The art of smart investing
One of the principles the world of fine art operates on is exclusivity. But how often have you looked at an artwork that’s sold for thousands or millions and wondered what the appeal was? The truth is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If you want to have real art in your home but don’t have a lot to spend, don’t be put off. Drop your assumptions about what you ‘‘should’’ be doing and allow yourself to be drawn to imagery that really speaks to you.
There are plenty of current artists producing attractive works that may be collectible one day. Here are four to consider:
Fleur Woods
Thread artist Fleur Woods is making it big on the Australian design scene. Having been recently picked up by interiors styling and design service Greenhouse Interiors, those who already have a piece of hers can be assured about their taste.
Working in mixed media, Woods uses painting and embroidery techniques to create scenes you could describe as celestial meets spiritual gardens. Her large scale original works are now out of the price range of newbies, but you can pick up a 69 by 75.5cm limited-edition print of her recent work Soul Sisters ata more comfortable $539.
Flox
Creating cross-medium from gift paper to wall murals, and across the globe from Timaru to New York City, is Hayley King, the artist otherwise known as Flox.
Currently the Aucklandbased woman is an ‘‘it’’ artist of the local scene and you can buy her designs on everything from apparel to umbrellas, and recently rugs, though her large circular pieces are the status symbol in decor-savvy homes.
Maybe we’re an egocentric lot but we Kiwis sure do love a touch of Kiwiana. For under a grand, you can procure not one but two 30cm original paintings on board. The Kingfisher on Ivory and Perched Tui on Blue would make a nice pair hanging together.
Wendy Matenga
Still in a floral frame of mind, Wendy Matenga usually paints with the goal of creating eternal bouquets and that’s frankly, a pretty sweet sentiment. Great for complementing a modern-meetsmid-century decor look, her works are usually what you’d hang as the main event in a room.
For a smaller budget, you could take home a 50 by 50cm painting of a photo-real posy, and a rectangular, 34 by 59cm, both of which are $780.
Take a look at Matenga’s Instagram for a few ideas on how to position a small piece of hers clustered with other vintage bits. Long live spring.
Jen Sievers
Reaching national notoriety in the decor and art scenes for her paintings on perspex, Jen Sievers is another local creator cracking the international market.
Sievers’ subjects are inspired by feminism and her South African roots. Seeking to empower and inspire female viewers, the muses she brings to her life are her ‘‘queens’’. Her perspex paintings are out of the financial question for those new to the game, but you could have an original on paper.
The gorgeous Malia – tea and marmalade shown is an original painting done with acrylics and Indian ink on Lana Royal paper. At 56 by 78cm, it’s $650.