ABOUT BUYING ART

GOOD EARTH original tea — the one with cinnamon — is my very favorite. When it’s fresh there’s nothing better in the morning for someone who cannot drink caffeine! A few years ago, this bit of tea bag wisdom struck my fancy…

“WHY SHOULD I BUY EXPENSIVE ART WHEN I CAN MAKE MY OWN”
— Piero Milani, (an artist born in Italy who is perhaps most famous for this quote)

As an artist wanting to sell my work, I’m not overjoyed by the concept…
But I understand Piero’s thinking. My collection is only budding. Hopefully, over time, it will contain more art that others have made. Why? Because it brings me joy!

Here’s a painting I bought from my son, Dane. It’s bound to be a great investment! Check out Dane’s web site for more examples of his art.

The graphite pieces above my kitchen window, made by Vic Thomas, a favorite art instructor READ ABOUT THEM. Artwork by my sons. And this piece by my friend Susan Gorrie, “René’s Tuscan Cherry Jam” which was inspired by our Italy trip last May. Yes, I did climb the tree to pick the cherries! It means so much to me.

Fortunately, there are people who value art and are willing to invest in it!
You might enjoy this piece from local art writer Duane Snider about collecting art in Portland…

“I thought I couldn’t afford fine art. I needed justification for spending that much money on an object of such subjective value. I feared I didn’t have the knowledge or experience to make good judgments about what I wanted. I felt intimidated by the abstract nature of what constituted quality art.”

And this, from his second essay:

“In Portland, unlike in larger cities, one doesn’t need lots of money to afford a very nice personal collection. Local galleries do a good job making art accessible to anyone who has even modest amounts of disposable income. Many local galleries have liberal layaway policies that help new customers start collecting.

In recent years galleries have been opening outside the traditional art districts with a focus on quality work by emerging artists generally priced under $1,000 – with many works from $100 to $500. This profusion of affordable art is the element that makes the Portland market irresistible to the experienced collector and surprisingly accommodating to the novice.”

Piero Milani says:

October 4, 2016 at 6:48 pm

Hi I’m piero milani I wrote the quote

Alex Carter says:

August 17, 2026 at 8:40 am

I really enjoyed reading about your personal connection to art, especially the pieces from your son and friend. It’s true that art’s value often lies in the joy it brings, not just the price tag. Your mention of affordable art in Portland reminds me of how accessible creativity can be. By the way, for anyone inspired to create their own art, tools like Reference2Video could be a fun way to turn ideas into visual stories, blending traditional appreciation with modern technology.

reference to video

Pitch Changer says:

August 28, 2026 at 7:43 pm

I love the way this piece makes collecting feel personal and approachable, especially the stories behind family and friends’ artwork and the mention of affordable Portland galleries. For artists or collectors sharing music alongside visual work, Pitch Changer can preview alternate keys and tempos locally before exporting a WAV—without uploading any

audio pitch changer

Ticketmaster Simulator says:

September 3, 2026 at 11:28 am

I enjoyed the emphasis on making art collecting approachable, especially the examples of local work and layaway options in Portland. For anyone attending a popular art event, Ticketmaster Simulator offers a similarly low-pressure way to practice queues, seat choices, fees, and checkout before the real moment.

ticketmaster simulator

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