Are you a seascape person or a landscape person? Life-like or abstract? Read our top tips to help you make that all important art decision.
Here at Affordable Art Fair, our ethos is simple: anyone can become an art collector. You don’t need a huge budget or an art history degree to buy and fall in love with art. But we understand that, despite the wealth of art at your fingertips, becoming a collector isn’t easy. It’s fair to say that for many, working out what kind of art you want in your home can be a daunting prospect.
With this in mind, we’ve created eight simple tips to help with your decision making when it comes to taking the plunge in the art market. The first step? Relax! Remember, buying a piece of art is supposed to be fun. After that, just read on, and we promise you’ll be browsing with confidence and big smiles at our next fair in no time.
Learning a new skill doesn’t happen overnight — and in a similar sense, getting to know the wide range of creative styles used by artists takes a little time. There may be mediums or movements you’ve never even heard of yet. To get started, spend some time researching the sorts of artists you’re finding yourself drawn to. Give your local Affordable Art Fair social accounts a follow for plenty of artwork inspiration, and you might read something that draws you to a particular artist’s work even more.
A curator at one of the Affordable Art Fair’s exhibiting galleries once told me that half the reason she loved her favourite artist was because she could never in a million years paint the way he did. Some people like having work that embodies real skill, and a great way to appreciate this is by trying your hand at the medium yourself. Our fairs are always jam packed with opportunities to get creative — so check out one of our workshops, or head to a local art class to see what it’s all about.
Art trails, local festivals, intimate exhibitions, artist talks — it’s not just blockbuster galleries or massive metropolises where the art world takes place. So, do a little digging and see what’s going on in your area; you may see a local show, meet an artist or have a conversation that impacts your future decisions.
Once you’ve taken a few initial steps into the art world, it’s time to pay us a visit. Pop some of our upcoming fair dates into your diary, join a tour, a workshop or lecture and chat to one of the organisers or a gallerists about any work you find interesting – you’ll be feeling like a pro in no time.
Some veteran collectors whizz round a fair, but usually we tend to suggest taking your time and not rushing your visit. Our cafés and bars are there for a reason: to help you mull over ideas and possible purchases without feeling overwhelmed or rushed.
One of our favourite things about the fair is the incredible range of galleries, both local and international, that make up the Affordable Art Fair family. And they’re a friendly bunch. If you’re intrigued by an artist you’ve spotted at the fair, talk to them, give them a call, ask them to send you some more ideas and be honest if you’re not sure. They’re here to help you after all!
Don’t forget, many of the Affordable Art Fair galleries let you take work home with you for a trial period — always free of charge. So, if you think you’ve made a decision about the type of work that’s right for you, you can trial it first in your interior.
Finally made the decision but your bank balance isn’t feeling sympathetic? Many galleries are part of the wonderful Own Art or Art Money, or have similar schemes where you can pay for work in monthly instalments.
It’s as simple as that! We’re positive that if you follow these eight steps, you’ll find yourself feeling confident about your own tastes but also informed about the creative styles, mediums and techniques you peruse. Why not join us at our next fair? Browse 1000s of artworks under one room – it will certainly help you in your journey to discover what are you like.