Buying Art Online -- What to look for and how to have FUN!

I truly thought that after all my kids launched, I'd have tons of time to visit art galleries and take long lunches with the ladies. My youngest is 23 years old and that daydream has not yet materialized!

In today's online economy, the Internet has significantly changed how folks look at art, and making a day of it going door-to-door with your girlfriends, hoping to find the "just right" piece for that weird little hallway corner may be old school. With many thriving online boutiques and galleries available (even on a yucky, rainy-weather day) I can enjoy an artful browse day and night.

My Favorite 3 Tips for Buying Art Online

Number One: Find out how they will ship your art to you

Using the Internet, I can see the work of thousands of artists from around the world! Each artist who endeavors to sell in this manner must by necessity become a direct-to consumer packaging expert. There are lots of ways to package art made using a wide variety of mediums, and while some artists have the best methods figured out, from my experience, you will also have those who use tattered old liquor store boxes (which they have cut down and re-taped using an entire roll of clear adhesive tape!). Opening those makeshift boxes is like breaking into Fort Knox! So know how the artist you like will handle your shipping needs.

Number Two: Communicate with your artists

I always look for an email address to communicate with the artist before I purchase. I like to educate myself about the artwork that I like. I also believe in asking questions. I can tell you from experience that you will make the artist's day by asking him or her to tell you a little more about what they made. Very exciting. I also think it is wise to feel confident about every purchase and know that you can reach this artist and expect professional communications.

Number Three: Measure First

Maybe you are like me and think that you can "eye-ball" measure everything? I've gotten into trouble using this method, which really isn't a method at all because it is so random. For an expensive piece of art, I like to make a quick paper pattern of the art piece I am considering and tack it to the wall. I then walk around and look at the space from other parts of my home. Is that the size you really want, or are you trying to sell yourself on something that you just love, but realize that it doesn't really fit your space? Perhaps you need to consider a new space for the art you love and keep looking for the right-size art on a later day?

I have thoroughly enjoyed selling large wall pieces of my eco-chic wool fiber art to folks in many countries, and over time, I've learned all of the customer-oriented ways to package and deliver art. It is thrilling to sell directly to each person who contacts me, with my art going directly from my hands to their home. Perhaps the Internet helps make our huge world a little more cozy, after all?

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your art-buying efforts! Georgianne