Would you like to have real artwork on your walls, but don't want to pay a fortune or have cheap posters?
Here are some different ways to find reasonably priced artwork.
photo courtesy of Loco Steve lickr.com/photos/locosteve/5194670849/Find an Up and Coming Artist
Up and coming artists often sell their artwork inexpensively on the street in tourist locations.
Buying artwork from them while on vacation can be inexpensive and it will remind you of your vacation (just make sure you have a way to get it home).
Become an Artist
You can make your own artwork.
Purchase several identical art canvases #ad from an art supply store or online that are reasonably priced.
Also get some paint and brushes.
Do not use primary colored paint else the artwork may look juvenile.
Mix some custom colors together to create unique color variations within the piece.
Hang all the canvases together as a collection.
Use one large (36" x 48" or larger) canvas, 2 medium sized (36" x 36" or larger), or 3 small sized (18" x 18") canvases.
Smaller canvases are not suggested.
If you are stumped for ideas, look online for a style that you like and try to paint in that style.
You could even have your kids paint for you.
Also consider painting on top of artwork that you already own so all you have to purchase is paint and brushes.
Photography
Take digital photographs to be turned into reasonably priced artwork.
You can take a photograph of a pretty landscape, an interesting architectural element, a close up shot of an everyday object, or whatever you desire.
You can print the photograph in color, black and white, sepia, or any number of different styles.
If you are interested, consider altering that photograph with software such as Photoshop to get it exaclty like you want it.
The trick to getting regular photographs to look like professional photographs is to print them in black and white or sepia and make sure they are in a nice frame with a white matte.
If you want a really large photo, have it printed on large scale engineering paper at your local copy shop and mount it on plywood or foam.
You can even make your own frame to dress it up a bit.
Wallpaper, Fabric, or Scrapbook Paper
There are many strikingly beautiful wallpapers, fabrics, and scrapbook papers available today.
You can apply wallpaper, fabric, or scrapbook paper to a piece of plywood to hang in your home or it can be framed as artwork.
Look Online
If you do not feel inspired to create artwork yourself, you can always look online for inexpensive artwork.
Paintings and sculptures will be expensive since they are one of a kind pieces, however you can purchase prints or photographs which are usually inexpensive.
Thrift Your Art
Check out garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, or flea markets for pieces of art.
The artwork may not be from a well known artist, but it may fit your budget.
Don't purchase what is popular, but purchase what makes you happy.
You can even modify existing art to make it what you want by painting additional items in a painting (such as adding a family pet to a landscape scene).
Another option is to paint a whole new piece of art on top of a piece of art that you purchased inexpensively.
Often times, the art frame is more expensive than the art, so keep an eye out for good looking frames at low prices. Remember that you can also paint the frame to complement your decor.
Print Your Own Masterpieces
You can download and print a copy of many famous pieces of art from the National Gallery of Art for free.
Before printing, you should purchase your picture frame, since that will be the most expensive part of your art, to ensure that the frame will be in your budget.
Some home decor stores have 50% off sales for their picture frames every other week, so shop around to find the best deals.
