Coming up: Affordable Art Fair.

Original works of art can cost a pretty penny. But if you know where to look you can find some great stuff. I got my cubist-inspired oil from Ebay from a prolific artist who seems to be pretty successful selling them that way. But if you need to really touch and see (or just see in the case of paintings) the stuff, head over to the Affordable Art Fair of NYC, in town May 6-9.

According to the website, the art is priced from the potentially affordable to $100 to the more aristocratic $10,000. Nevertheless, those who are familiar with art collecting know that this is indeed affordable art. However, window shopping is permissible. All it will cost you is the $20 ($16 for students/seniors) you paid to get in the door. If you're serious about collecting some art, $45 gets you into the private preview on May 5.  Most of the good stuff gets snapped up pre-sale, so it could be worth it for that perfect watercolor of the two bridges.

Ancillary to the AAFNYC is the I [heart] Brooklyn party on May 6, meant to celebrate Brooklyn's art galleries (primarily located in Williamsburg, Cobble Hill and Dumbo). $25 gets you in

It goes without saying that original art pieces are one of a kind, but don't worry if you can't make it: going forward, AAFNYC will hold a second fair in September. Stay tuned.