Art. We love it. And maybe you do, too, but you’re stymied about how to get it. Perhaps it seems intimidating,
especially when it comes to abstract art, where “trained” versus “untrained” becomes a determining factor.
Could you tell the difference between a Sam Francis original and the handiwork of an expressive monkey?
While you might think not,
your innate intuition concerning abstract art is stronger than you think, so don’t get
too caught up in the details or what’s “right” or “wrong”. And hopefully, our hard-earned tips to getting your
hands on art you love and beginning (or adding to) your collection will help!
#1 - Attend as many art openings and gallery exhibitions as you can. This is absolutely the best way to get to
know who’s hot or up-and-coming, read his/her resume, see his/her work hung in a buzzing gallery with others,
and, most importantly, get to know your own taste by way of exposing yourself to all genres of art. Do not miss
Santa Monica’s Bergamot openings – a plethora of galleries grouped together, showing emerging to
mid-career to established artists. The
Shoshana Wayne Gallery is currently showing a gigantic group show
called “Chain Letter” – literally hundreds upon hundreds of three-dimensional pieces from artists all over the
country. Worth checking out for the teeming piles of artwork alone!
(Shoshana Wayne Gallery’s “Chain Letter” show, curated by Doug Harvey)
#2 - Check out art fairs like Art Contemporary Los Angeles and art supporters like
the Los Angeles Art
Association, the latter of which tends to encourage and exhibit artists in the earlier stages of their careers.
Their La Cienega gallery space, Gallery 825, has introduced us to a handful of new, gloriously talented artists.
On top of which, the work is less likely to be super spendy since the artists aren’t yet household names!
#3 - Photography and works on paper tend to be more abundant, as there are limited runs of the former
and, oftentimes, lithographs and limited edition prints of the latter. Websites like New York gallerist Jennifer
Bekman’s 20x200 project and Little Paper Planes give you amazing access to inexpensive, limited edition
prints that you can search by price, color, and medium. Also online, Nahcotta Gallery’s
Enormous Tiny Art Show carries affordable, small works running the gamut from illustrative to representational – all original and
one-of-a-kind.
#4 - Shop with gallerists and shopowners and consultants who are amenable to taking pieces on short-term
approval. Nothing will determine if the size, color, tone, and subject matter of a photograph, painting, or
sculpture works in a space more definitively than actually seeing the artwork in the space itself!
#5 - Online galleries devoted to a cause, like the
50 Watts program of work created exclusively by people with
autism, “teenage amateurs to established artists”, and the Leukemia Needs Foundation, which has events like
“
Art for the Cause”, can also be wonderful and rewarding ways to support the arts. Not to mention, some of the
artwork is absolutely breathtaking, like this piece below, painted by Jessica Park, a young autistic girl.
Art makes your space, and your creative perspectives, more provocative and more beautiful. Embrace it and
make your home or office that much more amazing! And stay tuned for part two of our “how to” series: how to
successfully frame your pieces, which is an art form in and of itself.
Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 03:55PM 
