If mass produced art prints don't appeal to you, consider buying original wall art. Buying original art helps support local artists and galleries, and gives you unique conversation pieces for your home.
Sources of Original Wall Art You can find original wall art for sale through a variety of mediums. Some of these include the following sources:
Antique shops: A reliable antiques shop near you may well have an extensive collection of vintage original art. Antiques dealers are often good sources of reference as well if you're interested in a specific style.
Art galleries: Although some galleries will only exhibit art, many will have numerous paintings and drawings for sale. Artist websites: Many artists use the Internet as a vehicle for self-promotion and commerce, and will sell their artwork online. This method of purchase will likely offer fewer opportunities for price-negotiating. Auctions: Antique works of original art from the collections of wealthy, deceased patrons of the arts will often be put up at auctions to the highest bidder. Additionally, some individuals, art galleries and related organizations will auction their art collections off to raise money for charitable causes. Flea markets and garage sales: The selections in these markets will be hit-or-miss for the most part, though they are still worth checking out.
Types of Original Wall Art If you search carefully, you will be able to find numerous types of original wall art for purchase. Paintings, charcoal drawings, wall sculptures and other forms of art will be at your disposal if you visit a number of different venues and compare collections, selections and prices. Before making a purchase of any kind, take into account how a given piece of artwork will look among other decorations in a particular room.
Choosing the Best-Priced Original Wall Art Within the types of available original wall art, your selections and quoted prices will largely differ depending on where you look.
Buying paintings at auctions may allow you to purchase original masterpieces from nationally and even internationally known artists, though you'll also find the highest prices in this setting. Prices at galleries can vary if the curator or artist is amenable to negotiation, but will usually be fairly high as well.
Artists selling through their websites may be willing to haggle over a price, or they may remain steadfast. The lowest possible prices will be found at garage sales and flea markets. You might not find world-renowned art masterpieces, although you may find something unique that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else, such as someone's do-it-yourself wall art, that will be perfect for your home.