Art is about welcoming pleasure into your everyday. Art is about the senses. Art is about saying yes to joy. Padmaja Nagarur, CEO of Artflute, rejects the widely held notion about art being elite. She says, “Art falsely appears unapproachable. However, once you strip the art of these commonly held notions, art truly creates a space for authentic expression and a sense of belonging.
And Artflute is here to here to help you get started on or deepen what’s sure to become a life-long affair with art. If you are intimidated by the idea of walking into galleries or feel limited by the variety of artists you can explore this world has to offer, buying original paintings online gives you the freedom to browse art right from your home.
When it comes to browsing for art that you like and want to buy there are so many questions that need answers. And we are here to answer some of them. We’re always asked what the difference is between a limited edition print, and an original artwork.
If you are a beginner to art, visit as many galleries and museums as possible. If physical galleries are not a choice, browse art online with no compulsion to make a choice. The aim of this exercise is mainly to see as much art as possible and become visually ‘comfortable’ with the experience. This definitely helps you figure out your personal taste. If you’re drawn to a particular artist, read about their influence(s) and know about the choice of their medium. Cultivating an enthusiasm and curiosity about art is what makes it exciting.
Here are some popular collections and artists that you can visit to start with:
Artists:
Prakash Ghadgde
Biswajit Roy
Sujata Achrekar
Collections:
Nature Paintings
Folk Art
Landscape Oil Paintings
Cubism Art
Flower Paintings
Apart from Originals you can also explore Serigraphs, here are few collections, artists and articles about Serigraphs that can help:
Serigraphs Collection
About S H Raza'a works
Choose to browse through our carefully curated collections of original handmade paintings if you feel drawn to areas/styles/themes that might be of interest to you. And as you go through the works, if you resonate with a piece or more, keep adding them to your own gallery (think of it as pinning your favourites).
Keep your requirement handy if you’re looking to explore art for a particular space. Start your process of discovery with a particular point of conversation - it could be the theme or size. I’d invite you not to have the budget as your starting point of conversation because that will only limit the joy of exploration.
Now that you have found a piece of art you like, you might wonder if your choice is the ‘right’ one. Relax! Ask yourself what you like about the piece of art? Is it the colors, the mood, the size, or the emotion it evokes in you? Does it remind you of a fond memory or make you want to dream? Let the work of art speak to your first.
Padmaja Nagarur talks about making choices when buying art, “Once you ease into finding your preferences in art, ask yourself why you like it. Art like clothing is personal, there is nothing wrong or right about an artwork. If it tells you a story, listen to it, and somewhere along the way it becomes your story.”
If you’re in that final leg of your choice and you want that friendly chat to seal the deal, talk to our curator. Ask questions that you might have or share your appreciation for a particular artist or style. And if you find that the work that you loved the most is sold, explore the option of having it commissioned by the artist. And know that when you bring home a piece of art, you’re welcoming home the artist’s inspiration, your association and you’re on your way to being the ambassador of the artist you chose.
The writer Blake Morrison has said, ‘Art can do many things: entertain, instruct, console, inspire, enrage, transform. It teaches us things we can’t be taught in any other way and makes us see things we wouldn’t otherwise see. It allows us the illusion of escaping our daily lives while simultaneously taking us deeper inside ourselves.’
Isn’t it time you started experiencing this yourself?