Art isn’t paint; it’s love.
Philip Hicken
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received as an artist was to figure out what I truly loved, and paint that. Art isn’t about paint; it’s about love.
The same advice also works for art collectors. And is especially important because, unlike the artist, who finishes and sells a painting, you’ll be living with and looking at it for many years to come.
5 tips for buying art you love
- Notice what attracts you visually; in magazines, on television, in store windows and on social media sites. Colour and texture are two common aspects of visual media that people find compelling. But theme, mood, shape, line, rhythm and harmony are all things to consider as well.
- Create a place to save those visual images. It might be a physical scrapbook that you cut and paste pictures in. Or a folder in the photos app on your phone or computer. If you love Pinterest, make a board to save your favourite images.
- Analyze your selections. What are the threads that connect them? Does a particular colour (or combination of colours) keep cropping up? Are you favourite images abstract in nature or more representational? Is there a specific feeling that you experience when you look at the images? Is there a particular artist whose work appears multiple times? These are all clues to to help you identify the type of art you love.
- Do some research. Use the internet to find more of what you love. Google, Instagram and Pinterest are all visual search engines. Type in phrases like ‘happy blue paintings’ or ‘purple abstract landscapes’ or ‘art in the style of Picasso’ and see what pops up. Make a list of artists whose work interests you and seek them out. Most visual artists have their own websites where you can see samples of their work (and perhaps even purchase it). Many are also active on social media (both sharing their work and acting as their own gallerist).
- Reach out to the artist. Don’t worry if you’re not ready to buy anything. Most artists are absolutely thrilled when a potential collector contacts them and expresses an interest in their work. Establishing a relationship with someone who may buy your work sometime in the future is part of the joy of being an artist. We know that choosing a piece of art for your home is a really big deal. And we want our work to end up with somebody who loves it as much as we do.
Have you ever purchased a piece of art you truly love? I’d love to hear about your experience!