How to Buy Cheap Art

Are you an art lover on a budget? Trying to take your home design to the next level without breaking the bank? If you think finding cheap, original art is but a dream, think again! With a little creativity and a good dose of ingenuity, you’ll be able to find incredible art that reflects your personality, your style and your budget.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access

1. Photo Credit: Clara Natoli Search online stores. There are some wonderful online venues that sell cheap but high-quality original art prints (see Resources below). Up-and-coming starving artists are always looking to make some money from their work and these websites will select the best of them for you to choose from. Some websites also offer cheap framing services.
2. Go to college student art sales. College and university art classes often have end-of-the-semester art sales that can be amazing sources of stunning, completely original cheap art. And who knows, you may pick up something by a future famous artist.
3. Frame unconventional pieces. Pick up some cheap frames from your local dollar store and start filling them with your own original finds. Consider clipping illustrations from vintage children’s books or old botany texts. If destroying books makes you cringe, consider other pieces: old cigarette cards, art postcards, vintage advertisements, CD covers or anything you find aesthetically pleasing or interesting.
4. Give posters another chance. Posters don’t have to signal college dorm room dilapidation. Consider going online and looking for a concert poster from your favorite band and get it framed. Or scour nearby antique stores for old art show posters (or other prints).
5. Use objects and photographs from travel. With the advent of digital cameras, anyone can be an amateur photographer, so if you find yourself watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat, take lots and lots of photos. Chances are you’ll find a few shots you can enlarge and proudly frame. Also consider picking up local art while traveling—these pieces will also have personal memories attached to them.
6. Don’t forget about sculpture! If your taste leans toward the quirky, you’ll find that garage sales and thrift shops are a veritable goldmine of possibilities. A well-chosen porcelain tchochke can become a humorous point of interest—just be careful not to overdo it!
7. Look for art bazaars in your area. Local art bazaars are a great source of interesting, quirky and original art pieces of many varieties. You’ll find that these bazaars often pop up before Christmas for obvious reasons. Check the web for online bazaars selling handmade items (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with the black and white mode on your camera and take "art shots" often, not just when you travel.

Who Can Help:

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