Looking for something to fill a blank wall at home? Adding an artwork to enliven your home and refine its aesthetic does not need to be daunting or overpriced. But, it’s important to keep in mind that as an art buyer, you play a unique role in ensuring artists have a fair go, as well as being smart and ethically-conscious with your purchases.
Artists are working all around the world, and many of them work independently. In an age where we are saturated with plagiarism and, more recently, artificial-intelligence (AI) generated images, it’s more critical than ever to sustain the livelihood of artists and uphold fair practices in the art community.
It’s also a bonus for a buyer to know the intimate stories behind each of the pieces and enjoy the advantages of genuine artworks that align with your values and high standards.
Why Keep Mind of the Ethical When Choosing Wall Art
The rise of AI-generated images makes it harder than ever to know whether the print on your wall was crafted by a real artist or an image produced by an algorithm that was trained on other artists’ work without their consent.
That said, it’s important to be assured you’re not purchasing some mass-produced thing, but something that was produced by extended training, time, labour, emotions, blood, sweat and tears, along with all the successes and failures which led to that particular creation.
AI images are inherently synthetic, but this is not necessarily new, given that the homogenisation of synthetic or copied, uninspired items has been going on for a long time.
Taking the lens of ethicality in a world of artificiality, choosing original art allows you to be surrounded by things that are uniquely created and refined by genuine thought, effort, and care.
Buy Local and Made-to-Order
Sometimes, the best way to show support to the independent art community is to purchase from online websites, shops, and galleries that have a goal of promoting and uplifting artists from the grassroots level.
Sourcing from these providers is the best way to ensure fair compensation to local and independent talents while sustaining their creative endeavours and practices to push their ever-evolving craft.
Made-to-order art shops are also a valuable sustainable model used by painting shops, which eliminates overproduction and waste. As opposed to mass-produced artworks, which come from the sterile assembly line, the made-to-order process is defined by the fact that each print is created only when you place an order (which forms as a commission).
There are many opportunities within this model for customisation options, such as handmade framing, which can allow you to add greater meaning and significance to the artwork.
Use Platforms Which Prioritise Real, Independent Creators
In our digitised age, everything is about platforms, and many independent artists are dependent on these to sell their original artworks to searching consumers.
Outlets like Etsy, which is a vibrant online marketplace for all sorts of well-crafted items, are a highly popular way to purchase art from original creators and artists. In response to the proliferation of AI-created items, the platform has taken a middle ground of allowing it, but requiring sellers to disclose its use for whatever artwork or product is being sold. Although self-policing can vary significantly, such platforms that prioritise creator interests as well as transparency towards consumers are channels in which you can find what you are looking for and, most importantly, what matters.
If you’re looking to bring original artwork pieces into your home, you can always source coastal wall art from The Wall Art Warehouse, which uses an ethical, artist-first approach towards supporting artists and letting you buy artworks that shine.
Choosing to opt for platforms like these, which do not use AI at all and pay their artists for every print sold, ensures you’re employing one of the best and most direct ways to support independent creators and their original art creations.
DIY: Create Something Personal
If you’re feeling creative, making your own artworks can be a rewarding way to fill your home with pieces that are truly unique, personal and align with your vision.
From upcycling artworks you already have or displaying pieces you’ve created yourself in an art class, it can be an inspiring process to go through to make something by yourself, for yourself. A variety of resources, such as Bob Ross or your local art club, can help you begin creating artworks at any time, at any pace, to enliven your own home.
Choosing artworks for a blank wall in your home is a highly personal decision.
At the same time, in a world of constant change and uncertainty, maintaining a degree of principality in ethics is crucial to considering the impact of your choices, both in terms of sustaining the creativity of contemporary independent artists and the health of our planet.