To ask where to get good art?

[doesthiseemright]

Not many people I know, in person, have much art in their homes and so I am asking here. Seems a reasonable place to ask?

Anyway, for those into art, where do you find your pieces for your home/collection?

Hi OP. It really depends whether you are happy with a simple mass produced print that you can frame yourself (cheapest option) or you’re looking for an original piece or limited edition (£££).

If you like traditional prints by famous artists try national gallery.co.uk or desenio.co.uk is good for a wider range of genres including more modern and contemporary art. Or places like The Range and Next do some nice canvases.

Or if you’ve got a larger budget then try visiting local art galleries in your nearest towns and cities. We have several pieces of art in our house and we have probably spent what most people would call a ridiculous amount of money on them. But they give us pleasure every day and are limited editions.

Unexpected places can sell original art- our local tourist information centre for example has a decent range and I bought 5 lovely prints by a local artist as I love having images of the local area on display. Try googling for art events or sales being held close to where you live eg in a nearby town there is an annual event where local artists exhibit and sell their work on the prom by the seaside and we discovered a few fab local artists that way.

Hope that helps.

What type of art are you looking for?

www.nataliesarts.co.uk/

Goofle "Buy art online" - loads of sites come up.

There was a Mumsnetter that did some lovely art work, she sells her works locally but I can't remember her details.

Or try: www.theblankcardcompany.co.uk/
They are connected with: www.galleryontheusk.co.uk

There is art for sale and also fine art cards which in the past I have framed.

I have also found some nice pieces on Etsy.

Ebay or artfinder.com for reasonably priced stuff. Proper galleries for investment pieces.

Graduate shows. There is some fantastic talent to be found at this level for affordable prices.

I tend to buy what I like and what gives me pleasure to look at rather than what might be valuable. If it turns out to increase in value then so much better. I have some inherited pieces that are worth ££ and I have a lot of pictures that I love that will never be worth anything. They are all valuable to me. A lot of artists do not continue painting, even those who show such promise at graduation level so their work is unlikely to increase in value. But you will have unique pieces. One of my favourite pieces is a watercolour done by a friend of my grandmother. Afaik she painted as a hobby and the work is unsigned but beautiful.

I know a lot of artists one way and another, so I buy from them. But a good place to start is the Affordable Art Fair. Or decide what sort of images you like, what your price range is and Google until you find some work at a price you can afford.
Also, if you like old pieces, go to auction houses and showrooms, antique fairs or car boots.

I would visit galleries local to you and also while travelling. It's much better to buy art that you've seen in person than over the internet, because it's so different seeing things full-size, with all the texture and so on. And then just be willing to buy things when you find something you love, rather than trying to fill your house up all in one go.

It’s worth checking out student art shows if you have a university or art college within travelling distance. It’ll be a bargain because they aren’t yet known but some of it will be very decent. And you might get in early with the next Joan Eardley!

Also worth looking at small independent galleries, if you’re willing to spend up to a few hundred pounds.

There's an artist in residence at our local National Trust site, we've bought a couple of pieces there.

Artwork isn't something you can just buy online.

It really depends what you're looking for.

We have art we've bought on holidays, some limited edition prints, original photographs and a few large canvases. Two were painted by a friend of ours, the other by a local artist which we bought at one of his shows.

Do you have a local independent gallery or art society? They might put on regular exhibitions where you can buy art? Other than that there are online artist with print sales. One of my faves is Georgina Westley and I've bought lots of her prints as presents. Etsy is also a good place to start looking.

Do you have an Open Houses event near you? I go to a few in local towns and pick up work that I like for much cheaper than buying from galleries.

I do loads of art and sell one eBay. Loads of good artists on there

One of my favourite pieces cost £50 for an original watercolour.

Buy my art cuz I rock 😂

Instagram is a great place for it.

I really like Desinio for prints and local art galleries are usually a good bet for original work. Unless you live by the coast and then everything is boats and water.

It depends so much on your home, decor style, budget, etc.

We have paintings and prints in our house - some I inherited, others are from a local auction house, i bought the main painting in the living room from a bar in town that displays artwork by local artists, other bits are from galleries....

If you find something you like in a gallery that does this, you can buy it with interest-free credit though the 'own art scheme'. The website should point you to local galleries and give you some ideas.
www.ownart.org.uk

Sorry, posted and ran.
Yes, original art. I currently use art finder but wasn't sure about where to get quality pieces . Not sure we have any local art galleries.

(I wont have prints in the house) My Bad.

Thanks for all the links and suggestions :) Really grateful.

Late reply. Are you just looking for paintings and prints, or would you consider sculptures, wood carvings, installations etc. as well? I never buy art on the internet. Try and find local artists would be a good start. Auction houses too.