This is a new topic for me. I rarely discuss art as 1) I don’t own any 2) what most people call art, I call trash. I’m always amazed at what folks will throw together and call art. Even more of a highbrow for me is what they charge for it. As if slapping an expensive tag on it and calling it art miracuously gives it higher meaning. In a word, bullshit. But what do I know? I’m just a hick who made it out of the sticks. True, growing up as poor as I did, it is hard for me to place value on artistic expression. And when one is wondering where your next meal is coming from, art is a low priority on the list of things to ponder. I do occasionally find work that appeals to my aesthetics (proper syntax?) as well as my wallet. So it is possible. Probable? well thats to be seen.
My rant stems from my desire to have artwork in my home. I’ve often avoided the issue by saying until I buy a home, it’s really not a “home” per say. Why buy art for it? Smelling some more BS yet? Yeah, me too. My lack of art presents an annoying detail I am hoping to change. See my afore mentioned comment on pricetags and you begin to see my dilema. Oddly enough, I have no desire to sit down, create something, and call it art. A contradiction? Possibly.
If one types ‘gay art’ into a google search your first page is littered w/mostly porn. Mind you, I’ve always had a fascination for erotic anime, Tom of Finland, explicit cartoons, etc. However, said interest is not something I wish to plaster all over my walls. Nor do I want the stereotypical black and whites you see on so many…uh hum…walls d’jour.
So my quest this year is to find artistic works that appeal to both my eyes and wallet. I’ll even take pics to show’em off. You can be the judge of my success.
Moby…
You have the idea. Why wait until you have a home to have art. One only knows when each of use can afford to actually by a house anyway, given the market these days.
And art can be so many things….You can control the expense or at least ‘direct’ the expense. I’ll try to explain quickly. Control…find a large reproduction print or poster that you really, really love and spend the money on getting it framed and matted nicely (figure you can always recycle the frame if you bore of the picture). “Direct” the expense. Determine a sum of money you are willing to spend and find someone you can commission a piece of work. This way you can give that person ideas of what YOU want. It may be even giving them a photo and asking the to create an oil or lithograph of it for you.
Are the ideas flowing yet MOBY?
Art can even be collectibles (hand-carved wood pieces, etc) when displayed the right way in your place.
Here is a suggestion to start if you like more pop/modern art style. His displayed art on the website may look like some of the art you described as not liking, but it’s more to get a sense of his style (is it one you like kinda thing). I have seen pieces very different than are on display now. Take a look just for curiosity sake: http://www.davelandweb.com/gallery.html. You can commission a piece with him as well. Dave happens to also be gay.
buy an amazing carpet and hang it.
I agree with Tony about the process. Though, I think the examples are very different in their own space, framed according to purpose, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the initial vibe was something you weren’t keen on.
What is sometimes an idea to do is to think of art you have liked. Why did you like it? Was it the visual, was it emotive reference, a specific vibe or energy that it imparted?
If you can’t recall, then look at some design web sites. I can send you some of my top sites I like to get stuff and ideas from. I think we might have similar taste, as we do in other areas 🙂
Al
I say don’t think of it as trying to find “art.” If you just happen to come across something that pleases you enough to put on your wall, then do it. It’s kind of like a finding boyfriend. You can’t just make it happen.
Please do share with us. The funny thing is I own my own home and have nothing on the walls. Alright I hung an old mirror up. But its funny when folks come over the first thing they say is “you have nothing on the walls”. I’m with you it is just too dam expensive.
Hopefully you will give me some inspiration.
Well, reproductions of paintings, etc can be cheap. Personally, I’ve bought posters (usually from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC but any one will do) and had them framed. Cheap but still adds a bit of taste. I’m also a fan of old magazine ads (from the early 1900’s to about 1940) since the artwork in those is wonderful (and also in art styles I like like Art Nouveau and Art Deco) and had several framed as well.