Inspire me please want to buy some affordable art work for my house.

[twinsetandpearls]

What do you have in your home?

etsy.com

try this - currently love Joanne Shaw

We have some pieces that we got at graduation shows. Cheapish way to get really different and unusual stuff. Can be a bit out there but we like modern art.

also have a look here if you're in London

Or make some? How old are the DCs? You could buy a canvass from an art supplies shop and get them to splodge all over it (the younger the better I suppose, a 2 year old's splodges might look more random and Hockney-esque, whereas a five year old will just draw a 10 inch square house on a 5 foot canvass.)

"Prints" don't have to mean poster-type reproductions of well-known pics. And in your budget I think you are more likely to get lovely things if you go for "multiples" - ie etchings, woodcuts (I love woodcuts, gorgeous texture) etc. - as opposed to one-off drawings or paintings.

Eg - dh has been making a lovely collection of Anthony Gross example here etchings by doddling around on ebay - and these are all things in your price range.

He's also found some Erik Desmazieres, whose work is beautiful.

That is a good idea squeaver, I am in Dorset would I need to go to London.

georgimama dd has canvases in her room that she has done, as a family we like to paint but we are mot very good,.

Yes Bink, I had never heard of woodcuts and will look into that.

dp likes the Erik Desmazieres stuff.

lots of contemporary art galleries have limited edition prints by v good [and otherwise unaffordable] contemporary art big names

try the serpentine, whitechapel, ikon, fruitmarket

also eyebeam.com, for original works, have bought one or two things from here in more affluent times

sorry that should be eyestorm

We have some family pictures on loan from my father (my grandmother was an art collector and knew some artists good enough to go occasionally on display in exhibitions). Also photographs we have taken and some great photographic prints (mostly of US national parks I have visited). Then a couple of things from Open Days (my uncle was a sculptor, and we went to open days at his studio every now and then). Do you have any art schools near you? Or artists studios - they often congregate in one building and have joint open days.

I love interesting prints, and they can be limited edition, so still have some originality.

If you want original and affordable art, including prints, you could try visiting The Artists Web, of which I'm a member (see addresses below). There's a wide variety of work on offer and you're sure to find something suitable.

www.theartistsweb.co.uk
www.davidraison.co.uk

you could commission a mosaic.

ahem.

For original photographic prints, paintings, etc, visit your local art college, at ours there were always displays in corridors and foyers.

If you see something you like, they usually have a description and the name of the student - make them an offer, most of the students I knew would have happily taken you up on it, or indeed produced more work for you to your own spec.

Some of the students are incredibly good, and it's a great way to get something affordable.

How about this type of stuff? Art doesn't have to be just painting Jill Draper does lovely silk paint and enbroidery pieces.

The Art College suggestion is good, and visit local galleries too - some newer artists are not so expensive.

How about some limited edition prints? There are some lovely original silk-screen prints here.(Ought to declare an interest - my DH is the printmaker! ) They're exhibiting too at The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea - might give you some ideas if you can get to it...

what kind of art do you like? realistic, painting, photography, grafitti/urban, textiles? you could always find some nice printed fabric and either put inside a frame or staple onto a wooden frame and hang? its not too expensive to do either?
the art college suggestion is a good one or see if anywhere in your area has a open studios season?

Try car boot sales.
Go to the graduation exhibition of your local art college.
Dont rule out prints - a print of a great painting can be nicer than a poor quality original painting. So try the big galleries shops too.
Whats on at the Royal Academy, their exhibitions can be interesting and have unusual prints.

Try art school graduation shows. We've found 2 amazing paintings that way.

I agree with nighbynight, prints of great paintings or exhibitions can still be pretty cool.
We have a big print of an Andy Warhol exhibition in the 1970s and it's beautiful imo.

Check out the shops of the National Portrait Gallery, the London Transport museum etc for interesting stuff.

I'd love to buy a www.lauramccafferty.com/ work.

Flo is advertising her gallery by bumping old threads.