You can now own an original piece of art with a 0% APR interest free loan. Art2Arts are pleased to offer 10 months’ interest free credit* through Arts Council England’s Own Art scheme. Art collecting is hot news at the moment, with more and more people buying art as a financial investment, and record prices being seen at auction houses around the world. The own art scheme gives just about anyone the chance to get on the ladder and begin investing in fine art. It’s a great way to support contemporary UK artists, while gaining a piece of original art that will truly enrich your living space.

Own Art is only available through galleries, museums and other arts organisations that have been approved by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland or Arts Council of Northern Ireland as registered members of the scheme.

How does Own Art work?
Buy any piece of artwork on the site, or commission an artist to create a piece priced between £100 – £2000, and spread the cost over 10 monthly installments (typical example: artwork costs £300, 10 monthly payments of £30). There’s no deposit required, however, if you would prefer to make an initial payment you can use the scheme as part payment and spread the remaining amount (typical example: artwork costs £300, you would like to pay £100 upfront, spread the remaining £200 over 10 monthly payments of £20).

You can purchase multiple pieces as long as the total cost does not exceed £2000.

 

Applying is easy, and the criteria are quite inclusive:
If you would like to apply for our interest-free loan please email your contact details to sales@art2arts.co.uk or call 023 92699 990.

 Own Art is available to all UK residents over the age of 18, subject to status. This means that you must be able to meet the following criteria in order to be approved for a loan:

• Over the age of 18
• A permanent UK resident
• Working at least 16 hours a week (employed or self-employed)

If you are not working but are married to or living with a partner who does have a full time job, then you may still apply provided that your partner is happy for their employment details to be included on your application form.

Visit the Art2Arts online gallery to see the hundreds of original art pieces that you could buy right away with an interest-free loan from the Own Art Scheme.

Art2Arts is a licensed broker of Own Art loans. Registered address: 30 Lower Derby Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, PO2 8EX.

 

 

Paula Oakley is Art2Arts’ May artist of the month, and with her work’s colour, vibrancy and wonderful mix of nostalgia and modern day culture, she’s one of our most popular artists. In  this interview she explains a little about her artistic inspirations and creative process.Penny – Did you go to art college? If so, where, and what was your experience like ? 
Paula- I attended art college for just a few months. Unfortunate family circumstances meant I was unable to continue. But saying that I don’t think I would have stayed, they wanted you to do things their way and seemed to have no interest in helping you to develop your own style.

How did your interest in painting develop?
For as long as I can remember drawing and painting have always been one of life’s pleasures. A means of relaxation.

I love your still life paintings of clothing and accessories. How did you develop this idea?
I have always thought of still life paintings as being be boring !  A bowl of tired fruit on a table or a vase of stiff looking flowers.
I wanted to challenge myself and take everyday objects and bring them to life, not just with colour but with light, shadow, texture, transparency and reflections. To look a little closer than usual and give a simple composition a ” story”, something that can be related to. Traditional themes with a contemporary  feel. When I finished “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not” I was delighted to be bombarded by people wanting to know what happened next, did the relationship work out? It was a reaction I did not expect but it meant that I had achieved part of my challenge!

Could you describe the process you go through in imagining, planning, and creating a painting?
I don’t know how to describe the thought process that starts a painting. Sometimes it’s a colour, an emotion, a sentence, a view…… Usually the idea just comes into my head and then there is a “no rest” period until it has been created on canvas, it’s like a sugar rush but with paint!

What are your favourite types of paints to use?
I used to paint with watercolours then one day I was given a box of acrylics. Wow! Such colour and vibrancy! I have been hooked ever since. They can be harsh and awkward but once you get used to them they will do just what you want. I paint in thin layers and build up the depth of colour finishing off with the highlights that bring everything to life.

 

Who and what are your main inspirations?
Inspiration comes from life around me. We often take things we see every day for granted , rushing here and there we miss so much. Take a little longer to look and you will notice so much more.

What other jobs have you had?
Most of my working life has been in high street retail. Not exactly art-related but as a self promoting artist the experience within the area of sales, customer relations and a general understanding of business has definitely helped.

Do you every get creative blocks, and if so, how do you deal with them?
Luckily I don’t get creative blocks. I tend to have a constant list in my head of “things I want to paint”. Between each painting I try to ensure that I do something completely different for a couple of days, it gives the brain a rest and seems to free up even more ideas!

What advice do you have for young artists just starting out?
If I was to give advice it would be to stay true to what you enjoy painting, don’t paint to please others, paint what makes your heart sing, that is where you will develop your individual style. Don’t let negative comments hold you back. Everyone is different and you can’t please all the people all of the time.

See more of Paula’s evocative paintings at her Art2Arts page.