That’s really good. I’ve seen some of his work in our local gallery. I really liked one of Lewis Hamilton and another of the Joker. Not the kind of thing Mrs Marksnaim would like around the house unfortunately.
I’ve been collecting for almost twenty years, initially the urban street art scene and more recently fine art - though to be honest, there’s a certain look I like which is mostly portraits. Are you on Instagram? Just after the first lockdown, someone set up the hashtag #artistpledge whereby artists advertise their art with price upto £200 - when the artist makes £1000 they pledge to buy another artists work. Its a really great idea and there’s some wonderful pieces to be picked up - it’s also a good way to get a feel as to what you like. Do reach out to the artist via messaging and build up a relationship and then deal directly. In my experience, the gallery will take 50% of any sale - deffo get in with the artist.
I think the most important thing is, as @Pete_the_painter so rightly says, to buy what you like. It’s got to be something that somehow moves you every time you look at it, after all it will be hanging on your wall and become part of your life.
Paintings are so personal. Some people go for portraits while others go for landscapes, still life or abstracts.
It’s Mrs HH who buys art and she has studied it quite a bit. She has bought a few pieces from artists exhibiting on the local gallery trail, and a few from exhibitions. She also bought one from a fine art degree show.
Prompted by your post I had a look at Artfinder. The problem for me is that it’s very hard to get a feel of how something would look in your home. A thumbnail doesn’t really reflect what a picture four feet high will actually look like. You need to consider what the picture is painted with as they look very different - oil on canvas, watercolour, acrylic etc.
My favourite of her paintings is this, by the Cornish artist Neil Davies. She bought it at an exhibition in the gallery at Trelissick. You may like it or loathe it but either way it may help you to decide what sort of stuff you might actually want to own.
For some reason I’d forgot to post this, it’s a work by David Gerstein. Mrs Pete and I bought this is Paris about 12 years ago. Think we paid over €1,600, and I’m sure it’s worth considerably more now. We were in San Francisco in 2015 he had a show and his works (they were bigger) were fetching over $100,000 US. It’s reversible.
How long have you had yours
We bought this at a gallery in Denmark, when we were visiting friends about 5 years ago. This on the promise, that Id never need to buy my wife flowers again. But that aspect softy me never really worked out… We love his colours and it’s’ different ‘. ATB Peter
That’s a crack up I bought it for the same reason, and she lied.
Then 2 years later we bought this original drawing by Danish artist Michael Kvium visiting the same old friends. We also have a large painting by him in my listening room. We love his boundary pushing work and would have more by him, if it wasn’t for the prices.
You should check him out as some of his works are humongously big and always highly symbolic/ mind boggling ATB Peter
Pete/peter.
They are amazing.
What are they made of?
3 layers of pressed and differently cut steel to form the overall image. Painted with automobile grade lacquer and weighs a ton ATB Peter
( There is loads of images of his artwork on google)
They are really nice.
Must check them out.
Based on description, sounds like they would be robust so would work well as hospital artwork.
Hi @CBR600 are you involved with Art in Hospitals? I think we may have one or two mutual connections.
Mines only a single layer and a early work of David’s (I think), it seems to be made out of marine plywood or similar.
It’s a little tricky to see what it is from the photos. Is it painted board cut out as a relief? And is it free standing?
Oh yes, then I saw the other photo from the side. Now I see it.
I know that gallery HH! I vacillated and didn’t buy a print that I liked there one day and it was gone on our next visit a few days later. I have regretted it for ten years now.
Best
David
Yes I manage a few hospitals in ireland and set up arts committees to create better environments for staff and patients.
Proven data on reduced bed days, etc by improving the environment.