Have you just moved into a new home? Have you got your furniture and appliances all set up, rugs on the floor, but nothing on the walls? Is your budget is all used up? Do you think you’re doomed to stare at blank expanses of painted drywall for years to come?

There is a way to buy ORIGINAL art without breaking the bank.

Loads of people have discovered eBay as a source for all kinds of consumer goods. Did you know that literally thousands of artists are selling original works of art on Ebay? It’s probably the greatest unknown source for fine art. You can choose from drawings, paintings, photographs and even sculpture. All one of a kind, original art! Sure, some of the artwork for sale is a trifle amateur, but you can just scroll past those and find the gems!
Why would great artists sell on Ebay?

This is the art world’s best kept secret, but any artist can tell you that the business of fine art is run by the galleries and art critics, and consequently, they are the ones making the money. When you buy from an art gallery, only 40-50 percent of the price goes to the artist. In many cases the artist has paid for framing along with his usual expenses (materials, shipping, and time put in).

Being able to sell directly to art collectors is a winning situation for most artists. They can sell their art at prices far below what the galleries charge and still earn a decent wage for all their hard work.

How can I trust that I will get what I paid for?

Fortunately, all the rules that keep eBay sellers in line also apply to artists. You can check on any seller’s history with eBay by clicking on their eBay name. Anyone who buys on eBay can leave “feedback” that is available to the buying public. The seller’s track record is there for all to see. eBay will ban a seller if they gather negative feedback and they will also get involved if you have a dispute with a seller. You can see first hand what people thought of the art they bought and whether it was shipped on time and well packaged.

Most artists are experts at photographing their artwork so that you can see in detail exactly what the work looks like. And the best part of all? You can always contact the artist (through the contact seller button) and ask any questions you may have. In my experience, artists love to talk about their work, so if you want some background information, just go ahead and ask! For instance, asking what the inspiration for a painting is can lead to a whole new understanding of the work, not to mention a great conversation starter once the piece is hanging on your wall.

ACK! There are so many listings, I don’t know where to start!

When you search for art on Ebay, you will find an avalanche of listings. It can be bewildering at first, but it’s easy to pare the number down by choosing more specific categories. Let’s say you click on paintings as the main category. From there you can choose “Contemporary (1950-now)”. On the left hand side of the screen you will find several other sub-categories. Choose “Original-listed by artist” if you want to avoid the many galleries that are taking advantage of the Ebay network to sell art (at much higher prices of course). This also insures that you are looking at one of a kind art and not prints.
The list also includes categories for Medium (IE: oil, acrylic, watercolor etc), Style, Subject and Date of creation. Date of creation is worth clicking because you can choose work that was created from 1990-now. That’s where you will find the artists that are working today.

Art that suits you.

There are contemporary, modern artists working in any style you can think of. They come from all over the world, although the bulk of the listing will be North American artists. You will see everything from romantic figures to edgy abstracts, fantasy scenes to traditional still life and landscapes of every description.

If you have a small space to fill, there are postcard sized works, a large space could display an abstract that come on a series of canvases that are hung side by side. One thing is certain; you will find art that goes way beyond what your local print store offers and at prices far below the traditional art galleries. No gallery could ever offer this kind of vast selection.

Your inner art collector.

Imagine your walls covered with original art. Every masterpiece was selected by you, to reflect your taste and sensibilities. You will have a personal connection with the artist and a history to go along with each piece. That’s what art collecting should be about. Most of all, your home will glow with creativity and originality!

About the author:
Jason Cordula is an artist and a writer. His artwork can be found on eBay and a collection of his articles on art collecting at jasoncordula.blogspot.com