Original Art, Illustrations & Giclée Prints by NZ Artist Cris Pliego

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Buying Art for Love

Purchasing art is a very subjective topic, as is art itself, but the truth is that art is what pulls a room together and brings character to your space, along with your personal emotional response.

Whether it’s a sculpture or a painting or a vintage tin from a thrift shop, it’s always the same process where you have a physical piece of art: something limited, unique. And you tell a story to yourself or to someone else about it that links it to something non-physical, like a feeling or an idea.

We purchase art with meaning, knowing that we can make use of that investment later. And then on a cold rainy day when you’re sitting at home on the sofa, you can look up and get back that feeling of how it felt when you acquired it. Or maybe the bright colours will make you remember that trip to Latin America or Southeast Asia, or the soft earthy tones will help you bring the calmness and relaxation you need after a long day. Although this might not be immediately obvious, with a little bit of attention we can find the feelings that drive us towards a specific piece of art.

But to be honest we don’t always need many reasons to invest in something we like - we just like it, right? Or, sometimes we buy art because we want to support living artists and if you’ve done that BIG THANKS! We might not be Rothko, Pollock or Frida but we are here making art from our hearts and putting ourselves out there in the world even though it can be scary as. Plus your purchase comes with more than one benefit: you are getting something you like, giving your house personality; it has a rewarding effect, helping to set the mood - and you’re supporting the local economy (living artists pay taxes and spend money on other businesses)!

We've come a long way from an art world that once felt inaccessible for many of us. Today, the online world allows buyers and artists from all over the world to connect across a wide range of mediums, styles, and price points.

I feel it’s important to say that you should buy art because you love it, because there are no guarantees that its value will go up. So be stoked to own it, share your joy and don’t worry about the market.