How to Buy Affordable Art

The term “art collector” might conjure up visions of luxurious millionaires’ homes where expensive paintings are displayed on walls and magnificent statues stand on marble steps. While this vision is certainly true in some cases, there are also many art collectors who are ordinary people simply choosing to spend what disposable income they have on buying works of art rather than on other hobbies or pastimes. Finding art that is affordable and appealing becomes a kind of treasure hunt for these art lovers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Buy what you like without thinking of your purchase as an investment. Certainly the idea of your collection’s escalating worth is an appealing one, but what is the point if you are not buying pieces of art you want to hang up and look at every day?
2. Seek out the work of young artists. Art schools regularly hold art shows with works for sale, usually toward the end of the school year. You may also get the chance to talk with the artists. If you do, consider giving them your email address and ask them to keep you posted on their career. Many of these young artists create websites early on.
3. Consider buying jewelry. For a reasonable cost, you will be able to purchase art and at the same time expand your wardrobe. A necklace or dramatic pin can turn a plain black dress into a knockout. Look for jewelry artists at art fairs or online. Simply do a search for “handmade jewelry,” for example, and you will come up with hundreds if not thousands of possibilities. A recent random search came up with www.etsy.com where artists post photos of their work and offer jewelry for sale, and www.projectiveart.com where pins and earrings are offered as “miniature projective personality tests disguised as wearable art.”
4. Take a look on eBay.com under the category of “Outsider Art.” In this category, you will usually find over 1,000 pieces of art for sale by artists of varying backgrounds and talents. Sometimes the artists make information about themselves available through their descriptions in the listings. Make sure that you ask all the questions you have before the sale has ended; also make sure that you know exactly how much you will be spending on shipping.
5. Attend gallery openings. You may find an affordable piece. Some artists like to have their work out in the community where it can be seen and would be willing to sell their work at a reasonable price, particularly if you plan to display the work in a public area.

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