3 Tips for Buying Original Artwork (on any budget)

May 28

As an artist, many people approach me with a desire to purchase art - but feel like they are not fit for owning original artwork. The most common phrases I hear include:

“I wish I could afford an original piece…”

“Is it worth it to invest in an original painting?”

“Where and how do I even buy original art?”

Deciding what art to hang on your walls can be daunting, especially if you’re determined to avoid something cliché or mass-produced. Choosing it, though, shouldn’t be stressful; it’s one of the best opportunities in your home to showcase your personality, your interests, or maybe your culture, too.

You don’t have to be rich and famous to afford real art. Even though high-end contemporary artwork sells at auctions for thousands on thousands of dollars, you’ll find that most local artists sell pieces less than $1,000, or even less than $100. It’s easy to assume that your good taste equals a ridiculously high price tag, or a piece you admire is out-of-reach. But I encourage you to reset that perspective, and follow these tips if you are a novice art buyer, or looking to build on your collection.

Understand Pricing

Pricing and what you should pay depends on a variety of factors on both sides of the transaction.

The price of a piece of artwork (for the artist, including myself) bakes in the labor, materials, size, and ‘rarity’. Oftentimes the price of pieces that are especially personal and valuable to the artist may have an increased price tag as well. Established artists will always be more expensive than emerging artists. When you purchase a piece of art from an emerging artist, you are investing in a part of their journey.

If your artist of interest is active and working to grow, you may just profit from owning an early piece of work. Personally, as I sharpen my craft, work larger and participate in more exhibitions - I raise my prices each year to reflect the growth in quality of my work as well as incrementally increase the value of work that I’ve sold in the past.

On the buyer side, you should be in the same mindset of buying any well-crafted product (like a brand name piece of furniture or designer good). Yes, you will be spending more money than buying art at Target, but know that your money will directly benefit the artist, rather than a big company. How important is supporting local artists to you? How much value do you personally place on hand-crafted and unique goods?

Also, remember that most originals typically have much more affordable prints available as well! Prints are an amazing option that are still a great investment. Prints that are made in a limited addition series can be more or less rare depending on the number of items in that series - the smaller the edition number — meaning, the rarer the work is — the more valuable the print just look for the number (and limited edition prints can be a great first purchase!)

Trust yourself

Maybe you are drawn to the same bright colors and realistically styles subjects that I am, maybe you are obsessed with abstraction or landscapes. There’s this idea that you need all sorts of knowledge before you say yes to a piece of art, but what matters most is that you love it, and that it resonates with YOU.

There is no right or wrong - it’s all about what you connect with. I know for a fact that there will be people who do not like my artwork. I don’t want to sell my artwork for the sake of the sale - I strive for my pieces to live with others who resonate with them. I have a personal connection and a deep love of every painting I create - so I encourage my buyers to ask themselves, “Is this going to enlighten my household? Does this piece of work make me feel something - joy, calm, excitement, laughter? What art is going to make my life better by being around every day?”

I typically find that those looking to own original art have the type of personality that prioritizes and understands that investing in your living space can articulate a mood that makes their daily lifestyle that much more personal. So ignore the trends - focus on what makes you happy.

The most beautiful art collections are not the ones that a re the most expensive - but the ones that make your walls tell a story that is personal to you.

Find local artists

Getting engaged in your local artist community will not only lead you to new and diverse work, but help you establish your taste. The easiest way to start is also absolutely free: Sign up for newsletters from artists you may find on social media, in-person shows or online. Establishing a contact via email is the perfect way to learn more about your artist, and you may even save some money when you are ready to buy! I offer special releases and discounts to the members of my Collector’s List because I want to reward those who resonate with my artwork as much as I do.

Sign up at the bottom of this page! It’s the perfect way to say “Hey, I love your artwork, and I’d love to keep an eye out for potentially owning the right piece in the future”

Another place to look for high-quality — but affordable — work is a local art show or art walk. If you’re near San Diego, take advantage of the various art walks that happen seasonally. Most artists (including myself) will also notify their email list members when participating in free shows like this as well! Some say that some big-name collectors even go to these shows to identify emerging talent, kind of like sports scouts. It’s the perfect way to start to discover your price range and the type of art you may want to invest in without any commitment.

By understanding pricing, trusting yourself, and exploring local artists I assure you that you will find your perfect piece to start your art collecting journey! I’d love to connect with you and be a part of this journey.