The art of print purchasing
Being the art print addict that I am, it seemed the natural topic to kick start this blog! Prints are a relatively inexpensive and speedy way to inject colour and style into your home or place of work but with literally thousands of designs available, choosing the ‘right’ artwork can be tricky.
Here are some simple tips to help you:
Colour. Think about the colours that already feature in your room and make sure the art prints also tie in with and compliment these (e.g. pastel vs. bold colours, multi-coloured vs. monochrome)
Theme. Look for a theme to link the art prints together. Create a cohesive look by choosing prints that share the same style (e.g. vintage, art deco, typography), or theme (e.g. botanical, travel, food & drink)
Time. Take your time! With so many prints out there, it’s easy to get screen fatigue when your browsing online and then make impulse purchases. I take screen shots of my favourite designs and add them to a ‘new album’ on my phone. I then go back to them a few days later and delete the designs I feel less enamoured by until I’ve narrowed it down to my favourite(s).
Size. Think carefully about print size and what will work best in your space. Before you click ‘purchase’, decide exactly where the artwork will be displayed and whether it will be a standalone statement piece or part of a gallery wall. Don’t forget to factor in the size and style of the frames too!
Trends. I love learning about emerging trends, so I spoke to Julia Simon, the Art Curator of online print retailer Juniqe, to find out what shoppers are buying at the moment. ‘Traditional artforms like the still life are being revisited and given a new twist, and more generally speaking, consumers are beginning to lean towards more expressive and colourful paintings, than to clean or minimal, digitally modified art. The ‘homely eclectic’ style depicting contemporary paintings with references to traditional artworks and periods is definitely on the rise,’ says Julia. There’s also been a shift towards female focused artwork; ‘we’re seeing women portrayed in private moments and settings, painted by and for women. This has become more important and prolific as the male gaze loses its prevalence,’ says Julia.
You can visit www.juniqe.co.uk to browse art prints & frames.