And even though that vase was brushed with the finest majolica glazes, there is probably a good deal of markup included in the price-markup that you may not have to pay. Instead of going retail, perhaps a better idea would be to find an art fair in the area and give it a shot. You may not find what you’re looking for, but you also might. And if you can get it at a better price, that could mean a lot of money. After all, if you can’t find what you’re looking for at the art fair, you can always go back to the original store and pay full price.

Some art fairs are annual events put on by local organizations. The larger ones can span several city blocks and have a sort of festival feeling to them. Here you can find anything from sculpture to wearable art like purses and hats. Pottery is very common, as is jewelry. You can even find green art that focuses on using recycled or low-impact materials. Lead-free glazes are common on the pottery you find, as artists always seem to be on the forefront of using responsible art supplies. Prices usually are marked but in many cases may be very flexible. And because you are oftentimes talking to the artist themselves, you can usually negotiate a better deal. Sometimes, if you offer a deal near the end of the fair, the artist will be more willing to deal since they know they’ll have to pack the piece back up if they don’t sell it.

While traveling around the country looking for art fairs may not be the best way to go about finding that perfect piece, it can be the centerpiece of a vacation. A girl’s weekend is made even more fun looking through booth after booth of artistic treasures. You can ooh and aah over the beautiful bright-colored liquid glazes that were used to create some of the Southwestern pottery pieces. And you may just find that perfect piece for the baby’s room or the knick knack that will finish off your living room just right.