Tips for buying art online
Art adds personality and colour to your home that can be stimulating, refreshing or calming. Interior designers include art as an integral part of their design decisions, and will often use a client's existing art collection as the focal point to build on. Remember that art doesn't have to ‘match’ the decor to justify its presence, it can be the perfect way to bring exciting new colours and ideas into space.
Dealer galleries have traditionally been the place to purchase artworks, but these days more and more art buyers are purchasing art directly from the artist, either by visiting their studio or buying art online.
Below are some of my top tips for successfully buying art online.
Find and follow artists
Follow artists you enjoy on social media to see what they are currently working on. This gives you a chance to view videos of artwork, and photos of the finished works hung. Some artists use mockup apps on social media to display their paintings hung in various virtual rooms. While these images look nice, they aren't an accurate depiction of scale so always check the measurements and ask for additional photos before purchasing. I prefer to photograph my paintings hung in my studio and home, so the scale and natural light on the paintings are real.
Be the first to see new works
Join the mailing list of an artist you like for advanced notification of new work. Artists online generally use two methods for selling their works, either by drip-feeding new artworks onto their websites or by releasing collections. I like to paint collections that explore ideas within a series. On completion my collections are released to my mailing list with descriptions, prices, payment methods and my contact details for purchasing.
Visit an artist's studio
Studio visits are a great way to view artworks in the flesh and many artists welcome visits to their studios by appointment. I also happily supply additional photos and videos of paintings to interested buyers who are unable to travel to my studio in Taranaki.
How will it look in my home?
Some artists offer a virtual hanging service that allows you to visualise a painting hung in your own home. I offer this complimentary, obligation-free service to my mailing list and find this service particularly helpful for subscribers who are considering a large painting for their space and want a clearer idea of how it will look. Please be in touch if you'd like to use this service and I’ll provide you with the simple steps for taking a photo on your phone so that I can virtually hang the painting to scale in your room.
Receiving your new art
To ensure your art purchase arrives safely at your home or business ask about the shipping service provided, as a robust packaging system is necessary to protect the artwork while in transit. With over 25 years of shipping experience, I use custom art crates to courier paintings internationally and within New Zealand, which means they arrive in perfect condition. The paintings I sell within New Zealand include free shipping, and I’m happy to provide custom quotes for international art buyers.
New to collecting art?
Small paintings and limited edition prints are a great way to start collecting an artist you love. I always include some small originals in my collections and I also offer a print range for those who are new to collecting. But most importantly, buy art you enjoy and have fun building a collection!
I hope you find these tips helpful and feel free to email me if you have any questions.