Stepping Up to High Art

What to Look For When Buying that First Piece of Laguna Beach Artwork

By Rich Manning

One of the joys of living in Orange County is dropping by Laguna Beach and exploring their abundance of art galleries.  In fact, the only thing better than going from venue to venue to admire the various creative talents is to plunk down some cash and purchase a piece.  After all, there are few luxury items in life that make you feel truly successful than seeing an original or a limited reprint hanging somewhere in your home.  Every time you walk buy the piece, it strokes your ego by serving as a reminder that you have, in fact, been rewarded for your accomplishments.  Not to mention that the right piece of art will make you feel like a bit of a bad-ass. 

If you are part of the new generation of entrepreneurs, and have made enough money to comfortably move past the mass-produced furniture store artwork phase that seems to grip twentysomethings like so much inexpensive bottles of merlot, this is important stuff to know.   To be sure, the moment that you walk through downtown Laguna Beach armed with the knowledge that you can actually buy that gorgeous sculpture that you have admired for the last couple of years completely changes your perspective on enjoying the city’s main claim to fame.  You no longer go there thinking “wouldn’t it be nice;” you can begin to think, “it gonna look nice in my home.”  This shift in mentality is huge, and it should be treated with the utmost respect even before you pull the trigger on buying your first piece. 

The most important respect-commanding thing that you must consider is to always bear in mind that the artwork that you purchase in Laguna’s galleries is much more than a pretty painting or thought-provoking sculpture.  It is an investment.  Yes, this is a cliché.  However, when you realize that limited Vladimir Kush print that you purchased at the Kush Fine Art store for a mere $1,000 today may fetch you five figures a decade later, it’s a cliché you won’t mind much.

You should also remember that in one way or another, the artwork you purchase has the power to serve as an extension of your personality.  A freewheeling work of art filled with bright colors and cheery imagery will speak of your whimsical side, whereas a surreal piece focusing on illusion and brain trickery will be viewed as a manifestation of your intellect.  Works that find themselves in between the wide gap between these two examples – still life, portraits, and the famed plein air landscapes, for example – tend to reflect on traits that lie within the carefree and cerebral worlds; aspects of personality that only those who really know you may pick up upon.  For those who don’t you know you as well, they can only enhance your mystique.  And who doesn’t like to enhance their mystique?

Whatever part of your personality you wish to exhibit, do not shy away from buying what you like.  At first, this sounds like a no-brainer.  But what if you have a soft spot for an artist that you know your friends loathe?  Should you be afraid of purchasing a piece from him and her based entirely on what the neighbors might say at the cost of your own personal taste?  Remember, while art can give a glimpse to who you are as a person, it is ultimately subjective.   To break it down into even more basic terms, think of your adoration for a piece of art like, say, your enjoyment of watching football.  Some of your friends can’t stand football, but despite that, you will watch and enjoy the sport anyway (it also speaks as an extension of your personality in the sense that you are a sports fan).  In an odd yet tangible way, art operates on a similar level.  So if you like it, buy it.

Finally, when the thrill of purchasing that first piece of art steers you in the direction of becoming an art collector – and be forewarned; there is an excellent chance of this occurring – remember that it is okay to work on creating certain themes through your art.  However, in doing so, you may wish to be careful in selecting works that do not blatantly interfere with the aesthetics of your home.   For example, you could build a pretty spectacular theme in a room around a Dr. Seuss painting from the Fingerhut Gallery and a Peter Max work from the Wentworth Gallery.  However, the bright colors and post-modern vibe generated from the paintings would look hopelessly out of place in an early 20^th century Craftsman home with period decor, unless you are looking to evoke a further feeling of time-travel that the television would already be generating.

If you choose to ignore any or all of these items when you make the trek to Laguna to buy some artwork for the first time, though, that is totally and perfectly fine.  By merely purchasing a painting or sculpture, you are ultimately following the most important rule of all.  That is, you are buying a piece of fine art, and are therefore taking that first step away from your walls looking like you are still waiting to arrive.