Perry Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I need some art for my living room. I'd like to start buying originals but I have no idea where to look. Do you have a favorite artist? I looked at Etsy but am overwhelmed. I like: Neutral colors, earth tones Nature inspired Don't like: Bold bright colors Abstract Oils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeTea Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 Etsy IS overwhelming, isn't it? Did you narrow your searches on there so you can weed out what you don't want? I did find a guy I like on Etsy, but I found him accidentally. I wasn't searching for wall art that day, but an item. In searching for that item, it showed up in his tags as one of his subject matters. So possibly search that way, as well. Other sources of affordable originals might be an art league or council near you. Ours has a small store and studio, and if I climb the steps up to the storage area I can flip through hundreds of matted originals in a short time. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 (edited) How about stretched fabric? You could find some beautiful hand-painted fabric on etsy and have stretched it onto frames. It is definitely a modern and more Scandinavian/European look, but can look really great. IKEA has reasonable frame kits. This website has some beautiful fabrics, kits and pre-stretched options too. They do lean towards the bright and abstract side of the spectrum, but there are some other beautiful neutrals available as well. ETA: Just don't ask me HOW many to hang, and in which configuration :) LOL (I case you've seen my poll about picture hanging...) Edited August 9, 2010 by BikeBookBread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 See if you can find a local art fair, not a craft fair. We stumbled upon one and met many wonderful local artists. We bought an original and it means so much to us to have talked with the artist and know her inspiration. Everything was amazingly affordable and even if we hadn't found anything it was wonderful just to look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagnaSky Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 What is your budget? Many galleries now also have online store, for example Monsoon Gallery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 We've bought art at: a natural history museum gift shop an antique show an art show geared to a certain style of art that we like (Arts & Crafts style) an art gallery at a touristy area not too far from us (the art isn't touristy but he put his gallery there to attract business) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I'm really starting to appreciate some of the indigenous art from my area. Harris Smith is a West Coast native carver & painter & I got a limited edition #'d print last year. He's dead now & the one I wanted was hard to track down....luckily one of the galleries contacted his widow & she had one sent to me. It's one of a heron & very simple and clean. I love herons..... Roy Henry Vickers is too happy about orange for me (I really don't like orange LOL) but there are many more neutral things I could choose in his gallery. http://www.royhenryvickers.com/prints for cheapie solutions, I find the art prints at Ikea are nice & I've also seen nice prints here: http://www.postershop.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 My house is filled with old framed maps in lots of brownish neutrals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 9, 2010 Share Posted August 9, 2010 I second the idea of going to fairs. I just bought a fabulous print on canvas (I can't afford originals!) for ds for Christmas, of half a dozen pelicans sitting on posts. Hm. That doesn't sound too thrilling really, does it? We had a lovely time wandering about the market. I'll be going back later in the year to find a painting for dd. The artist I have in mind sells smaller pieces for prices I can afford, but didn't have anything suitable this weekend. I'll also be checking out jewelry for her birthday too. Going to markets and artists galleries adds extra fun into the whole endeavour. You don't know what you are going to find so it's an adventure of discovery! When I was a kid I used to buy etched glass from a lady at the yearly festival, to the point where she got to recognise me and would tell my 12 year old self that she'd been waiting for me :) I bought sets of glasses for $12 that she sold in galleries for $80. That was a long time ago though :) :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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