New Artwork Pendants: Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Stephanie Corfee and Jennifer Gordon

New Art Pendants!  Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Stephanie Corfee and Jennifer Gordon.

Available in the Artwork Pendants Shop!

Artwork Pendants Blog Mission

I want the Artwork Pendants blog to be the blog that celebrates art, encourages you to take a look at indie art and gives you ways to to find and purchase indie art.

I make pendants out of the artwork of indie artists whose art I know, respect and adore.  I also make pendants from famous paintings.

What sort of Art Jewelry are you looking for?  Which artists do you love?

What are your questions about indie art?

American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland

Over the weekend my family took a road trip to Baltimore, Maryland.  The highlight of the day was our visit to the American Visionary Art Museum.

From the mirror art tree outside to the fart post to the toothpick ship to....it's inspiring and amazing.

I even saw a form of art that I had no idea existed, but it's brilliant:  Screen art.  Painting the screens on your windows, doors, etc.

This tree is made of mirrors.

Here's a closeup:

The gift shop is worth the trip itself with reasonably-priced jewelry, books, art, and all sorts of stuff reminiscent of the five and dimes of my childhood.  (I'm not actually as old as that sounds, but I'm from a small town that kept it's five and dime going for quite a while in my childhood.)  I bought a bunch of supplies that will soon become a charm bracelet!

I highly recommend a trip to the American Visionary Art Museum for anyone!

The museum has inpsired me to want to create some of my own visionary art!

Learn About the Artist, Then Purchase Their Art

Old School Ways to learn about the artist and their work:

1.  Look through books, catalogs, articles and reviews about the artist - as many as you can find and from as many different sources as possible.  

2.  Talk with collectors who are familiar with the artist, dealers who deal in the artist, and even curators or critics - whenever and wherever you can.  Ask them what makes the good art good.

3.  Shop around.  Get multiple opinions from multiple dealers before you buy.  Do not settle exclusively on 1 dealer until you have a good feel for the overall market.

4.  Don't try to get bargains until you know what you are doing.

More modern ways to learn about the artist and their work, especially indie artists:
1.  Go online!  Find the artist's website or blog and read up on them.  See where they have shown and where their art hangs and get an overall feel of their art.
2.  Check out feedback on their etsy or eBay or look for testimonials or guest books on their website to see what people had to say about their art.
3.  If they are independent you don't have to shop around!  You can just purchase directly from the artist.
4.  Don't try to get bargains at all.  The artist will likely bring you into their inner circle and you will no doubt get all kinds of special privileges like hearing about their new works first, being invited to openings, etc.  

Best Online Places to Purchase Indie Art

 

(Photo used via creative commons license by Mary Streepy)

Indie art is forward-thinking and original, but where do you buy it to start your indie art collection? This lens will show you some of the best websites to find indie art.

What is indie art? Indie art is an artistic work produced by an independent company or group. Fine arts made by artists independent of commercial fine arts establishments (a/k/a galleries.)

 

1.  Etsy

 

Etsy is probably the best resource for indie arts in any form online. You can spend hours or days - weeks even - looking at all the indie art.

To find indie art on etsy, go to www.Etsy.com

Click on "art"

Then pick from the categories on the left side: ACEO, Collage, Drawing, Fiber Art, Illustration, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Print, Printmaking, Reproduction, Sculpture.

Etsy is probably by far the largest collection of indie art online.

2.  Little Paper Planes
 
Little Paper Planes is a great website for purchasing Indie Art. They sell art, cards, zines, books, zines, paper goods and apparel.

Little Paper Planes also has a great blog where they, among other things, post interviews about the artists they sell and studio visits.

 

3.  My Bonnie & Clyde

My Bonnie & Clyde has a great name! Bonnie and Clyde were outlaws who refused to live by rules. My Bonnie & Clyde is trying to get people to think outside the box and think independently.

My Bonnie & Clyde offers indie art in all mediums.

From the My Bonnie & Clyde website: "my bonnie & clyde was born out of an intense appreciation for artists that choose to share their gift of creativity and inspiration. It's a company whose sole purpose is to promote, support, and service independent artists and designers." 

4.  Deviant Art

Deviant Art is an entire community with forums and journals. Deviant Art also has a shop to purchase indie art.

You can purchase photography, wrapped canvas artwork, t-shirts and more. You can shop by subject matter, which is really helpful as well.

 

5.  Indie Art & Design

Indie Art & Design is website that supports Australian indie artists. The website has indie offerings in many mediums, a blog and an e-magazine.

For the Indie Art section of the website, click here.

6.  eBay

Don't overlook eBay for Indie Art. Independent Artists have been selling art on eBay for years. There are hundreds of thousands of pieces available by a variety of artists.

When you get to eBay, click under the "Art" Category and then choose "Direct from Artist."

Make sure you're careful when making purchases on eBay. Sometimes people are selling knock-offs. Check feedback carefully and feel free to contact the artist. If you feel uncomfortable at all, don't make the purchase.

What is your favorite place to purchase indie art online?

Workspace and Gallery Show of Lauren Startzman of Fair Rosamund

Two weeks ago I released the new Lauren Startzman, Fair Rosamund Artwork Pendants and had a blog interview with Lauren.


Today I wanted to show you her work in a show she had at Borealis Arts in Tuscon, Arizona:  (they framed the above painting as well)

And because I just love seeing where people work, here's Lauren's workspace:

What is Art?

"The love of beauty is taste.  The creation of beauty is art." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Leonardo daVinci's Mona Lisa Artwork Pendant