We all want to have a Picasso or Renoir on our living room wall, but unless we have very deep pockets, that’s not going to happen. The last Picasso sold at auction (Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’), made $180 million.
Other notable masterpieces sell in the millions as they occasionally appear for sale. The good news is that you don’t have to be a billionaire to buy a beautiful painting. There are other, more affordable ways to invest in art.
Buy from Local Artists
In any community, there are always artists who live and work. Even in a working-class city populated by manual laborers, you’ll find at least one person painting, drawing, taking fine art photographs, or sculpting in their spare time.
For some, art is in their blood. They may not make a living out of their creativity, but they still love being creative.
Buying work from local artists is a great way to pick up beautiful art and fund their artistic endeavours. Visit local exhibitions and stop by artist studios when you travel. Social media is a great place to follow local artists and see what their work is like.
If you buy work when they first start out, you can benefit from your investment as art by talented artists always increases in value over time.
Buy Fine Art Prints
If original art is out of your price range, don’t despair. You can still decorate your walls with beautiful prints and canvases. Use online art websites such as American Fine Arts to hunt for the artist you like.
There are thousands of beautiful works of art available on this site. Shipping costs are usually minimal and you can pay using a credit or debit card.
Commission work
Struggling artists often work for commissions because they can’t afford to create art unless someone buys it first. Find an artist you like and have them create art for you. For example, if you want portraits of your pets, find a pet artist and commission them.
Lesser-known artists won’t charge a high price for their work, so it’s an affordable way to invest in art that you can enjoy for years to come.
Visit an Art School
art school usually has an exhibition at the end of the summer semester. This is a great opportunity to discover talented artists early in their careers. Find works of art you really like and negotiate prices with students.
You should find that these young artists are willing to sell you their work for a very reasonable price.
Create Your Own Artwork
Finally, if you can’t afford to invest in other people’s art, try making your own. Enroll in college fine arts courses and learn how to draw, paint, sculpt or even make fine arts textiles.
You can unleash your creative side and create works of art that your friends and family will enjoy.
