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Buying Art: 17 Priceless Tips From the Experts
Sage advice on buying, hanging and framing art from those in the know
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When trying to find the right artwork for your clients’ homes, it’s no surprise that the many decisions you have to consider can often make the process feel overwhelming. From choosing the right style or theme of artwork that they’ll enjoy living with, to finding something that suits the budget and their home’s style, the choices can seem endless and mind-boggling.
We’ve teamed up with the experts at Bluethumb, Australia’s largest online art marketplace, to quiz their knowledge on useful buying tips. With a mission to make artwork more attainable for everybody, while providing an online home for Australian artists and their works, we couldn’t think of anyone better than them to tackle this conundrum. Here, their co-founder, Edward Hartley, and in-house interior designer, Alexandra Stavrou, give us their top tips on buying art that’s right for your client and their spaces.
We’ve teamed up with the experts at Bluethumb, Australia’s largest online art marketplace, to quiz their knowledge on useful buying tips. With a mission to make artwork more attainable for everybody, while providing an online home for Australian artists and their works, we couldn’t think of anyone better than them to tackle this conundrum. Here, their co-founder, Edward Hartley, and in-house interior designer, Alexandra Stavrou, give us their top tips on buying art that’s right for your client and their spaces.
Artwork pictured: ‘Forever and a Day’ by Marnie McKnight
1. Consider Where It’s For
Finding the right position for your client’s artwork is the first challenge you’ll face. Consider if it is to hang in a busy space, a calm area, or a linking hallway? Will it be a focal point or a subtle addition? Nail this decision early on and it will help solve further quandaries down the line.
2. Pick the Right Scale of Artwork
Knowing where it is to hang gives you a good idea about the scale of artwork you’re looking for. “Decide if a large painting will cramp the space, or would a small A5-sized print get lost in the breadth of a lounge wall?” says Stavrou.
3. Create Cohesion With Complementary Pieces
For an overall balanced and interesting display, you could try sourcing artwork that will work with your client’s favourite furniture pieces or large house plants. For example, vibrant, tropical imagery will pair perfectly with the popular boho trend that’s big right now.
1. Consider Where It’s For
Finding the right position for your client’s artwork is the first challenge you’ll face. Consider if it is to hang in a busy space, a calm area, or a linking hallway? Will it be a focal point or a subtle addition? Nail this decision early on and it will help solve further quandaries down the line.
2. Pick the Right Scale of Artwork
Knowing where it is to hang gives you a good idea about the scale of artwork you’re looking for. “Decide if a large painting will cramp the space, or would a small A5-sized print get lost in the breadth of a lounge wall?” says Stavrou.
3. Create Cohesion With Complementary Pieces
For an overall balanced and interesting display, you could try sourcing artwork that will work with your client’s favourite furniture pieces or large house plants. For example, vibrant, tropical imagery will pair perfectly with the popular boho trend that’s big right now.
4. Be Subtle When Matching Colours
A matchy-matchy scheme can appear contrived, so avoid choosing overly similar colours. “People often choose art thinking that the dominant colour of the room needs to match the dominant colour of the artwork,” says Stavrou. “It’s much better to pair the art with hints of colours in the space, such as the tone of rich timber furniture, or cool linen fabric.”
Artwork pictured: ‘Restore’ by Lauren Danger
5. Look to the Decor When Choosing an Abstract Piece
If the property’s decor has a strong colour theme, such as pastel pinks, use this to inspire you when choosing abstract work and find an image with a dash of pinky hues to encourage a sense of cohesion.
6. Or Pick a Contrasting Colour for Interest
“Another effective way of choosing a colour palette for a piece is by contrasting tones with the room’s decor,” says Stavrou. “If the furniture is grey, instead of just going grey, grey, grey, choose a bright or bold hue that will ‘pop’ against the room.”
7. Pick Artwork That Moves Your Client
Not only is it important to choose artwork that complements your client’s home, but you should pick work that they feel a connection with. You don’t want to invest in a piece that they will tire of or detest. Consider it like a friendship – a long term investment.
A matchy-matchy scheme can appear contrived, so avoid choosing overly similar colours. “People often choose art thinking that the dominant colour of the room needs to match the dominant colour of the artwork,” says Stavrou. “It’s much better to pair the art with hints of colours in the space, such as the tone of rich timber furniture, or cool linen fabric.”
Artwork pictured: ‘Restore’ by Lauren Danger
5. Look to the Decor When Choosing an Abstract Piece
If the property’s decor has a strong colour theme, such as pastel pinks, use this to inspire you when choosing abstract work and find an image with a dash of pinky hues to encourage a sense of cohesion.
6. Or Pick a Contrasting Colour for Interest
“Another effective way of choosing a colour palette for a piece is by contrasting tones with the room’s decor,” says Stavrou. “If the furniture is grey, instead of just going grey, grey, grey, choose a bright or bold hue that will ‘pop’ against the room.”
7. Pick Artwork That Moves Your Client
Not only is it important to choose artwork that complements your client’s home, but you should pick work that they feel a connection with. You don’t want to invest in a piece that they will tire of or detest. Consider it like a friendship – a long term investment.
Bestselling Indigenous artist Louise Numina in the studio
8. Support Local Artists
According to Hartley, supporting local talent can not only have a huge impact on the artist’s career but also fosters a special relationship between you and the piece, which can introduce a sense of narrative: “The exchange is something private between you and the artist,” he says. “It’s the emotional experience you have through the connection with that piece of work. Sometimes, just one or two sales can be the tipping point that makes their career – we’ve seen local artists become international stars. And that shared bond remains your story to tell.”
9. Choose Art Based on the Artist
Whether you’re purchasing art as an investment or simply building a collection for your client, it’s nice to collect several pieces by the same artist so the client can watch the artist’s style change and grow. It can also become a future investment if the artist gains popularity.
10. Know Your Stuff
Tell a story about the piece you’re bringing into your clients’ homes. Get clued up on key Australian artists to know about here. From Archibald finalists to new on the scene, you’ll be able to discover more about their background and style, plus shop their work all in one place.
8. Support Local Artists
According to Hartley, supporting local talent can not only have a huge impact on the artist’s career but also fosters a special relationship between you and the piece, which can introduce a sense of narrative: “The exchange is something private between you and the artist,” he says. “It’s the emotional experience you have through the connection with that piece of work. Sometimes, just one or two sales can be the tipping point that makes their career – we’ve seen local artists become international stars. And that shared bond remains your story to tell.”
9. Choose Art Based on the Artist
Whether you’re purchasing art as an investment or simply building a collection for your client, it’s nice to collect several pieces by the same artist so the client can watch the artist’s style change and grow. It can also become a future investment if the artist gains popularity.
10. Know Your Stuff
Tell a story about the piece you’re bringing into your clients’ homes. Get clued up on key Australian artists to know about here. From Archibald finalists to new on the scene, you’ll be able to discover more about their background and style, plus shop their work all in one place.
11. Use Artwork to Heighten Their Interior Style
Think about the look you’re trying to achieve and take the opportunity to set the tone of a room with the art you choose. Contemporary imagery will work well in slick, modern spaces, while bold abstract work could brighten an industrial space. The right art can nurture the personality of a room.
12. Determine the Energy of a Room Through the Artwork
From a busy kitchen that sees plenty of life, to an office space that needs calm, there’s an artwork for every mood. “A peaceful abstract can promote serenity, watercolours can soften a space, and oil paintings with thick textures can energise the atmosphere,” says Stavrou. “In a kitchen, for instance, a warm-toned still-life of fruit is a perfect match. Or, if it’s an office space, an energising cityscape or calming beach scenery will do the trick.”
Artwork pictured: ‘Water People’ by Tony Belobrajdic
Think about the look you’re trying to achieve and take the opportunity to set the tone of a room with the art you choose. Contemporary imagery will work well in slick, modern spaces, while bold abstract work could brighten an industrial space. The right art can nurture the personality of a room.
12. Determine the Energy of a Room Through the Artwork
From a busy kitchen that sees plenty of life, to an office space that needs calm, there’s an artwork for every mood. “A peaceful abstract can promote serenity, watercolours can soften a space, and oil paintings with thick textures can energise the atmosphere,” says Stavrou. “In a kitchen, for instance, a warm-toned still-life of fruit is a perfect match. Or, if it’s an office space, an energising cityscape or calming beach scenery will do the trick.”
Artwork pictured: ‘Water People’ by Tony Belobrajdic
13. Try Letting a Location Lead Your Decision
“Choosing artwork influenced by a location is an approach by many of our clients, as it’s such a fruitful reminder of the unique place they are in,” says Stavrou. “A recent example of this was a large-scale project that took place in Sydney. We started by looking at iconic scenes of Sydney and work by Sydney-based artists.”
14. Call in the Art Experts for Help
Struggling to find time to decide, or can’t envisage the art in the space? Ask an art advisory service to help you source a particular piece or, alternatively, send in photos of the space, and they’ll design a mock-up of the artwork on the wall. Plus, if you have searched high and low and still can’t find the right piece for your client, all you need to do is send in your brief and an expert curator will be on hand to help.
Artwork pictured: ‘Purple Dawn’ by Wayne Smith
“Choosing artwork influenced by a location is an approach by many of our clients, as it’s such a fruitful reminder of the unique place they are in,” says Stavrou. “A recent example of this was a large-scale project that took place in Sydney. We started by looking at iconic scenes of Sydney and work by Sydney-based artists.”
14. Call in the Art Experts for Help
Struggling to find time to decide, or can’t envisage the art in the space? Ask an art advisory service to help you source a particular piece or, alternatively, send in photos of the space, and they’ll design a mock-up of the artwork on the wall. Plus, if you have searched high and low and still can’t find the right piece for your client, all you need to do is send in your brief and an expert curator will be on hand to help.
Artwork pictured: ‘Purple Dawn’ by Wayne Smith
15. Bring Character to the Void Above a Bed
Filling the empty area above a bed with a piece of sublime artwork that soothes and calms, is a great solution to prevent the room from feeling empty.
Artwork pictured: ‘Kudu’ by REK
Filling the empty area above a bed with a piece of sublime artwork that soothes and calms, is a great solution to prevent the room from feeling empty.
Artwork pictured: ‘Kudu’ by REK
Artworks from left to right: ‘Untitled Nude’ by Jemma Cakebread; ‘Tits out for the Girls’ by Kim Leutwyler; ‘Homme 17’ by Loribelle Spirovski (top); ‘Number 9’ by Jac Clark (bottom); ‘Queer Dinosaur’ by Kim Leutwyler (top); ‘Suburbia’ by Rosemary Whatmuff (bottom); ‘Saint Amy Winehouse’ print by Dirty Lola (top) and private commission by Dianne Colk (bottom).
16. Find the Optimal Hanging Height
It can be tricky to find the perfect hanging height for art, but as a rule of thumb, hanging the picture at the line of sight is a good starting point. This averages at around 144 centimetres from the floor, but of course, this can change if the ceilings are high, or if the majority of people in the household are especially tall or short.
17. Get a Unique One-off
How many times do we see things that are almost perfect, but are just missing one small detail? Maybe the size or the colour isn’t quite what we’re looking for. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about getting a piece commissioned and many see commissions as a daunting, perhaps expensive way to buy art,” says Stavrou. “But actually it’s the best way to customise a piece and for your client to have the artwork of their dreams.”
More: Discover the huge range of artwork at Bluethumb’s online store here, and for more art-buying tips, sign up to its newsletter. Plus, if you’re looking for help deciding on the right piece for your client or need advice on how to conceptualise it in their space, click here to contact its expert art advisory team.
Tell us: What influences your choice when you are buying artwork?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
16. Find the Optimal Hanging Height
It can be tricky to find the perfect hanging height for art, but as a rule of thumb, hanging the picture at the line of sight is a good starting point. This averages at around 144 centimetres from the floor, but of course, this can change if the ceilings are high, or if the majority of people in the household are especially tall or short.
17. Get a Unique One-off
How many times do we see things that are almost perfect, but are just missing one small detail? Maybe the size or the colour isn’t quite what we’re looking for. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about getting a piece commissioned and many see commissions as a daunting, perhaps expensive way to buy art,” says Stavrou. “But actually it’s the best way to customise a piece and for your client to have the artwork of their dreams.”
More: Discover the huge range of artwork at Bluethumb’s online store here, and for more art-buying tips, sign up to its newsletter. Plus, if you’re looking for help deciding on the right piece for your client or need advice on how to conceptualise it in their space, click here to contact its expert art advisory team.
Tell us: What influences your choice when you are buying artwork?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
A home needs artwork to look and feel complete. Bluethumb is the Home of Australian Artists.
It's our mission... Read More
A home needs artwork to look and feel complete. Bluethumb is the Home of Australian Artists.
It's our mission... Read More
It is worthwhile considering the frame---or no frame---when selecting artwork, the wrong frame can destroy the purpose of the work. A heavy wooden frame on a modern abstract won't look good in any location. Similarly, a stainless steel frame on a Rembrandt reproduction would look silly but may look fine on van Gogh's Sunflowers.
Art is not just about paintings, it also includes photographs, pottery, sculpts and found objects.
Richard Blake