subject: Excellent Tips on Buying Artwork [print this page] Do you look at the walls in your house and feel that they are plain? If you have yet to adorn your home with art, you are neglecting its potential almost as much as if you had omitted windows from the design. You may have wanted to buy an original work of art, but have been discouraged from doing so by high prices at art auctions. Don't let those prices scare you away; there are actually a variety of innovative and original pieces of art that can be purchased in virtually any financial situation. Less than ten dollars can by original oil paintings today.
A unique painting is a must. When you buy an original piece of art, you are buying so much more than just some paint haphazardly strewn on a canvas. You are buying emotion, you are buying a window into the artist's soul and this is a powerful and stirring thing to own and display in your home. There is nothing like the singular pleasure of enjoying an original work of art that you love in your own home. It's yours. You can look at it any time you like. It makes a statement about you as an individual. All of the forces that shaped the artist's have influenced the creation of your painting.
The secret to getting something you love at a price you can afford lies in looking in the right places. The best way to find out which suits you is to educate your taste. Get friendly with the local art museum. Spend lots of time there perusing. By just examining art pieces for an extended period of time, you will develop a certain sense of appreciation for eminence and what you gravitate to artistically.
Always begin with art that appeals to you; otherwise your taste will never mature. Art shouldn't be purchased simply because of the value. Even a piece of art that you may not love ten years from now has value if you love it when you buy it. you still ought to like it when you purchase it.
The main distributors of original art are galleries; in order to get a good idea of the market, visit them frequently to effectively evaluate the quality and cost range available. Never hesitate to make inquiries. People sometimes hold back because they fear looking stupid or naive. Better to do that than to make a costly mistake. Ask about the style of art that's handled by the dealer in addition to the artists in the gallery, and make sure you get to know an artists background if you're interested in their work. Meet the art dealer, if he or she is local, and examine the art carefully to see its condition and to make sure it is an original.
As a fairly inexperienced buyer, you should be particularly careful to get information that will ensure you that you're not spending to much or getting in inauthentic piece of art. This type of fraud is relatively common on expensive and older pieces of art, but less common on inexpensive and modern works. Before you spend any money, you really should find out whether the gallery you're thinking of patronizing has a good reputation for selling authentic art. The best recourse is to make enough inquiries on your own, perhaps at your museum, to find galleries you can trust.
Another common method of acquiring art is via an auction house. Here, contemporary works are less common. .But it is often possible to purchase an older painting or sculpture at a bargain price. If you are buying for investment purposes, though, be careful. Second and third rate auction houses are the most common place you will find counterfeit art. Auction houses may not be very concerned about the authenticity of the art, and barely satisfy the legal requirements for informing potential purchases about their policies. If you come across a prominent artist's work that is priced unbelievably low, then you are probably looking at a piece that has been significantly damaged or was copied.
Ultimately, you can be either an amateur art lover or a professional collector and the same guidance pertains to you. Window shop often. Make yourself a fixture in the museums and galleries local to you. Learn as much as you can. Get to know people in the art community and be sure to pick their brains, particularly if you are considering a significant investment. Guard yourself against scams. And last but not least, always buy only the art that you truly appreciate.
