Oil (or other) paintings? Best sources?

[Anonymous]

I've been taking note of houses/looks I like and I've noticed that when a house has artwork - especially paintings - I just like the feel of it. Especially scenic/outdoor scenes, kind of a classic look.

Where would you look for artwork like this to build up a look more quickly, and inexpensively? I bought one off EBTH, and I love it. I want more but auctions are stressful (I got mine for $125 (15X&, nice frame) - I don't have hundreds to spend per picture.) I'm looking at online estate sales. I have a few from past travels - locations we've visited. But I want more, and a mix of smaller and larger. Oils, watercolors, pastels, etc.

Any ideas for seeing more? Broadening my exposure? And then buying less expensively? I got an unframed oil I really like off eBay (9X12, $35!). Just keep hunting and I will find more?

[Anonymous]

Auctions are the best bet.

[Anonymous]

You get what you pay for. If you're willing to go up to $500–$1500 you could get a painting from a living artist, depending on the size. Peruse Instagram for artists you like.

[Anonymous]

I got oil paintings off Etsy

[Anonymous]

I fell in love with an oil painting / landscape scene on sale at an art gallery in Dupont Circle many decades ago, new artist. I didn't buy it, as I was a starving student. I think the price was $1,000. Today the artist is well known, so I imagine his artwork is very expensive.

Buy good paintings from unknown artists?

[Anonymous]

The people I know who have the most impressive art collections inherited. (Lucky ducks)

What is your goal? Quickly acquire “art” or develop a hobby of collecting—maybe a mix—a few high end pieces to showcase supplanted by other pieces that you just like. Either way, have a budget.

You can by more mass produced pieces fairly easily and quickly. If you enjoy the hunt—check out local galleries, look at online galleries. Dealers/artists should be knowledgeable about their product. look at auctions, estate sales, thrift stores—you are usually going on instinct here unless you really know a genre.

Watch old episodes of antique roadshow of how people stumbled upon and developed an appreciation of all kind of art.

[Anonymous]

Should be supplemented not supplanted. Damn autocorrect

[Anonymous]

Another place, but not sure if it’s open bc of covid, is the torpedo factory in Arlington. You get to shop directly from the artists and it’s super fun

[Anonymous]

I love 19th century American landscapes even though they are kind of tacky and definitely out of style, and you can pick them up very inexpensively through auction. Liveauctioneers.com is a big site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love 19th century American landscapes even though they are kind of tacky and definitely out of style, and you can pick them up very inexpensively through auction. Liveauctioneers.com is a big site.

Thanks for the link.

Is this what you mean by 19th Century American landscape? This was on the first page I clicked on:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/88596706_19th-c-oil-painting-working-hay-wagon-in-field

That's tacky and out of style? Hmmm. Yeah, that's what I like, though I prefer coastal scenes. (and this one is too rich for my blood).

Stay I like that - should I be collecting other types of more modern art to sort of counterbalance that which I genuinely like?

In terms of my goals, my goal would be to be surrounded by stuff that I like. secondarily, to have a house that feels classy and decorated.

[Anonymous]

Get what you like. In particular, if the feel of your house is classic, the old art will match and look polished. I have a friend with a house in alexandria—lots of family antiques, professionally directed with a crisp feel and beautiful custom upholstery, and she has a bunch of this sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:.

Stay I like that - should I be collecting other types of more modern art to sort of counterbalance that which I genuinely like?

Buy what you love! (And can afford)

Unless a guest loves your paintings, she won't really notice them -- they'll just fade into the background. So get what you love!

PS If what you love is creepy or scary, maybe be careful where you hang it. But otherwise, this is maybe the only time when all that matters is that you love how it looks. Furniture needs to be at least a little practical, paint colors need to work in a room, but art? If you like it, it's right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love 19th century American landscapes even though they are kind of tacky and definitely out of style, and you can pick them up very inexpensively through auction. Liveauctioneers.com is a big site.

Thanks for the link.

Is this what you mean by 19th Century American landscape? This was on the first page I clicked on:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/88596706_19th-c-oil-painting-working-hay-wagon-in-field

That's tacky and out of style? Hmmm. Yeah, that's what I like, though I prefer coastal scenes. (and this one is too rich for my blood).

Stay I like that - should I be collecting other types of more modern art to sort of counterbalance that which I genuinely like?

In terms of my goals, my goal would be to be surrounded by stuff that I like. secondarily, to have a house that feels classy and decorated.

Well to be perfectly frank, if you were trying to land your house in Architectural Digest or whatever, cheap 19th century landscapes would not be the way to go. I have them because I like them. I do not think they will make your house look classy or decorated. They will make it look quirky and they will make you happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love 19th century American landscapes even though they are kind of tacky and definitely out of style, and you can pick them up very inexpensively through auction. Liveauctioneers.com is a big site.

Thanks for the link.

Is this what you mean by 19th Century American landscape? This was on the first page I clicked on:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/88596706_19th-c-oil-painting-working-hay-wagon-in-field

That's tacky and out of style? Hmmm. Yeah, that's what I like, though I prefer coastal scenes. (and this one is too rich for my blood).

Stay I like that - should I be collecting other types of more modern art to sort of counterbalance that which I genuinely like?

In terms of my goals, my goal would be to be surrounded by stuff that I like. secondarily, to have a house that feels classy and decorated.

Well to be perfectly frank, if you were trying to land your house in Architectural Digest or whatever, cheap 19th century landscapes would not be the way to go. I have them because I like them. I do not think they will make your house look classy or decorated. They will make it look quirky and they will make you happy.

They’re Americana to me - like antique weather vanes or stuff like that.

[Anonymous]

Buy what you like, not simply because something is trendy. I like Trisha Adams’ paintings.