If you’re looking for original art for your home or office, have you considered looking online? Sites like eBay allow artists to skip the galleries and reach out directly to their customers. You may have thought you could only afford prints, but original art from up and coming artists is out there too. Most art that you will find online for an affordable price will be by living painters, sculptures, and photographers. Art is for everyone, even if you don’t think of yourself as creative or artsy. Here’s some advice to get you started:

I sold this painting, Sonnet of Snow, on eBay a few years ago.

Buy what you like. Look at lots of art and learn your tastes. Pick out art pieces that you feel express your personality and fit with your lifestyle. Is this something you will feel comfortable displaying in your space? Will you enjoy talking about it? Will looking at it every day enrich your life? It’s okay to be eclectic if that’s your personality. Have you been to museums and galleries? What really excited you there?

Ask a friend to help if you don’t trust your eye. There is a lot of junk out there online. That’s part of the fun of it, but when it’s about your money you may need an art saavy help. E-mail your friends about it or ask for opinions on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Post on artist’s message boards such as Wetcanvas for professional advice.

Know what you’re buying it for. The average person won’t be buying for an art collection or for an investment. Buy art that works in your home or office. Measure out a space or wall. Is there a theme to the room? If it’s for an office, is the piece fitting with the professional image of the company? While a piece of art doesn’t have to match the colors of a room, you will want to consider how the colors of the artwork will look in your space. Be prepared to frame or re-frame the work as this is the more important to fit your decor. Keep works away from direct sunlight. A small piece of art displayed on a large wall won’t look as nice as a piece that fits the space perfectly. So plan accordingly if you can. If it’s a flat piece, cut a piece of paper to the size of the artwork and place it on the wall to get a better idea of how it will work in your space.

Art can be a meaningful gift for a friend of a family member. If you’re buying art as a gift, buy a piece that says something about your relationship with the person: a moment you shared, a subject or color that you know they love, or something that seems special. Just remember this is something meant to be displayed so only do this if you really know they will want to display this piece in their home. You don’t want to give them a painting that they’ll only hang when they know you’re coming over.

Do your research. Find out more about the artist that you want to buy from. You don’t want to buy a piece that is just a blatant copy or rip off of another artist, for example. Read the descriptions and fine print. You also don’t want something in your space that might have a meaning that you didn’t intend. Something displayed in your home represents your ethics, values, and tastes. You might even decide that you want to buy from a local artist, an artist who attended your college, one who supports a organic workflow or some other quirk that fits with your personality. That’s what makes for a great conversation piece in your home. Visit the artist’s website. Sign up for the artist’s newsletter or RSS feed to keep up with their work after you’ve bought it.

Decide on a reasonable budget after looking at pieces you may want. I emphasize reasonable since you probably won’t know what the market value for types of art without some research. If you’re expected a 6-foot sculpture for $30, you’re going to need to downsize your expectations or expand your budget.

Request a letter of authenticity if it’s not specifically mentioned to be provided. This document should contain artist’s name, title, dimensions, medium and year of creation. The point is to buy an original piece of art and this simple document will ensure that you have. Make sure it has an assurance by the seller that it is an authentic original work. Keep any documentation in a safe place and make copies.

Resources

eBay’s Direct from Artist listings
Wetcanvas, online community of artists

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