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A Guide to Buying Fine Art Photography Online
I often get asked if I have my work hanging in a gallery for sale. A physical building that you can walk into and touch… well, no. But in a sense, I have my work on display in the largest art gallery in the world – The Internet. By only having an online presence, I’m able to display all of my photography for sale, without limits. Also, since I offer prints on demand, and don’t have to pay rent for a physical space, I can afford to offer my work at a reasonable price. So for those that aren’t accustomed to buying art online, here’s a quick guide to make you more comfortable.
Visit Reputable Art Sales Websites
Decorating your home or office is a very personal venture, everyone has different tastes and styles. The first step in the art buying process is to find a site that has a wide variety of art prints for sale that also has a well established satisfied customer base. At the time of this writing, 3scape.com has over 6000 images to choose from. Fine Art America is another site with a huge variety of art, with thousands of satisfied customers. Both of these sites use professional printing and framing companies, and the highest quality archival papers and canvases. This means you’ll get consistent, long lasting color or black and white prints every time. Framed prints are mounted and assembled using custom cut high grade materials, right here in the USA. If you’re shopping on other artists websites, ask about their printing process and materials. Of course, you can probably find “cheap prints” out there, but you get what you pay for, and rest assured those prints will be poster quality reproductions that won’t stand the test of time.
Choose the Right Image
Art buyers are typically drawn to many different aspects of an image, depending on personal tastes, styles, or perhaps even artistic training. Likewise, most photographers have developed their own styles and techniques to incorporate colors, textures, and tones into scenes to convey some emotional response or mood. So how do the two match up? First, take a look at the space on your wall that needs art. Consider the style of the room, the wall color, and other decor. Wider spaces may need a horizontal or panoramic print, while a vertical piece would work better for narrow walls. The rest is a matter of personal preference – color or black and white; scenic landscape or urban scene; perhaps some abstract wall art? If you’re really not sure, ask the artist! I’ve helped clients choose the perfect print for their space, and even mocked up options using photos of a room or office space.
Art Previews and Wall Visualization
Concerned about the finished print size? Be sure the site you are shopping on provides not only a preview of the finished print product, but also a wall preview with proper image scaling to give a better sense of how a print (and particular size) looks in a room. My room visualization tool has several rooms to choose from, allows print size selection, and even custom wall colors based on today’s most popular paint colors.
Safe Art Shipping
Be sure to check the shipping policies and expected production times so you’re not surprised after purchase. Larger flat prints should be shipped in sturdy cardboard tubes. Finished framed, canvas, and metal prints should be shipped in well packaged boxes or even wood crates (for the largest sizes). All prints from 3scape.com are professionally printed, packaged, and shipped, ready to hang, to your home or office!
Caring for Your Photographic Art Prints
Buying fine art prints is an investment that adds beauty to your home, office, or work place. As such, proper care must be taken to ensure your prints last a long time. Paper prints should be properly mounted and framed (we can do that for you). Matting a paper print adds to visual appeal and further protects it by spacing it from the glass or acrylic glazing. If you’re looking for prints for your bathroom or other humid place, consider metal prints which are durable and water resistant. All prints should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
Fine art prints continue to increase in popularity and make for beautiful works of art in your home, and now online galleries make it possible to acquire the perfect image. Still not sure? Contact me and we can chat about hanging the right art piece on your wall. Or, if you’re ready to start shopping, please check out my best selling art prints.
