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Look for locally made art. We artists can pay SO much for packing, shipping and insurance. If you can pick it up locally (or have it delivered), we don't have to spend that money, which means neither do you.

Look for art in alternative venues that either ask for a minimal commission, or none at all. Galleries and some online sites can ask for 30%-50% of the sale price, so the prices can get jacked up to compensate. Art collectives are a really good bet. I was just at The Firehouse Collective in Berkeley, and they had some really great, relatively inexpensive stuff.

Buy unframed art. So much of the price of a piece is in the frame.

If you find artists without gallery representation (like, ahem, me), you can work with them directly and not worry about having to give a cut to their representation. I've also been known to work around budgets, and I can't be the only one who does this.

Also, art with large or open edition sizes are usually less expensive than smaller edition sizes and APs, just because of supply and demand.

And now, a shameless plug: if you like erotic art, there's a book release party event at ArtSF (www.artsf.org) on June 16, and they're not charging us commission, so you could get a good deal on something.

Hope that helps.

See www.ugallery.com, which offers student work for sale.

Go to openings at art schools. The students always have contact info available via postcards, etc. I've bought quite a few things this way.

Also go to the holiday or spring fairs at art schools. I've gotten some REALLY affordable small pieces at these.

I have bought paintings online as well. Some through etsy and some through the advertisers in magazines such as ReadyMade. And look at some of the dailypainters - most of their pieces start selling at around $100.

There are a couple of large artist studios in SOMA. I think you may be thinking of open studios which is every October. It's a wonderful event run by ArtSpan where you can buy art directly from artists all over the city. Hunter's Point also has a spring open studios, which was in April.

In the meantime, there is a lot of great affordable art out there in San Francisco! Check the Squid List or FecalFace.com for art openings. There are too many great places to list!

I agree with Amy - check with local art schools. I have helped several people get some nice work at the student fairs, auctions and shows.
Also check local Open Studio Tours – SF has theirs in November. Somarts cultural center has pieces by most artist participating so you can see who’s work you may be interested in and visit the studio.

Oh yea – most artist and art collectives have been gentrified from the city and have moved across the bay to Oak-town. If you are willing to cross the great divide, there is a network of galleries and alternative exhibit spaces worth visiting:

http://www.oaklandartmurmur.com/pages/Jmap/Jmap.php

Try Hangart.com which handles artists across a range of prices and styles, is located in SF, and also has a rental policy so you can try the art before you buy.

A great place to buy affordable art is the The Lost Art Salon.
The Red Poppy Art House fits very well the description of "a place where artists create art work in a communal setting", and they are going to have a silent auction of art works this Friday (see link below).

http://www.lostartsalon.com

http://www.redpoppyarthouse.org

I second the suggestion to check out the Oakland Art Murmer (blogged here: http://morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com/2007/05/mark-your-calendar-oakland-art-murmurs.html). The next one is this Friday.

Also, most of the art schools around here have regular student exhibitions and sales. We went to one at Oakland's California College of the Arts awhile back and got some groovy little pieces. (More info here: http://www.cca.edu/calendar/.) I imagine the SF Art Institute has pretty regular exhibitions of student work, too.

Best,

Leah

You can visit www.artaissance.com, which features over 1,000 pieces of different types of artwork to fit your every need. Not only are they affordable prints, but you can choose your art by your preferred style, color, room setting, and more!

Regarding Artaissance, local frame shops are often dealers, so you can see the quality first hand. A quick Google search will turn up one in your area, or you can use the Artaissance site to locate one by zip code.

The great thing about Artaissance is that you can order custom printed art on paper or canvas in any size to fit your apartment space. So if you like an image and you need it larger to cover the area above a sofa, you can order just the right length. Or if you have a little niche that needs some color, you can order that favorite piece of art in a teeny tiny size. Very cool.

--Kirstie at The Framer's Workshop
http://www.framersworkshop.com/Artaissance/index.html

Another good place to buy original local art is at the Pro Arts Open Studios event held in studios throughout the East Bay. This year, 2009, the two Open Studios weekends are June 7-8 and 14-15. Check out Proartsgallery.org/ebos for more information. Every year we see original art come in to our shop for DIY framing by local artists, beautiful art that will be sold at unbelievable prices at Open Studios. Give it a try!

Kirstie at The Framer's Workshop in Berkeley
http://www.framersworkshop.com