Support artists in other ways. Lend them your barn or summer house, host a tea for friends and have the artist speak, show up for them at exhibits, see if they have go fund me or patron accounts, buy their cards and other affordable offerings. Chances are if you are in their lives and show support and make it known that you love their work? You’ll get a painting for a housewarming or graduation or wedding at some point. Many of my collectors could never afford a painting . . . I wait for opportunities to give them work. I love (and need!) the big sales but I also greatly appreciate all the people in my life that support me in other ways. It’s great to own artwork where you know the artist -- get to know artists!
And yes, studio tours and directly reaching out to artists on Instagram is a great way. After you make the connection, you can give them idea of size, subject matter, and budget and they will pull things for you. It’s the fun part -- looking and choosing. It can be a long fun process.
As Hall says, prints! Works on paper! I was eyeing a Louise Bourgeois print for a few thousand bucks at a gallery in Chelsea. Expensive but reachable.
Estate auctions are super fun too. Buy something that is appealing for a few hundred dollars and then spend years researching it.
Instagram is OK but as an artist myself it feels like the algorithms are fighting you all the time. You could try searching here on Substack - more and more visual artists are launching Substack publications, writing about art, their own work, what informs it, fellow artists. It's a growing ecosystem.
My studio is in the Pendleton Art Center. We have the building open every last Friday of every month. It is a great way to meet and develop relationships with patrons.
Visit local artist studios wherever you go. I have a lot of affordable art for sale and struggle to find customers
Support artists in other ways. Lend them your barn or summer house, host a tea for friends and have the artist speak, show up for them at exhibits, see if they have go fund me or patron accounts, buy their cards and other affordable offerings. Chances are if you are in their lives and show support and make it known that you love their work? You’ll get a painting for a housewarming or graduation or wedding at some point. Many of my collectors could never afford a painting . . . I wait for opportunities to give them work. I love (and need!) the big sales but I also greatly appreciate all the people in my life that support me in other ways. It’s great to own artwork where you know the artist -- get to know artists!
And yes, studio tours and directly reaching out to artists on Instagram is a great way. After you make the connection, you can give them idea of size, subject matter, and budget and they will pull things for you. It’s the fun part -- looking and choosing. It can be a long fun process.
As Hall says, prints! Works on paper! I was eyeing a Louise Bourgeois print for a few thousand bucks at a gallery in Chelsea. Expensive but reachable.
Estate auctions are super fun too. Buy something that is appealing for a few hundred dollars and then spend years researching it.
Instagram is OK but as an artist myself it feels like the algorithms are fighting you all the time. You could try searching here on Substack - more and more visual artists are launching Substack publications, writing about art, their own work, what informs it, fellow artists. It's a growing ecosystem.
My studio is in the Pendleton Art Center. We have the building open every last Friday of every month. It is a great way to meet and develop relationships with patrons.