Well, you are not alone. But Why!!??

Studies have shown that people are hesitant to buy art, even if they love the piece, because they are not sure if others will like it.

The purchase of original art can be an exciting way to build a collection of unique, one of a kind works. Many Self Representing Artists have some very creative offerings, and you can find many styles & subject matter to choose from.

This guide is intended to encourage new collectors to buy the art that they like, enjoy, and that moves them. Art is a very subjective & personal pursuit and I want to share some of the common feelings that some of us have encountered in our decision to buy a piece or not. I have experienced this in art galleries & other art venues but I am focusing this guide to bidding & buying on eBay. I hope you find it fun & informative.

Are you tempted to buy a piece of original art because others are bidding on it and therefor it must be a safe purchase?

"This one has to be good. It has 300 hits, 22 bids and is huge.  It's not really my taste but everyone seems to like it.  HMMM"

"This is nice but flowers are not my thing. But is has 34 hits and 4 bids. Could be a popular item. Should I bid?"

Well you are not alone. Studies have shown that people are hesitant to buy art, even if they love the piece, because they are not sure if others will like it. ( How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist, Caroll Michels)  They wait to hear the critics rave reviews about the artist or want to hear what others have to say before they feel it is safe to invest. The fear of having a friend or collegue laugh at their art purchase needs to be overcome.

"I like this one although it has only 7 hits and no bids yet. It doesn't seem to be very popular so maybe I should pass on it. I really like it though. My friends might think it's strange but I'm going to get it!"

Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime. Imagine if people bought his work instead of waiting for the approval of the art elite!
The art world is changing and thanks to ebay you have your choice of some great talent you would never get a chance to see.  More artists are opting to represent themselves instead of trying to break into the gallery system. Like myself, I had many people buying my art, asking for prints, commissioning my work, yet all I could get from galleries were rejection letters.

So here is the place to find unique, one of a kind original paintings from emerging artists.  There are so many different styles & techniques to choose from that you'll find the perfect fit for your tastes!

Everything from Abstracts to Realism and every size you could imagine. From paintings large enough to cover half of your wall to mini paintings the size of a trading card ( called ACEOs ). You can find them all here. Artists are selling their work finished in many different ways. You can get rolled up canvas, stretched canvas, gallery canvas with the sides painted, mounted or unmounted paper, matted & framed, unframed or framed & ready to hang.

FRAMED & READY TO HANG

UNFRAMED CANVAS WITH SIDES PAINTED

If you want to take it out of the box and hang it or take it to have framed to match your decor, the choice is yours.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BUY WHAT I  LIKE? 

• What kind of artist should I buy from?  Don't  hesitate because the person isn't "internationally collected" etc. And don't buy just because they say they are. From what I have seen people can say anything about themselves that they want. Ebay doesn't check to see if they are a "Listed Artist" or "Gallery Represented" or any of the other monikers we give ourselves. And there are no guarantees the work will go up in value as some artists state. I would love to say that about all of my paintings but it would be misleading. Check their feedback, return polices, or even e-mail them for a specific question you might have.
• Who are the best artists?  Don't just buy because the artist belongs to an "Elite" artists group or seems to be popular on eBay. Some of the most talented artists I have seen have a tough time getting the proper price for their hard work, or are not selling at all. They don't have the dominating presence like others might have and it can be easy to overlook them or not see them at all.   Among the prolific artists who list many paintings per week you can find scattered gems of beautiful talent and quality. The best artist at the time is the one who has the painting you like at the right price. It might be an artist with many listings, or it could be the one with very few offerings. Who knows what you might discover if you look a little deeper into the listings?
• Should I buy an original painting or a print (reproduction) of the original?  Many artists have chosen to reproduce their original works in the form of prints. Some use high quality archival inks and professional photo paper, ink-jet canvas, or fine art paper. Others have giclee/Iris prints made. These are the best quality and cost the most to make, but the results are very beautiful. These are great ways to get a reproduction of an original painting that you may not be able find anywhere else. Many artists have chosen ebay as one of the only places you can purchase their work.

Many sizes are usually available and you can frame and mat them to match your decor.

Or buy them already matted & framed

These creative people have found many ways to offer you their art!

With so many choices, styles & subject matter where do you start? And how can you find the unique artists hidden behind all the clutter?

Instead of scrolling through miles of listings try some of these ideas.

• Many artists have an eBay Store where you can find many more items to choose from. Here you can view each artists work individually.
• Look through the many styles and find what moves you. These are just a few of the styles available   Impressionist  - Abstract - Outsider Art - Miniature / ACEO  - Realism 
• Search by subject matter. Animals - Figures / Portraits - Floral / Garden - Landscapes / Cityscapes - Seascapes - and many more.

Many people have enjoyed their Art Buying experiences through eBay and have started wonderful collections from artists they have discovered here. Find some great art now before we all become famous and have to charge a mint to support our new lifestyle:> ( I personally want a Ferrari, that's all :)

all illustrations and art work copyright 2001-2008 d.davini