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Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
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I buy art online, but only of artists that I know and seen their works in person. I like lithographs of a particular person, so I'd buy others (and have) online, but in general, no. In person is the way to go.
My mom just had luck when she went to an art fair and met a lady who did artwork who showed her samples. My mom explained what she was looking for and the colors she would like. The artist said that my mom was not obligated to take it so that was really nice but my mom ended up loving it.
Keep in mind that a good frame will dress up just about anything! You can even frame things that aren't often thought of as "art." For instance, you can attach really cool vintage tools to burlap backing and frame them - really, you can frame just about anything. You can hang a small shelf on the wall, put something on it, and then hang a large frame AROUND that item. You can frame mementos. One of the coolest framed items in my house is in our den - it's the paper target we used in target practice from one of my first dates with my husband. Yes, he took me to a firing range, and yes, I "outshot" him from 100 yards! He was so impressed that he kept the target and later on we framed it! (Gotta love that bulls eye shot!)
For many years I've been collecting 19th & early 20th century framed etchings, small paintings, pin & ink drawings, hand tinted landscape photos (early 20th century) and antique prints in original frames - mostly landscapes - large, medium and small. I have amassed a large collection - the original frames and matting is what I prefer - everything is fairly neutral and basically goes with anything....they are great hung alone or in groupings.....I've bought them on eBay, antique stores, Etsy, garage sales, thrift stores....I know what I like and can spot something quickly that has my name on it. I also collect antique mirrors - especially small and medium size mirrors in hand carved frames - I like to mix these with the etchings and paintings.
An interesting collection of art takes time and patience but it is also a lot of fun - a real treasure hunt.
This is a photo taken quite a few years ago when we lived in our California home....my collection has probably tripled since then and I am buying much larger etchings and art in general because we no longer have a small cottage and our current home needs bigger scale art:
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