ARTISTS COLLECT ART TOO: MY ART COLLECTION

Artists collect art too. Why would you buy art when you can paint your own?

Well, artists are art appreciators, too, I like my work, but I don’t need to fill my whole house with it. I never used to hang my work, but I got over that. I do have some of my own work hanging in our house. Usually, I rotate them around and enjoy them before they sell, but I painted a couple just for us. One is a personal piece of a memorable trip to Italy. I also painted the Lone Cypress at Pebble Beach as a surprise gift for my husband.

But mostly, I like to collect other people’s art.

When we first got married, my mother-in-law, who always had great taste and sound advice, told me not just to buy art to fill empty walls. She said to leave them empty and collect art that I love over time. I took her suggestion, and almost 30 years later, I have collected a lot of art.

My first big art purchase was an Andy Braitman landscape that I bought as one of his students. He kindly offered a sale of older work to his class and I bought this one. I worried about coming home and telling my husband I purchased a huge original, ‘Andy.’ But he loved it and was even more pleased to discover that it would increase in value over time. (Which is another bonus to collecting original art.)

I decorated my office in feminine pinks and greens, and over the sofa, I created a gallery wall of some of my favorite artists’ work.

And I always have my eye on artists whose work I’d love to have someday.

Over time I have a nice little art collection. It includes a Teil Duncan print, an Allison James abstract, two Lauren Reddick nudes, a small Dorthy Shain floral, two Lulie Wallace florals, and Kate Waddell floral. In addition, my art collection includes a Windy O’Connor ‘chica,’ a Monica Lee Rich floral, a Gray Malin photograph, and a Jane Schmidt interior.

I love this Evelyn Henson piece in my office because I like to read, and this little piece makes me happy.

Most of my art collection is in my office, but other pieces are around my house.

I like the juxtaposition of contemporary art with traditional furnishings, like these two pieces by Allison James that hang in our dining room.

One of my big purchases was a Christy Kinard floral on paper, which hangs at the end of our upstairs hallway.

I also have a couple of pieces of art I have not yet framed, like this piece by Brooke Lancaster, that reminds me of my boys when they were little.

I just bought this study by Larry Moore after taking a workshop from him.

I bought this Paris scene by Susan Matthews long ago because it also has a special meaning to me. She’s one of my former oil painting instructors, and it was one of the first few pieces in my art collection. It sits on a bookshelf in our den.

I even have art in my kitchen. Why not? This set of blue and white prints by Michelle Levi brightens the area above my stove.

Some of the work in my art collection is very personal… my kids painted it! My oldest son painted this ‘Dubai’ piece, and you can tell his style is much more ‘architectural’ than mine.

They don’t love it now that they are grown, but my mud room gallery wall is full of my kids’ art from elementary school. Our school had a fabulous art program, and the kids made the coolest stuff. It makes me smile when I come into the house.

I love these artists’ work, style, and stories, and there are a few more I’d love to collect as well.

There are so many of my super-talented ‘Instagram friends’ whose art I’d love to have in my home. I prefer to buy art I love at an affordable price and then find a place to put it rather than the other way around. Much of our home has art collected over time, which is how I like to furnish and decorate our home.

Most of the items are meaningful, whether passed down or purchased new. It makes our home feel personal and a welcoming place to spend time, at least for me.

Want to read more about decorating a room around the art? Or see some of MY art?