apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This might have been the most appropriate contest for me to have entered, but I didn't know which ones were on the horizon. I'm all contested out, so I'm gonna sit back and watch this one.

Is it me or is that "Forever" piece all over the place these days?

By the way, I must say that it really is fun to have artwork that makes your apartment a destination that people feel compelled to see in person, so I think this is a great premise for a contest.

2 pictures?!? What about those of us who have artwork up on just about every wall and nook of their living space? (12 paintings, 1 photograph and row of 11 small framed drawings in my main living/dining/kitchen area alone.)

Oh well, probably better this way since my New Year's resolution is to stop entering AT contests! ;) (I'm with you on this, Curtis! Maybe you, me and the other multiple-contest entrants should start some sort of 12-step group?)

PS Since it's Art Month, later today I'll send over a tip on this GREAT architectural photographer I met up with over the holidays! He has a show opening up this week here in SoCal; and his work is up at a lot of high-profile commercial spaces as well as private collections.

hmmmm

yeah, I soooo don't want to be showing my arts to the internets...

but I do have tip

I went to Mexico, and resolved to return with souvenirs and gifts for people of paper. Which meant a bunch of art.

It was good to curb my ceramics obsession, and get into the local art/graphics scene.

Bring a mailing tube for packing.
Keeps your suitcase light and house uncluttered by brightly colored carved animals...

I ditto guido's suggestion. I went to Taiwan last year and came back with some great prints. I didn't have the mailing tube, though--and that was a mistake!

My mother is my personal shopper, and I'm not even embarrassed about it anymore. She's assembled for me a small collection of Inuit art over the years - a sealskin mask, a lino cut, a soapstone carving, etc - from Value Village, Sally Ann, Goodwill and the like. (It took me awhile to come around to the mask, but in preparation for last year's New Year's Eve party, a friend hung it next to a photo of Joanna Lumley and it's been on my wall ever since.) And if she hasn't given me an item, she's pointed it out for me, like a Maude Lewis (the Grandma Moses of Nova Scotia) print for a dollar. And then of course there's the infamous "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" album cover which only lost its shrink-wrap when I slipped it into an Ikea frame.

Sometimes I've greeted a gift from mother with a grimace as I wonder what in hell I'm supposed to do with it. So, in contravention of one of Apartment Therapy's mantras - get rid of the extraneous - I've hung onto stuff I didn't appreciate because I couldn't bring myself to toss out something from Mom. But with the passage of time I've been forced to admit that Mother knows best.

Great contest! While in Denmark in September, my 2nd motherland, I picked up two, no 3, posters, all of which are museum exhibition ad posters, two of which are several years old. I've been buying original art forever, haven't bought posters in, ahem, a couple of decades, but in this case loved these pieces, plus they provide me with a strong connection to the motherland by virtue of the style of the artwork and the Danish lettering. And, I found them at a huge flea market in Copenhagen that happens only twice a year on a lovely day with my cousin, who I rarely see, that has to count for an awwwwwww factor! So, if I enter, I hope I won't be discriminated against because they are posters! I'll sign an affidavit saying I have lots of other original art elsewhere!

wonder how the AT gang feels about buying art on ebay. i'm eyeing a (from what i can tell) lovely painting right now.

I think it's impossible to search for art on eBay; I once put something on there, and no one was looking for any of the words that I put in there, apparently. OR... no one liked it? But I also think that it's kind of hard to see the surfaces on there.

I don't have a lot of open wall space in my tiny place (the one big wall is all bookshelves), but I need to keep my finished artwork away from my curious kitty... so one whole wall became this giant grouping of all my artwork. At first it felt weird to look at it like that all the time, but then I got so used to it and grew to really love the way they all looked together. Now that everything is out of the house and on display in various other locations, I really miss it!

My "artwork" now consists of a wall of empty nails and picture hangers. Which is, in itself, sort of artistic in a way. An added bonus is that the cat thinks the nails are bugs (despite the fact that they don't move -- not a smart cat I guess) and I am constantly entertained by her trying to jump five or six feet in the air to pounce on them. :)

I just bought an original signed Dali lithograph from Portero, a luxury retailer that sells on eBay. (portero.com) I found the process extremely gratifying and would recommend others to buy art on eBay, but with caution. The only reason I went for this particular piece was that Portero is a trusted seller who deals in only luxury products, from fashion to boats to art. Everything is appraised before it goes up to determine authenticity.

I need to get the piece framed so Art Month has teriffic timing! People at work (photographers) have recommended Light Impressions products (UV glass, frames, archival mats) in lieu of getting it professionally framed. I have cut mats myself many many many times for studios in college. Does having it professionally framed offer any great benefit that I am not aware of?

for christmas this year my mother agreed to get some of my "art" framed for me
its just such a luxury that i could not afford on my current salary
so off i trucked to upstate new york with my "art" which was actually two books i had picked up WICKED cheap at the strand that have the most glorious black and white prints in them
they're the kind that are in art books, you know, pressed into the paper, i think its called letter pressing?
both books were supposed to be insanely epxensive, but some yahooo had underlined/highlighted/scribbled in the margins making them worthless as books, but GOREGOUS on my walls!!!!
i look at it as a challenge to find books like these (below the $5 mark) that are goregous, but without a purpose as a book anymore, and give them a new life
its kind of like dumpster diving for art :-)

Priya--
As long as you are using archival materials on EVERYTHING that potentially touches the art, you should be okay to DIY.

Personally, I'd still opt for a professional for something of value.

I'm excited to see everyone's entries. There have been a lot of great ideas written about on this and other related threads. It would be cool to actually see them all represented in the contest!

Maxwell. I don't know if you received my email re: the photographer I mentioned in my post above. But here's a link to his website. I think his work is really strong, and the images striking. http://www.charliebidwell.com/

ebay is great for art for very specific things...
my friend that knows and collects Outsider Art got a great piece by her favorite artist,
and I got a couple utterly charming drawings by (novelist, cartoonist) Lynda Barry. She sells her work on ebay under the name "marlys!"

Thanks Patrick! I just wasn't sure if i was missing something. I will probably go with a professional framer per your advice.

bsavarese--

I have purchased a collectible poster and many vintage oil portraits on eBay, even internationally, with no problem. BUT...

the condition of the portaits was not at issue with me, but even so, even those purchased with flaws were better than depicted.

AND

the provenance or painter of the piece were also not at issue. I think eBay is tricky when buying "name" art. But as Priya said, stick to dealers with great feedback numbers. Also, much fine art is sold on eBay through online versions of reputable auction houses. You pay for the privilege a little, though.

Also, be careful you know what you are buying when you buy photography on eBay. Reproductions and photo-quality prints of scanned art work is pretty rampant. For example, of the hundreds upon hundreds of Bruce Weber photos on eBay at any one given time, RARELY is there an actual Weber photo in the lot.

And I'd say eBay is a GREAT art resource for under-the-radar art... work by independents working outside the gallery system, or "no name art" for which you become enamoured of the image/piece alone.

SHOPPING for art on eBay can be a pretty much full time job.

But I'd say the same rule applies here as buying art elsewhere: Buy what you love. Buy from established dealers. Don't spend more than you can afford. Buy for love, not investment.

Enrique— Mr. Bidwell's photos are AMAZING. i think i found a new favorite photographer. Thanks for the link!

I have had some great luck buying art on eBay -- I'm a mid-century fanatic -- and I promise to show some of it (and some from my partner's apt, too) in the contest this week.

...land P(too) is right -- it can be a full-time job. But it's so much more fun than my real f/t job!!!

I second that... Enrique, you soooooo need to do the Hollywood sign one if you haven't already.

And the image of the Empire State Building is amazing.

But really REALLY in love with the signage silhouettes...

Thanks, E!

Guido-

Thanks for the Lynda Barry tip. I've loved her cartoons for years. I even read her novel, Cruddy. I'll check eBay right now.

One more plug for eBay as an art source: I collect Japanese woodblock prints, and have found that you can get some screaming deals.

okay my answer involves my work but I got into this work because of my passion for art - antiques shows are a good place to buy art. Mainly they are focused on the decorative art so the fine art is a little less expensive and what I really like about the walls at an antiques fair is that things are unusual. I saw a large framedold subway sign listing stops somewhere in the NYC vacinity and I couldn't afford it at the time but it would have made a really great statement. I still covet the sign but there a ton of paintings, prints, vintage posters etc. to be found at these shows. Sometime it is great to make the discovery yourself and buy something not meant as a wallhanging and then using it as art - I think you know what I mean. Anyway, check out the antiques shows. This January there will the annual Antiques Week and no less than 5 antiques shows will be happening in the city (2 of which are ours). I am a little hesitant to list the shows here because it is work. If anyone wants to know - ask and I will tell you. Kate

zia, if you like Japanese woodblock prints, there is an artist here in San Francisco named Ayu Tomikawa that I just love. She does some wonderful prints *and* she is also an incredibly sweet person. Click my name for the link to her site.

I have my husband's photography, art by Michelle Caplan in CA, my mixed media and photography, and a few new pieces by a Boston area artist, Lisa Occhipinti. I'm going to write about Michelle on my blog, and Lisa too, so stay tuned if you want to check them out! Michelle is a collage artist and Lisa an established fine art painter.
- Holly
www.decor8.blogspot.com

When I lived out west I would go to the 1st Thurs. art crawl all the time. I doing a web search just now I came across this. Lots of cool art:

http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/firstth0805.html

Do any of you in SF goes to these monthly art crawls?

To echo Kates sentiment.. yes, antique shows and fairs are great resources for art, traditional and non.

For example, David Winter, of Winter Works on Paper, a great source for vintage and wonderfully quirky photos and other 2-D stuff, is a frequent exhibitor at The Modern Show and Antiques at the Armory.

Another source I've found is some of the home design stores here in the city. For example, Upper East's Homer was where I first saw and purchased the work of Christopher Makos. And the awesome West Coast source Blackman Cruz was where I first found the framed graphics from old buses/subways (as Kate also mentions).

And don't forget art/design schools. Although an attempt to buy an oil from the art school in midtown (on 57th; name escapes me) proved fruitless. A nervous student would not commit to a meeting, even though I was hellbent on purchasing...

P2-
Art Students League?

I work at an art school and it is a great resource. Most schools have sales throughout the year where students, staff, and alumni can participate. I've picked up quite a few reasonable pieces this way.

the following site has had some good photos in the past, although it takes some searching:

www.dpcprints.com

aquarabbit -- thanks for the tip. Cool stuff!

forgive me if this has been discussed earlier but -- has anyone here ever tackled DIY framing? It's so expensive to get artwork framed -- but does buying one's own materials (in NYC) and doing the work yourself provide enough savings to be worth it? Any tips or resources appreciated!

As an ebay buyer and seller, I have to stick by it. I have met incredible people and been introduced to some amazing minds.

I think that with any other "site unseen" art purchase you have to be wary, but there are ways to gain confidence in the art you are purchasing. Always ask to artist/seller questions, if you have them. I know that I get requests for technique description and additional photos all of the time.

Ebay is a fantastic venue for Self-Representing artists. We have the opportunity to reach people all over the world, who may not have seen our work otherwise. Be sure to check out Suzy Keely and Mikel Robinson. I own one of his lightboxes. It is gorgeous!

I have artwork all over my apt. walls. But they are mostly prints or gallery cards or black/white photos from art magazines that I've framed. I'm not sure that's what AT is looking for in this contest. All the entries seem to be original paintings and I'm still saving up for those.

anne-
I think that just because those things aren't original doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't enter, if you're really proud of how they all look; maybe the whole arrangement is bigger than the sum of its parts? Have another look at the guidelines of the contest. No one could argue against how nice it is to have original art, but presentation has a lot to be said for it, I think.

one weekend several years ago ('99 or '00? -- my, how time flies) i bought an etching/print from an artist selling them on a corner in soho. his name is steven duffy, and i haven't had any luck tracking him down via the internet (and haven't been to nyc since '01 -- but plan a trip soon). does anyone have any idea who i'm talking about or know how to reach him?

Ok, Curtis, I sent some in for the contest. My submission is mucho lame compared to the others. But you "made me do it!"

Anne, prints may not be unique but they are original works of art. Most of my collection consists of prints, and I think prints are a great way to start collecting.

funny...but only on first impact

Me the first one. I know steven duffy. I even wrote an article about street art, which mentioned him. I can find his number for you. he is on the corner in soho every single weekend, though he lives upstate. He is a big grizzly of a man, but many famous people have bought his great etchings. I think you can get his original etchings for about $25. He believes he is the best in the country, and though he acts a little crazy, i think he is right If you want his number email me at tatshar@aol.com

Check grainbag.com for original art!

Clutter, clutter, everywhere! Too many e-mails, too many weddings at which one could slip and lose one's memory of things to do...so, I forgot to enter this contest....is there a subdivision contest for best bedroom art? I'll put mine up (and subject myself to ridicule by the group) any day!

here is my room that i recently painted i dont know if that counts as art work. But here it is

I know where Steve Duffy and his etchings are. He sells them from my store in upstate NY. Check out www.hobartbookvillage.com - Cook the Books is where Steve shows. Also, he is down in the City now for the Holiday Fair at Union Square.