Original art works
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Anonymous
| I'm not great at design and decor. Wish I could hire a decorator but we can't. We would love to buy some art for our new home but don't know where to look in the DMV. Looking to spend no more than $1200 per piece. I wish I had a bigger budget but do not right now. Is it possible to find one or 2 paintings in that range. Are there galleries here that sell some affordable art? Any suggestions? |
Anonymous
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Here is a directory of artists in Fairfax.
https://artsfairfax.org/directory/ |
Anonymous
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Torpedo Factory.
Bethesda Art Festival. |
Anonymous
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Wow. OP. If you drop $1200 on art that turns out to be a mistake, you can’t return it. You’ll really regret that. Rather than rushing to fill the walls, educate your eye. I suggest:
First read an article book from the library to get language that describes what you like. Then look at a lot of art. Look at art you can’t afford. Go to online galleries and museums and just look, look, look. Eventually you’ll see something that moves you. I knew that when my entire feels quiet and still, I’ve found a special piece. La Pieta gives me that feeling. I’ll never own La Pieta, but seeing it helped me define what I like in sculpture. Once you’ve found that feeling, you can start looking at art you can afford. I found a $400 painting that makes me that quiet, happy every time I look at it. It took two years to find it. It’s absolutely perfect, and visitors stare at it. It was really hard having a blank space for a few years, but I’m so, so happy with how that space came together. Another great tip is to cut craft paper into standard sizes (20x 24, 30 x 40, or whatever) and tape it to the wall using painter’s tape. Some sizes will look better than others. There are rules about how high art should be over couches, tables, etc. Experimenting will help you see what looks good. |
Anonymous
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I’ve found real gems through estate sales and online auction houses. My budget was much lower but I hate reproduction or mass produced art.
Like a PP described - hold out until you find the one, and you’ll know it when you find it! |
Anonymous
| I buy everything on Etsy or Chairish. It's a slog, but worth it. I don't think I've ever spent that much on anything. |
Anonymous
| Estate Sales. It's the only way you're going to get paintings, etc, for a fraction of the price. All the art festivals in the area are full sticker price. |
Anonymous
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Be patient. Go to art festivals and look. See what styles and subjects appeal. See if any artists really float your boat. Do not buy.
Then you know what to look for online, at estate sales, etc. $1500 is quite low. |
Anonymous
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17:46: continuing. I started collecting Australian srt during covid. It's very reasonably priced. Shipping is not that expensive and there is no Customs duty on original art framed or unframed.
Not saying this is your cup of Fosters (joke) but you can see a lot of different styles of inexpensive works to help get you going on seeing what you like. https://bluethumbart.com/ Here's a gallery I have used. More expensive but better know artists just browse https://michaelreidnorthernbeaches.com.au/ We have 2 by Dave Groom https://www.davegroom.com/ |
Anonymous
| Check out capital artists collective. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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Look and buy when you see something that sparks something in you.
I have a painting of a pond that I bought in a coffee shop in West Virginia, total whim. I saw the day before and actually went back to buy it. $600 at the time -- a considered purchase for me. I still love it every time I look at it. Another time I saw a watercolor in a gallery in Michigan. We had stopped just to stretch our legs. I knew we would not be back this way. I walked away. Thought about it. Walked back and bought it. Forget what it cost -- under $1,000 for sure -- and I still love it every time I look at it. You know it when you see it OP. And when you see it, buy it. Just for you. Just because you will always have it. And it will spark joy. |
Anonymous
This. |
Anonymous
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I have quite a bit of original art around my house. Places I've acquired:
1) Several small landscapes painted by my grandparents. These are mostly sentimental, of course. 2) Mid-century abstract paintings - through estate sales. I have one that's huge - maybe 36X42 or so and looks great over my couch, plus others that are smaller (16x20-ish). I paid $80 for one of them and the rest were less. 3) A mixed media abstratct cityscape - at the Kensington Art Show. The colors are different from anything I'd normally buy but I fell in love and it's one of my favorite pieces. 4) I have a gallery wall of beach and riverscapes--some from the Kensington art show, some from estate sales. 5) A framed vintage map 6) I have a framed piece of my kid's art from kindergarten. 7) stone carvings my grandfather did 8) matted and framed vintage postcards 9) A Judaica lithograph by an artist I have a family connection to. I found it on an estate sale auction and won it for $5. |