ART
Buying art for the home is not as easy as it sounds. Anything goes, but as with everything these days you have to read the small print. In the next few blogs I shall cover paintings, prints, photography and everything else.
PAINTINGS
Nothing speaks volumes regarding good style than having original oil paintings on the wall. Paintings have been staples for home decor since the pre-historic era, from Greek/Roman murals to oil painted family portraits of generations hanging in stately homes around the UK.
There is a tiered system with oil paintings always at the top
( never mention the A(crylic) word ) and that's just the material used let alone the style or content of the piece. It can be a minefield but like everything else only if you let it.
The biggest misconception is that original one off oil paintings are expensive. I didn't believe this was still the case until I read a small piece in a popular women's magazine where the journalist stated that the words "affordable" and "art" don't go together. A very pre - internet dated statement but then again it wasn't a Conde Nast publication so the quality was already missing.
Ok, so you want to purchase a painting , where do you start?
Firstly take your time, if you don't like it don't buy it. The good thing about buying paintings is you will not get talked into buying something you are not sure of. If you ask a question you will get a straight answer
There are 2 options.
Option 1 - have a wonder around and have a look in small galleries or framers. As with everything there are pros and cons. Some galleries and framers seem to be a tad "samey" with incredibly similar pieces on show rather than a wide variety and they don't seem to change their stock for years. After traipsing around and experiencing this for the fifth time it does get frustrating.
A good small gallery or framers would have a section where artists can leave business cards or brochures giving details of their website so you can have a look. If you like an artists style don't be afraid to e-mail them any questions, ask them how often do they add new works onto the site ( it would be a welcome change from the "we can get you on googles front page" annoying messages). Our artist receives e-mails asking questions about whether or not to frame a painting - which paintings would compliment a room which has been painted a certain colour from a Dulux paint chart, anything regarding paintings.
Check directories on the internet in your area rather than searching for galleries and framers as you will be hit with a plethora of useless information.
Do not think that because a gallery or framers is located in an affluent area that the service or quality of the work is of a high standard. I went in search of some quality paintings in Stoneygate, Leicester. I couldn't find anything ( a bit "samey") but in one of the framers/gallery the chap was incredibly rude and when I asked if he had any cards or brochures from artists his reply was " don't be stupid, I've got enough of my own stock to sell let alone advertising someone elses stuff". Needless to say his shop was empty and when mentioning this to people his shop is known as the place with the "samey" art and a t**t as a manager. On the totally opposite to this was another framers who were absolutely brilliant, they didn't have anything outstanding but the couple were friendly, helpful and had a selection of cards and brochures from artists, it was an absolute pleasure to be in that shop. So that shop is mentioned to others as a brilliant place to get pictures framed and to have a look at their stock.
Option 2 - The internet
Again there are pros and cons. It can be really frustrating as there is so much, how can I put this.....rubbish. You can spend at least 4 hours trawling through before you hit a site that you like. One of the problems is that artists don't really advertise but then again where would you look for an artists work...in a fashion, home decor or art magazine? That is counterproductive for the artist but then again artists have a similar attitude that a few years ago the tailors in Savile Row had. They concentrate on the work, customer service and word of mouth rather than advertising. There is somewhat of a simple pleasure in finding an artist than going down a normal mass production route.
Firstly before even typing abstract/original paintings set the location to the UK/USA/France etc..
I know this is not what marketers like to hear but I have never purchased anything from the first to at least 6 pages of my searches. I just do not find anything really special or suitable on these pages. I end up wasting time that I can never get back on listings that are totally useless for me. I always find much more suitable online stores quite a few pages into a search. Sometimes I just randomly pick a number either 1-10 or from 10-100 and bingo, I seem to pass by allot of "junk" by doing it this way. There is a choice in which way you can look for oil paintings online either by doing my random way or by a "recorded message, press 1, press 3, press.. etc" way.
Another option is by doing a search but using sites with images. The first few pages will be packed with online sites selling paintings. Some will be sites that sell work on behalf of an artist. These sites split into 2 groups. One group approach artists if they would like to sell their work on the site. Platinumgallery.co.uk is one such site. Other online galleries accept anyone - there's no prerequisite, more painters than artists are on these sites. Even without a trained eye you can tell the difference between the sites through the work shown. Unfortunately there are many of these sites and the work may not be entirely genuine.
A certificate of authenticity has lost its value also. But there are certain factors that genuine artists still use. Sides are either painted plain or left blank and paintings are initialed, signed and dated. Depending on the artist the painting could be signed on the front,side or at the back of the canvas. Our artist signs the back of the canvas so that her customers can hang their paintings which ever way they prefer.
All of our paintings are one of a kind. Our artist refuses to have the images reproduced even as prints. Prices currently start from
£30.00 from the sale section - £1500.00 for very large paintings.
When you find a site that meets your taste but hasn't got what your looking for at the moment, don't forget to bookmark it. I have stumbled upon many great sites and have forgotten to bookmark them, then they seem to get lost in the infinite internet.
Special Offers Brogue Meets Stiletto
Special Offers Be Biased
Brogue Meets Stiletto Art Gallery
Be Biased Contemporary Art
Buying art for the home is not as easy as it sounds. Anything goes, but as with everything these days you have to read the small print. In the next few blogs I shall cover paintings, prints, photography and everything else.
PAINTINGS
Nothing speaks volumes regarding good style than having original oil paintings on the wall. Paintings have been staples for home decor since the pre-historic era, from Greek/Roman murals to oil painted family portraits of generations hanging in stately homes around the UK.
There is a tiered system with oil paintings always at the top
( never mention the A(crylic) word ) and that's just the material used let alone the style or content of the piece. It can be a minefield but like everything else only if you let it.
The biggest misconception is that original one off oil paintings are expensive. I didn't believe this was still the case until I read a small piece in a popular women's magazine where the journalist stated that the words "affordable" and "art" don't go together. A very pre - internet dated statement but then again it wasn't a Conde Nast publication so the quality was already missing.
Ok, so you want to purchase a painting , where do you start?
Firstly take your time, if you don't like it don't buy it. The good thing about buying paintings is you will not get talked into buying something you are not sure of. If you ask a question you will get a straight answer
There are 2 options.
Option 1 - have a wonder around and have a look in small galleries or framers. As with everything there are pros and cons. Some galleries and framers seem to be a tad "samey" with incredibly similar pieces on show rather than a wide variety and they don't seem to change their stock for years. After traipsing around and experiencing this for the fifth time it does get frustrating.
A good small gallery or framers would have a section where artists can leave business cards or brochures giving details of their website so you can have a look. If you like an artists style don't be afraid to e-mail them any questions, ask them how often do they add new works onto the site ( it would be a welcome change from the "we can get you on googles front page" annoying messages). Our artist receives e-mails asking questions about whether or not to frame a painting - which paintings would compliment a room which has been painted a certain colour from a Dulux paint chart, anything regarding paintings.
Check directories on the internet in your area rather than searching for galleries and framers as you will be hit with a plethora of useless information.
Do not think that because a gallery or framers is located in an affluent area that the service or quality of the work is of a high standard. I went in search of some quality paintings in Stoneygate, Leicester. I couldn't find anything ( a bit "samey") but in one of the framers/gallery the chap was incredibly rude and when I asked if he had any cards or brochures from artists his reply was " don't be stupid, I've got enough of my own stock to sell let alone advertising someone elses stuff". Needless to say his shop was empty and when mentioning this to people his shop is known as the place with the "samey" art and a t**t as a manager. On the totally opposite to this was another framers who were absolutely brilliant, they didn't have anything outstanding but the couple were friendly, helpful and had a selection of cards and brochures from artists, it was an absolute pleasure to be in that shop. So that shop is mentioned to others as a brilliant place to get pictures framed and to have a look at their stock.
Option 2 - The internet
Again there are pros and cons. It can be really frustrating as there is so much, how can I put this.....rubbish. You can spend at least 4 hours trawling through before you hit a site that you like. One of the problems is that artists don't really advertise but then again where would you look for an artists work...in a fashion, home decor or art magazine? That is counterproductive for the artist but then again artists have a similar attitude that a few years ago the tailors in Savile Row had. They concentrate on the work, customer service and word of mouth rather than advertising. There is somewhat of a simple pleasure in finding an artist than going down a normal mass production route.
Firstly before even typing abstract/original paintings set the location to the UK/USA/France etc..
I know this is not what marketers like to hear but I have never purchased anything from the first to at least 6 pages of my searches. I just do not find anything really special or suitable on these pages. I end up wasting time that I can never get back on listings that are totally useless for me. I always find much more suitable online stores quite a few pages into a search. Sometimes I just randomly pick a number either 1-10 or from 10-100 and bingo, I seem to pass by allot of "junk" by doing it this way. There is a choice in which way you can look for oil paintings online either by doing my random way or by a "recorded message, press 1, press 3, press.. etc" way.
Another option is by doing a search but using sites with images. The first few pages will be packed with online sites selling paintings. Some will be sites that sell work on behalf of an artist. These sites split into 2 groups. One group approach artists if they would like to sell their work on the site. Platinumgallery.co.uk is one such site. Other online galleries accept anyone - there's no prerequisite, more painters than artists are on these sites. Even without a trained eye you can tell the difference between the sites through the work shown. Unfortunately there are many of these sites and the work may not be entirely genuine.
A certificate of authenticity has lost its value also. But there are certain factors that genuine artists still use. Sides are either painted plain or left blank and paintings are initialed, signed and dated. Depending on the artist the painting could be signed on the front,side or at the back of the canvas. Our artist signs the back of the canvas so that her customers can hang their paintings which ever way they prefer.
All of our paintings are one of a kind. Our artist refuses to have the images reproduced even as prints. Prices currently start from
£30.00 from the sale section - £1500.00 for very large paintings.
When you find a site that meets your taste but hasn't got what your looking for at the moment, don't forget to bookmark it. I have stumbled upon many great sites and have forgotten to bookmark them, then they seem to get lost in the infinite internet.
Special Offers Brogue Meets Stiletto
Special Offers Be Biased
Brogue Meets Stiletto Art Gallery
Be Biased Contemporary Art
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