Not Necessary, but I Like to Like the Art and the Artist
I recently met an artist that I really enjoyed. Which is exciting because it’s super important to me to like an artist if I’m going to buy their work and have it hanging in my home.
This is just how I feel about living with art in general. I want happy vibes at home! I prefer to buy original art from, local, often emerging artists, because first of all, their work is just as fabulous (sometimes even more so) than famous artists, somewhere out in the world, that I’ve never met, making a zillion dollars and hanging in the homes of celebrities. I don’t do dead artists either. They don’t need the money…
My home is all about me. Well, and my husband, who does most the cleaning, repairs and yard work. He gets a say in most things - including art. Fortunately he has fairly good taste - not including the painting of a yellow lab he owned when we met. That’s another story.
He, like me, has always been an original art collector. I didn’t even know that about him when we got married, it was just a lovely surprise. We are drawn to the same kind of art, although he leans toward more traditional, contemporary art and I’m a right down the middle contemporary art girl. With a few exceptions - for example Joseph Cornell’s work is among my favorites and he was creating amazing ‘boxes’ in the 1940s. I love a good exception.
For more information on Joseph Cornell and his work check out the Smithsonian at, https://americanart.si.edu/artist/joseph-cornell-995
Brittanica defines contemporary art as work produced after 1950/1960 through the present.
https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-modern-and-contemporary-art
It’s just what I like best and remember, art is all about me! And you!
You get to like what you like, it’s just that simple. Don’t try to be all artsy fartsy, it’s not fun that way. Art should make you feel something, you should be drawn to it for your own reasons. I am seriously just making this up. I’m not quoting any professors or looking though art history books. Not that those things are bad, but I never went to school to get an art degree so that is not my personal experience with art. My point is, you don’t need a degree to appreciate art, meet artists and own art.
So back to this artist I just met… Another artist friend of mine turned me on to Lisa Congdon…
…who was on a tour, promoting her latest book and would be speaking at the Elliott Bay Book Co. on Capitol Hill in Seattle. I was totally jacked to hear her speak, but the bonus was, while waiting in line to have her sign the book I bought (A Glorious Freedom - Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives) cuz that’s the kind of older woman I want to be… I met Toni! Also known as Baby Buddha!
We weren’t in a hurry, so my friend Sarah and I just sat talking, when she looked up and waved to a woman at the back of the line herself. Come meet my friend Toni, Sarah said to me as we got up and walked over.
Toni, it turns out is a photographer, watercolor artist, card maker, teacher, Paris enthusiast, and just super cute! She has a studio in a cottage, close to the bookstore where we met, and where she holds workshops, sells her cards and work, and creates whimsical art all day, not to mention, has personal dance parties.
After meeting I followed her on Instagram. When the quarantine began she stepped it up and made videos of her dancing, and painting, and talking and just being happy at home. One of my favorite videos was her showing people how to relax and paint dots. Big, unjudgy dots. It was a simple introduction to painting that anyone would enjoy and be able to do sitting at their dining room table. Mine are pictured above and make me think of pepperoni at the moment…
You can check out Toni’s work and videos at babybuddhastudio.com
The story of how she came to name her studio is cute, it’s on her ‘artist’ page.
I’m excited for summer so we can have friends over and eat outside and Toni is near the top of the guest list. She’s on another very important list of mine too. I keep a list of artist who’s work I want to own. Partly because it is beautiful and I’m drawn to it, but partly because I really like the artist as a person. That’s not necessary, but it seems to really matter to me. When you are buying art, it is all about you and what you like!
If you don’t know any artists start asking around. Since so many galleries are currently closed, look online at galleries near and far. You don’t have to meet the artist in person to get to know them. These days many artists have Instagram accounts, websites, blogs and facebook pages. When you see something you like, follow that artist, and if you really like their work add them to your own list! You may not be able to afford a big piece, or something right away, but it’s good to be prepared for that day when you can. Stay tuned for a post on how to go about buying art.
To close, here is my current, and ever growing, list of artists who’s work I want to own, along with their contact information. Sometimes I follow who they follow to find more work (and people) I might like. Have fun, and buy original art from living artists!
Laura Van Horne, lauravanhorneart.com
Steve Parmelee, steveparmelee.com
Liz Tran, liztran.com
Jesse Link, jesselink.com
Eileen Sorg, twodogstudio.com
Rik Allen, rikallen.com
Rickie Wolfe, rickiewolfe.com