Zatista The premier source for original art online

If you are a bit like me, you are always on the lookout for an original. Whether it’s original art, original design, or original vintage items, I find real value in items with lasting quality.

Here are some originals that top my wish list this year…

When shopping this holiday season, consider giving something unique, well designed, or one-of-a-kind. You’ll be glad you did and so will the person you gave it to.

Share with us what is on your wish-list…

Canoes at Sunriver Oregon by Photographer Michael Axel on Zatista

In most peoples’ minds, the words “art” and “collection” are synonymous with “cash” and “money.” For this reason, many people often put off starting their own art collection because they are afraid it will somehow become more of an expensive hobby than they originally intended. Now, I’m not going to lie to you and say that collecting art is a hobby with a budget similar to that of kite flying (though some of those professional kites can cost more than you think). But starting an art collection is possible for those of us operating under somewhat tighter budgets. In fact, the time to start an art collection is now, as the value of what you purchase can and will appreciate over time. An undiscovered painting purchased today could be part of a famous artist’s body of work tomorrow.

Ready to get started? Here’s how:

Know thyself, know thy art. If you haven’t done this already, get yourself to some local art galleries and figure out what turns you on and what leaves you hitting the snooze button. Are you attracted to the brilliant colors of larger-than-life photographs or are you enraptured by the textures of mixed media? Take notes, keeping track of colors, styles, and sizes that stop you cold and leaving you thinking. Try this several times at various galleries and on Zatista before making your first purchases.

Be clear about your intentions. Are you looking to make some cash on the side or to fill up some blank wall space? Know why you want to plunk down your dollars before you commit your time and money.

Know where you plan to store your new treasures. It’s one thing to fall in love with a massive art installation. It’s quite another to try and fit it into a studio apartment in Brooklyn. If you don’t have a great deal of space to work with, start small. As your collection grows, you may decide to purchase gallery space alone or with a friend.

Decide what you can afford. There’s nothing fun about falling in love with a piece of art that you can’t afford. If you set some budgetary boundaries, you’re always end up playing on a fair field. That’s why on Zatista, we have the option to search by price, whether it be under one hundred dollars or over one thousand dollars.

Don’t pressure yourself. Just because you’ve decided to start an art collection doesn’t mean that you have to start buying right away. Galleries can be high pressure environments that often leave you feeling like you just went to bed with a used car salesman. If you like a specific piece, ask for information and then sleep on your decision. Unless your coveted piece is a one time offer (“only $9.99 plus shipping and handling if you call NOW!”), you’ll feel much better knowing that you’ve given the decision time to marinate. Of course, if you shop online, you can take your time deciding without having to worry about talking to any pesky gallery owners. Brilliant!

Complexity is a good thing. While complexity is a headache when it comes to tax returns, it’s a slam dunk in the world of art. When deciding on whether to purchase a piece of art for your new collection, make sure to consider complexity. A valuable piece of art is tireless, always offering a new viewpoint every time you come around the corner.

Take risks. One of the benefits of purchasing art from emerging stars is simple: you get the good stuff for a reasonable price before your artist rises to the top. If you see a piece you love but don’t recognize the artist yet, go with your gut. You may be the first to discover the next Sylvia Plimack.

Get inspired. Still don’t believe you have the financial chops to create a collection worth remembering? Check out the movie Herb & Dorothy if you need some inspiration. The film documents the true story of postal clerk Herb Vogel and his wife, librarian Dorothy Vogel, who together established one of the world’s best personal art collections without the help of a six figure budget. As mentioned above, the couple took risks, buying pieces from artists who had yet to establish themselves.

What caused you to start your art collection? What criteria do you use to determine what pieces will be added to your collection?

Have you ever bought a print?  It’s nice – it fills the empty space on the wall, but after awhile you barely see it hanging there anymore, and it’s sitting a little crooked but you just don’t care. Art is not supposed to be like that! You don’t care because the print is a pale comparison to the original thing.

When you discover that original art is actually attainable, and that anyone can have these amazing objects, you kind of have a “eureka” moment. Remember when you used to think that Olive Garden had the best spaghetti carbonara ever, and then you went on that trip to Italy and WOW, holy crap. You had no idea how delicious real carbonara was supposed to be. OK, maybe you don’t like carbonara, but the point is, until you buy your first piece, you don’t really know what you are missing! (I’ve mixed in some cool art in between my soap-box rants.)

Goat, Hare by Kay Tuttle

1. Prints are evil.
No they aren’t, but let’s face it – you only buy a print because you can’t have the original, right? But the thing is you can. There are so many emerging and established artists out there that create a huge array of incredible work that you CAN have. They aren’t Renaissance masters, but are you excited by the fact that there are thousands of people with the exact same print hanging in their living room? Artists today provide infinitely more interesting choices than what you see picked out for you at the big box stores.

To me, the point of art is that it is something unique, its value is in its intimate and personal nature. Doesn’t buying a mass-produced print seem inherently against what art is about? The problem with prints is it has to be non-offensive in any way to the general public for it to be viable to be mass produced. So it doesn’t leave much room for individuality, quirkiness or personality. What you choose to display on your walls and look at every day is your opportunity to express yourself and have a point of view. I like to think that I don’t see the world the same way as the other 10,000 other people with the same print. I am excited when I can find an artist that has a similar view or aesthetic sense as I do.

2. You don’t have to be uber rich to collect original art.

Asa ni Namida / Morning Tears by Paul Binnie

The old stereotype was that people who could afford original art were so wealthy, they were inventing ways to spend it. The truth is, there is fantastic art out there for $20 or $2,000,000. Reproduction art from Pottery Barn costs $600, I can think of so many original pieces I would rather pick up for that amount. Your experience discovering and finding treasures to hang on your wall can make your life richer. It’s so rewarding to curate your own little art gallery in your home.

Buying art from an artist is a great deal for both you and them, you gain a special piece of art that you love, and the artist gains the ability to continue to spend time creating. There are few artists that can survive on their art alone. Another way that you are contributing to the art world is by being an engaged audience, which is also important. I guess there are artists out there that create for themselves only, but I think the majority feeds off of having others experience and respond to their creative efforts.

Are you convinced?

There are many great places to find art that speaks to you – and online is a really exciting place to get a feel for what you respond to and also purchase from. There are artist blogs/sites, gallery sites with portfolios and online original art retail venues like zatista.com where you can see hundreds of examples of styles and subjects. If you don’t live in a metropolitan area it may also be hard to find a gallery that expresses your style, so the internet is great to explore outside your area. But if you do find a place that appeals to you, stop in! Many cities have Art Walks on the weekend that are fun to browse. Start small, find something that won’t break the bank, but be sure to buy a piece that makes you feel something. You will be amazed at how much personality a mere object can add to your home.

Credits:
Art 1: Viner Studio
Art 2: Kay Tuttle
Art 3: Paul Binnie
Art 4: Bryan Nash Gill
Art 5: Camilla D’ErricoArt
Art 6: Parimal Vaghela