Based on what I've seen of your cottage, your look is much cleaner than mine, so I don't know if this idea will appeal to you. I am in the process of filling a wall in my den with vintage floral paintings. Many came from eBay, garage sales and consignment shops. I don't have the money to collect from most artists, although there are many out there that I would love to collect.
You obviously don't have to pick florals, if landscapes or something like that are more appealing to you, but it was just an idea to throw out there for you.
Below is a link to my wall...there are a couple of photos, just click on next to see the other one.

Just checked out Steve Huneck's art...it is so awesome!!

Here is a link that might be useful: My Painting Wall

Hint: don't go to galleries. Go to art fairs where the artists are there selling their own work. I've been able to haggle with artists to get the price down some, especially at the end of the day when they don't want to truck all that stuff back home and they might be feeling a bit discouraged if they haven't sold much. For instance, the last fair I went to I really liked a watercolor of a forest in winter that was priced at $100. I didn't want to spend most of my budget on one thing, so I showed the artist $75 in cash and she perked right up, practically snatched it out of my hand! Student art fairs at local universities and art schools can be a gold mine of interesting pieces for little cash. Where I live a lot of smaller, independent restaurants and coffee shops display works for sale by local artists, so if you dine out keep your eyes open.

A lot of people have great success with the Self-Representing Artists section of eBay, but I admit I lose patience with sifting through all the, well, crapola to find the good stuff.

I don't really have any suggestions of specific artists because our tastes are very different, but I wanted to pass on that info.

Not all children's-book illustrations are what we would consider "childish" - there is often some very sophisticated artwork, especially in the older books, that still has that sense of fun that you're looking for. For example, I just saw some beautiful work that just happens to appear in kids' books by an artist named Ezra Keats.

Giclee prints and even "fine art prints" (laser prints) are much nicer than the more cheaply printed poster type prints but still generally aren't very expensive.

These might be a bit to "field and stream" as you mentioned but I love both artists and have works from all of them.
Fariad did my kitchen backsplash in tile from his "Winter Orchard" picture. He is an established artist including having one of his fowl prints made into a Canadian stamp. Jennifer his wife is an amazing artist in her own right.
http://www.wildlandimages.com/

If you like wild life prints then I also would recommend Lindsey Foggett. I have three of her bear prints including the bear walking next to the water on her website called "In Search of Spring", plus "Golden Lookout" and "Mountain Home"
Her website is linked below....

Here is a link that might be useful: Lindsey's website

Have you looked at Etsy? Big art section.

Here is a link that might be useful: Etsy Art Category

Thanks all for your suggestions. They are a wonderful starting point.

I've never had any formal art training or done any collecting, and it's a little intimidating to admit that to people who look to help you in small galleries. DH & I were just browsing on Newbury Street in Boston and I came away feeling lousy.

johnmari - It's interesting that you mentioned children's books as inspiration because in a roundabout way that's how I heard of Charles Harper's work. CBS Sunday Morning (my favorite TV program of all time..) did a feature on the designer, Todd Oldham, this past week. He came across one of Harper's works and realized it was the same artist who had illustrated his favorite children's book "Golden Book of Biology" which had inspired his direction in art and designing.
I looked up Harper's prints and saw that they spoke to me, too. They're abstract without being too modern and show subjects from a different point of view than the way they're usually portrayed.

At this stage of life, I'm trying to open myself to new things. I appreciate all of you for sharing your ideas with me!

Good heavens, Newbury Street will make anyone who isn't a millionaire feel lousy - no wonder you're discouraged! There are SO many colleges/universities/art schools in and around Boston though - start phoning up art departments to ask when they're going to have any student art shows. They'll probably be closer to the end of the academic year.

In May there'll be an open studio weekend at Fort Point Studios and another in Somerville. The City of Boston sponsors "Arts on the Arcade" every summer, which I've heard is a heckuva good time.

I don't think you need to have any formal art training to choose artwork for your home - it's much more important, IMO, to have things that make you feel good than something that is a perfect piece of art from a technical point of view or is from some "name" in the art world but doesn't do anything for you on the emotional level.

Thanks, johnmari, for the info on the open studios. I will check them out. And for the vote of confidence that I'm capable of choosing what to put on my walls, even without an art degree or a millionaire's wallet!

Since you mentioned Newbury St., you must live in the Boston area? I do, too. Our favorite gallery is Powers Gallery in Acton. They have a fairly wide range of prices and the owner is really great to work with and will help you to find works in your price range. I'm sure this is true with most galleries, but they will also let you take home a couple of paintings if you're not sure about them. (I've taken home 2-3 items and then returned them w/out buying anything, and I didn't get any dirty looks!) Renjeau Gallery in Natick (used to also be in Concord but I think that branch is closed now) also has a nice selection. Both of these galleries have web sites but Powers' site doesn't show a good representation of all the work they have. I also second the vote for open studios. Another good one is in Waltham, but I think that's in November. I also like the Paradise City Arts Festival, which happens a couple of times a year (look for their web site).

I totally agree with the etsy and art fairs and university suggestions.

Not all of us artists are in galleries, some do pretty well as indies. If you google your city and the type of art you like, you might find somebody's independent web site. I get lots of Google hits with my medium and my state. So, I don't know what you like but if you did "floral painter Boston" you might find somebody you'd never find in a gallery.

Also, be sure and look for your city or state's visual arts organization's slide registry. Many are now online, and you can easily look at work from a huge variety of your local artists.

"Shopping local" for art enriches your life far beyond what is on your walls.

sueb, I love what I saw on the Powers gallery website; Renjeau not so much.
thanks for the links.

Thank you all for sending sites and suggestions.

bettycbowen - I take to heart your comment about how shopping for local art transcends simply accessorizing a home. I have a special appreciation for the pen & ink sketches I bought locally. Not to sound corny, but I feel the presence of someone who put his heart into the work whenever I see them.

Check out the gallery on this site. I believe she also does your own pets at request. She is in VT.
http://www.janicehunt.com/

Children's books really are an amazing source of original art. My grandmother taught in a grade school that was built in 1914. She always brought the discarded textbooks home, and as a kid in the 60's I recall pouring over turn of the century primers, etc. I ended up with many of them when she passed away. May favorites were by Madge Bigham. The style of children's book illustrations at the turn/early part of the century remains unique, IMO. I couldn't bear to tear the pages out of these beloved books, so I had several plates professionally color copied and then matted/framed. Just a thought for an inexpensive way to add unique art to your home.

--especially Mother Goose Village.

Here are some prints on Etsy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Check out this site.

Since you are in Boston, I wanted to mention Monserrat College of Art in Beverly. It is a very small selective school. A friend of mine from college is a professor there, and they are always having showings of student and faculty art. I assume much of it is for sale. All of the faculty are working artists.

beausoleil: Love your painting wall!

Jana

Johnmari - that would be Ezra Jack Keats, who did MANY children's books over the years. I too love his artwork.

Some of you have mentioned art school and university art fairs. Our local high school does one, too, with the proceeds going to help the art department. So don't overlook your local high school!

Another thought that no one has brought up - do you have any budding artists in your circle of friends or family? Or perhaps, at your church? You might commission a work very inexpensively that way. My daughter just got her first commission that way, through her church.

DonnaR/CA

I think you should still go to galleries; it will train your eye. You will begin to recognize what you love, what you want to find in your paintings.

Galleries are used to greeting browsers, a simple "no thanks, we are just looking" suffices. Don't be intimidated
Seeing what kind of work mid priced emerging artists galleries show will enable you to spot a certain technique, composition, whatever and when you go to fairs or student exhibits, you will be more confident in recognizing what makes your heart sing and what could be a good deal.

I also highly recommend a small inexpensive recent book by Lisa Hunter called
"the Intrepid Art Collector" - it has a lot of very useful information in what to look for and how to go about it, at all levels of purchase.

This artist has cute, cottagey prints. I've ordered from her before.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bonnie Taylor Talbot

yes, those are pretty cute and whimsical ; I love the tall cakes !
I could see those done as a greeting card collection.