I have various pieces of local art on my walls...
everything from a big abstract canvas to photo art, odd rarities, etc...
I buy what I love - and believe in supporting local artists.
I'm in Nelson, BC - where the art community is strong strong strong.

>What's your take on the idea of purchasing "investment art"?.

material things are for the now...
I hope these things increase in value but I'm not consumed with that thought when I'm buying.

My own.....numerous paintings and renderings from shows I've done........what can I say they're free.

Alright, I'll bite too...

A collection of limited edition, signed & numbered, Philippe Henri Noyer (French, 1917-1985) hangs in our livingroom (they will be posted in my tribe pics).

A collection of limited edition, signed & numbered, British contemporary artists who were all part of the Chelsea Fine Arts Collection in London in the 70's (Cunningham, Kristine Nason, Ian King, Giwa, Freestone ). Most of their earlier pieces. They are scattered throughout our two-storey loft.

Two originals from local artists. One is a beautiful water colour of the exterior of a boutique downtown and the other is a gorgeous oil painting of fruits, vases and plants on a linen-covered table. They are perfect in the diningroom. Also prints of a cafe, different herbs and flowers are located there, not limited edition I'm sure, but nicely matted and framed.

As a student I acquired a Chet Baker print (I still love Chet by the way). I had it dry mounted and it still hangs above the stairs. I think that when we eventually move, I'll hang it in the entertainment room.

What's coming in the mail? Vibrant prints by European artists Richard Moisan, Thierry Ona and Christian Choisy. As much as I love and appreciate the genius of Vasarely's work, I think that we'll just admire it from a far. We'll put together a series of his work to hang in our gallery/custom frameshop downtown if and when we feel that the city needs to be shaken-up a bit.

As for the notion of art being an investment, I feel that if you pay for a piece of art, your return on investment is the amount of enjoyment that you get from viewing it. If you get enjoyment from knowing that it is rare/somewhat rare or that you have acquired it from a publisher/printer that has made sure that their product has stayed true to that artist's original piece, then of course, you'll love it and appreciate it even more. If that "Dogs Playing Poker" in that cheap frame you bought at a box-store, that velvet Elvis or that very rare Joan Miro puts a smile on your face, go ahead and let them. Art is what you view as aesthetically-pleasing.

Leticia

I've been reading up on the Mark Rothko case...my what a sad story.

Reason why he's suddenly caught my interest? We've just received some pieces back from Bonham's. The remnants of what did not sell as part of a collection. They are not pieces by Rothko himself, but of his close friends that put together a collection in order to help his family out financially after he had taken his own life.

They won't be hanging on our walls at home but I'm sure that my husband plans to display them in the gallery/custom framing shop.

Leticia

If you want to consider it art, I have several autoraphed movie posters and some of my photograghy.

I have pictures of my wife and kids. And some nice wallpaper (does this count as art?)

Sno

You know, the latest apartment I moved into I chose nothing on the walls. I kind of like how my shiny white toaster, white telephone, black lamp, and whatever looks. The walls don't take any attention. Kind of looks dull. I'm still rearrangeing and adding. Might have some art, but I just cant bear to put a tack or a screw in the wall to mount a picture. Maybe in time I'll get the place looking like art.

some limited edition lithographs of drawings by m. scott momaday, the native american writer...
and a big framed drawing by alan hauser in the basement...

my wife's photographs...

a deer skull...

some west african bead belts...

mexican folk art hammered tin relic boxes...

actually we have more folk art than we could ever possibly put on display. because my in-laws are really into the stuff and that's all they ever buy us for christmas or birthdays. besides ugly "bill cosby" sweaters...