In honor of Small Buisness Saturday (Nov 26th) and Artist Sunday (The Sunday after Thanksgiving) lets shop small buisness and support working artists!!
Why collect art? Today, there are so many options to fill your wall space. Prints from big box stores are cheaper anyway. Pinterest has tutorials on how to cover a canvas in paint, that'll fill in some blank wall space. I can thrift old prints from a second-hand shop. Commodification, fast fashion, etc leaves us with soulless, cheap, and uninteresting crap. Social media has us indulging in an endlessly compulsive trend cylce so that we never nail down a personal style and just keep consuming. But if we go against the grain a bit, we can find something really personal and meaningful.
Support Artists
I love vintage prints or paintings. I'm not against collecting these! I have some of my own. But nothing beats purchasing a piece from a working artist. Especially when you've gotten to meet them at a show or market and had time to chat with them first. It's the best feeling to make a purchase that supports someone's passion and creative talent. (And us artists appreciate you!) Following one artist through their career or growing your collection from many is a great way to support and encourage creativity in your community. The more our artists thrive the more color, inspiration, and life is infused back into us all!
Buying work that was made with someone's hands, something they poured their hearts into, is an amazing thing. You get to spend time around something that has been infused with soul essence. The artist was moved to create this thing, it lived inside them and they just had to bring it into the world. You just don't get that energy, uniqueness, and story from a Target print lacking in soul.
Be Unique
The opportunity to display something that is one of a kind is so special. Our homes are a reflection of who we are and how we live our lives. Your home should say something about you. And what better way to do it than with art you have fallen in love with? I have always been a firm believer that what you choose to surround yourself with (be it people, plants, colors, things, etc) will always affect your well-being. I love color, texture, pattern, and unique and one-of-a-kind items. So my wardrobe and home are full of these things. Art on the walls is the best way to infuse a home with life.
Learn Your Style
Many people are intimidated by art. But let me tell you a secret, all you have to do is like it. That's it! You don't have to have something smart to say about it, you don't have to know if it's "good" or trendy, you don't have to know anything about art really! You just have to know what you like! The best part of buying art from real working artists is getting something unique that says something about you. As you look at more and more art, weather that's at the local market or major museum, you will start to develop your style. You will learn what you like and that's all you need to buy art, your unique eye!
Thrill of the Hunt
As you may know, I am a long-time thrifter. I've been going to vintage and antique shops since I could drive. Thrift store hunting has always given me big thrills! Estate sale finds or garage sale deals, it doesn't matter, I love the thrill of the hunt. I live for that feeling when you unearth something so cool you just gotta have it! Well, finding good art is like that too. You go to the galleries, attend the receptions, and visit the art market until you find that piece you've been waiting for. Falling in love and knowing it has got to come home with you! And don't forget, if you meet an artist whose style speaks to you, there may be an option to commission something special. It's on another level to have something made just for you!
When you purchase art from a living working artist you support their passion, you encourage a culture of creativity, and you get to enrich your space. It's a win-win-win!
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