Where To Find Unique Cheap Art
I love a home filled with art. I’ve never really been one for having photos up all over the place - even when at uni when that sort of decoration was de rigeur, I didn’t see the point of having faces on my bedroom wall I could see up to date versions of on Facebook. I guess for me having art displays personality and loves in a more introverted way.All the art I have in my house means something - it is also all under £20 (excluding the wildly expensive £40 print that was a Christmas present). It feels like there’s been an explosion in affordable art and prints over the last few years, but to me it’s all very samey. You can flick through three or four interiors blogs and they all have exactly the same prints on the wall. Rifle Paper Co. is the new Ikea of wall decoration.So where do you find art that isn’t generic but also doesn’t cost the world?
1. Visit fairs
I don’t just mean events like the Affordable Art Fair (which I’ve yet to go to because I always forget it’s on - however I imagine that it’s probably pretty ‘trendy’, i.e., samey stuff). If you’re London-based I’d recommend looking outside of the capital because, as all we country bumpkins know, everything is expensive there.Out here in the sticks we have lots of fairs in the grounds of stately homes that 50-somethings walk around in their cropped trousers and sandals - quite my spiritual home. Here you find crafters and artists that sell across a variety of price points and there are some real gems. If you can’t make it to a fair they usually list their stall-holders online, so you can research and order direct.Two of my favourite pieces were sourced from such an art fair. They’re by the artist Peter Hodson, and I especially love the big one on our mantelpiece (above) - it’s so atmospheric and full of texture. How much did it cost me? £25, framed. I know, ridiculous. This little one was £3. Really.
2. Use greetings cards
There are so many reasons why cards are awesome to use as art. 1) They cost like £2.50, max. 2) A standard size greetings card will always fit a standard size photo frame. 3) Even if it doesn’t, did I mention that they only cost £2.50 so it’s completely fine to chop them up. 4) If you buy postcards from a gallery you can literally have priceless classic art in your house. 5) You can swap them in and out as the season/redecoration/mood takes you to transform your room. 6)...But they can also be meaningful if it’s a card you’ve sent or received.This is one we have in our house. It’s a birthday card I bought for Dan about two years ago, so I’ve had great 2 for 1 value from it as both a gift and a decoration.
3) Exploit your network
The chances are you know someone who knows someone who produces art, so use your daily Facebook-stalking session productively to discover that person. The benefits of this method far outweigh the potential social awkwardness. By and large young creatives are cheap because they’re just happy to get paid (sweeping generalisation alert), and you can probably get something bespoke and exactly how you want it.I’d been looking for a print of a new favourite poem, and although there were quite a few on Etsy none were quite right - I wanted to emphasise certain lines, you see. As luck would have it a friend of a friend chose that week to launch a new design venture et voila - a bespoke, unique, exactly what I wanted, original artwork, all for £15. Check out CF Designs and Artworks for similar.
4) Make your own!
If your desire for prints is as uncontrollable as mine, then the most cost-effective option may be to learn to make your own. Check out my post on learning calligraphy if you like typographic prints, or if you’re not of an artistic bent there are tons of quote generators online, or simply create one in a nice font in a document and get it printed (try printed.com or your office printer). You can also try stamps or paper cutting, or press your favourite flowers for a feminine, vintage feel.