Starting an Art Collection on a Budget
Where to Look for Authentic Art Pieces Without the Christie's Price
Mar 9, 2009
Are you an art lover but have little real art in your house? Maybe you're an artist yourself and are interested in building a collection of your own. Fresh art from new artists can be just as enjoyable as established, popular artists, and quite less expensive. If you can't afford the work for sale in fine galleries and want something more substantial than the assembly-line "hand crafted" artwork sold at Wal-Mart, look over the following ideas for the first steps in an art treasure hunt.
Art Schools
Art students are on the edge of the professional art world and are bursting with the information of traditional master artist styles and exploratory, contemporary artists. These artists are mostly still finding themselves, but that doesn't diminish the quality of their work. Graduating art students usually display their work publicly in nearby galleries, or often a gallery on campus. Put your name on the gallery's mailing list, or emailing list and watch for the student thesis shows, or juried student shows.Quick and easy online access to para-professional and student art is also offered through Ugallery.com and Saatchi gallery's StuArt (short for student art) web sites.
Alternative Art Sources
Street art fairs are fun and will sometimes yield a surprising art find. Consider the Affordable Art Fair which is an international tour of not quite so expensive, yet high quality samples of artwork.Trust your instincts and look for work that has the potential to continue being intriguing to yourself and people visiting your home or work place, where ever you'll be displaying it.
Keep an eye out for auctions, too! Museum mailing lists for members will announce auctions. Estate auctions and sales also release artwork for less than its actual value. Another funky alternative art source is Slop Art , a collective of ready made art with a sense of humor. It's worth a look and it's original!
If you are a business owner in search of unique art that meets your corporate standards, Art Consulting firms such as Denver's McGrath & Braun streamline the process. They allow the purchaser to describe what subject matter, style, or colors are being sought in the artwork and how much is willing to be spent, then the consultants do the searching and offer a stratified sample of work to choose from. Installation and lighting can also be included.
Artist Trades
What about making your own artwork? Try taking some art classes, or winging it yourself. Available art classes can be found at recreation centers, art centers and artist seminar / residency programs. Seasoned artists might consider a class in a new medium. Trading pieces with other artists can also vitalize your collection of art and create bonds between friends. Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) are a popular method of collecting art with a limited budget. ATC's are miniature works of art about the size of baseball cards that are traded between people in person. An online search will reveal where local ATC groups congregate to swap pieces.
When searching for new work, have an open mind and take your time. Most importantly, pay attention to art and artists who you find an emotional response to. If you are unsure how you feel about the work, some artists and galleries are opening up to the idea of renting out a piece per a contract. Also, consider commissioning an artist. Many artists are open to the proposition of commissions but do not advertise it so take the initiative and make the request. This allows the potential investor to try the artwork out in its destined environment. If available, read the artist's statement in an attempt to speak the language of the piece you are interested in. After all, art isn't just for looking at but also talking about with others.
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