Buying Artwork from Local Artists

What do you hang on your walls? I've got family photos of course, but I've also hung some artwork I've picked up over the years. I like to find unique things made by local people in my town or places I visit.

I saw this quilt at a local art gallery and frame shop years ago, and fell in love with it. My family bought it for me for my birthday that year. It's by local artist joanE Lipinski. I think when you find a piece that you love, you can buy it with the confidence that it will bring you years of enjoyment, because it speaks to you. You can see on my mantle, I also have some of my kids' artwork.

This carving was made by Gina Gaudesi, an artist I found on Flickr. That's a wonderful place to see artwork from people all over the world. Gina's photostream is here.  Her Etsy shop is here.  I hang old maps as artwork too, and you can see one peeking out in the background of this photo. I find them at antique shops and sometimes even at garage sales!

I bought these pottery pieces at Chartreuse Art Co-op in St.Joseph, Michigan. The top pieces are by Margaret Hogeboom. If I remember correctly, the fish is by Christina Root. Art co-ops are great places to find the work of local artists.  We have a nice one here in downtown Pontiac on Madison Street.

Art fairs are also a good place to see the work of local artists. The big cities have them of course (and I like browsing those too), but plenty of smaller cities have wonderful festivals. Sugar Creek Arts Festival in Normal is a good one, and Krasl Art on the Bluff is another fun one where you can look at art all day, with beautiful Lake Michigan always in view. I've always wanted to go to ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but it's almost over again this year, so maybe I'll make it next year!