Interesting results! Small sample as it may be, I've just uploaded nearly all my new work to my Etsy shop then. Also, I've added a feature with interior mock ups so you can see how the work will look in an interior setting. Thanks everyone for voting!!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaurenElyseArt?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Interesting Kerri. Is it that you like to support local face to face or did you have a bad experience buying online? I've never spoken with anyone who has a complete aversion to purchasing art and artisan works online and I'm curious as to why.

When I've bought on Houzz, my credit card company always declines the charge, which make it an ordeal to shop. Given both Etsy and now Amazon Made sell art on line, I have no problem buying from a website.

I usually buy on Etsy..I haven't bought any large piece of art from etsy. My two favorite pieces were directly from the artist (picked them online since the artist is from another state)..I liked his art and we commissioned two pieces. It's true that the colors look a bit different than what we see on the monitor, but overall, the paintings are still as amazing as I've seen them online

Just had this conversation. I steer people to Etsy or Saatchiart, unless i know they have much funds. I firmly believe in buying originals and personally work hard to adopt the abandoned ones i find. An artist told me that i should not be doing that because the art on those sites is too cheap. Also that art associated with Etsy is associated with crafts, not the same quality or category. I get that, I used to sell jewelry in art centers not etsy or craft spots. Because it can affect how your work is seen. On the other hand, someone who is buying posters, because they can not afford $500-1000 for artwork is better off at those sites, rather then assuming they can never afford real art. Why pay someone rich for a mere copy, some of which goes on pillows. When there are so many others not recognized. Once you get used to valuing something hand made, when you have more money you will invest more. When you look at art as a print to dispose of with the couch, you tend to treat all that way, no? Question is, how altruistic are you?

Thank you teamaltese! I haven't purchased anything via Houzz myself yet but I wonder if that's something others experience as well. Anyone else want to weigh in?

& thank you printesa! I definitely think most view Etsy as a market for smaller purchases and Houzz as higher end, but I've viewed a lot of artwork here and it seems to me that most isn't from independent artists but commercial shops. Therein lies a slight hesitation on my part to list here.

What you mentioned - colors being different on the monitor - is, I think, one of the biggest areas where online selling is the most limiting. I have my monitor specially calibrated so that I can edit photos of my paintings as close to true color as possible. Many people's monitors are not so precise. Also, artwork always, always, always looks better in person.

forgot one more thing, raise your hands if you know how to find handmade things on Houzz? I don't someone needs to work harder on that.

Great points havingfun! For my part, the fact that art being sold on Etsy can be viewed as 'less than' or simply 'crafty' I think is a huge tragedy. There are a handful of artists on that site (that I know of) who's work is completely mind-blowing and they are as skilled and imaginative as any you would find in the art world (and of the set I mentioned many are lauded in the art world - not the Venice Biennial art world, obviously, but among galleries and other artists). It's a muddy line back and forth with each of these sites - Etsy, Saatchi, and others - concerning artist's who really have it and those who could still be considered learning and maybe a bit premature in their offering their art for sale in lieu of more practice (I think we've all been there though). Myself and other career artist I know use Etsy because it can't be overlooked in terms of an avenue to earn in order to continue doing what we love. Is it ideal given the general sentiment about the craftiness of the site? Nope. It is what it is.

I'm with you on buying originals. Personally, it's all I collect, though I do offer prints as not everyone can afford an original and that shouldn't limit them from being able to collect and appreciate art. As far as the question of cheap - that goes to the heart of most people's issue with art. Are you buying it because you love it or because you're looking at it as a pure investment? I won't touch that topic because it's a firestorm but I will say that the more you know about art, you know what to look for in terms of quality, and if you love it - what does anything else really matter? Loving a piece of art is as authentic as it gets, that emotional response can't be understated.

YES! havingfun, thank you for saying that. I actually avoided going there in my above response, but - yes.

yes, if i could actually get my hand to touch that canvas without the fear of goofing and not being able to get another canvas, i too would probably sell prints. But, I do not think it is a great thing to do. it is just people will buy them, and you need the funding. And to make sure you understand, i do not knock etsy artists either, seen some great stuff there!

Prints fall under the bread and butter / residual that many need between finding collectors that can afford their more expensive work. It seems to have become what portraiture was before the advent of cameras. I don't know many today who swear them off.

another site I look on to find artists is dailypainters.com

Prints I don't buy..maybe I would for a bar area or home theater, but even then, it needs to be something special. Art is very personal. I would never buy something off the shelf. It needs to be special.

Here are some of the paintings that I have. The last two are by the same artist.

Very nice! Thanks for sharing printesa. I love large-scale work, the bigger the better in my book.

From a quick glance dailypainters.com looks to have a lot of quality work on it. You've got great taste!

thanks I am off to look!

Thank you Lauren! If I could, I would collect a lot more:) I have a few small pieces that we purchased during our travels, but we need to find frames for them and some time to do that:) As for the large painting and the last one as well, they are by Tom Towhey. I was looking for painting inspirations and I found his site with some teapots paintings (lovely paintings btw) and after a year or so, I decided that it's time to get something large for the family room. That room is still a work in progress, but it will be done at some point:)

@havingfun, I don't know what style you like, but on that site I found Fabio Cembranelli...he makes beautiful watercolor paintings

yes, lovely, he apparently teaches too. If i got water color flowers from another artist, my mom would kill me. The art i have is almost all abandoned. I even rescued one from being painted over. I have batik, pen and ink, oils, pastels, watercolors, mono prints, i even have a russian bark painting. Oriental, Humorous-by a well known book author, landscapes, animals, floral, only one woman. oops, 2, forgot the one in the humorous painting.

Yes, he has all kinds of workshops around the world and it looks like he is very popular:)
My sister paints, but she does that whenever she feels like it:) I have no talent for painting, so I buy what I enjoy. I still have to find the time to frame everything we have (some of them need a frame) and then see how and where I hang them. Time can be a tricky thing:)

charity thrifts are also a great place to get frames. Another great source, if you want to be creative, go to lowe's or home depot. Buy molding, wood or the fake both are great, normally under $10 for 8 ft or more. have them do the cuts, a little glue, some finishing nails, tadah! Glass is where it gets harder, but you can always go back to the thrift store, pay $5 for a frame with glass. just use the glass.

To personally choose the art is a better experience for me & to meet the artist even more so.

I have purchased on line with success from Ebay but that was before my son became an artist & now I don't have much room left for new pieces unfortunately except for anything he gives us. He does local exhibitions in order to sell his work & has a Facebook link to his web page for enquiries & the rest is word of mouth :))

Thanks for weighing in LouieT! There are two career artists in my family, so my parents, grandparents, and in-laws have a lot less wall space because of it too haha. As artists - I think I can speak for many when I say - face to face is ideal, seeing work in person is unmatched by images, but it's an enormous amount of work. I just did a West Elm pop up shop and it was two months of creating works and prep. What I have online is all those efforts that didn't find homes that day. I wish I had more opportunities to show them to people personally and to meet those who love art! Best of luck to your son with his career!

All the best to you Lauren!

Courage & believing in yourself will buoy your journey along with focusing on your career in a business like way & maintaining a positive attitude. I will take a closer look at your work now & you never know, I might have a little bit of room ;)

Thank you for the words of encouragement LouieT! Positivity & courage is key in everything! (& laughter, lots of laughter) I hope you enjoy looking at my work and the possibility one might catch you eye and end up in your collection :)

www.fratantonilifestyles.com

Well that's annoying.

remember good with bad. breathe in, breathe out. They tell me none of these things are supposed to bother us, don't worry i don't get it either.

Oh here is a positive bead, she wants you to sell her some art?

Haha, trust me I'm not that ruffled by it. It's just sad to see something so blatantly self concerned without a care to contribute to the greater, thoughtful conversation.

If only ;)

I thought you knew - not personally intended, Preschool Reading Only. They never read anything anyone but them write, and i am not sure about that.

havingfun, frames are not a problem, time is:) My husband's hobby is woodworking so he can make any frame I want. Plus, modern frames are easy since there is no molding, so he won't need to get his molding planes out:) As for glass, I have a little something that cuts glass, but most probably I would get them already cut. Too many little projects and not enough time seems to be the norm:)

we like to purchase from the artist,usually unable to purchase originals but have some limited artist proofs which have turned into good investments, even though not bought for that. Don't buy to match the furniture either.

tooky that is what i keep saying there is much original art out there, that does not have to cost much. I have one signed print i bought. all i have done since then, except for my oriental, where i don't really understand, just get for hubby, is buy originals. most others did not want for some reason. Also now on Etsy and Saatchi there even large paintings for very reasonable. Not $10 posters, but well look -

$70

pretty sure she was $200

the bottom two come in around $150 and all are couch size.

They may not be yours or my cup of tea, but there are oodles more. all originals. I used to shop at art shows, and i could never afford except the one print. I want to support local, but if it means buying a print over original that i like as much or more? And this is not to poopoo those who get higher prices. I just think everyone should be able to get real art they love. and it gains respect for the art and all crafted things, if we can have them in our homes. And i saw 2 articles, well one was on pbs, where a man's paintings were given their own museum. And then a couple bought what they liked and could afford, they have now given them a room in a museum. So maybe the artists don't have to be well known, nor the collectors. I am sure now that you have owned something you like and it has value you will continue to collect more and prices you pay will go up as you have more money?

Sorry, I am passionate about this.

havingfun, I had a similar painting as your Paris one. I gave it to my in-laws since it wasn't working in our new house. As for costs, that is true. I have two large paintings that we got from ebay a long time ago..they were not stretched, so we had to that ourselves..However, for $100 each (size is something around 6 by 4 ft) it was a great buy. They are a Pollock style

you never know! But it is out there and someone cared enough to make it, so as long as they had ability, it deserves a good home. We had a yearly auction where i used to work. there was one painting by a well known artist that had not sold, they did not reenter it for some reason. A wealthy artist volunteer wanted to take it to use for the canvas, paint over it. I actually had liked the painting, worth over $1000, because who made it. bought it for $25! One of my few more expensive ones, but i loved it all the same.

That was a great buy:)
I promised that from now on, if I find a piece of art that I really like and it's not too expensive, I will get it. When we went to Venice a few years ago, I saw these small black and white paintings..they were very interesting..some ballerinas, but very different than what I'd seen so far.. I didn't buy because I wasn't sure (I'm terrible at making decisions)..I said that I would come back the same way and if I still want it, I'll get it..Well, Venice is quiet a maze, so of course, I haven't found the place anymore..I still regret it..

Speaking of shopping, I went today to a local auction house to see what they have (they had an estate sale). I liked this Finn Juhl chair,,really nice and in great condition. I watched it live on live auctioneers ..well, someone really wanted this chair...I would have paid 2k plus 21% tax,,Care to guess how much it sold for? https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/42319052_finn-juhl-nv-45-armchair?remind=1&ref=registration-request

i will be honest, I have never heard of finn juhl, but i can appreciate the chair! I am not up much on designers. I kinda just know what i like and that is what i do, no matter where it comes from. Though at one time that chair would have been uggh! I have learned a lot on houzz!

I like the midcentury style and some of the chairs are really beautiful. This one is ok. It sold for 11k. Add to that 21% tax and it gets you easily to 13.5k Some people have too much money:)

you just shot all my appreciation right out of me print! A lot of people do. Did you see the LA guy? was going spend up to $1100 on a simple frame work desk, from one of the big names. Said well for that price and that simple, get one made. Designer said no way, stuff is too expensive. Got the teak for $160 off ebay - extra would be left, and a large glass top table off craig's list for free. He is out looking for a carpenter now. Designer got nasty saying I was trying to rip off designer's hard earned $. Which if it is a big name store, don't see that? Had to go back and make sure the guy understood that he was going to get an original not a duplicate, which he knew. Silly people.

There are so many stores that sell replicas and nobody is getting upset. It says replica so you know you are not getting the original. I don't know what the rules are with copies, but it looks like it can be done without problems.
As for rip off, unless the design was something unique, nowhere else seen, I don't see it:) Big stores don't have unique pieces...kind of like those prints you find at Bed Bath and beyond..

Thank you everyone for participating in this poll! Happy Holidays!!! & if you find yourself looking for art for holiday gifts you can find 10% off in my newly stocked online shop!

I only have a few spaces left for pet portrait commissions, grab them while they last! My shop link:

laurenelyseart.etsy.com

www.fratantonilifestyles.com

I mostly shop online on a mix of platforms depending on what I need, like handmade items or home decor. Etsy is usually my go-to for unique, custom-made gifts, while other sites are better for general shopping. It really depends on price, trust, and how easy the checkout process is. I’ve also seen people mentioning G555 when discussing different online marketplaces, so I’m curious about that too.