Bespoke art at a stroke
When Jo Gourley Froome from Hertfordshire moved home and struggled to find the perfect piece of art to decorate her new home with, she decided to fix the problem by setting up her own business, CreateMyArt.com, which match-makes talented artists online with those wanting bespoke pieces of art.
The website uses the unique concept of having artists bid for the work ensuring that art lovers can get their bespoke sculptures, canvases or textile pieces at an affordable price.
CreateMyArt.com, which launches today, features over 100 British and international artists including film director Stanley Kubrick's daughter, Katharina Kubrick, an accomplished oil painter, who is based at the Childwickbury Estate, St Albans.
From an abstract canvas, a garden sculpture or a huge ceramic vase, art lovers can visit the website and create a wish list of their desired creation including the size, colour scheme and budget range. They can even upload photographs that will help describe their vision. Artists are then able to bid for the work; they can see the other proposal prices from the other artists which results in their own prices becoming more competitive.
"CreateMyArt.com allows people to influence the creative process and enjoy a unique piece of art at an affordable price," said founder Jo Gourley Froome. "It is for anyone that has ever stood looking at a large empty space in their home or office and had a vision of a piece of artwork that would look perfect, but lacked the skills to create it themselves".
As well as established artists, CreateMyArt.com also supports up-and-coming art students from the UK's top art schools. "I am particularly delighted to be supporting CreateMyArt.com," said Katharina Kubrick, "as the website actively supports young artists at a time when it's incredibly hard to earn a living in the arts' field." Katharina Kubrick is also a patron of the website.
If the art work is a sketch or painting from a photograph, such as a pet or child portrait, CreateMyArt.com also has a range of sizes and styles for set prices. Art buyers receive a Certificate of Authentication for each piece and are supplied with the artist's details that created the work.
"As well as providing the perfect piece of art for your home or office, CreateMyArt.com is also a thoughtful and different gift for house warming's, anniversaries, wedding presents and christenings, especially since we offer gift vouchers," said Jo Gourley Froome.