Monday, October 29, 2007

Myth #4: Art is Expensive

While art can run millions of dollars, most of us do not currently have that amount of discretionary income. That does not mean that art is out of our financial range.

Depending upon your taste and where you live it should be possible to find art that costs little more than framed posters and knick-knacks.

Rather than having a bunch of "stuff" cluttering your home, find something you really love and buy that. It is better to have a few quality items than a bunch of over-priced items that you will eventually dump at a yard sale! A good piece of art is something that you will love for a very, very long time.

By purchasing from lesser-known or unknown artists you can sometimes get a real bargain.

Sometimes you can buy 2 dimensional art unframed. It may seem like a bargain to buy it unframed, but in the long run it might not be such a deal. Generally I recommend you buy it framed when possible, unless you don't like the frame. As long as it is a sturdy frame, you are good to go, and your new purchase can immediately be displayed.

Especially for a new art collector, I do not recommend spending a lot of money matting and framing pieces if you can get them from the artist that way. You will be surprised at how expensive it can be to properly mount your new piece, and it is important that it be properly done--both for the beauty of the display and also to protect the piece.

If your new acquisition is a sculpture, depending upon the size of the piece, you might need a place to display it. Many sculptures are free-standing and do not require a special pedestal. Just be sure to put them in a spot where they can be enjoyed and not knocked over!

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