Why Buy Original Art?

Buying original art can often seem intimidating. Even for the many who look at and enjoy art, the thought of purchasing art doesn’t cross their minds. And for those that do consider it, the questions they may have can be overwhelming. This article is meant to dispel the confusion surrounding the idea of buying art.

Why buy original art? First and foremost, if you enjoy a piece of art and can budget its price, then it doesn’t matter if the artist is well known or if the artwork or the particular style is currently vogue. What matters is that you satisfy your own preferences. You will be livening up your living space while continuing to enjoy the art for years to come. Original art is one-of-a-kind unique. And that makes you unique for having it. In this way, art can be a healthy status symbol.

Buying original art is a long-term investment in lifetime enjoyment. If properly cared for, art can be indefinitely passed down through generations. It will never break down or become obsolete like many other big-ticket items, such as flat-screen televisions, computers, and cars (just to name a few). When you look at it that way, it is strange that many will easily dish out the thousands of dollars it costs for other kinds of commodities, while remaining sticker shocked at the cost of a painting that will never need replacing.

By purchasing original art, you are supporting real people. 100% of your money stays “local.” By this I mean it doesn’t fill the purse of some big box corporation and its overseas operations. You are supporting the handmade revolution by supporting real artists.

I know many people who feel they don’t understand art or the art world. “I don’t get it,” they say. That’s because the art world has for too long hid behind its elitist doors, controlled by mainstream galleries and academia. Artists too have suffered under this arrangement, relying on the generosity of galleries to show their work and on critics to justify it. And when a piece does sell, artists can pay sometimes upwards of 60% to the gallery. Thanks to the internet, artists can have their work seen by millions and reach audiences that were previously closed to them. Audiences too can benefit, having access to a wider variety of artists, styles, and prices ranges. By purchasing art from an independent artist, you are reclaiming art for everyday people. Viewers don’t have to “get it” to enjoy it!

People often assume that original art is unaffordable, and often this blanket assumption is not true. Art comes in so many forms, shapes, and sizes, and therefore the price range for original art can be broad. Original art can be affordable! Perhaps the large-scale oil painting that you love is out of your budget. But there might be a smaller piece that costs less, or a drawing of the same subject. And, a print or photograph might offer more affordable options as well. And if the price of that large painting still has you down, consider my previous point—why do we often pay thousands of dollars for other kinds of consumer goods and consider that commonplace?

Go into any store, or browse any catalogue or store website. You are almost certain to find mass-produced assembly line “art” to decorate your home. But this type of art is not unique. Your home might reflect the programmed tastes of many hundreds or even thousands of others. At the low end you might find a “painting” at Walmart for $39. But the quality here leaves much to be desired, and the aesthetics are often lacking. Move up to the high end, say somewhere like Ethan Allen, and you could spend over $1000 for a print of a painting on canvas. No, these premades are not necessarily cheap.

Art is an important part of our culture, with every city touting its museums’ collections. And, how many of us are outraged by the potential loss of art education in our children’s schools? We can’t afford to lose it. We need it! We can begin to change our way of thinking about art’s place in society by recognizing its importance in all aspects of our lives… not only as a subject to be studied in school, but as an integral part of our everyday adult lives as well. Art doesn’t have to only exist in galleries and museums. By investing in original art, you are bringing it into yours homes and into your lives forever.

Finally, art is inspirational! When an artist creates a work of art, he or she was inspired. And when we look at a piece of art, we share that experience on some level. Art may or may not have an exact meaning. And, we certainly don’t have to understand it to enjoy it. But art is able to make us think, to ask questions. It does have a powerful effect on our state of mind. It can evoke feelings of joy, feelings of melancholy, of tranquility, of excitement.

So, why not buy original art? The incredible diversity of artists and artwork make it easy for anyone to find original art that satisfies their aesthetical tastes and their budget. Your home or office will become a much more unique and interesting space. Buying original art is like buying local and supporting real people, not large corporations. When one considers all of the benefits of investing in real art, it makes sense that art be valued at least as much as the other commodities we deem necessary. Everybody benefits when we realize the importance of art in our lives.