10 Tips for Creative Christmas Shopping

Yes, I know, I know, it’s not even October yet, but tell that to retail places who are already splitting shelves between Halloween crap and Christmas stuff. Since the Corner Gallery is beginning to work towards its seasonal happenings I figured it’s as good a time as any to do a related post.

It's also reminded me about the Landmark Art Centre's Autumn show - good thing I checked the date as it starts on 14th October.

So, wanna buy something artistic or creative for friends and family? Scratching your head on what to buy that difficult person, or the person who seems to have everything? Well, it’s getting to art fair season and Christmas themed art and craft fairs, so check out your local paper/community news or nearby town/city events and see what unique gifts you can pick up.

Preparation saves time and money

1. If you know what events you want to go to, clear you calendar and book ahead; if there's an entry fee it's usually cheaper to buy your ticket in advance. Same goes for travel if you're going by train or Megabus or whatever. Some places have free entry coupons (look out for them in local creative shops or smaller art fairs – Affordable Art often have these).

2. If you have a local indie gallery, pop over and see if they have any social evenings/viewings where you can look at new stock and meet some of the artists. It’s always good to buy from the gallery but if you see a style or theme that might hit the spot with someone but it’s not quite what you’re looking for, you can always check out their website if they have one and you may find the perfect gift there.

3. If you see a painting you love but it’s outside your price range, ask if the artist does prints. And if that’s still out of budget, many artists have a card collection to complement their paintings.

4. Remember that even buying just a card helps to support your local indie gallery, craft outlet or local business. It may just be £2.50 but those small sales add up over a year and are vital to keep businesses flowing. It’s not all about the big ticket items.

5. But if you do see something kinda expensive for your budget, check to see if the gallery has www.ownart.org.uk available. You buy the art to take away and get a 0% finance loan (from £100- £25k) to repay over 10 months. Some galleries have a layaway option (I think this is what it’s called in North America) where the item is put aside until you’ve paid up the full price.

6. Many online art galleries do a version of Own Art – if you’re shopping online, check to see if that’s an option.

7. If you’d like to commission a piece from an artist, you really need to be thinking about starting that conversation with them now. This is a big time of year for many creative businesses and if you want to be sure they have time to complete your commission, the earlier you get in the better. You may be asked for a 50% deposit before works starts but each artist will have their own way of working so be sure to ask.

8. Instead of buying someone a piece of art, how about buying them a spot on a creative workshop, a series of lessons with a local artist/maker or an online tutorial from sites like www.skillshare.com?

9. If you have creatively minded children, check to see if there are any local art groups, classes or pottery throwing/painting outlets near you designed specifically for younger age groups - they can make their own unique gift to take home. Some places have classes for adults too.

10. Lastly, a word of caution. Some craft/art fairs aren’t really authentic. The good ones will refuse anyone not selling their own work, but you do come across art markets where the items are, if not mass made, then manufactured rather than being genuine, original, artist-made pieces.

Ready to dive into a ton of ideas?

Even if you don’t end up buying anything, heading to a big art fair can be a great day out. There’s usually pretty good food available and sometimes live music too. Which reminds me again, Battersea Affordable Art fair kicks off on 20th October. When you've had enough of the art, the park is glorious to walk around with all the Autumn colours and plenty of leaves to kick around.

Add in the Christmas vibe as we get closer the day, it can be a really nice, relaxing change of environment and give your mind a break from the stress and crazy we’ve seen this year.

Oh, and remember to wear comfortable shoes for all that walking around and a note pad and pen in case you’re moved to take notes then have a go yourself when you get home!