Who hasn't felt a twinge of envy upon seeing a beautifully furnished home with an equally well-curated gallery wall' of artworks that ripple seamlessly through rooms on a wave of warmth and soul? Creating an art collection is a form of psychology that reflects much about a household, says independent gallerist Katherine Kittoe of Kittoe Contemporary: "These artworks are not just decorative objects, but things that are going to bring joy to your life over many years. Pictures are the backdrop to family life, with meaning and interest gathering as your taste evolves.'
So, an art collection tells a personal story, but how to begin that narrative? 'A wonderful thing for budding collectors to do is to go to as many exhibitions as possible to be amongst paintings, prints and drawings; to become engrossed in it and refine your taste,' says Caroline Lay of Lay's Auctioneers in Penzance. 'View auctions, too, even if they are completely out of your budget, to familiarise yourself with what's selling for what price.' For Hugo Barclay, director of the twice-yearly Affordable Art Fair in London, fairs are the place to begin your adventure. 'Developing your taste and understanding what art resonates with you requires seeing a variety of artworks, making art fairs the perfect starting point for this journey. He also recommends adopting a spirit of openness and curiosity, adding: 'Inevitably, there will be artistic subject matters that take more than simply looking at the work to unpack the stories. Collecting is fun when you embark with the right mindset!"
Simply put, the more art you see and appreciate, the more your own taste will start to emerge mediums you're drawn to, colours you like, compositions that chime.. It might be landscapes or beach scenes that float your boat, or portraits of people and animals, or cameos of domestic scenes.
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Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Homes & Antiques.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
48 hours in FUNCHAL
Jenny Oldaker discovers Madeira's capital to be an elegant, artistic place with wide open spaces, verdant beauty spots and a picture-perfect sea-facing location...
LUKE HONEY'S Enthusiasms
On an autumn day in 1783, a sheep, a duck, and a rooster became the first living creatures to fly in a hot air balloon.
Collecting NUTCRACKERS
Not just for Christmas, these nostalgic keepsakes come in an abundance of novelty shapes and styles, offering character and affordability for budding collectors
WHY I COLLECT Medals
Oliver Miller, managing director of Bishop & Miller Auctioneers and Valuers, is fascinated by medals - for him it's all about the preservation of stories for future generations...
Fashionably CURATED
Roni Lang's home in Deal, situated above her clothing store, is every bit as creative and stylish as you'd expect from a fashion designer
Work life balance
Lucy and Guy Rutter - a ceramicist and artist respectively - have found the ideal place to live and work: a Victorian property in Faversham attached to a once-neglected studio...
Farm FUSION
A farmhouse near Cape Town has been given a rustic-meets-industrial makeover, using found materials and objects, as well as treasures brought back from afar
SAVVY Sophistication
Affordable and intriguing charity shop and eBay finds are teamed with statement pieces in this impressive Victorian home in West Yorkshire
DARREN APPIAGYEI
The wood artist talks to Dominique Corlett about seed pods, creative reinvention and the life-enhancing feeling of turning a lathe
Collecting Dioramas MINIATURE WORLDS
From elaborate taxidermy museum displays to humble folk art creations, a diorama can transport us to another time and place