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Three new pieces of art for only 10€ each! I found these at a nearby Dutch thrift shop—one of my favorites for buying art. They usually have some great pieces, and art is one of the few things they have that’s not ridiculously overpriced.
These three are oil on canvas, large—the biggest (third picture above) measures 31 by 43 inches—and signed “Margriet 02.” And they are awesome. At least I think so.
Here’s where we stand with the budget:
Original art budget: 100€
Previous purchases: 59.50€
Cost of these pieces: 30€.
100€ Budget remaining: 10.50€
What is this?I once heard the advice: Spend $1000 a year on art. Only I don’t have an extra grand laying around, so I wanted to see what I could do with just 100€. I love a challenge (and an excuse to go shopping!). Of course it doesn’t hurt that Europe has the best thrift shops.Take a look at what I’ve bought so far.
I have a new piece of art to add to my collection. I found this anatomical print of a fly at a little antiques store in Alkmaar, Holland. It’s copyright 1960, printed in Germany in 1972 and measures 32 by 44 inches. Hanging here, temporarily, in my hallway.
This was a bid of a splurge budget wise—the most expensive purchase to date at 25€. But I love it, and it was really a steal considering what it would go for back in the states (read: way, way beyond my reach).
It appears I have a bit of a theme going on. I assure you, that is unintentional. I love the black and the mint green and the graphics. (It’s difficult to appreciate in a long shot, but look at that close up.) The fact that it’s another insect is coincidental.
Here’s where we stand with the budget:
Original art budget: 100€
Previous purchases: 34.50€
Cost of this piece: 25€.
100€ Budget remaining: 40.50€
What is this? I’m on a quest to build an art collection based on the advice: Spend $1000 a year on art. Only, I don’t have an extra grand laying around. (Who does in this economy?) My challenge is to find affordable art, to prove something beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive. My budget: just 100€. See what I’ve bought so far.
The latest addition to my art collection: Two modern oil paintings. They are signed only with an “R.” and not dated. Love the colors and the strong brush strokes. Major score at a Dutch thrift shop for just 3.50€ for both. The larger one was marked at 2.50€; the smaller one was not priced. At checkout, the cashier said, “I’ll give it to you for one euro.” Okay!
They originally had slimline, shoddily mitered frames nailed to the edges. I like the idea, but the gappy miter cuts and exposed nail heads were killing it for me. I pulled them off. Underneath someone had painted orange and black acyclic (or maybe tempura) over oil-based paint. When I tried to wipe the dirt off, the paint started coming off everywhere. Now I understand the frames. Too bad I broke a couple pulling them off.
What is it they say about things not being cheap, easy and good at the same time?
Ah ha! I can fix it with PVC tape! Brilliant!
Okay, might not be the greatest idea, but it’s a better one than the person who painted acrylic over oils had. On the right surface it could totally work. And I had a pack of the stuff. We’ll see how it holds up. At least it’ll prevent paint residue from transferring to everything they touch.
So, with 69€ of my original 100€ budget remaining, that leaves 65.50€ left to spend.
Here’s a breakdown:
Original art budget: 100€
Previous purchases: 31€
Cost of this piece: 3.50€.
100€ Budget remaining: 65.50€
What is this? I’m on a quest to build an art collection based on the advice: Spend $1000 a year on art. Only, I don’t have an extra grand laying around. (Who does in this economy?) My challenge is to find affordable art, to prove something beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive. My budget: just 100€. See what I’ve bought so far.
A little while ago fab.com was selling reproduction prints by French illustrator E. A. Seguy. Seguy did fantastic studies of insects in the early 20th century (1900-1930s). I was thinking of buying one, but was debating 1) which poster to buy and 2) whether it was gross to hang a picture of beetles in one’s kitchen. (I mean, it’s not cockroaches.) Before I could decide, the sale ended. (Discovered later they wouldn’t have shipped to me anyway.) Sad face emoticon.
You can imagine how happy I was when I noticed a similar Seguy-esque bug sticking out of a bin of old book pages for sale at London’s Camden Market. I sat down on the ground next to the bin and pulled all the bugs out. The seller came round and showed me his stall where he had more. 6£ each. I had planned to buy 3. I couldn’t decide, so he gave me the fourth one free. Score. Today I took them out of the plastic, and behind one of the pages was an extra page. Bonus bug! Double score. He’s the fifth one below.
Now, I don’t know that these are by E. A. Seguy. Certainly are reminiscent of some of his work, and they are original old book pages. I had hoped to find the book’s title on the reverse side of the pages. Nope. Just a paragraph about an insect. Maybe someone will stumble across this and give me some info. Seguy or not, I think they are pretty freaking cool. I’m happy.
Later that week at the Bermundsey Street antiques market I found these:
Two illustrations from 1860. 2£ each. I forget the title, but they’re from a children’s poem about a robin. I have the page that shows the robin being shot with an arrow by another bird and the page that shows one bird carrying a coffin and another carrying a match. Strange stuff for a children’s book.
With some conversion math, that’s:
Original art budget: 100€
Previous purchases: 4€
Cost of this piece:: 18£ for the 5 insects, 4£ for the 2 birds = close to 27€
Budget remaining: 69€
What is this? I’m on a quest to build an art collection based on the advice: Spend $1000 a year on art. Only, I don’t have an extra grand laying around. (Who does in this economy?) My challenge is to find affordable art, to prove something beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive. My budget: just 100€. See what I’ve bought so far.
Did you know insects and bugs are not the same thing?
I mentioned this before. I’ve heard: Spend $1000 a year on art. Brilliant advice…for anyone with an extra grand laying around. Seeing as I’m not one of those people, I wondered what I could do with just 100€.
This idea is something I’ve been thinking about for a while; spending time in London visiting museums and galleries has cemented it. I’m going to do it. Over the next year, I will create an art collection with just a 100€ budget. There are no real rules, but I can say most things will come from charity shops, markets and bazaars due to budget constraints.
What can you get for a 100€? **SPOILER ALERT** A lot. And here’s the latest:
A signed oil painting from 1978.
Cost: 2€.
Budget remaining: 96€. (I’m counting the last piece in the tally.)
The frame needs repainting, but there’s a bonus painting on the inside.
Love a challenge, love a bargain. This should be fun.
Stopped at the Dutch thrift store after breakfast at IKEA today. Look what I found. It’s titled “III”, signed and numbered 167 of a 250 print run. I think it’s pretty cool. So did Nicholas; he’s claimed it for his room. You’ll die when I tell you what I paid for it. 2€.
So I’ve heard a thing before, a piece of advice: spend $1000 a year on art. Absolutely great advice…for people with disposable income. Seeing as I don’t really have one of those right now, I wonder what I could do if I spent a fraction of that—100€ on art over the next year. Art on a budget.
There is this really bad “art class does the Dutch masters” painting I’ve had my eye on. It’s the Girl with the Pearl Earring with big white, mouth-full-of-chicklets teeth. The only reason I haven’t bought it yet is, there is no price on the front and it’s high on the wall, on a staircase. It would take a lot effort to get it down and then might be out of my price range. Which, as much as it makes me smile, isn’t more than the change in the backseat of my car. Maybe next time. I’ve got 348 days and 98€ left to spend. And who doesn’t need a really terrible Vermeer?
Also super excited to find another elephant lamp base so now I have a pair.
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