We found an artist we love from Baton Rouge. She has showings in galleries around the US. We bought giclees, the first was $1500. We have a couple of other watercolors that were less expensive we bought at an art show.
Well, we're pathetic, and having next to nothing currently on the walls here (we found out a month after arriving that we might be moving again in about a year, and didn't feel like fussing with it). We have, since, put up one piece, because it's a piece that DH actually picked out, took it to get it framed, and it's a pretty nice print. Seemed a shame not to hang it once we had it, and there was already a hook in the wall where we put it up.
Most of our "artwork" are prints that I have picked up on various trips to places for work. There are a few more prints we picked up at a comic convention, that have yet to be framed, but those at least have the advantage of _both_ of us being present when they were selected.
It makes for a bit of an oddball collection, but I like that it reminds me of various places I have visited. Two houses ago, we had them all hung up in themes - the dining room was prints I acquired in eastern Asia, the TV room was stuff from India, the guest bath had some prints from a cruise I took, the living room had prints from Europe...
We also have a few small (ie: 4x6) prints of family photos here and there, mostly in little frames, one or two in a room, at most, and set on horizontal surfaces, instead of hung on a wall.
We've just started getting into buying art in the last 5 or so years. So far we've only gone as far as relatively inexpensive prints, although we would like to get into buying paintings. We started buying prints at an annual print fair held in our city - it's a local show, but the dealers are from all over the country. From there we've branched out to buying prints from one particular dealer in New York whose selection fits our tastes. Those have ranged in price from $150 - $750. We've also bought prints from a locally based artist whose paintings we love but whose prices can't quite justify yet; I can't recall for sure but I think those have ranged from $200 - $350. And DH is into rock posters and sometimes those artists do art prints, which are usually very affordable - almost always well under $100. We have several of those.
We've also framed some photos we've taken on vacation. We're not in them, though; it's more like a city scene we like or a small detail of a building, etc.
99% of our art was gifted by my parents. My mother is very into art, was an art major, and is a collector. She gets us gifts all the time. Luckily we have very similar taste. She buys art at galleries- one in particular, because my aunt's best friend owns one, but often in galleries in NYC, Miami, wherever she travels.
I bought a painting from a street vendor in New Orleans that I love. We also have kitschy kitchen art in our kitchen.
I have mostly lithographs and serigraphs, and a few actual paintings.
Our art collection is a few thousand. No clue on the actual value.
In terms of photography, we have small photos from our e-pics, wedding, and of DD in small picture frames, standing in china cabinet. We do not have photography on our walls.
Post by heyrebekah on May 21, 2012 11:58:15 GMT -5
I have a couple of framed photos that I got on vacation. One I got in Key West last year and it's a picture of a restaurant along the water with colorful chairs and umbrellas. I also have a couple pictures of shotgun houses that I got in New Orleans, which I have yet to frame. You can find that sort of thing for $20 or $30 in touristy areas. ETA, or you could frame your own photos of course, since you are a much better photog than me.
In our bedroom we have a print of that famous V-Day kiss photo.
Way back when eBay first started I bought a set of 6 illustrations of English country houses, and those are in the dining room. Also in the dining room we have this exact map:
And a couple of other vintage-y maps in the office. DH is really into maps.
Unless there is an artist that you already want works from, I would go to local galleries and scope out options. I am very much a "feeling" person when it comes to art. When I see what I want, I know it right away. I wouldn't mind spending a good amount on an investment but I also don't mind getting something that I just love. Unfortunately I just don't have the funds to buy like I want.
I was lucky enough to have two friends create a painting and a print (digitally created) for me as gifts. You could hang some of your own photography.
I was an art history major, and am very picky about what we hang up. I hate mass produced art, and until we can afford some nicer investment pieces I've been spending about $100 on Etsy.
If you're interested in photography 20x200 has some contemporary stuff you can order in big sizes. Otherwise I'd go to a local art fair or gallery.
Unless there is an artist that you already want works from, I would go to local galleries and scope out options. I am very much a "feeling" person when it comes to art. When I see what I want, I know it right away. I wouldn't mind spending a good amount on an investment but I also don't mind getting something that I just love. Unfortunately I just don't have the funds to buy like I want.
My mom has a great story-- she was at one of those art auctions on a cruise ship and fell in love with this small painting. She won the auction for $150. She just loved it and didn't know anything about the artist.
A few years later, he died and now its worth something like $5K.
The only "art" I have a hanging up was a painting my friend made in high school using my senior picture that I planned to move promptly but when DH asked why I hung up a picture of "Blossom", it now makes me laugh every time I pass it so I had to leave it up.
So I suppose that also answers the unasked question of which celebrity I look most like.
We're still working on our collection, but most of what is on our walls now is travel photos that we've taken either framed or made into gallery wraps. We have one sort of artistic wedding photo blown up on canvas.
We have a large art festival in our city every summer, and I like to go and see what local artists have to offer. I feel like I can find some original pieces, support someone local, and not break the bank. Plus they have awesome food stands!
I keep hoping one of them will make it big and our little original piece will be worth $$$$ someday.
I have a large framed landscape photograph of an autumn forest which is in our bedroom. I also have an antique map lithograph and a painting of Florence by a Florence street artist which was like 1 euro. Can you tell I like landscapes? I also have a blue and green abstract work which reminds me of the ocean, and it is in our bathroom.
Other than those things, generic art from like World Market and personal photos. I am in the market for something for the living room. It is a 2 story room, so it is going to have to be something huge. No idea what yet.
On a more serious note, I have a friend who does awesome work, mostly landscapes, and often shows in LA but is based in SF. His work usually runs in the low 4 figures for large works. Let me know if you want me to PM his site.
I collect antique architectural lithographs & prints--but only of places I've visited. Most of mine range from $20-$250, but I just buy them when I'm out and about at antique and thrift stores.
What kind of art, photography, wall hangings, etc. do you have in your home?
Over the years, DH & I individually collected a mix of paintings, photographs, prints, posters, and other items that have meaning to us. The paintings were inherited or purchased directly from the artists. The photographs are from our wedding or taken by us. The prints and posters were purchased. The other items include things that have special meaning to us. DH met a favorite author by fixing his computer while on a book tour to our area. The author signed a (clean) napkin for him. This is framed in our library.
Where did you buy these?
There are a number of art festivals in our area in the summer. Most of the paintings and some of the prints were purchased from the artists at these art festivals.
How much did they cost? $0 to $400 without framing. Framing has added another $25 to $400 dollars.
Post by thatgirl2478 on May 21, 2012 12:16:59 GMT -5
We have 5 originals from various artists - 2 are originals of our dogs the other 3 are just of random greyhounds, some are in pop art style and the other is a very realistic depiction of 2 greyhounds.
We have 2 originals from family members - one is an original photograph my uncle did and one is an original oil painting my grandmother made. And another original we picked up at an antique store.
Then we have a large giclee we picked up from overstock.com and various photos of family & pets.
Oh yeah, we do have some prints from Etsy. If you can ferret out the good stuff, it's a nice way to fill your walls until you find the one perfect piece for the space. You may like Lab Partners. I love the perfume bottle and shoes prints they currently have. I think those might need to hang in my closet.
I can't recall any of the other Etsy names offhand, but I also like the illustrator Julia Rothman. I have her prints Ironstone and Luxury Apartment (under "Shop").
We have 2 Chuck Closes, a John Baldessari, 2 Carl Fudges, a Cindy Sherman, and an Alex Katz. They were all purchased from galleries (Pace in NY and Barbara Krakow in Boston), except for one of the Chuck Closes which was purchased from a Christie's auction. We buy art that we like and we consider them to be investments, although we hope to not have to part with them.
My husband also collects Japanese woodblock prints (from the late 1800s and early 1900s), but we only have a few of them displayed. We have zero photographs in our house (except for the Cindy Sherman).
I would definitely recommend checking out some local galleries and seeing what you like. Wandering around galleries is one of my favorite things to do.
We have 2 Chuck Closes, a John Baldessari, 2 Carl Fudges, a Cindy Sherman, and an Alex Katz. They were all purchased from galleries (Pace in NY and Barbara Krakow in Boston), except for one of the Chuck Closes which was purchased from a Christie's auction. We buy art that we like and we are considering them to be investments, although we hope to not have to part with them.
My husband also collects Japanese woodblock prints (from the late 1800s and early 1900s), but we only have a few of them displayed. We have zero photographs in our house (except for the Cindy Sherman).
I would definitely recommend checking out some local galleries and seeing what you like. Wandering around galleries is one of my favorite things to do.
I remember when you posted some pictures of your place- I was SO jealous of your art collection. You and your husband have great taste.