Gingko Mallet Vase
in Dark Blue
by Richard S. Jones

When visiting an artist’s studio, rules of common courtesy apply. Be sure to call ahead; the artist may have limited visiting hours, especially during crunch times. Once there, don’t overstay your welcome. Enjoy your visit, but recognize that the artists will need to get back to work.

Some communities offer organized tours of artists’ studios on a particular day or weekend each year. These are terrific opportunities to meet artists and learn about the processes they use.

Art fairs are another terrific opportunity to meet artists. Depending on the crowds and the weather (if the fair is outdoors), art fairs can be a lot of fun. They’re also a great way to see the work of many artists at one time. Most art fairs are jurried, so you can expect to see high-quality displays and meet artists who work at a professional level.

Gardening in the Rain
Pigment Print by Brian Kershisnik

You would never guess that we are in the middle of the lazy days of summer here at Artful Home. There are summer art fairs, our 10th Anniversary, the Hearts for Anna event, and so much more.

Let’s start with our 10th Anniversary. Today and tomorrow you can register for a chance to win “Gardening in the Rain” by Brian Kershisnik. Brian’s work has been a huge favorite with our customers. People are drawn to the emotion in his work. As Brian states, “Humor is healthy. God laughs. I believe that. To avoid a good, human, affectionate sense of humor in art that is depicting human beings is nonsense.” If you love Brian’s work, make sure you see his newest additions to the Artful Home collection – “Reading a Very Small Book” and “She Reads“. Remember to take advantage of our 10th Anniversary 10% off event.

Hearts for Anna Event
We’re also in the middle of the Hearts for Anna event. Right now we are collecting donated works from artists. If you haven’t heard, fiber artists Anna Millea has cancer and is unable to get health insurance. Artists are donating works that will go on sale August 12 with 100% of the proceeds going to help Anna with medical expenses. Any artist can donate work. We encourage artists who are affiliate with Artful Home and artists who are not to donate a piece to this cause. You can get a sneak peek at the works that will be available to purchase on our website and you can stay up to date on the event with our custom Twitter feed.

Favorite Fortune Ornament Contest Winner

We have a winner in the ornament Favorite Fortune contest. Sandi B. submitted her fortune, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious”, via this blog and it came out on top when all of the votes were counted. Sandi’s fortune will be included in one of the artist-made ornaments in this years collection. Sandi will receive both of the fortune ornaments in this year’s collection for submitting the winning fortune.

Artful Home Staff Picks

Have you ever wondered what the staff at Artful Home would choose as their favorite works of art? We asked around and now you can see our favorite pieces. Visit the Artful Home Staff Picks page and see why we like what we do.


Niche Award Nomination
Artful Home is thrilled to have been nominated for a Niche award. Professional fine craft artists throughout the U.S. and Canada nominated nearly 600 craft galleries, retail stores, arts nonprofits, museum shops and guilds for this year’s awards. The winners will be announced the first weekend in August at the Buyers Market of American Craft show in Philadelphia.

Cat Clock Wooden Clock by Emi Ozawa

For the last 10 years, Artful Home has been connecting artist and art buyers online. I personally have been with Artful Home for 5 of those years. It has been great to be able to experience the works of over 1,000 artists. Of course we don’t get to see most of the works. Because the artist makes the piece and sends it directly to the purchaser, working for Artful Home doesn’t mean I actually get to see the artwork. However, we do bring some pieces into the office for catalog photoshoots and therefore do get to see some really great pieces.

As part of our tenth anniversary celebration, we are giving away four iconic pieces of work. These are items that our customers have bought over and over again. Make sure you enter for your chance to win. Today you can enter to win a Cat Clock made by Emi Ozawa. Cat Clock was one of those surprise pieces for us. When Emi first brought it onto the site we thought it was a very nice piece and featured it in a catalog. Little did we know that it would become such a sought after item. I don’t know how many Emi has sold to date, but I know it is a lot.

We have also launched the new Artful Home online community. This is a place where artists and art lovers can come together. Head on over and check it out.

Harmony Metal Wall Art by Bernard Collin

Purchasing from a gallery provides the benefit of consultation; you’re tapping into the expertise of the gallery staff and the relative assurance that the work meets high aesthetic and professional standards. The artworks will have been selected by the gallery owner or manager, and will reflect their personal taste. If your own aesthetic is similar, a gallery can be an excellent resource.

Most galleries specialize in specific types of art and are committed to a stable of artists. Much like interior designers or art consultants, galleries act as professional curators; most select 20 to 50 artists to feature from among hundreds seeking representation.

To varying degrees, galleries act as agents for artists and help create a market for their work. If the artwork you see appeals to you, introduce yourself to the gallery owner. Talk about your interests in purchasing art and about the kinds of work you’re attracted to. Be sure to mention your budget – and don’t feel intimidated if you don’t want to spend a great deal of money. Galleries are always looking for new clients, and they’ll be happy to spend time getting to know you.