5 Reasons to Buy Original Art Online– Buying Direct From the Artist
Art is inspiring and uplifting. When I visit London, I always make time for a trip to the Tate Modern. I enjoy seeing art at the Royal Academy (RA) and other art galleries, depending what’s on. But when I buy art, I often buy original art online.
Some people might remember events. I seem to remember paintings. Some years ago, I was lucky enough to see David Hockney’s A Bigger Picture at the RA. I still remember how overwhelmed I was by the beauty, colour and exuberance on show. Until recently, I was kicking myself because at the time I thought £60 was too much to pay for the hardback book that accompanied the exhibition. Occasional online searches returned the book, now selling for around £250. Luckily I finally found a copy on eBay for not far off the original selling price and am now able to re-live the joy of the original exhibition.
David Hockney’s A Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy of Art, London
When you go to exhibitions in those big London galleries, isn’t possible to buy original art. Much of it is on loan from collectors who spend millions. There are plenty of dealerships to visit where you might find some drawings by Henry Moore or work by other famous artists. My excitement on discovering a painting by one of my favourite painters, Larry Poons, was somewhat dimmed by the fact it was well over £10,000, but at the same time it gave me something to aspire to. I remember having an animated conversation with a member of staff about how much we both loved Poons in the film, The Price of Everything. If you love art and haven’t seen that film, watch it. When they showed Poons’ work on the big screen at the end, I cried.
Art by famous (and represented) artists is a great investment, but it is out of the reach of most people, simply because of the price. However, there are still plenty of reasons why you should buy original art, and why it’s easy to buy original art online UK. Here are my top 5:
Art is beautiful
If you love art, you may have a strong emotional response to a particular painting. This is a good reason to buy art online. When you feel a strong connection with a painting or work of art, it is really exciting and rewarding to own it. Some collectors buy original art online because it speaks to them, expresses something they find meaningful or conjures up joyful emotions. When you buy original art online UK you don’t need to trawl art galleries looking for the perfect piece. A whole world of artists can be found at the touch of your keyboard.
2. Having art in your home is inspiring
Surrounding yourself with art is a great way to remind yourself that we are all artists. It can inspire you to make your own art. A painting can change the atmosphere of a room, fuel your creative energy, uplift and motivate you. Or it can be a calm, soothing influence.
3. Art can be a great investment
Art by recognised artists can be a very reliable financial investment. But buying art that you love is a way of investing in yourself. When you buy art online that really makes you happy, it will keep making you happy every time you look at it, every day for the rest of your life. I think that’s a pretty strong investment. None of this “may go down or up” nonsense.
When you buy art directly from the artist, you’ll also be cutting out the sometimes-prohibitive gallery commission. Many galleries charge as much as 50% of the sale price, which means the artist has to charge more. When you buy direct from the artist, not only will the original art be cheaper, you’ll get a personal service too. I have one small oil painting by a Scottish artist which I treasure because she wrote a special message to me on the back.
4. Art enriches your environment and your life
Art has a positive impact on your home environment. It brightens your home and gives character and individuality to your décor. The pleasure you get from art can offer ongoing creative inspiration. If you truly connect with a painting it can even prompt feelings of identity, because you recognise something in yourself that the artist is expressing.
5. Art makes a wonderful gift (that might end in romance…)
Art is very personal. But it still makes a wonderful gift for a special occasion. Original art can be a unique, thoughtful present, and one that will be treasured. My painting Rain was bought as a gift. A friend had seen it at my London exhibition and fallen in love with it. She even had a photo of the painting as her iPhone screenshot. She must have talked about it a lot, because her new boyfriend bought it for her birthday. I was absolutely delighted that she was going to own the painting because she had really connected with it. When she opened it, she cried. Needless to say, they’re still together many months later…
Rain (SOLD)
Reasons to buy original art online
Art is good for the soul, whether you own it or go to galleries to see it. If you love art, consider starting your own collection. Browse art online and get to know artists from their websites. Follow them on social media, engage with artists in your area and go to local art galleries and exhibitions.
Next steps: if you want to start your collection, you can buy art direct from the artist in my online shop. Payment is taken securely through PayPal, shipping is free to anywhere in the UK, and returns are accepted in line with consumer law.