Everyone's an artist these days, at least according to Instagram.
Alternatively, you're only a serious artist if you have art showing on the walls of a gallery.
But shouldn't there be something in between?
Jane Crowley, founder of the Dirty Janes vintage empire, has always figured design goes hand-in-hand with found objects and curated vintage stores.
The vast spaces that house Dirty Janes storeholders - the Canberra version, in Fyshwick, is around 2000 square metres - are designed to feel cohesive, even with a large mish-mash of styles, genres and periods on display.
So how about throwing some up-and-coming artists into the mix, and see how their work feels on display amidst the homewares, bric-a-brac and eccentric antiques?
"We are huge supporters of small business and artisans in general," she says.
"And we looked at the fact that for you as an emerging artist, to try and get your work known, yes you all have an Instagram page, but to actually get your work hung in a retail space, and for people to walk past that space and go, 'Wow, look at that painting' ... is actually really tricky."
Dirty Janes is hosting a new version of its Wine Meets Design nights, but this time with art as well, mixing works by local artists, wine and cheese, and live shows - all after dark.
It's a chance for local artists - the ones who haven't yet had the chance to show their work - to see how it fares in the context of design, vintage stores and commerce in general.
"We're trying to attract people who haven't had the confidence to go out and actually validate their art," Ms Crowley says.
"All of their rellies have told them how wonderful it is, but to actually get the public looking at it and going, yes, that's actually really great, and to not be in a competition."
She says the event is also an opportunity for storeholders to meet the people who buy their carefully curated stuff - thus validating their choices.
"Often we don't know who has bought our items, so you're just sort of going, 'Well, great. They've gone off to a lovely home somewhere'," she says.
"But it's really vital that we get that sort of interaction so that we know, yes, we are on the right track."
- Wine Meets Design is at Dirty Janes Canberra on October 18. Tickets are $37. dirtyjanes.com
