Welcome to Gaia! ::

I have a noticeboard on the main/focal wall in my room, which is filled with... childish stuff, I guess. A dream catcher, stuff I made when I was younger, pictures of animals, etc. I really want to replace it with something - but what? I don't have any photos (of myself, friends or from holidays) that I really want to put up. SO I was thinking of buying some art. I have some money I was given for my 21st birthday and I want to spend it on something meaningful/that will last. So it's not a bad idea...

BUT good art is hard to find. I've never seen art IRL for sale that a) I liked and b) I could afford. I was thinking of buying something on etsy or dA? Does anyone have any experience with whether that's a good idea? I don't want to blow $200 on something that turns out to be a piece of crap.

Not to mention, it's hard to find something that will match my room, I would enjoy looking at for years, and matches my style/personality. I quite like looking at some abstract stuff on the computer for instance, but I don't THINK I would want it on my wall (e.g. I find this quite mesmerising, but who knows what it would look like IRL). Otherwise... I like natural, calming things. Trees, birds and beaches (e.g. this or this). I like reddish tones but my room is more green/blue/yellow. I quite like texture. I guess I want something tasteful and I really can't tell whether the things I'm looking at are or not...

EDIT: Bah, and art is so subjective. When I think about the pieces that my Grandparents or even my parents have in their houses... I don't really like any of it. xd So I won't be offended if you think the things I've used as examples are horrible! xd

where's bob ross when you need him?

what i have done is to go to some village art shows
where local people have exhibits and some are for sale
and i have found a few fascinating pieces that the really good artists felt were not good enough to go to their usual galleries but were still to interesting to just throw away.

one for instance was a giant red vase, much too big (or in too close a perspective) for the picture, but drawn like a gem, full of fiery life, sitting in a bland pale yellow window sill looking out over an early spring yard with a bare tree; the contrast of sun and inner color with all the neutral shades and the feel of late winter was remarkable.

and student shows can also reap rewards if you are patient and choosy.