find beauty in the...

www.haideejo.com

Eric Merrell
Pasadena, CA

Eric Merrell

A unique sense of color and design defines artwork by Los Angeles-based artist Eric Merrell; taking cues from Cézanne and Diebenkorn, his subject matter often includes deserts by day as well as by moonlight, skate parks, and still ife.

www.ericmerrell.com

Melissa Hefferlin
Chattanooga, TN

Still Life — Hefferlin

www.melissahefferlin.com

Suzie Baker,
Houston, TX

Suzie Baker, Fine Artist

Houston area oil painter specializing in landscape, portrait, still life and plein air work, offering workshops with her humorous and informative, teaching style.

www.suziebaker.com

Suchitra Bhosle
Chicago, IL

Suchitra Bhosle

www.suchitrabhosle.com

What a wonderful post, Runningwithscissors <3

 

[RunningwithScissors]

What a wonderful post, Runningwithscissors <3

Thanks MMtwo! I love sharing all different kinds of art.