Journal
Stories
The technique, the mornings and the people behind the work. Written slowly, because the work is made slowly.
Tagged “buying guide”
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shipping
Shipping art internationally, without disasters
Packing, paperwork, duties and the questions to ask before you buy from another continent. Most shipping problems are declaration problems.
4 min read
pricing
What handmade actually costs
Where the money goes when you buy a handmade object, why the cheap version is cheap, and what a fair price looks like from the maker’s side.
4 min read
gifting
Giving art as a gift, well
Art is a wonderful gift and a risky one, because taste is not transferable. How to give something that gets hung rather than stored.
3 min read
interiors
Choosing art for a small room
The instinct in a small space is to hang small things. It is almost always wrong. What actually works when the wall is close to your face.
4 min read
weaving
Six signs of quality in handwoven work
Tension, turns, terminations and tails. What experienced buyers actually look at when they pick up a woven piece, and why price alone tells you very little.
4 min read
ceramics
Clay, and the potter’s hand
Hand-built pottery leaves evidence everywhere — in the walls, the base, the rim and the fire marks. Learning to read it changes what you buy.
4 min read
commissions
Commissioning a piece: what actually happens
A commission is a working relationship with a deadline. What to send, what to agree in writing, where projects go wrong, and how long it really takes.
4 min read
collecting
How to start collecting African art without a budget
Collecting is a habit before it is an expense. A practical way in — how to train your eye, what to buy first, and the three mistakes that cost the most.
4 min read
buying guide
What to look for in an original painting
Six things worth checking before you buy a painting you cannot hold in your hands — edges, surface, signature, support, and the two questions that tell you the most.
5 min read