You can buy art from galleries, auction houses, interior design showrooms, online marketplaces, and big-box retailers. There’s no shortage of places to find paintings. But there’s one option that’s better for you and better for the artist in almost every way: buying directly.
When you buy a painting from the artist’s own website or studio, the transaction is between two people — the person who made the art and the person who will live with it. No middleman, no gallery commission, no platform fees eating into the artist’s earnings. Here’s why that matters.
You Get Better Prices
Gallery commissions typically range from 40% to 60% of the sale price. That means a painting priced at $1,000 in a gallery might be priced at $600–$700 on the artist’s own website for the same work. The artist earns the same amount or more, and you pay less.
When I sell a painting directly through my website, I can offer prices that are genuinely fair for both of us. I don’t have to inflate prices to account for gallery commissions, and you don’t have to pay that markup. The savings are meaningful — especially on larger or higher-priced works.
You Get a Real Relationship
When you buy from a gallery, you often have limited information about the artist. You see the painting, you read a brief bio on the wall, and that’s it. The transaction is between you and the gallery.
When you buy directly, you can ask me anything. How was this painted? What inspired it? What would look good in my living room? Can you show me more detail shots? Is this the right size for my space? I’ll answer every question personally — because I genuinely want you to find the right piece and love living with it.
That relationship extends beyond the purchase. Direct buyers often become repeat buyers. They follow my work on Instagram, join my email list, attend shows, and commission custom pieces. Some of my most valued collector relationships started with a single print purchase and grew from there.
You Get the Full Story
Every painting has a story — the moment that inspired it, the challenges of creating it, the decisions the artist made along the way. When you buy directly, you get access to that story in a way that no gallery card or marketplace listing can provide.
I include a signed certificate of authenticity with every original painting. But more than that, I’m available to tell you about the painting — where I was when I painted it, what the light was like, why I chose that palette, what I was thinking about. That context doesn’t just make the painting more interesting — it makes it more meaningful. The next time someone admires the painting on your wall, you’ll have a story to tell, not just a price to quote.
You Support Independent Creative Work
When you buy art from a big online marketplace or a mass-retail outlet, the margins are thin and the money disperses across a large organization. When you buy directly from an independent artist, the full purchase amount goes to one person — the person who made the thing you love.
That money funds the next painting. It buys watercolor paper and pigments. It pays the rent on the studio. It gives the artist the freedom to keep creating rather than taking a different job. Your purchase is a direct investment in the continuation of the work.
I don’t say this to create guilt — buying art should always be a joyful act, not an obligation. But if you have the choice between buying a print from a faceless aggregator and buying the same print directly from the artist who made it, the impact of that choice is real and significant.
You Get Flexibility
Galleries and marketplaces have rigid systems — fixed pricing, standard shipping, no modifications. When you buy directly from an artist, there’s flexibility that simply doesn’t exist in other channels.
Need a painting shipped by a specific date for a birthday? I can arrange that. Want to see the painting in a different type of lighting before you commit? I’ll take photos for you. Interested in a painting that’s sold but want a similar composition? We can discuss a commission. Have a question about framing, sizing, or art care? I’m one email away.
That kind of personal, responsive service is the natural result of dealing directly with the person who made the work.
How to Find and Buy Directly
Most artists who sell directly have their own website with an online shop. You can also find artists through Instagram and then navigate to their website to purchase. When you’re on a marketplace like Etsy or Saatchi Art, check whether the artist also has their own website — often they do, and buying from the artist’s own site means lower prices and a better experience for both of you.
Buy Direct from My Studio
Everything in my shop is sold directly from me to you. No gallery commission, no middleman, no markup. Every order comes with personal attention, careful packaging, and the knowledge that your purchase directly supports an independent artist and her work.
Browse my original paintings →
For more art-buying guidance: How to Choose Original Art for Your Home →
