Where to buy artwork (not crazy expensive)?

[Anonymous]

I am looking for some interesting artwork for our home. Not posters, not prints, but actual original pieces of artwork. Am hoping to spend hundreds of dollars (less than $500, ideally). Is this realistic? I cannot afford to spend thousands. I've looked in the catalogues (Ballard, Home Decorators, POttery Barn, Crate & Bsrrel) and nothing inspires me. Any suggestions? I am in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area, if that matters. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

www.etsy.com

[Anonymous]

Okay, these are prints, but you might try 20x200. I think your budget might be low but potentially doable. What scale?

[Anonymous]

Wire me a few hundred bucks. I'll have my kid draw you something.

[Anonymous]

One other suggestion is to check out local college's student art shows. A friend of mine got some beautiful pieces at a local community college's art show a few years back. You can get original artwork that fits your budget -- and maybe you could even meet the artist and his/her instructors (plus, you'll probably make his/her day!).

Just a thought. Of course, this might not work for you right at this moment, since most colleges are done for the year, but something to keep in mind for the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, these are prints, but you might try 20x200. I think your budget might be low but potentially doable. What scale?

Someone made this suggestion to me and I got some great things -- primarily photographs, but gorgeous -- on this site. I ordered just the photos and framed them myself at Michael's. Super cheap and they look great.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is realistic. Try estate sales, yard sales, Goodwill (yes!), and college art shows.

[Anonymous]

Torpedo Factory?

[Anonymous]

Most of our art comes from estate sales. On vacation in wilmington nc we did bring back a piece by gabriel lehman. He paints on plaster on wood panel/fresco. Potentially you could get a 2x2, 2x3 for 500$. He has had magazine articles, newspaper articles written, tv interviews, and his work is shown in galleries and museums. Logistically its not the ideal of situations but his work is worth viewing online either way.

[Anonymous]

We bought two gorgeous water color a few years ago from Barbara Mason in a Virginia town near Luray Cavern. One is about 16x20, another 22x28, framed, for about $500. I was commenting to DH that it would cost us more just to frame them in DC.

The town was very cute, dotted with pretty old houses. We ate in a beautiful two story restaurants, the food was good. The town turned some old warehouse into a collection of art and frame shops. I forgot its name but will ask DH tonight. It is worth a trip just to get into the pretty countryside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought two gorgeous water color a few years ago from Barbara Mason in a Virginia town near Luray Cavern. One is about 16x20, another 22x28, framed, for about $500. I was commenting to DH that it would cost us more just to frame them in DC.

The town was very cute, dotted with pretty old houses. We ate in a beautiful two story restaurants, the food was good. The town turned some old warehouse into a collection of art and frame shops. I forgot its name but will ask DH tonight. It is worth a trip just to get into the pretty countryside.

Google did it again - http://southcourtinn.com/blog/south-court-inn/top-10-things-to-do-in-luray-virginia-6/

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of art leagues and independent artists out on the Eastern Shore (St. Michael's/Easton area). Go to their galleries and shows and find something you like.

http://www.pleinaireaston.com/schedule-at-a-glance.htm

[Anonymous]

Summer is festival season. Go to the one in Old Town Alexandria, and in July check out Artscape in Baltimore. http://www.artscape.org/

[Anonymous]

You could also try the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA or Eastern Market in DC.

[Anonymous]

I second Eastern Market in DC. Lots of different styles and choices in your price range.