Buying Art

Looking at and viewing art is easy.  You can move about freely in the gallery at your own pace and just take it all in.  But what happens when you want take the art home? Here are a few tips when you're ready to buy art:

• Educate yourself on what kind of art you find fascinating.  If you don't know what you're looking for, then it's a great idea to head out to a few galleries to get a feel for what kind of style you like.
• Identify artists whose work you admire.  See if these artists have current shows or have the time to chat about what they do.  Becoming more familiar with an artist and their work gives you a greater connection when you hang their work in your home.
• It's a great idea to establish a budget.  Creating a budget for art prevents impulse buys and gives you confidence when you go to buy.
• And if you don't find what you're looking for, go ahead and approach the artist for a commission.  There's nothing quite having a piece personally created for you.
• In the end, buy what you love.  Sometimes that comes when you're least expecting it.

Happy art buying!

Painting by Jonathan McAfee, "He Was Our Nation's Hero"