Zatista The premier source for original art online

In my first post for Wall Spin, I addressed the hesitance or downright reluctance that a lot of guys have to trust their instincts and individual taste when first buying art. My sentiments can pretty effectively be summed up as “trust your taste, buddy, you know more than you think.”

I was glad to see that Madelyn Jordon, a gallery owner and art consultant, made a great point in a comment, anticipating the topic of my next post. She said,

That is a start, but when committing significant funds to a purchase of art ( $10,000 and up), it’s best to make an informed decision. It’s great to have an emotional response, but I am happier when there’s a bit more knowledge and thought behind the decision..as a gallery owner and consultant, we educate and illuminate, choosing art with both the wow factor and quality.

Ideally, anytime you purchase art you will be making an investment–one that will appreciate nicely, if not astronomically. And realistically, while Madelyn is definitely right about the $10,000 threshold, let’s face it: one man’s Fiat is another man’s Ferrari.

Sierra Crystal Cut by Katrine Hildebrandt on Zatista.com

So whether that painting that caught your eye and haunts your dreams costs $150 or $150,000, it’s always a good idea to make an informed decision. Now, the question is, how? If you don’t know any thoughtful, articulate gallery directors like Madelyn, the key lies in a key. Actually a combination of keys, really–Command-t on a Mac or ctrl-t on a PC.

That’s of course assuming that you already have Zatista opened (it’s set as your homepage, right?!) and have just found a piece that you’re really, really into. We’ll use my friend Katrine, a Zatista artist, and her piece “Sierra Crystal Cut” as an example. You can get some pretty good info on the artist by clicking on her name just to the right of the piece of art. OK, so you read her artist statement:

“Katrine’s work investigates the world through a philosophical and scientific lens, using data or specimens as models or metaphors in order to examine a philosophical concept.”

That really speaks to me, and wow, that piece is actually a cut paper design–that seems really intricate and labor intensive, and it’s beautiful. I’d say that’s well worth $175 (granted, I happen to be biased in this situation, I’ve watched her make these and the process is amazing).

You can always pull the trigger right off the bat, or you can also pop open another tab on your browser (that’s where the Command-t or ctrl-t comes in) and instantly have a world of value asserting information in front of you. Artists, especially emerging artists, are some of the most web savvy people out there today. They have websites, blogs, and use Twitter. All of those things can lead up to a pretty accurate assertion of where they’re at in their career and where they may be headed.

www.katinehildebrandt.com

So let’s google Katrine Hildebrandt. Yep, there’s her website. The first thing to look for is a CV (Curriculum Vitae, like a resume used for applying to academic, education, scientific or research positions)–that’s your key to see where Katrine or any other artist went to school (Mass Art), if she has a graduate degree (yep), where she has shown work (Boston, San Francisco, Portland and google those galleries–see who else has shown there) and what kind of press she’s received. Solo shows are a good indication that the person is going somewhere, as is a generally active exhibition schedule.

www.katrinehildebrandt.blogspot.com

From there, you can dive as deep as you want. Artists are smart, they blog about major projects and collaborations with other important artists. They promote their shows and get the word out when their work is going to be featured in the media. Of course, all of these things are just ingredients for success and there’s no guaranty that any artist’s work will appreciate. However, with the internet you now have previously unimagined access to an artist’s life and career and a better ability to assess the potential for any purchase to prove to be a sound investment–and that’s an amazing thing.

I have some friends who need to be coaxed into visiting art galleries. Does anyone else feel that way?

zatista.com Xiuyuan Guo "Path"

In the midst of December-Multitasking-Madness I met two friends for coffee and a quick bite at Chelsea Market in Manhattan. Secretly, I wanted to stop into two galleries while in the neighborhood, but I didn’t mention this to my friends in advance because I knew they’d groan. But, once bellies were full of brownies, I innocently asked them to join me while I walked a few blocks to PaceWildenstein to see the David Hockney: Recent Works exhibit. At first my friends said they didn’t want to go, spouting their usual reasons that going into galleries to see exhibits by ‘important artists’ was intimidating and left them feeling like they should have something meaningful to say about the art afterwards. So I promised them that we didn’t have to discuss the artwork, I just wanted their company. A week later I tried this with another friend after lunch uptown. I wanted to see a Gerhard Richter exhibit at Marian Goodman Gallery so I suggested she join me.

zatista.com Mary Lee Bradley "410 Untitled"

In the weeks since then, my friends and I have all agreed we enjoyed those impromptu, no-pressure gallery pit stops.

zatista.com Edward Zelinsky "Pink Landscape"

And to my great pleasure, my friends offered that what they responded to most about the artwork those days was the color.

zatista.com Elizabeth Graeber "Bird"

Indeed, we were all inspired by the profusion of color!

zatista.com Kristina Zallinger "Blue Danube"

What a beautifully simple and completely natural standpoint from which to appreciate original artwork. It’s enough to whet your appetite when it comes to art.

zatista.com Bobbi Heath "Melons"

It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

“What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.” - Katherine Hepburn

Raise your hand if you’re like me and you ate chocolate, bought chocolate, entered a chic chocolate boutique (my fave du jour), gave chocolate, baked with chocolate, drank hot chocolate, sprinkled, melted, shaved or dusted chocolate this holiday season.

So I’m not alone, eh?

I did all those things and more last month and believe it or not, my appetite for chocolate still lives on. To put a cap on my Expanding Waistline Potential (EWP) I’m considering buying original art that reminds me of chocolate or just gives me a warm and cozy chocolatey feeling.

Untitled - Oil Painting by Lisa Caccioppoli

Creating a chocolate environment is a suitable alternative to chocolate consumption, or so I tell myself.

Untitled - Mixed Media (Tootsie Roll Wrappers) by Amy Kauffman

How one prefers his or her chocolate is a personal thing, but I’m feeling bold and want to share my picks with you.

Time Lapse Streetlight - Oil Painting by Matthew Stiles

These images are speaking to me from the front lines of my post-holiday, hot cocoa mood.

Give and Take - Mixed Media by Randall Parker

What Lies Beyond, Photography by Tracy Mewman

What’s the point of all this, you ask? It’s just a reminder that buying original artwork doesn’t have to be a big mystery.

Sequence 10 - Oil Painting by Tracy Burke

Outlook - Photograph by Tracy Mewmaw

If you fall in love with an art print or original painting, even for the simple reason that it reminds you of your favorite food or last year’s great vacation, that counts. Start the new decade right. Buy art you love.

Zatista.com artists: Lisa Caccioppoli, Amy S. Kauffman, Matthew Stiles, Randall Parker, Tracy Mewmaw, Tracy Burke

It happened when I least expected it. I was sipping a martini at Proof on Main in Louisville, Kentucky when I saw them- the most beautiful series of fine art photographs I had ever encountered. Each race horse was photographed alone in a black box studio wearing just a mask. Seeing the horses stripped down without the fanfare, the media, or the persistent whipping of hyperactive jockeys left me feeling raw and exposed. The whole experience was incredibly moving, especially when you consider that I had never had an interest in horses prior to that moment.

I combed the restaurant until I found someone who would share the name of the photographer. Given that I was traveling at the time, I knew I couldn’t drop a few thousand dollars on art and then turn around and stuff it into a suitcase. Vowing to bring home at least one of the shots once I was back home, I jotted down the name of the photographer, Elena Dorfman. Two months later and having just moved into a brand new, white-walled apartment, I’m dreaming of horses once again.

Like falling in love with your next great love affair, you’ll know it when you’ve met the newest addition to your growing art collection. A great piece of art stirs your soul, opens your heart, and speaks to you every time you catch a glimpse.

Not sure how you’ll know it when you see it? Here are a few other clues that you’ve found “the one”:

You won’t be able to forget it. When you experience a piece of art that truly speaks to you, you’ll find it impossible to get the image out of your mind.

You won’t feel the need to justify your purchase. With the right piece of art, you won’t waste time giving your friends the financial play by play of why you decided to make the purchase. Instead, you’ll be sharing the story about how you felt when you first saw the piece.

You know exactly where it will live. We often connect with art that fills an emotional or physical void in our home or workspace. If you see a piece that resonates with you and you have a reasonable idea of where it will go once you’ve purchased it, you’re on the right track.

It’s not just “wall decor”, it’s a show piece. If you’ve really fallen in love with a piece, you’ll find yourself wanting to introduce it to everyone you encounter.