Original Canadian art for as little as $170 without leaving the comfort of your own home? Sounds irresistible.
That’s exactly what Noémie L. Côté had in mind when she launched the successful, inaugural online Petite Art Show last year. The show, which features compact art with a big impact by professional and emerging Canadian creators, is back May 24 to 26. For Côté, an award-winning, Ottawa-based landscape painter, it’s a win-win for purchasers and artists alike.
“It’s a great way to start owning original art,” she says. “If you’re looking to add something to your home, something personal and creative with colour and energy, art is always a wonderful way to go. And you’re supporting our Canadian artists.”
This year’s show features a cavalcade of spring-themed paintings, mixed media, glass mosaics and fabric by artists from across Canada. Many of the artists have been award winners or exhibited in juried art shows. Their work ranges from stunning landscapes and traditional still life to wildlife studies, vibrant floral creations and more.
All the art is one of a kind. And everything is sized to fit both space and budget considerations: 8×8-inch ($170), 12×12-inch ($350) and 11×14-inch ($370). All prices include shipping and many of the works are already framed.
COVID ignited the idea
Côté got the idea for her own, specialized online art show by exhibiting in digital shows during COVID, which hit just as she was launching her own full-time painting career. “It was building my confidence, testing the market without the huge cost (of traditional exhibits) and I thought, ‘This is a fantastic opportunity, especially for emerging artists when they’re testing how collectors react to their work.’”
Noting that those shows were run by other artists, she decided to do her own. “I have an entrepreneurial spirit,” says Côté, who previously worked in marketing for an Ottawa-area home builder. “I like creating art and I like creating opportunity, pushing the limits… I wanted to figure this out, get rid of the ‘starving artist’ syndrome and teach other artists how they can do it.”
The idea has touched a nerve with those artists as well: this year, 267 applied. The jury process — which considers such factors as whether the art has a general appeal, demonstrates both unity and contrast, and shows a high level of craftsmanship — whittled that down to a manageable 50 artists.
Following feedback about last year’s show, she’s expanded the size of the art from just 12×12 inches at one price to three sizes and prices this time.
That range of sizes means there’s something for almost any space, she says: an office, a bathroom, a living or dining room, a bedroom. Smaller works bring a splash of colour and life to a nook or cranny, and several art works can be hung together to create a lively “wall of smalls.”
Choose what speaks to you
Buying art doesn’t have to be complicated nor does it require specialized knowledge, according to Côté.
“Whatever makes you feel something that you enjoy feeling — if it’s joy, if it’s energizing, if it’s quirky, or if it’s just beautiful and matches your decor. It adds a bit of your personality and it’s something to talk about when friends come over. It’s based on personality, what you love and your decor.”
Affordable art like that offered at the Petite Art Show is perfect for new homeowners, adds Côté, noting that new owners are often stretching every dollar but at the same time they want a home that is a pleasure to live in and reflects who they are.
“It’s really fun to buy something small as a young couple moving in together. That first art is very important to them.”
Easy to decide, but don’t delay
Being able to scroll through art online makes choosing a piece easy, says Côté. That’s especially so when sizes and prices are standard.
But don’t wait too long, she cautions. The works at the Petite Art Show sell quickly and because they are all originals, there’s no second chance to buy one. She suggests getting online during the first day.
Côté will also give away one work of art from the show to a lucky new subscriber to the Petite Art Show email list. To enter, visit the website.
