DO YOU WANT TO START AN ART COLLECTION?
3 STEPS TO FINDING YOUR STYLE aND TASTE
"I don't know anything about art."
"I just don't have an eye for it."
"I would like to have art on my walls, but I don't know what I like."
Can you relate? Many people feel this way about art, like it's some mysterious science that you either get or you don't.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The beauty about art is that it's subjective and personal. Everyone can appreciate art, and you don't need to understand or know art to collect it. You just need to tune in to your intuition, and build a relationship to art that is your very own. In this post, I will guide you in how to do this.
1. START BY LOOKING
If you're completely new to art, where do you begin? There is so much art, and so many types of art, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Relax. Start by just looking. Look at many different kinds of art. Pay attention to what other people have on their walls. Look at art in interior decorating magazines. Browse the art section on Pinterest. Visit a local art show or gallery if you want to. Don't worry about choosing anything at this point, or trying to evaluate what you see. Simply exposing yourself to art will get you more comfortable around art.
2. EXPLORE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT ART
The next step is to invite your feelings and opinions about the art you view. There is no right way to interpret a work of art. No matter the artist's intention, or expert opinions, your interpretation is your own and it is just as valid and true.
Continue looking at a lot of art, and ask yourself: What is your gut reaction to this piece? How does it make you feel? What does it make you think of? Does it evoke memories? Don't judge your emotions or associations (or lack thereof), but keep an open mind and be curious.
3. DISCOVER YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES
When you've spent some time looking at art, you will start to discover your likes and dislikes. Some people like being challenged when they look at art, others like to feel inspired or uplifted, and still others just like certain colors or shapes. How do you like to feel when you look at art? What kinds of art would you like to surround yourself with?
At this stage, it might be helpful to start looking for patterns in the art you like. Don't worry about traditional or correct categorizations of art. Maybe note some general characteristics of your preferred pieces: Do you like them large or small? Abstract or realistic? Colorful or monochrome? Light or dark? Do you like landscapes and nature scenes, animals, people, shapes or patterns? Have you encountered particular artists whose work you enjoy? You're building your very own relationship to art, as well as your personal taste.
IN CONCLUSION
Let it take time. Are your walls currently empty? That's exciting! You're starting with a blank canvas. Don't rush to fill your walls with the perfect pieces. Let it take time, enjoy the process, go with your intuition. See your art collecting as a lifelong journey that will move and change, just like you. And don't worry about what kind of art is fashionable at the moment, or what kind of art you think you "should" have. Find the art that makes you happy. That's all there is to it.
I wish you a pleasurable art collecting journey!
Artists featured in this blogpost:
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Name |
Website |
Instagramhandle |
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Anna Bondoc |
@annabondocartist |
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Beatrice Felicki |
@beatrice.felicki |
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Ellen Von Wiegand |
@ellenvonwiegand |
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Hannah Forward |
@hannah_forward_art |
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Jesper Nyrén |
@jespernyren |
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Juliette Crane |
@juliettecrane |
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Katrina Slade |
@katrina.slade.art |
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Lizzie Coles |
- |
@lizziecoles |
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Ylva Carlgren |
@ylvacarlgren |
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Karol Pomykała |
www.karolpomykala.com |
@karolpomykala |
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Laura Boswell |
@laura_boswell_printmaker |
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