Stacey Flygirrl Wilson:

How to Collect Art on a Budget

 
With the holidays just around the corner, I know you're looking for some great gift ideas and trying to stretch your dollars.  Ideally, we all would love to buy original artwork, but there are some great ways to collect or buy art gifts while on a budget.  So, I have compiled a list of cool and fun ways to build your art collection--or give a unique gift to help build someone else's collection--without breaking the bank!

Thereʼs more affordable art out there than you realize! My picks offer a wide range of items, visually and financially but give you options to find exactly what youʼre looking for.

Happy hunting!  

Upcoming Event Picks:

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. open to PAFA members

5:30 - 8:30 p.m. open to the public

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)

Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building, 6th Floor
128 North Broad Street (Cherry Street Entrance) 

If you’re looking for some incredible art maybe to buy as a gift for the holidays or to add to that empty wall, you can definitely find something here. Purchase limited-edition, hand-pulled fine art prints, all for under $100. Food and beverage will be provided. Exclusive members' shopping hour from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The sale, held in the print shop located on the sixth floor of PAFA's Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, features cards, etchings, lithographs, stamp prints, and woodcuts by students. Admission is Free. Check here for more info : www.pafa.org

NoLibs Holiday Shopping Spree

December 4 - 5

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Northern Liberties community is in the holiday shopping spirit with a two day spending spree event with various shops having sales of up to 25% off.  The more you shop the more you save. What’s even greater, is that a few places I mention on here such as Jinxed and Art Star are on the list! You can shop and receive discounts at various places like Jinxed, Art Star, Bambi Gallery, Arcadia Boutique, Adorn Hand Crafted Jewlery and more! 

My Top Picks: 

Jinxed 

This cool and funky shop is in the shops at The Piazza. Here, you can find all kinds of fun, artsy items that are hand painted and hand made. Don’t forget that original art isn’t always just two dimensional. Hand-painted sneakers and other random items are all original art. Pick up some hand painted Dunny’s, put up a shelf and display your art that is a one of a kind!

Etsy

If you want cool visuals, Etsy can be your best friend! Etsy is an amazing site where you can find all kinds of art and crafty things. Everything on this site is handmade, aside from a vintage section. There is so much to choose from--but donʼt fret by the vast amounts of choices--they have a search engine where you can enter all kinds of specific wants and needs, including your spending budget!  You can also support local Philly artists by going to the 'shop local' section of the site. 

U Gallery

This dynamite spread of artwork is somewhere I love to visit to get inspired. The site allows the buyer to browse by medium, genre, size, price, color and artist. You can get lost in the massive amount of creativity on this site. What is even greater about the site is that you can buy gift cards! What a great gift for a friend (or for yourself) to save up for that must have piece of art! 

College Art Online

This site not only has great original art, but in order to exhibit on the site, you must be an art student, recent graduate (up to 5 years) or professors to sell your artwork.

Deviant Art

I belong to this site and am a big fan of it.  As an artist, it is a really cool network of artists. As a consumer, you have the option to buy some really amazing work in various fun forms like table coasters, jigsaw puzzles, prints and all kinds of other things. Itʼs cool way to collect your favorite pieces in different and unique ways.

Flygirrl Shameless Plug

As an artist and a consumer, I understand both sides of the purchasing situation. So, I allow customers to custom create the piece that they want for an accommodating fee. For $300 you can receive an original piece of art with the colors and concept of your own (with my style of course). Size and time frame vary per project.

Outdoor Art Markets + Festivals

Although it is getting cold outside, something to look forward to in the spring and summer are all the outdoor shopping options. Mostly held on the weekends, you can find little vendor and artist markets and exhibitions outside in the city. Look out for places like - The Piazza, Rittenhouse Square and Headhouse Square. You will definitely find something unique and funky.  And donʼt forget about the Art Star Craft Bazaar--it's a goldmine of wonderful original art!

Trade Services

Trading Services is a cool way to network and get the artwork that you want! Maybe youʼre a graphic designer, a massage therapist or a hair stylist. Offer your craft in trade for theirs! Itʼs a great way for you both get something cool out of it. And what a bonus if you gain a new client from the exchange and help a starving artist!

Insider Tips:

Insider tip:  Prints, prints, prints!

Canʼt afford the original? Most artists either have prints or are willing to print to order. There are lots of options out there for how you would like the print to be printed, depending on how much you can spend. Next time you see an artist exhibiting at one of Philly's many galleries and their work is out of your price range, ask them for a print!

Insider tip: Thrift Stores + Vintage Shops!

Over the years, I have found some really cool original art in random thrift stores. Just as you can find that amazing piece of clothing, you can also find amazing art! Maybe you can restore it bit or get it reframed. Remember, one mans trash is another mans treasure!

Insider tip: Creative Ambassadors who are visual artists

Check out these artistic Creative Ambassadors for some inspiration--Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Rah Crawford and me, Flygirrl.