Beautiful homes always have 1 thing in common – artwork. Art (or textiles, which are really just art on fabric) should be the starting point of every room. It gives direction to the space and soul that would otherwise be missing. I’ve talked about where to buy original art but the question so many people have is what makes art ‘good’. The idea of ‘good art’ is misleading, as there is no one standard that art is measured by.
Unless I’m buying directly from an artist where I know the provenance I primarily look for artwork secondhand. I am less concerned about whether it is a “masterpiece” than if it is an original. I prefer original works and when I see a composition I like there are a few markers I look for.
The best way to know if you are looking at an original art piece is to look for:
- Brush Strokes
- This is obvious but most original paintings will have brush strokes. Look for strokes that are not uniform and for inconsistent paint depths. Many mass producers are now including a glossy top layer with a texture of faux brush strokes so this could potentially be difficult to determine depending on the piece. If the brush strokes don’t match the composition then it is a print.
- Pixel Dots
- This means that the image was made via a machine printer and is not an original print. Get close to the piece and look closely.
- Signatures
- Not all original pieces have signatures. If you are looking at a print look for the artists signature and the print number (the usual notation will be something similar to 1/100), many will also include the title of the piece. These notations are usually handwritten in pen or pencil along the bottom of the image.
- Artist or Framer Marks
- I have often bought pieces with no identifying marks on the front. In that case look on the back of the frame where you can find a mark or sticker. These are placed by professional framers and generally have a name & location. They will sometimes also include a date.
- If you come across a painting and you aren’t sure if it’s real flip it around and look at the canvas. Does it look handmade? Are the staples or canvas edges inconsistent? It is also not uncommon for there to be dates, signatures or other info written on the back of the stretcher bars.
Most of the paintings I own have been purchased at antique stores, thrift stores (YES, you can find great paintings there!), flea markets, or estate sales. My new favorite place to look for art secondhand is through ShopGoodwill.com.
When it came time to do my sons room last year we needed an art piece as a focal point. We searched around and finally found the perfect piece on ShopGoodwill. The total for the painting (which came professionally framed) and shipping was $50. $50! Not only was it a good price but the painting is beautiful and will honestly be something we own for many, many, many years to come.
My best advice for beginning an art collection is to start small. Original art can be purchased at any price point. Train your eye with smaller pieces before investing in bigger ones and enjoy the journey of collecting!
Don’t forget to pin!
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