Collecting art - your own way
While I wait for my paint to dry (literally!) I thought I'd put a quick thing on here - I've just read a great article on collecting art - art that YOU like, art that means something to you, not the type of art that is 'trendy' right now. It talks about how much more joy you can get from an art collection when you know the artist, or when the pieces have some emotional meaning to you. And about how an art collection can grow over the years, and morph and change as your budget and taste alters, but how this creates a rich, personal collection that really represents you and your own style.
Image from the catalogue for the auction of The Collection of Frank and Lyn Corner by Art+Object (New Zealand)
Last weekend we went to a viewing for an auction of an large and varied art collection that had been built up by one couple over a period of 50 years. The viewing was in the house where the couple had lived, with the art hung as it had been when they were living there.
There was an eclectic collection, ranging form prints valued at a few hundred dollars, to works valued at well over $100,000 each. And it wasn't always the most valuable paintings that took centre stage, that was what was so great about it. You could see that artwork was arranged by emotional importance, rather than monetary value.
And even though I wouldn't personally have wanted to live with all of the pieces, there were definitely ones that I would willingly give wall-space to! Seeing them all together, in the house, conjured up such a great image of the people who had collected them over their lifetime and lived in amongst them every day. You can see the catalogue for this auction here, it also includes some images of the interior of the house and information about the couple who collected the work.
And this leads me on to the great article I read today - even if you have very little money for art you can still start your own art collection. Read the article (I'll put the link below) have confidence in your own taste, buy or collect art that resonates with you for whatever reason. Get to know the artist, either in person, or online.
Some of my own work, a sculpture by a family friend, an inherited painting by a friend of my Grandpa's, and a print we bought at an auction . . . oh, and a piece of furniture we bought on TradeMe. Everything has a personal connection in some way!
We have a lot of art in our house, both expensive and cheap. There are wall hangings made by my mum in the 70's and 80's, there are works by a family friend who was a famous NZ artist, paintings of mine, things our kids made when they were at kindy, art we have inherited, art that we have bought at auctions, work purchased from galleries, work bought online directly from the artist, little pieces we have collected on our travels - everything has a memory attached to it. And although it doesn't all 'match', it all represents us! And we love living with it. . . . we also have a bit of a thing for furniture, so we have unusual pieces of that too. Everything you live with tells a story if you own it because it means something to you, not just because you saw an interior in a magazine and wanted one just like it!
Here is a link to the article that got me started on all this >> it's on Studiohome.co.nz . Have a read and get inspired! . . . . and now my paint has dried so I can get back to painting!!
Image courtesy of Julia Atkinson at studiohome.co.nz
Image courtesy of Julia Atkinson at studiohome.co.nz -
Image courtesy of NZ House and Garden magazine. Photo credit: Paul McCredie. This is the home of Michelle Matangi, with an eclectic and very personal art collection (and a really cute dog!).
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