1. How do I learn about art?
2. How can I afford to buy art?
3. If I buy a piece of art, how do I know I’ll still like it a year from now?
4. What if I don’t understand abstract art?
5. Should I only buy art that fits my décor?
6. What does “mixed media” mean?
7. What does “watermedia” mean?
8. What is a “collage,” and what is an “assemblage?”
9. What is a mat, and how do I choose one?
10. How do I choose a frame?
11. What is a gallery-wrap canvas?
12. How do I take care of my art?
13. What is the difference between a reproduction and a print?
14. Why are art galleries so intimidating?

 

The best way to learn about art is to look at art! Look in the newspaper for listings of art shows and festivals. Wander around galleries, and sign their guest books. You’ll start receiving invitations to their events. If your city has an arts district, visit it every once in a while to see what’s going on. Look through art magazines at your library or book store. Contact local arts organizations to get on their mailing lists. Visit art museums, both locally and in your travels. The internet is a great way to find out where art is shown in your area.

The more you look at art, the more you’ll start to develop an idea of what you like and don’t like. You may even develop a liking for the work of certain artists.

There are ways to start collecting art on a limited budget. Some galleries sell greeting cards which are actually small, original works of art which can be framed and hung.

Some artists create small pieces that might be within your budget. Gallery shows featuring miniature works are especially popular during the Christmas holiday season.

Some galleries have one or more racks of art that isn’t framed. Sometimes these are marked down.

Watch for sales on readymade frames at an arts and crafts store. You can find great frames at garage, or yard, sales.

3.  If I buy a piece of art, how do I know I’ll still like it a year from now?

If you feel that you need to fill a certain space in your house, and you quickly choose a piece just because it’s the right size, chances are you might soon tire of seeing it everyday.

If, however, a piece of art really holds your attention, it’s probably the right piece for you. If you are checking out a gallery, and you keep coming back to look at the same piece, then you’ve found the art that’s meant for you!

Trust your instincts!

Don’t worry about it! You don’t have to figure out the artist’s intention or message. What is the art conveying to YOU? Do you like the way it looks? Does it captivate you? Would you enjoy looking at it again and again? Then, something in that work is reaching you. On some level or other, you understand it!

To quote Robert Brault, “The artist gazes upon a reality and creates his own impression. The viewer gazes upon the impression and creates his own reality.” Your reaction to the artwork is what’s important!

Again, don’t worry about it! I have my own philosophy about this issue. If you like your décor, and you like a piece of art, the art will fit just fine. How can you go wrong surrounding yourself with things that you really like?

A medium is any material used to create artwork, for example, watercolors, colored pencils, or pastels. “Mixed media” is the use of two or more media in the same piece of art.

“Watermedia” refers to media which are water-based, such as watercolors, acrylic paints, watercolor crayons, or watercolor pencils.

A collage is an artwork where materials are adhered to the surface. The most common material is paper. A collage can be described as a mixed-media piece if an additional medium is used, such as acrylic paint. An assemblage is a collage where some, or all, of the adhered materials are three-dimensional.

9.What is a mat, and how do I choose one?

A mat is a piece of matboard which is cut so that it creates a border for the artwork.  A mat is typically used with art that is done on paper, or on another flat surface, that you plan to cover with glass or acrylic plastic. The whole “sandwich” (glass/plastic, mat, art, backing) is then framed.

One way to choose a color of mat is to match a color in the art that you want to accentuate. If you like, you can have a double mat where one mat acts as a “liner” for the other one. You might want to use your accent color as the liner, and a neutral for the main mat.

Another good choice is to go with a neutral tone, such as white or off-white.  Personally, I like the look of a double (or triple) mat, all in white. If you plan to hang your art in a cluster, the same neutral mat on all the pieces will give continuity and more impact to the cluster.

Any framer will have lots of mat samples for you to look at. Hold them next to the artwork to see what looks good to you.  Choosing a mat is really a matter of preference, but the framer can advise you on the color that would look best.

The general rule of thumb is to pair a contemporary piece with a simple frame and a traditional piece with a more ornate frame.  As you can imagine, there’s a lot of room here for interpretation. Again, a framer can give you the advice you need.

I often buy frames from arts-and-crafts stores when they offer a sale or coupon. They will put everything together for you, even though you are buying a sale frame. This is a great way to save money, since custom frames can be expensive.

If you want to invest in a really special frame, then custom framing is the way to go. The choices are much more plentiful than readymade frames can offer. Take your time, and look at several samples to find the perfect one.

This is a stretched canvas where no staples show on the sides. It is typically thicker than a regular stretched canvas. A gallery-wrap canvas does not need to be framed, although you can frame it if you wish. A small gallery-wrap canvas (such as 5” x 5”) can even stand on a shelf without support.

It’s always a good idea to keep your artwork out of direct sunlight.

If the backing on your artwork is cardboard, take if off and replace it with foamboard or another non-acidic backing. Cardboard can discolor your artwork over time.

You can clean the glass covering your art with a liquid glass-cleaning product. For acrylic plastic, I keep a little spray bottle filled with water and about 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. It is very important that you never spray liquid directly onto the surface, because it can seep behind the glass/plastic and damage your art. Instead, spray the liquid onto a cloth and use that to clean the surface.

If you have a piece that is not covered with glass/plastic, you will need to dust it occasionally. You can either cover the end of your vacuum hose with a piece of pantyhose, or gently spray with a can of compressed air.

13. What is the difference between a reproduction and a print?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but that really isn’t right.

A reproduction is a machine-made copy of an original work of art. These are often mass-produced, and each copy is exactly the same. The quality can vary greatly. With technology, new processes have come along that can produce very high-quality reproductions. Just to confuse the issue, some of these reproductions are called “prints.” One example is giclee (jee-CLAY) prints.

Unlike a reproduction, a print is hand-pulled by the artist. Each print is considered to be an original work of art. The process involves the application of certain inks or paints to a prepared plate, such as an etched sheet of metal. The ink/paint is then transferred to paper (or another material). If an artist wishes, he may hire a “master printer” to pull the prints. These are also originals, and will bear the mark of the printer. Etchings, collagraphs, and lithographs are examples of prints.

Prints (and even reproductions) can be produced as a limited edition. In this case, a number will appear on the art. The number might be “2/100.” This means that the piece is the second one produced in a limited edition of 100.

A sub-category of hand-pulled prints is the monoprint. As you have probably guessed, a monoprint is a single print. The edition is limited to one, and the numbering is “1/1.” The plate is not prepared in such a way as to be able to produce multiple prints. Occasionally, there is enough ink or paint remaining on the plate to produce a satisfactory second print, called a “ghost.” In this case, the first print is numbered “1/2,” and the ghost is “2/2.”

If you’re scratching your head and wondering if you’ll ever figure this all out, don’t despair! It is confusing! If you are considering buying a print or reproduction,ask a gallery employee to explain the process behind it.

14. Why are art galleries so intimidating? | BACK TO FAQs

You’d probably be surprised to learn that even artists sometimes feel intimidated in galleries. I certainly have felt that way. It’s human nature to feel a little insecure. We don’t want anyone to think that we don’t understand the art, or that we can’t afford it, or that we might accidentally break something.

Galleries are businesses. You are the customer, and you’re always right! Speak up and ask questions! Gallery owners and employees love to share their knowledge. Take advantage of the opportunity!