Original Art Collecting

The art market can seem like a daunting scary world, for those with millions to spend. Don’t be intimidated, anyone can enjoy owning art in an affordable way. The key is to choose something you love and buy with confidence.

Research

Take your time and do your homework. There are lots of opportunity to find quality art for a reasonable price. With the internet now more than ever artists are presenting their works on-line and available for purchase. When you see a piece of art that grabs at your soul, and you fall in love with.
Google search the artists, look at their website. Subscribe and read their blog postings, follow them on Instagram, and Face Book. Don’t be afraid to personally contact the artist about the piece you love. After a few days, you should be able to identify if the art works fit your budget. One price does not fit all! With millions of artists around the world, you will find one with the talent and price structure that you can afford.

Buy With Your Heart

Buy something beautiful for you and that you want to look at everyday on your walls. However, when you decide to collect the works of a particular artist, research their careers. Do they have a body of work, and are they demonstrating skills and craft growth? Trust Your Instinct. Buy something for the simple reason that you love looking at it. Be discerning and brave. If you’re looking for something in a particular style. Consider the works of an exciting emerging artist, instead of scrimping and saving to buy something second-rate from a well-known artist. There’s great satisfaction in supporting the next generation of artists. I once heard an expert art dealer say that all artist are “emerging” unless they are represented by established major world-class museums and art galleries, in New York, Rome, London, etc.

Don't Try To Be Cool

Don't be too hip. It's hard to be on the upside of the curve unless you're an insider. Better to buy something that's gone a bit obscure, even out of style, think modern, not contemporary. Don’t buy something only because you think the piece will gain in value. Art collecting, is a long term process, and a love and passion for the works themselves. The artists unique style, and subject matter! When you decide on a piece, don’t be afraid to ask the artist for a discount of 10 to 20 percent. If you’re buying directly from the artist, most will be glad to agree.

Have Fun, and enjoy the art collecting experience!