If you have a blank wall or expanse of space at home crying out for something interesting, why not put wall art there? We’ve compiled art-buying tips from experienced collectors and dealers for newbies and veterans alike so you can dive in and find the right piece for you.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it. (Wall space, that is.) Artwork on a grand scale plays with proportion and alters viewers’ perceptions of space.
Don’t let a piece of art’s value or age prevent you from using or displaying it.
Collector Kay Cipriano says, “You can’t let things become too precious. If you can’t have fun with your stuff, why have it?”
“Cultivate your sense of aesthetics. It’s important to understand the formal elements and principles of art and understand your preferences for certain types of art,” says Jim Keny, co-owner of Keny Galleries.
Although prevailing wisdom dictates gallery-white walls, art placed against the right intense and saturated hue jumps out at you as an immediate, arresting focal point.
“Don’t be afraid to move your art around in your house and change the dynamic,” says Caren Petersen of Muse Gallery.
“Buy what you love. It doesn’t have to match the sofe,” says Litsa Spanos, speaking on this piece by Suzanne Fisher called “Daybreak.”
Collect art for the joy it brings you, not its monetary value. “If the piece of art moves you, calls to you, the money is secondary,” says collector Michael Reese
“Visit galleries, museums and online sites to develop a sense of what art interests, inspires and energizes you,” says Paul Cicozi, Gallery Director of James Gallery in Pittsburgh.
Look for additions to your art collection in resale shops and at flea markets. “I love finding things other people have passed by,” says collector Randall Sobocinski.