About a year ago I decided that I wanted to find a way to afford buying art. I would have my eye on a piece that I loved and while I was contemplating whether I could spend what it would cost to both buy and frame it I someone else would snag it up and I would miss my chance. I took a hard look at my spending and realized that I was spending a lot of money on clothes. So many of the clothes have only been worn once or quickly weren't my style anymore. For the most part I get all of my clothes from thrift stores, flea markets and vintage shops but when I do buy someone new I use tmy tendency for second hand shopping as an excuse to spend A LOT on investment designer pieces that I purchase new. I love so many of these things and some of them get a lot of use but it was this year that I decided to set aside about what I had been spending on these new pieces of clothing in an account specifically for buying art. Each month it feels like I am putting aside so much money but in the long run it is actually less than what I was spending on new clothing for my wardrobe. A few months ago I started putting my art fund to use and I am so far I am really excited about the little gallery that my home is becoming.
This first piece is a photograph from Megumi Shauna Aria's Clouded Judgement series. I have wanted one of these since she posted them on her social media in 2015. I went with Megumi's expertise on the framing and I love it so much. This piece is so dreamy. It feels like part ominous space nebulous part dreamy cloud covered sky. Megumi is always up to something cool. She just returned from an artist residency program at Cow House Studios in Wexford, Ireland through funding from the Artist Trust's GAP Award. I am so excited to continue watching Megumi's art evolve. She is so talented.
This piece by artist Joe Rudko is titled Vague Figure. I've loved watching Joe's work change over the years since photographing him for the blog. Ever since his residency at Vermont Studio Center last year I've been totally enamored with everything he has created. This piece had my attention since I first saw it, I kept coming back to it, and I finally brought it home. I purchased it from Greg Kucera Gallery in Pioneer Square and it came in this beautiful frame!
Also in this photo is a super fun ink drawing (that little kayaker!) from an artist I came across on Instagram @easy.stuff. DM them your address and they'll create a piece for you and send it in the mail for free! I don't know if they are still doing this but I thought it was the greatest concept. I had the drawing custom float framed at Frame Central using scrap matting and a totally affordable frame for around $40 if I remember correctly.
Have you ever passed Darryl Ayr selling his art around Seattle (mostly on Capitol Hill, often in front of the Dicks on Broadway or the City Market on Bellevue)? He asks passersby for donations to help him purchase art supplies but buying one of his pieces is really the way to go. He's always got wild portraits and abstract scribbled scenes but something about this piece just really caught my eye. You can find Darryl's art at Vermillion Art Galley too.
So far I'm getting so much more joy out of my art investments than I ever did out of clothing purchases. Pretty sure I'm going to continue setting aside money for art into 2018. Can't wait to see what I bring home next! I'll keep you posted.