5 Tips to Discover Your Art Taste
Whether you’re looking to buy art to beautify your home, provoke thought at dinner parties or invest in the future, it’s important to find pieces that suit your taste. But where to start when you’re not sure what your art taste really is? Below find our useful tips for discovering what your preference in artworks really is – and just how diverse one person’s taste can actually be!
1. Absorb yourself in art
If you’re new to the concept of buying art, there’s no better place to get yourself a free education than your local gallery. Go to as many galleries, exhibitions and art markets as you can find and soon you’ll discover the myriad of different styles of art that are out there. Surround yourself with a diverse selection of works – from the masters to boundary pushers to contemporary emerging works. The more you’re able see and experience, the more you’ll discover the works that pull at your heart. After all, there’s a whole manner of ways that art can be created beyond a canvas and a brush. You might unearth a hidden passion for sculpture or weaving that you never knew you had!
You’d be surprised at the treasure trove of galleries that are hiding in your area!
Not only are gallery visits useful for learning more about the art industry as a whole, they’re also a fun weekend activity when the weather is terrible! And most of the time, they barely cost a thing. In fact, why not bring the whole family along so everyone can benefit from the experience?
While you’re at galleries, see if you can time your visit with an artist talk. Learning the process, techniques and concepts behind a piece can give you a whole new perspective on what it means and how it makes you feel. Take notes on the types of works that speak to you the most – is there a particular style, medium or theme that you seem attracted to consistently?
2. Buy with your heart
Ignore everything you’ve heard and go with your gut! After all, you’re the one who will be admiring this piece on your wall, day in and day out. While the critics and experts are useful in directing you towards a particular artist you might like, when it comes to choosing something for your home, it’s entirely personal. You don’t want to spend the big dollars on a piece that you tire of within a year! The experts may have lots of experience and knowledge about an artists’ standing in the market, but they don’t know your home or your personal preferences.
Gina Ciancio of the Style Curator creates a focal point of tranquility in her lounge with a splash of blue in this piece by popular artist Marnie McKnight.
If you’re someone that has trouble committing to such a big purchase, then there’s no rush to buy now. The art market can move fast, but artists are often open to commissions (at no extra charge) and can create something just right for you and your space. Take your time, think it over – and who knows, maybe you’ll fall head over heels in love with the next work they release!
3. What draws you in?
What quality draws you into a piece? Do your favourite artworks inspire thought, are they particularly collectible pieces or are you simply after breathtaking beauty for your home? There are many reasons we buy art, and it’s important to do some soul searching to discover what motivates you. Once you’ve uncovered what drives you, you can look for pieces and artists who appeal to your interests. Sometimes we’re motivated by all 3! Take our PR and Comms guru Freddy, whose art collection is a mix of all things curious, collectible and spectacular.
Freddy’s portrait wall features works that range from collectible to emerging – but make a clear statement about what his taste is.
4. Discuss with people you trust
Buying art doesn’t need to be a solo experience – but it’s important to get advice from people you trust. Talk to friends, family or industry professionals whose opinion you can rely on. Ask them what they think but listen closely to their answers – often their own art taste may influence what they say. To avoid your taste becoming theirs, stick to questions framed around their opinion of you or the technical quality of the work. Try asking them whether the materials used were student quality or professional, or if they know much about the artist’s background. If you’re really lucky, you’ll be chatting to someone with similar taste to you!
Bluethumb’s interior designer Alex dazzled this happy attendee at a recent The-Arc Agency event!
However, if you’re struggling to find someone you can trust, look no further than an art advisory service. Professional art advisors are practiced in giving their eye for quality but not their own aesthetic tastes. They’ll help you spot the best pieces from an artist in terms of composition, technique and finishes. The good news? Bluethumb offers a complimentary art advisory service – just get in touch and our friendly curators will put together a selection of pieces based on your needs.
5. Where can you take your art taste from here?
Your taste is always growing and evolving. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You may find that as time passes, you’ll be drawn into different styles, colours and genres – but that’s just part of the fun! Keep an open mind and you might surprise yourself with how diverse your art taste really is. There are no boundaries and the only person you need to please is yourself – so let yourself fly free.
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