Selecting artwork for your home or office can be a daunting task: where do you find the art? What kind of art should it be? How do you know what kind to purchase? How much money should you plan to spend? how many pieces will you need? Adding art to your space should be enjoyable and should reflect your own personal style so the following is a guide to make the process less intimidating and more manageable.
We all have our own sense of style even if we don’t know it. When you got dressed today, you chose certain colors and textures in your clothing, you picked out a certain pair of shoes either for comfort or for coordination and you’ve handled your hair a certain way to complete your own personal aesthetic. You probably did all this in your own home which also reflects your style. Whether you have curtains that coordinate with your bedspread or flooring that reflects light or bathroom fixtures that are visually soothing, your home most likely says something about you. The art that you own should too.
Aside from shopping at local galleries, consider other options like the internet, festivals, studio tours and artist coops. Public displays likes the ones sponsored by Art Exposure Inc. are a good alternative as well: restaurants, vacant storefronts, street level display windows, office lobbies, etc. (a list of such venues is provided at www.artexposureinc.com).
Familiarize yourself with different types of art: oil paintings, acrylic paintings, watercolor paintings, photography, digital prints, collages, mixed media works, textile art, ceramics, sculpture, etc. If you’re looking for art for the wall, besides the obvious two-dimensional works, you could also consider hanging a piece of ceramic or a wall sculpture. Look for possible display spaces for three-dimensional art as well: tabletops, room corners, stairway landings.
When you’re drawn to a piece of artwork, decide whether you’ll enjoy seeing it everyday. Remember that colors in artwork have an effect on you. Cool colors like blues, purples and greens tend to be calming and restful and are well suited for bathrooms, bedrooms, nurseries, medical offices or massage rooms. Warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows are more energetic and should be displayed in public spaces like living rooms, dining rooms or conference rooms. You may be looking for art to match something already in your home or office but consider this a broader opportunity to pair complementary colors (purple/yellow, green/red, blue/orange) instead of trying to match the art to the furniture. If you haven’t decorated the rest of the space yet, perhaps the art can be the starting point and you can choose furniture and curtains to match colors in a painting or wall hanging.
Consider the subject matter of artwork. Non-representational art has no subject matter and consists instead of lines, shapes, colors and texture. Minimalist art has a minimum of subject matter, for example a single leaf or flower. Both of these styles tend to be more restful and contemplative and can have a relaxing effect on the viewer. Impressionistic art gives an impression of a scene but does not try to represent it realistically. Realistic art is more photographic and tries to capture the real world as we see it. Both of these styles tend to show wide spaces like streetscapes or panoramics and can be exhibited in active areas like kitchens.
If possible, engage with the artist: ask where they’re from, how long they’ve been selling art, what they’re interested in doing with their artwork. Do the answers resonate with you? If so, the art can be more personal to you. Enjoy the process of buying the art: don’t be intimidated by “art talk”, if you don’t understand what the artist or the seller is saying, ask for clarification. Art is a luxury item – not a necessity. The process of purchasing it should be enjoyable.
Consider the logistics: has it been framed? Is the frame scratch-free and complementary to the artwork? does it need to be framed or can the frame easily be changed? Are you willing to do this or can you have the artist do it? Does the art need to be shipped? Can it easily be hung on a wall or does it need wiring and hooks? If it’s matted, is the mat neatly cut and clean? Is the artist’s signature apparent?
Understand why it is priced the way it is: I advise my artists to price according to how much art they’ve sold and according to the size of the art they produce. Their small pieces should be less expensive then the larger ones. If the price is a hesitation point, ask about layaway or ask if the price is flexible and if so, make a counter offer. Certain mediums affect the price: oil paintings are often more expensive than photography. And if an artist is established and has sold a great deal of artwork, then their art is going to be priced higher because they know there’s a market for it.
When you’re ready to display the artwork, match sizes with wall availability and furniture. Large art should be hung on big walls or near/above large furniture. Small pieces can be hung on small walls or can be grouped with similar sized art. Feel free to mix mediums within a room but not next to each other. Artwork that is grouped should have similar frames. Nails and picture hanging hooks should be used for hanging the art. These can be purchased on any hardware store and should be appropriate for the weight of the art. Keep in mind that the vertical center of the art should be at eye level which is typically about five and a half feet from the floor. Use a level to ensure that the art is balanced correctly.
Be aware of the art you’re collecting and whether it all has a similar style or if you’re drawn to different styles for different purposes or different spaces. Determine does each piece stand alone or is there a common thread. This will tell you about the kind of art you like and the styles to which you’re drawn. Most importantly, don’t be intimidated and have fun!
Art Exposure
www.artexposureinc.com
