I hadn’t planned on buying anything that day. But there I was at an art fair, holding an original I loved, thinking about what it would mean to be the kind of person who actually buys art — while also being an artist myself.
I felt like I was occupying two places at once: the maker, and the buyer, doing the same quiet mental math.
Practical expenses like groceries or my heating bill (you know, …responsibilities) started chattering louder than the feeling I had when I first saw the piece I loved.
Somewhere along the line, “art collector” has become shorthand for “wealth” rather than curiosity or imagination.
Standing there, I realised I was having the same thoughts.
I put the piece back. Picked it up again. Put it back.
Once I talked myself down, I had to remind myself that collecting art (or, being a capital “C” Collector) is simply about buying a piece of art.
The pieces we live with often boost our mood, make us remember a happy experience, or brighten up a room. It doesn’t matter if it is
a small piece for your kitchen or a big, bold piece in the living room. Both are guaranteed to be conversation starters…your story tellers.
If you are new to collecting art, you are more than welcome to browse around my website. Go slowly and see if there is a piece that makes you feel calm or curious. Or, even the opposite, one that makes you feel irritated or annoyed. It’s all good.
If you’ve ever thought ‘I’m not an art collector,’ consider this an invitation to reframe that.
You don’t need to know what you’re looking for. You’ll feel it.