If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know how important art is to me, but I’m here to talk about how you might find a place for it in your heart and your home too. Not everyone feels confident in buying art (and I am absolutely here to help you if you’re not). But if you approach it with some key principles in mind you can’t go wrong.
And if this post whets your appetite, you might want to click on the links to my longer articles in the Art Advisor series on The Discerning Palette website. They are a great source of mid-century modernist art and they work hard to demystify the art world for anyone who feels a little out of their depth in it (which let’s face it is most of us!).
ARTWORK FIRST, RENOVATE LATER
Lots of people think about buying art at the end of the process of renovating a home or a room, but it’s often better to do things the other way around. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, a really spectacular painting or print can be so impactful that you want to be making it the focal point of your room. If you love it it shouldn’t be languishing on a forgotten wall while the TV takes centre stage. To get maximum bang for your buck your art needs to be placed somewhere arresting, and that means building it into your design from the very start.
Secondly, if you buy art that really speaks to you, you’re likely to hold onto it for many years, which means that it will need to be incorporated into many different spaces and colour palettes at different times of your life.
Finally, it’s a great idea to create a colour scheme for a room based on a piece of art. That way you’ll make a coherent design for your space and display your artwork in a way that allows it to shine.
DON’T JUST LOOK, FEEL
Whilst you might have chosen an artwork because of how it looks, it’s important to understand that it’s working at a deeper level. Art often has an emotional impact on us that can be subtle or can be quite dramatic.
If you’re quite sensitive you might be able to identify that a particular painting makes you feel wistful, or sad, or energised; it might even make you feel angry or irritated (probably best not to buy that one then!). But if your emotional life is a little less vivid you might need to dig a bit deeper to identify a mood. Either way, it’s important to match the feelings it prompts with the mood you want to create in a particular space.
For example, you might not want to hang a picture in your bedroom that makes you feel energised and hungry. Neither might you want one that makes you feel sleepy and relaxed on display in your study. Every room in our homes needs to create the right mood, and an artwork can play a major part in setting the tone.
BUY WHAT YOU LOVE, NOT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE DOES
While works that speak to a certain cultural trend can suddenly start appearing everywhere (Monet’s waterlilies and Damien Hirst’s diamond skulls being two notable examples), it’s better to invest in items that are meaningful to you.
It’s one reason why I like to pick up prints and paintings while I’m travelling, because when I take that item home it serves as a long-term reminder of a place or event that’s special to me.
In that way, art can be a means of telling your own personal story, and a way of demonstrating what’s important to you. This in turn helps you feel even more deeply connected to your home, as it becomes an expression of your identity.
And if you feel connected to the art you’re more likely to hold onto it. So forget social media trends and follow your heart, because then you’re investing for the long term and celebrating who you are.
DON’T THINK PRICE, THINK VALUE
The price of art is generally shaped by the forces of supply and demand, and so is not always a good reflection of the quality of the work or the skill of the artist. The reputation and renown of the artist, the influence of their supporters, and their reflection of cultural trends have a huge impact on the price tag. That’s why Van Gogh struggled to find a market for his paintings while he was alive but they now sell for millions of pounds.
I’d therefore suggest that if you’re buying artwork for your own home be guided less by how much something costs and more by how much it’s worth to you. It really doesn’t matter whether a piece of art is worth £50 or £50,000: if you love it, it’s valuable. And if you’re buying the original work of a living artist, you’re also investing in them and showing them that you value what they are creating.
CAST YOUR NET WIDE
Even if you know what sort of art you like it can be hard to find the right pieces for your home.
If your budget is in the thousands rather than the hundreds you could work with an art advisor. They will work to understand what you’re looking for and can shortlist pieces that will fit the space you’re looking to fill.
Even if your budget is more modest, there are lots of places to look. There are many websites that specialise in certain periods or styles of art, and you’ll also find original works available on Etsy and Facebook marketplace.
It’s also really good to buy art in person, because you’ll get a more realistic idea of colour and might find it easier to tap into the mood of the piece. Art and antiques fairs, art exhibitions and art galleries will often have pieces for sale.
Don’t forget to also consider buying art directly from the artist if you’ve found someone whose work you love – that way they will keep more of the profits from their art.
I hope this post has helped you to feel more confident about buying artwork. If you’d like help finding art for your home or workplace, do get in touch so that we can talk about what you need. I might be able to help you directly but if I can’t I’ll connect you with someone who can.