How much would you pay for a piece of art for your home?

I have original etchings and lithographs in my house. The most I spent for one was probably around $500. I’ve bought them from a gallery I used to visit and at art shows.

I’m embarrassed to say how much I’ve spent. But I will say we have more than one piece that we spent 5 figures on.

@Judi Why are you embarrassed to say? Do you not think the value was worth it, or are you concerned for the judgement of others?

At this time, I am not in a position in which I can spend much money on art. I would love to decorate my new apartment with a few original (lower-priced) pieces from Etsy, but I know for the most part that any art in my home will probably only cost whatever it takes me to craft it (cost of printing photos, cost of paper and ink supplies, etc.) I love art, but I don’t have the kind of money it would take to invest in.

It would really have to be a special piece of art and from an artist I really liked; otherwise I would just paint it myself since I know what I would want exactly.

@Hypocrisy_Central You would paint your own imagined piece or paint a likeness of one from another artist?

I personally judge myself too harshly to be satisfied with my own work and would not want to decorate my home with it.

I collect ethnic art. I travel a lot. Most of my pieces have been under $200. I have carved masks, weavings, storyboards carved into driftwood, drums, bells, textiles, and ornate weapons. They mean something to me. I would have no interest at all in a painting worth 5 figures. Well, I would be interested in selling it – that’s about all.

10 bucks at the local big box.

@GloPro I would not try to recreate a Patrick Nagel, a Hajime Sorayama, or one of ”The Greats” to hang on my wall, but I have had stuff I have done that surpassed by scrutiny that I would hang. I would do that as oppose to some awful décor art, or other production prints I have seen.

I’ve spent $175 and $300 on paintings from neighbor artists. Otherwise I make my own.

I have friends who lived in New York and regularly purchased art from artists (in the early stages of their career, which is important) represented in galleries there. Their collection has grown significantly in value since that time. They refer to it as their 401(k) hanging on the walls and plan to sell off pieces in their retirement.

I have a $1,300 sculpture made by a local artist with some representation in galleries that I purchased for $450 at a silent auction fundraiser. My crazy and beloved ex-gf bought me a $2,800 Chagall lithograph from a gallery in Las Vegas (which, by contrast, will likely not increase in value).

For better or worse, I’ve abandoned most interest in collecting things, so these items don’t do too much for me lately, plus I’m not in a great space currently to display them.

I wouldn’t. I only display my photographs and artwork my children have made.

Edit- Thinking about this a bit longer, I might thrown down a few hundred for a kick-ass wooden sculpture. It would have to be unique.

That would mean I was in a position to do so.

I’d spend up to $200,000 for a very good contemporary realist painting – I’d commission a work. And I’d invest in buying 18th century pieces if I could.

Several glass bowls, vases and paintings for over $600.
I need to get the insurance riders increased.

We have a bowl I paid $750 for. Kinda ugly. Off hand, I don’t think of anything in the house that cost more than $1,000. Furniture excluded. Value is at least twice what we paid.

We’re picking up pieces as we go, choosing those that we truly enjoy – not just filling wall space. Our first purchase we encountered in a shop in Philly, where they sold antiques and second-hand pieces. It’s two abstract paintings that fit well with the color scheme we were planning for our living room. We hadn’t even moved in yet and were out furniture shopping when we stopped in this place.

Next was a photo we saw displayed outside a local photographer’s shop as we strolled by. It was a black-and-white an old drummer’s hand holding the stick across the snare like they do when playing rim shots. We got to chatting and he told us about the series he took in a jazz club in a different city as he was traveling. We bought three photos from that series, and they hang in our dining room.

We have a couple prints, one is a Rothko, whom my fiancé really likes, and the other was a Crate & Barrel piece that suited our style and color scheme well. We’ve also got a couple other prints made by friends of ours – one is the original of my avatar, and one is a design of koi fish. We still need to get those framed. We’ve wanted to buy the works of another friend, but he’s in the UK, so shipping was a bit of a hassle and he was going through a tough time. I should check what he has available again – thanks for reminding me!

Young unknown artists, not very much.

Older known artists, especially those who may die soon, a lot.
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I don’t care about the art so much as the return on investment.

I have several very good (and valuable) pieces. They hang on my walls. I got them through divorce lol. As far as what I would spend, I have several pieces that I got in op shops that i found out later were worth far more than i paid.

Depends

Not much.

Nothing, I’m just not an appreciator of art. I can only see muself adding personal art – things done by friends or a spouse. And even then, it would likely be just to appease them.

$20. If that. I’d rather make something myself or trade with a friend for it. It’s not that I don’t value art, I am just cheap.

I just realized I didn’t address the prices, and I honestly don’t remember what they cost. It wasn’t more than a couple hundred dollars, though. We wouldn’t buy it if we didn’t have the money for it and wouldn’t go into debt for it.

@GloPro, I totally love my art but sometimes I feel like it is really extravagant when there are people who are having trouble paying the rent.

If it costs more than my rent, I sure wouldn’t buy it.

@Symbeline If it costs more than my rent, I sure wouldn’t buy it.
That would certainly put you out of the running for answering this question

Well, yeah. I sure don’t know what it feels like to be rich.

Me neither. However I do have an inkling as to how much contemporary fine art – not hobbyist art – sells for. You can do better if you commission a piece from an artist directly. A gallery typically takes 50% of the sale.

^^^ most galleries will drop any artist that directly sells to the client. Reputable artists that sell through multiple galleries know better than to jeopardize their regular paycheck and reputation.

I rarely buy art because the walls are full of art I have made myself. I havent bought anyone else’s art in probably twenty years.

No. Most gallery owners understand that a working artist has a cadre of private buyers AND can receive long term commission for portraits from corporations abroad or even aristocracy in different countries.

What they want is a steady stream of work that appeals to their clientèle. And its to their advantage if you’re able to get some good PR through respected organizations that have regular exhibitions…like Portrait Society of America etc etc etc.

The gallery I worked for would not do business with an artist that sells directly to the client or frequents art fairs. It was actually in the contracts. In addition, many noted artists do not want to work with the public directly. They want to create artwork. They let their publisher and art consultants deal with business aspects. The publisher is the one that sets the suggested retail. It isn’t any different than any other goods you purchase from any other stores. Of course wholesale is less than suggested retail.
If you are able to get an artist that is nationally represented in authorized galleries to paint a commission for you directly and cut out the gallery then that artist is jeopardizing his reputation and his livelihood. There are many reasons galleries exist, only one of which is to help market an artist. That service is invaluable to the success of noteable artists.
If he/she is not represented by authorized galleries then they are small time artists and may do as they please.

I haven’t ever known any painter who sells at art fairs. There is also an understanding that there are two very different types of sales. First gallery exhibitions of creative fine art which are promoted by the gallery.

second, commissioned portraits, which are important to one’s income and bring in yet more portraits.

CEO’s, senators, judges, actors and actresses and film people, just as an example. In these cases often one gets referrals by word of mouth.

I haven’t come across any fine art “agents.” Major gallery managers or owners will often help an artist to be reviewed in magazines and produce books.

Those CEOs, actors, actresses, judges, senators are all my clients. Those commissions are set up by me, as your art consultant, through an authorized gallery. Should you contact an artist or publisher directly they will direct you to me, as your art consultant, to act as your agent. Commissions ARE done through art galleries, and not direct sales. As your art consultant my job is to realize your vision and work with both you, the collector, and with the artist to deliver your concept. I am the one to fine tune your ideas. I draw loose concept sketches and draw up contracts. It isn’t quick work to design a commission.

Those referrals are for the artwork and the artist, but are also brought to me. Collectors are very loyal to a good art consultant. So are artists.

I’ve never known that to work in visual art.

^^^ Well, considering you don’t collect and have an “inkling” of the industry, and I made a great living working in one of the country’s top galleries with many of the country’s top artists, if you are ever looking to line up a commission I would gladly help guide you.

GloPro “you don’t collect and have an “inkling” of the industry,”

I wouldn’t count on that. Never assume anything.

I didn’t assume anything. You said those words above, in this same thread.
“Me neither. I do have an inkling…”

I’m done discussing this. If you are able to commission a piece directly, by all means, go for it. I have a feeling we are discussing different levels of artwork anyway. Have a great afternoon.

” I have a feeling we are discussing different levels of artwork anyway. ”

Again a major assumption. Where’s Stanely