For many of us buying art can be an intimidating process. Galleries have gotten a bad reputation as being run by snobs, and yes maybe justly so. But I can assure you for the most part those days are gone. Gallery owners have come a long way in making attitude adjustments to staff and are much more gracious. I believe buying art is about making connections. Many of us buy art for nostalgic reasons. The picture takes us back in time or reminds us of experiences we have lived. It makes a connection to our lives.
So where do you begin? Explore the local art scene, the more you look the more you’ll learn. Buying art is one of the most subjective things you will do. You alone know what motivation is strongest in you and you are the one who will make the connection to the art. Artists are usually happy to get to know their buyers, don’t be afraid to speak with them about their work. It gets lonely in the studio; a phone call is always welcome.
The Bottom line is that whether we buy art to mirror our lives, to express our identity or to decorate our homes, most of us buy art because we like art. So when deciding who or what to buy, my response has always been, “buy what you like.”
