There’s nothing like putting down your phone, as the American photographer Nan Goldin urged recently, and seeing things in the flesh to expand your appreciation of art. Whether you go to a local or national gallery, it will help you to tap into the pieces that speak to you. Visitors to this weekend’s Dublin Gallery Weekend will have been enjoying this experience. The new annual event celebrates Dublin’s contemporary art scene (caga.ie).
Buying a piece of art can be intimidating, however. It can also be prohibitively expensive — it’s a big leap from cheap and cheerful posters and prints to an original artwork. But a fizzing art scene is offering accessible routes into ownership. This year Art Source, the annual art fair at the RDS, has had its biggest uptake yet of artists taking part in 100 for €100, a sale of 100 original artworks that cost €100 each — today is the last day, so make a beeline to see if there are any pieces left.
If original works are outside your budget, giclée prints — known for their vibrant colour and fine details, printed on quality, heavyweight paper — are a cheaper alternative. One savvy friend heads to the end-of-year shows at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and Limerick School of Art and Design to spot emerging talent.
For those looking to start an art collection, prints and smaller pieces are an affordable entry point. This also allows you to hone your taste without making a big investment. Georgia Spray, the founder of Partnership Editions, a website that sells original artworks and prints, says: “Buy pieces that you are drawn to and love when you see them.” It might sound obvious, but Spray believes it’s the only way to genuinely build a collection, rather than simply seeking out something to fill an empty space on a wall. If you love a picture it will naturally find a spot in the home.
Neither should it be a commercial venture. “Investing in art is not about financial gain; it’s about supporting and promoting the artistic community,” says Gillian Henderson, who works at the Copper House Gallery in Dublin. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn about the stories behind the artwork. And remember, there are no rules in art; it’s all about what you love and what makes you feel at home.” Accessible art that lacks pretension — it’s a big yes from me.
Have a look on Instagram to see the artist’s works and the process behind them. “If you’re investing in one of your first artworks, it can be really rewarding to know more about the life of the artist who has made it and to know that you’re supporting their career,” Spray says. “Don’t be shy, reach out to artists who you’d love to learn more about, or just to tell them you like their work.” Pictured is Allegory by Shaun Duke, oil on paper, €918.80, available from Thursday; partnershipeditions.com
Last Summer Offering by Georgia Beaumont, oil and acrylic on canvas, €815.43, available from Thursday; partnershipeditions.com
Don’t let framing be an afterthought. This corridor in a listed country house, from a project by the interior design studio Nicola Harding & Co, uses three shades of red, with a lipstick-red frame as the final flourish. The framing is by Harry Eagle; @madebyharryeagle
Seahorse, Monkey and Lobster by the Kilkenny-based artist Elizabeth Cope, oil on canvas 60x50cm, €3,800; iamofireland.ie
Eryn by Lily Snowden Fine, oil on canvas, €1,378.19, available from Thursday; partnershipeditions.com
Portrait of Samuel Beckett by Tom Byrne (usually priced at €700), part of the 100 for €100 sale at Art Source at the RDS this weekend
If you’re in search of a Christmas gift with a difference, a limited-edition blanket designed by the Irish artist Ellie Dunne, in collaboration with the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, takes inspiration from the Mainie Jellett painting Mother and Child that hangs in the hotel’s reception Dunne, who has Down’s syndrome, is a student of fine art at NCAD and 10 per cent of the sale proceeds go to the Together Academy; €395, elliedunneart.com