By Don Monet –
Many people ask how to go about purchasing original artwork for their home.
I always tell patrons that they should only buy art they love. That is the first criteria, after that, it is an investment. Unlike a fridge or a Retirement Savings Plan, art is an investment that can offer great joy while enhancing your lifestyle and environment. It keeps on giving every day and never gets used up. Whether you buy art from emerging or established artists, you’ll find it will likely increase in value. It’s also a legacy – it’s enduring and timeless and something that can stay in your family for generations. I love to play matchmaker and help bring together people and pieces of art with which they’ve fallen in love.
I feel that people should rotate pieces on an annual basis. It’s something that collectors usually do because they simply have too many pieces to display, but even if you are not it will give you a chance to enjoy a change of décor. Changing your art periodically freshens things up and makes your home more interesting to you and your guests.
Sometimes people who live together do not agree on taste. This is not a problem. There are many different types and genres of art so a well-rounded collection should include pieces that appeal to both partners, and a few works that are beloved only by one. Just as you are attracted to your mate in part because they are different, so too should you consider works of art that are idiosyncratic to you alone. Consider displaying what you both love in the home’s common areas and creating individual spaces using some of the other pieces.
Buying art from an established gallery or directly from an artist is a much more personal experience than buying online. You can see the work and its colours and textures live before you buy it, rather than relying on a photograph of uncertain quality. Galleries are a place where you can take in a number of different artists, styles and work all in one place. Most galleries are very welcoming places with staff that can help you understand the process, and even offer a layaway program. Sometimes a gallery will even bring a larger piece to your home to allow you to see it in situ. In dealing with a bricks and mortar gallery, you have a place to go that stands behind the work if there is a problem. As well, you are helping to support cultural activities in your community that a gallery represents. A gallerist knows the market and who you should trust. They can advise you.
Don Monet is the co-owner & curator of the Cube Gallery
the cube gallery
1285 Wellington W
Ottawa, Ontario
613.728.1750
cubegallery.ca
twitter.com/thecubegallery
facebook.com/CubeGalleryOttawa