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AFFORDABLE ART--A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SOURCES

Jennifer Mejia

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I’m proud to say that I have begun a beautiful art collection that I absolutely love. I’ve always believed what Nate Berkus says—that it’s the things in your home that matter. The things that speak to your soul, things that have meaning to you, and things that reflect who you are. Art is one of those things for me. I may have said this before, but when people ask me how I choose art for purchase, it’s really not that complicated. I choose what makes me feel good when I look at it. And I usually want a different feeling for every room. For example, for our entry, I wanted something that was bright, happy, and cheerful so that everyone who enters feels that way from the moment they walk through the door. I fell deeply in love with this original from Hayley Mitchell! It really set the tone for the entire first floor of our home.

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Another question I get asked a lot is, “How do you know if the art is worth what you’re paying?” Again, nothing too scientific. If you look at places like Pottery Barn, West Elm, Crate and Barrel, etc., you can see what they charge for mass produced prints. And there is nothing wrong with prints. I own many, and it’s a super affordable way to dress your walls. But regarding original art, if I can get a piece at around the same price as a ”Pottery Barn” print, then I think that’s a smart move and that I’ve gotten my money’s worth. The same goes for prints from smaller shops. And my experience has been that when you buy prints directly from the artist, they take a lot of pride in the printing process, and the pieces end up looking very much like an original. A great example of this is our Kristi Kohut print, which looks SO much like an original watercolor. It’s printed on hand-torn rice paper, and it’s probably the second thing you notice in our home after Hayley Mitchell’s portrait. It’s absolutely stunning. I had an extra print, graciously offered by Kristi because her printer originally printed it on a paper different than the one I ordered, so I gave it to our interior designer, who hung it in her bathroom AND then had it featured in Better Homes & Gardens.

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Paloma’s bathroom as featured in Better Homes & Gardens

I have a lot of friends, some who I know personally and others from social media, who have asked me for great sources for affordable art. Now keep in mind that “affordable” is sometimes relative. But I’ve found there are many emerging artists offering original art at a fantastic price. So consider this a great source guide, as I’m going to give you options for originals and prints, and in some cases, the artist offers both.

I have to begin with Emily Jeffords. Why? Because I now own seven pieces of her work, some original and some prints. Unfortunately, I haven’t photographed a lot of her work that hangs in our home, but here is one small original piece that adorns the shelving in our living room. To snag a piece of Emily’s original art, you should follow her on Instagram and/or join her mailing list because she announces when her collections of originals go live. And you really need to have your finger on the trigger to get one. They sell out fast. She also sells prints, which are really authentic. Printed on paper and canvas, you have to look very closely to tell the difference.

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Two of Emily’s prints

Like Emily, Hayley Mitchell announces the release of her originals in advance. You’re going to see a theme here with many of these artists—you should be ready to go the moment they are live. Fortunately, Hayley sells prints via her own website and on One King’s Lane. And she will often have flash sales on her Instagram hkmshopit. I’ve seen her prints from One King’s Lane in person, and they look amazing. Below are two of my favorites.

I love the work of Logan Ledford. I’d say the piece below on the left is her signature style. And she also makes beautiful boobies ornaments, which I adore because the collection is a celebration of femininity. Within a pair of ornaments, each boogie is unique, just like ours. You can purchase Logan’s work through Charish and directly through her website.

A gallery that curates many artists is a great way to go for a one-stop-shop. Well & Wonder Artist Collective is one of my favorites. And many, if not all of the artists’ works, are so affordable. I just purchased a Susie Bettenhausen collage for our powder room, but I haven’t yet taken photos. It is stunning! I love all of the artists available through Well & Wonder, but here are a few of my favorites.

There’s no shortage of amazing work at Gregg Irby Gallery. Again, too many to list, but look at these beauties.

Gallery 1930 is one of my favorites, as I purchased a piece of artwork by Caroline Boykin for our dining room that steals the show. But the talent doesn’t stop with Caroline. Adele Yonchak and Lindsey J. Porter can do no wrong in my eyes, and a sample of their work is featured below.

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Our dining room featuring Caroline Boykin’s art from Gallery 1930

For prints, I have a few great go-to sources. Juniper Print Shop, which offers a lot of flexibility on how you get your print, makes life so easy. You can purchase a digital download or select certain sizes for them to print. You can even choose larger sizes that fit perfectly into IKEA Bjorksta Canvas Frames, so you don’t need to worry about searching far and wide for the right frame. Look at this beautiful print of a Copenhagen scene.

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Artfully Walls has so much art that you’ll likely feel you don’t need to go anywhere else. The print on the right is actually hanging in our living room. And you’ll also see prints from many artists you recognize, like Kristi Kohut.

Dorothy Shain is one of my favorite whimsical artists. She won my heart with her swimsuit originals. She has grown quite a bit in popularity, so her originals are tough to come by. Again, set your alarm when they launch. But fortunately she now sells giclee prints, and here are two of my favorites.

I mentioned One King’s Lane above for Hayley Mitchell prints, but they have SO many other artists’ prints. All of the prints featured in my older son’s bedroom are from One King’s Lane. And the great thing about this place is that they often have sales. I purchased all of these at 20% off. They come framed, too! It might be the best deal in town. (Don’t judge me for allowing my son to watch the iPad!)

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If you’re in or near NYC, mark your calendars for the Spring (March 28) and Fall (September 26) Affordable Art Fair. It’s a terrific way to see and purchase affordable art in person. Some exhibitors are regulars, but they have new and different artists each time.

And finally, you’re probably going to need frames for some of your work. I’ve used Framebridge more times than I can count, including framing of the pieces featured here in our foyer, living room, and dining room. They make it so easy! They will send you packaging to keep your art safe in transit if you don’t have it. They’ll send you a label to ship it to them for free. Shipping of the finished piece back to you is also free. You can choose your own frame from a large and quality selection or their designers can help you if you’re not certain which will look best. Why didn’t I think of this business myself?

I have so many more art sources, but I have to save something for a future post and hope you’ll return! Always feel free to message me with any questions.