It’s easy to find amazing art if you’re on a millionaire budget. The rest of us have to be a little more creative with what we hang on our walls. Now, you can always walk into Target or HomeGoods and get your wall art there. But your home will look more unique and true to you if you reach out to other sources. Here are some options for finding affordable art, many of which support the artist directly!
Shop art school sales
If there are any good art schools in your area, you’re in luck. Check out their calendar for student sales. These sales are amazing for finding affordable art from up and coming artists. In Minneapolis, the MCAD Art Sale held in November is incredible. They fill the entire building with any kind of art you can imagine. Art school sales tend to have more abstract and experimental pieces, which is right up my alley.
Find local art events
Look for events in your area that will feature local artists as vendors. At these events, most artists will have affordable art prints for sale alongside their original pieces. These events seem to be everywhere during the holidays and the summer months. Check Facebook or the event calendars for local galleries, shops, breweries, and distilleries.
Following artists on Instagram is addictive – consider yourself warned! Search hashtags for the type of art you are looking for, and you’re bound to come across someone you like. Once you find an artist in a style you love, look at who they follow or who Instagram suggests as a similar account. They aren’t guaranteed to be affordable, of course, but the worst case scenario is you will have some stunning digital eye candy. I’ll do a post soon with my favorites!
Etsy, Society6, and Minted
These online marketplaces are phenomenal for finding affordable art prints. The only downside is the time it takes to narrow down all the options! You can find something in literally any style or size that you are looking for.
Go vintage
Think outside the canvas
Don’t forget that not all art comes in a frame or on a canvas, and random objects can become stunning artwork once hung on a wall. Vintage furniture shops and thrift stores are fantastic for finding unique objects that can double as art. Also consider hanging a tapestry, especially if you have a large space to fill. Society6 and Urban Outfitters have fun options.
Create your own
If you are in the mood to get creative, there are quite a few tutorials on pinterest for DIY abstract art projects. Pick up a cheap canvas and some acrylic paint, and you may find yourself a new hobby.
Unsplash.com
Unsplash.com has beautiful, high-resolution images available from photographers that you can download and print for free. Use a local printer or Costco to print to any size you want.
Watch your framing costs
Frames can add up quickly, so make sure you are getting them cheap. If a print is available in many sizes, look to see if one size has more options for cheap frames than the others.
My favorite sources for cheap frames:
- Americanflat on Amazon
- IKEA
- American Frame
- Thrift stores (look for shape and condition, you can always spray paint if you don’t like the color)