creativity

Acquiring the latest addition to my collection caused me to revisit why I believe that art appreciation is important and why art collecting for me is essential. Like collecting, travel is a priority in my life and I’ve had amazing opportunities to travel and indulge in art at the same time. But no matter how far I go, the last leg of any trip ends at the same place– my home. I could travel the world near and far seeing all the beauty and treasure it has to offer. But at the end or the day, unless I choose the life of an expat, I wind up back in the same physical space from which I departed.

This realization forced me to accept my responsibility for making my home as beautiful and comfortable as possible. Keeping a clean, orderly space for myself to live, think and work is not always easy– but it is necessary. So, I grow my art collection with pieces that resonate with me, bring me joy, thought, sorrow, humor or any combination of those things. Having beautiful artwork in my space adds value to my space and beauty to my life. I grow my art collection as inspiration to keep things on the walls– instead if on the floor.

The benefits of surrounding your home with art are endless but I’ve narrowed them down to this list of 5 reasons why you should become a collector and beautify your living space with art.

1. Define and highlight your personal style

It’s one thing to snag a new dress or pair of shoes that compliment your style, but buying and displaying a piece of original artwork that somehow reflects a part of your inner world and mind is the ultimate expression of personal style. There will inevitably be pieces in your collection that no one “gets” but you and that’s ok.

Answering questions and engaging in dialogue around your art is one of the best parts of displaying it! I love hearing all the different interpretations that come from one particular piece. It means that people are looking, they are paying attention. And even if they dislike the piece, the desire to engage around it shows that they have a level of appreciation and that excites me.

2. Surround yourself with imagination, creativity and beauty

One of my childhood dreams and adulthood goals is to have a walk-in closet complete with a Lucite vanity covered in expensive jewelry and fragrances. I want a room where I can go and admire all the pretty little things that I love and adorn my body with daily. As I’ve grown, that desire for a room full of pretty has expanded to one for a home full of pretty. I don’t want all of my treasures to be locked away for only my eyes to see. Instead, I want all of the rooms in my home to elicit that same feeling of awe-inspiring beauty and charm. Through my art collection, I can create spaces that display beauty for both me and my guests to enjoy.

An art collection is an awesome way to cultivate the type of energy and environment in that you desire in you home. It could take a pop of color or a thoughtful black and white photograph that resonates with you personally to transform your space for the better.

3. Support the livelihood of artists

There’s always talk of finding one’s purpose and working towards passion. True artists are people who have found their purpose and boldly pursue their passion. They take the risk of exploring and sharing those passions with the world. Supporting such courage shows you believe purpose exists and if they can live in theirs, you can live in yours. It’s simply good karma. Never underestimate the feeling of knowing the artist who created an artwork. Having the opportunity to “shake hands” with the hands that created a piece that will bring you joy for years to come– it’s a special privilege that only collectors get to experience.

Buying the work directly from an artist also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and hear for yourself the inspiration behind a body of work. You may even find that you have more commonalities with the artist than you first thought.

4. Add value to your life (and potentially net worth)

Art collecting has long been a method of establishing and passing down wealth. While I don’t always advise buying with the sole intention of a pay out down the line, there are instances when procuring an artwork can be a serious financial investment that you can earn from later on. However, that will not always be the case.

You should first love the art you buy since the art market is fickle and liable to change at any time. Keep in mind that though there’s no true way to say that the artist you’re supporting today will one day have a net worth of £21 million— adding value to the pieces you own– there’s also no way to say that they won’t. Buying what you love is the sure way to make sure you’re buy pieces that of value to you personally. Bottomline: when you buy what you like—and buy to keep, you can think of your collection as your estate, something that you can pass on to others.

5. Be a part of a long tradition

If not for those before us who saw the importance of sustaining and preserving art, we would not have any access to the creative genius of artists of the past. As lovers of beauty and art, it’s on us to find, treasure and protect the Van Goghs, Picassos, and Basquiats of today for generations to come. Art often speaks directly to the state of the society in which it was created making it valuable contributions to the human timeline. Do your part, become a historian for your generation!

So, what are some of the barriers to you starting or growing you personal art collection? Share and let’s discuss in the comments below!

Artfully,

“I am always doing things I can’t do, that’s how I get to do them.” -Pablo Picasso

Whenever I see a painting by Spanish artist Picasso (1881-1973), I’m awestruck with the beauty, creativity and sheer iconic status of his works. His distinctive mesh of abstract faces with distorted facial features and use of bold black lines at one moment then use of soft curves and colors the next is enough to make him one of my favorite artists. His catalog spans from still life to abstract, portraiture to sculpture. The guy was prolific. He is one of the greatest.

Girl Before a Mirror. Oil on canvas. Painted 1932.

Not often does an artist’s life spark my curiosity as much as their work. But Picasso’s life, both facts and rumors, fascinate me in a special way. More than anything, I find wonder and inspiration in his quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

Les femmes d’Alger (Version “O”). Oil on canvas. Painted 1955.

If you can believe it, you can achieve it! Don’t you believe you can fly?!

OK, sorry for the R. Kelly reference, but that statement is simply The Truth. I believe in this principle so much that I devote time each day to prayer, positive affirmation and visualization. Every day. It’s important to imagine myself accomplishing goals and seeing my dreams come true. Taking the time to use my imagination not only helps me be more creative, it increases my faith and belief that all things are possible for me.

“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.”

The Kiss. Oil on canvas. Painted 1969.

With so much conflict, hatred and ignorance running rampant in the world, I charge myself with stepping back and asking “why can’t creation of beauty through love ease the pains of the world?” and “what will I do to promote and perpetuate art, beauty and love everyday. How can I make this goal my life’s work?”

“How can you expect a beholder to experience my picture as I experienced it? A picture comes to me a long time beforehand; who knows how long a time beforehand, I sensed, saw, and painted it and yet the next day even I do not understand what I have done. How can anyone penetrate my dreams, my instincts, my desires, my thought, which have taken a long time to fashion themselves and come to the surface, above all to grasp what I put there, perhaps involuntary.”

I cannot find a title or year for this beauty. I hope it is, in fact, a Picasso.

Picasso often spoke on his internal world as an artist giving insight to how his mind works as a person who is an artist. He reveals the long process inner thoughts and overall humanness of who he is as an artist. Such insight fascinates me. I place as high value on an artist’s statement as I do on the artist’s work. I always wonder, “who does this artist say she/he is?” instead of relying solely on who I interpret her/him to be.

“Good artists copy, great artist steal.”

Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe (The Picnic). Édouard Manet. Oil on canvas. Painted
1862–1863.

Le déjeuner sur l’herbe d’après Manet. Pablo Picasso. Painted 1960. Picasso was so inspired by Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe that he “stole” it several times making at least 27 versions of the painting!

There’s controversy over whether or not Picasso actually said this but since it has become so synonymous with his persona, I’ll include it here.

I identify more as in innovator than an inventor. With a blank page in front of me, my mind is, well, blank. However, when I look at something that already exists, something that has already been done, I can take it and add to it in creative and unique ways. This ability is a gift and as a result of it, I’m not one to copy something I see. Copying requires taking what’s already done and doing the exact same thing. To innovate, one can take what’s there and make it one’s own (steal it) in order to make it better.

“Action is the foundational key to all success.”

This quote spawned this blog post. If I want to run a blog, I have to write. If I want to become an authority in the art world, I must immerse and surround myself with the people and objects that define that world (yes, please!). To get anything done, you have to do it. If you’re a painter, paint. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a hater, hate! It’s just what you do so do it! But seriously, do something, anything to live up to who you are. You owe that to yourself.

Me pondering another favorite quote from Picasso at the Sagamore in South Beach, Miami.

Here’s to more action and inspiration from Picasso and beyond.

Artfully,

Art Evokes by Chriss Curry

Not an artist, but I'm sensitive about their work.

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“Steal like an artist” and more inspiration from Pablo Picasso