WHY I SWIPED RIGHT FOR ART
A few weeks ago, I’d received an email from an auction house about an upcoming art sale.
This wasn’t it’s usual weekly sale. But one for an antiques dealer who was moving premises. As I clicked through the online catalogue, a painting grabbed my attention. As I have a thing for geometric patterns, whether it be a painting or a tile or in a fabric, I was drawn to some interesting art. An amazingly coloured piece of art beamed through the screen. All I could see were hot pinks, oranges and bright yellows. As I looked further in the catalogue, more art by this artist appeared and I was hooked. Bold colours, interesting combinations and shapes were so intriguing.
A few days before the auction, I went along to the viewing of these unique treasures in a warehouse in uber cool Collingwood. Upon entering, I was greeted by the work of this artist, Velay, on the opposite wall. The colours were even bolder than in the catalogue. And the skill of keeping a steady hand while painting a straight line or box was evident.
While wandering about the labyrinth of antiquities and art, I admired furniture that had seen Napoleanic times, art by artists that had rubbed shoulders with more famous artists on the streets of Montmartre and curious Italian lighting from the 1970s. More art was discovered and I found myself enjoying viewing art that wasn’t famous, popular or expensive but that really appealed to me (I was looking for me not a client that day!)
A few days later and a few more perusals of the catalogue, the auction day arrived. With over 900 lots, it was going to be a long afternoon! The art by my little known French artist were fortunately in the early part of the auction. I logged on at home and started following the auctioneer on my screen. I worked out my limit for the pieces I liked. And before I knew it, the numbers kept increasing quickly after I swiped right to make my bid. Suffice to say, I ended up missing on the pieces by my French artist as they went for more than my budget. However, I was fortunate to be the successful bidder on other French paintings (apparently the artist knew Matisse!)
What struck me is how I ended up buying pieces that really spoke to me. Their colours, composition and curious history all played a part. They are by no means a Matisse, but they have a value to me. They are unique, look wonderful on the walls on my home and make me smile. And they can’t be bought anywhere else!
So my real learning here is to buy what you love (within budget!) and in doing so you’ll find your unique style. And be open to looking at various places for items as you never know what you will find. To receive helpful tips and inspiration direct to your email inbox, please sign-up to receive my “All Things Interiors” newsletter.
Art shown by Velay.
