Choosing art for your home can be exciting

Introducing Toni-Maree West, our new arts writer. Toni has academic distinctions in Fine Art, Art History, Design and Photography. She has exhibited her work in various locations around New Zealand and abroad. She is also a graphic designer for the Stratford Press.
Choosing  artwork for your home can be an exciting adventure and a source of enjoyment for years to come.
The artwork in your home says a lot about you. It tells whether you prefer modern or classic, colours or monochrome and what design aesthetic appeals to you. That is why it's important to choose the right artwork for your home.
The idea of decorating with art is so basic that we've been doing it since cave-man days. Yet art is one thing that so many people neglect to add to their home.
Why is that? I believe that many do not hang art because they believe they can't afford it or they're at odds as to what to buy. I'm here to show you that buying and choosing art is simple and fun.
The first step in choosing art for your home is to decide what you actually want.
My advice is buy only what you love!
Art should be something personal, like the clothes you wear and the way you style your hair; these things say something about you and reflect your personality.
Never feel like you have to go with the crowd when choosing artwork. If you don't 'get it' when it comes to abstracts or contemporary, that's fine. If you're a country girl at heart, let that shine!
Art can be an expressive way to let your personality show through your interior design. Buy something dear to you and you will love it forever.
Think about how you feel when you look at a particular piece - happy, sad, relaxed, excited. Is this the way you want to feel when you are in the room you plan to put the artwork in?
The best way to choose wisely is to pick art that captures something you really admire. If you've always loved watching horse riding or dancers, that's perfect. If you have a long time fascination with marine life, then you're onto something, from this a theme emerges.
You might find yourself decorating a whole room around your art. Suddenly you'll find yourself in a space that you adore being in. Which is the whole idea!
Look at as much artwork as possible before buying. As well as hunting through museums and for-profit galleries, make sure to check out local outdoor exhibitions such as street stalls and markets. Also get a list of  non-profit galleries in your area, and art in public spaces, such as cafes, retail stores and restaurants.
The internet is another great source to find a large variety of fine art available worldwide, you can get really specific on what it is you are wanting; but my advice - do so with caution, it's harder to get a feeling of what you are viewing on screen.
And if purchasing an original online make sure you do research on the artist's dealer.
Make a conscious effort to look at art whenever you get the opportunity. Some of it you may hate, some you'll love, some you won't understand but the more you look, the more you will develop your own tastes and strengthen your artistic eye.
And eventually you find that special piece for your home.
If possible request to meet the artist whose work you are thinking of buying.
As an artist myself I love the opportunity to meet whoever has taken an interest in my work, it's nice to hear the thoughts, ideas and opinions of others and it's the perfect way for a buyer to get a better understanding of the work in question.
Perhaps the artist can point something out to you that you may have missed or they can explain the theme to you in greater detail which will help you to make the final decision.
Now that you know what to look for and ways to purchase art, there is the issue of affordability. Art can run anywhere from many thousands of dollars for an original, to cheap posters, and a lot of everything in between.
No matter what your budget is, there will be art available to you. Just buy the best you can afford.
You can always add a elegant or simple frame to a print or canvas. What you pay for it isn't really the point. What's really important is how it makes you feel when it's around. The sole purpose of art is to bring pleasure to the viewer.
You should never rush the process of buying art. Instead you should consider exactly what it is you want, then keep your eyes peeled for anything that meets those needs.
If you start to regularly attend art festivals, galleries and exhibitions, eventually you will find a nice artwork that complements your home.
But beware, once you have discovered the immense joy of art shopping, it can be addictive. Choosing artwork for your home is an ongoing process, so always keep a lookout and when you see something you love, don't be afraid to make the purchase.