As the holidays bear down upon us, panic can easily set in as we compile lists and try to decide what we can possibly get everyone this year. At this juncture, I would like to make a suggestion: Buy and give original art.
With the downturn in the economy, everyone is taking a hit, but the ubiquitous chain stores and mall companies have layers of corporate padding to protect them. This isn’t true for small business people, who are operating on the edge. Especially vulnerable are artists, whose creations are considered by many to be “luxury items"--among the first to be crossed off the list of life’s necessities.
So wouldn’t it be a great idea if everyone spent more of their money this holiday season, buying and giving art? Surely there must be someone on your list who would appreciate an original lithograph, sculpture, or best of all, a piece of art jewelry? Giving something handmade is a two-fold gift: It brings beauty into the life of your giftee, and it supports an artist struggling to make it in a tough economy.
Just to start the ball rolling, I want to recommend several websites where you can find original art for sale by the artist:
1. etsy.com. This is a website community composed of individual artists who set up their own online storefronts and sell their wares directly to you.
2. GlassArtists.org This website is a collective where a wonderful variety of glass artists sell their work, including blown glass, cast glass, jewelry, and functional pieces. It also functions as an information clearinghouse about classes, openings, and other events.
3. artanddesignonline.com This is a very interesting website that sells everything from fine art to handmade furniture.
4. eBay.com If you go to eBay and click on the Art topic, you get a list of categories that you can buy “direct from the artist.” If you find something you like, you have the opportunity to get it at great savings compared to a gallery.
5. Heart of Stone Studio's Online Gallery If you're interested in beautiful jewelry, stop by the Heart of Stone Studio Gallery, you can see the work of 20 artists, along with links to their websites.
6. Online museum stores. Google your favorite museum and it's likely that you will find an online gift store. Suggestions include: The Heard Museum Shop (for Native American art), The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), The Smithsonian (which has a place where you can shop for items made by artists from other countries), etc. If your giftee is a plant or animal lover, check out the online shops of larger zoos, botanical gardens, or arboretums.
7. Last but not least, my website, Heart of Stone Studio, sells finished jewelry, sculpture, and mineral specimens in addition to its better-known designer gemstone offerings. Go to the Heart of Stone Studio homepage and click on the Gift Catalog link at the top of the page. We've got some gorgeous amber jewelry, as well as some stunning pieces by the Southwest design firm of Felley, which are no longer available in galleries. Oh, and by the way, if you want to see some of my own jewelry designs, click on the Judy as Artist link.
All of these sites are worth visiting, if for nothing more than the visual enrichment of seeing everyone’s original work. If readers out there have other suggestions of great online places to buy art, by all means, send them in and I will post them.
One last note before you buy: Keep in mind your giftee’s taste when selecting your gift, especially if that taste is different than your own. You might love modern design, but don’t foist it on a friend whose house (and jewelry box) is filled with antiques. Use your gift-giving as an opportunity to stretch your own horizons as you seek to find the perfect piece of art to match your giftee’s taste.
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