Buying Art Without the Sticker Shock

Can't afford the outlandish prices of art at the traditional galleries? You don't need an income of six figures or more to find quality art at affordable prices. If you're in need of some art for your home, you just need to know where to look! Thanks to the Internet, it's even easier and more affordable than ever to find great artwork that fits your taste.

Using the Internet to buy art without the sticker shock has really improved. It's been pretty easy for some time to find prints of well-known artwork. Now there's also allot of quality work from great unknown artists too!  Actually, Internet art has become so popular, it can seem like a daunting task even if you are simply searching the web for art!  When you're ready to start browsing, here's some of our faves:

www.etsy.com   You can find both new and vintage art work here. Start off by selecting paintings, sculpture, pastels, photography, or one of several other categories. Then find the "price" drop-down button to filter the options that meet your budget! You are sure to find something you like (even in the under $25 range).

www.fineartamerica.com   Here's another easy-to-search art website with thousands of affordable options. Hint, type "cheap" or "sale" in the search bar- you will be pleasantly pleased with the choices in the $20-$50 range. You can also search by color, shape and size.

www.artriver.com   If you're into modern art, this website focus exclusively on only a handful of modern artists. It's not easy to search, but they have a lot of exclusive modern art in the $50 range. Caution, many items are the last of their kind on the market and sell out quickly.

www.societysix.com/prints   The artwork on Society6 is created by hundreds of thousands of artists from around the world.  Many canvas prints are $85, most standard prints are $20-$80 and most framed prints are $35-$150; the price range obviously depends on the size.  There are no bells or whistles here, but lots of great deals!

www.greatbigcanvas.com   Prices here are typically $100-$200 depending on the size, but this excellent artwork is well worth the look. Check out the prints on canvas and framed prints, you can even upload your own high resolution photos! There are lots of styles and collections to choose from and if you're buying the wrapped canvas, you are saving on framing costs too!

Whether you are setting up a new home, filling up empty wall space or replacing some artwork, these five websites will be a great resource. Grab a cup of coffee, take a seat and happy hunting.  You don't have to break your budget or your patience!

For more information about our exhibitions, class schedules, events or volunteer opportunities, please visit us at www.AnkenyArtCenter.com, stop by and visit our gallery at 1520 SW Ordnance Road, Ankeny. Our gallery hours are: Tu-Fr: 9a-1p, Th: 4p-7p, Sa: 9a-noon and you can reach us by phone at 515-965-0940 or email at: ankenyarts@ankenyartcenter.com. Like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AnkenyArtCenter