We are not big souvenir buyers when we travel. Usually we prefer to take photos and make memories to remember our adventures. But every now and then we like to pick up artwork as a keepsake, like the enchanting pen and ink of the French Quarter we found in New Orleans, or the very cool watercolor of the old American cars we brought back from Havana, that are treasured favorites of ours.
Usually, we pick these up from street artists, but sometimes we like to check out galleries in places we visit, and have found a few incredible pieces. We love to casually browse through galleries, and often find that the art opens our eyes to understanding the culture and history of a place. Most of the time we just look, but we are most certainly not opposed to buying art from a gallery.
In fact, one our most prized possessions came from a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Chuck Jones, the creator of Wile E. Coyote and The Roadrunner, has a collection there and one of his charcoal sketches from his art school days caught our eyes. It is of a pensive lady looking off into nowhere and it has an amazing melancholy about it. Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with Santa Fe, it always makes us think of New Mexico and the beautiful desert southwest.
Art can be powerful that way. It has the ability to make us feel many things, bring out emotions and memories, and influence our moods and feelings. That is why we have loved it for years, and even though we have bought most of the art that we own while traveling, lately we have come to realize that there are plenty of good options around when it comes to purchasing fine art.
As our travel schedule has slowed down a bit, we have noticed that our methods for finding art that speaks to us have changed as well. And our reasons for buying art have also evolved. We are no longer searching for mementos of our escapades, but seeking pieces that will elicit certain reactions from ourselves and our guests. These can intrigue, impress, and influence feelings from thoughtfulness, to curiosity, to contentment, to perhaps even discomfort.
Another big change is that as with most everything it seems, online is fast becoming extremely popular as a viable alternative for buying quality artwork. This means that we are very likely to find our next purchase at an online gallery.
We see this as a positive development because it makes art available to everyone without the time and expense of having to travel to places like New York or Paris. This also opens up the world of art as an investment to a whole new audience. And yes, art can be a valuable asset both monetarily and as a home décor statement that reflects your taste and personality.
Top websites such as Benarto carefully choose and support artists from all over the world. So unlike the mass-produced prints you’ve probably seen elsewhere, high quality original artwork is now a click away for anyone with internet access, a laptop, and an open mind. But be sure to look for galleries that provide certificates of authenticity for their works,
They should also have clear, complete artist biographies and answer any of your questions promptly and accurately. This will help you to choose art that connects with your life and your style, and hopefully helps to tell your story, while you can be comfortable in its authenticity.
One last suggestion, and this comes only from our person experiences, try not to let price be too much of an influence on your decision to buy a certain work. There are more important factors, within reason of course.
We have always known when something was right or not. If it jumps out at you and you feel like you’ve just got to have it.
Then you should have it.
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!