Art & Creativity

The Fine Art of Collecting Art

By Laurie Lamont Murray

When the holidays are over and everything is back in place, does it ever feel like something is needed? A little more excitement, some color or just a change? Art can do that.

If you own a few pieces of art, you might start by trying them in new locations. Can what you already have be grouped to add some interest? Would some accent pillows pick up the colors in your art? Maybe there are some things you've outgrown. Art and accessories you put into a shopping cart at Homes R Us back in the day may not harmonize with some of your updated furnishings. Donate those and begin collecting whatever speaks to you. What captures your imagination might even surprise you: One of the first pieces I ever bought appealed to my sense of humor: The chubby bronzed girl squeezing under a barbed wire fence after a day on a closed-off beach looked nothing like me but I loved her free spirited sense of adventure, and the artist's playful statement. Years later, it still makes me happy to see her.

So how do you begin collecting art? Unless you are in that rarified 1% of the population, the process is to gradually add a piece now and then, rather than investing for profit. In fact, the art market is precarious, like everything in life seems to be. So without thousands upon thousands to spend, and a vault to store your treasures, you will be perfectly happy choosing what really means something to you.

For some of us, first purchases may commemorate a vacation, maybe mountains, an old village or a beach scene, to remind us of happy times. There may be a story to tell about your purchases. Here's one of mine: Years ago I went to an auction with my mother. She was not impulsive by nature, and I felt safe knowing that her thoughtful restraint would keep the two of us in check. Wrong! Her bidding card was waving wildly before I could blink. (I went home with my first 4 pieces.)

Auction fever isn't the only, or necessarily the best way to explore art in this era. There are art fairs and studio tours, gallery openings and special events almost every weekend, no matter where you live. You can do your homework by googling the artists who are showing, or just go because it's fun. There is always something to learn, whether by asking the artists questions, listening to a presentation or reading any printed material. QR codes are often available, allowing you to look now and read later.

If you see something you like, do you have to know exactly where it should go, and whether the size and colors will be right?

Not necessarily. There are lots of guidelines and rules out there, but there is no substitute for your own conviction. The whole point of owning art is to live or work in a space that looks and feels like you, not like every other house/apartment/office in your area.

Many artists, gallerists and interior designers are willing to help you place your art effectively, and to suggest groupings or other tweaks that will elevate your space from bland to spectacular.

You may be able to get the artist to bring a few pieces for you to try on site to see which you'd prefer. There are almost always a few great solutions to designing your environment, and another pair of eyes will give you some suggestions that might-not occur to you otherwise.

What if you already have several pieces of art on your walls? Why not rotate your collection to give yourself a vacation from the overly familiar? Bright colors are an antidote to winter doldrums, and less colorful pieces may be more pleasing when the sun is shining. If the art you collect makes you happy any time of the year, it can still be fun and interesting to move things around a bit. Most art can be stored easily and brought back out when the mood strikes. You know that old saying, “I don't know much about art but I know what I like.” What often happens is that we expand upon what we like over time. Or we like very different things for different reasons. If you are adventurous, try hanging pieces which at face value don't “go together”. You may be surprised! Or think about what appealed to you in the first place. A soothing landscape may be great in a bedroom, while an abstract might be a statement piece in a living room. Some of the things that can work together well: Color, subject matter, scale. Some things that don't have to be together: All the same mediums (e.g., watercolors with watercolors), all the same type of art (realism, abstraction, impressionism etc.) And the frames don't all need to match. In the image shown, there is a mix of sizes and subject matter, with varying degrees of abstract and realism, framed and unframed. The colors and visual weight are balanced effectively.

Photo Credit: Charlotte May (Pexels)

If you have decided to figure things out without the aforementioned 'staff' (artist/gallerist/designer) on hand to help you, how do you decide what will work…before you start hammering holes into your walls? If you are tech savvy, you can try layouts on your computer. Or, if hands-on is more your style, clear some floor space to approximate the length and height of your wall. Set your art down and move things around to see what you like where. Take pictures with your cell phone so that you can remember some of your options more easily.

About those nail holes: Everyone makes a mistake now and then. One trick is to carefully fill the hole with toilet paper and touch it up with paint to match the wall if necessary. Or—if you went crazy with your hammer—accept the fact that wall paint is fairly inexpensive and cover your tracks with a fresh coat.

Here's a thought: Was there a color that drew you to the painting you fell in love with? Why not paint the wall it's on with that color, or a variation. Accent walls add a lot of interest to a room and you can experiment by purchasing a small can and painting cardboard or butcher paper to see whether you'll like it.

Whatever you do, have fun! Wishing you an artful and very happy new year.