I was trying to refrain from posting to this thread but sorry, I just can’t hold my tongue.
For a second, substitute tattoo for ocean theme painting. Would you honestly go get a bunch of tattoos quickly done without spending time to learn about the different designs and to be sure that the tattoo was something you’d want ten years from now? (Well, come to think about it, maybe that’s not the best analogy given the horrible tattoos I see on people every day. But hopefully you get my drift)
There’s lots of crummy art out there, and only a small amount of really good art. Often the best artists are not great self promoters and often the best self promoters are crummy artists. So beware. Until you learn enough about the art and the styles, you are very likely to pick paintings that catch your eye with flashy colors but aren’t going to appeal to you over time.
If you want something that you will fall in love with and enjoy for years, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to educate yourself some. (Would you buy a house without educating yourself? Would you just trust recommendations from an online forum and a realtor? Okay, don’t answer that question) I would highly suggest doing research on Plein Aire painting. California has been a great spot for a century now. There are lots of artists, each with their own style. Many of them active in southern california. Start with plein aire organizations such as the Laguna Plein Air painters Assn. They often hold member shows where you can see a variety of paintings in person. (Which is a lot different than seeing an online photo)
If you really can’t be bothered with learning about the art, then I’d suggest looking through the bins at places like Walmart or Michaels or Bed Bath and Beyond. They have popular prints that could liven up your walls. (And would probably be a lot cheaper than buying an original painting)
