Posts Tagged ‘Buying’

Birdman’s Guide to Buying Art Online

January 2nd, 2010

Some of the reasons for buying art online:

These days you can see just about every style of art there is to be seen online in the comfort of your own home or office. This saves you a tremendous amount of time where you don’t have to go walk around a huge gallery, drive a long distance and end up looking at art that you have no idea who painted it, what materials they used, etc. You’ll be surprised how many people just love art and are not experts on techniques, painters’ names or styles. Another benefit to buying art online is the fact that at most online galleries, you will get a short biography on the artist who painted the piece as well as the and their style & price. What if you have a question that isn’t answered at the online gallery you’re viewing? Well in the real world, sometimes finding someone to help answer your questions can take you a tremendous amount of time & there are even times when you won’t find anyone who can help you at all. When you browse online galleries you generally have the option to email the artist directly and then you can have your answer within minutes- depending on how busy the artist is and when they’re checking their email but that’s still a huge bonus over scouring an entire gallery for someone to help you.

Reasons you have for purchasing art:

I’m sure it seems like the obvious thing but in truth many people overlook this point as their basis for buying art in the first place. You have to know WHY you are purchasing art in order to get the right piece. Think about it for a moment, are you buying a painting for someone you love, for your home, for the office decor or maybe as an investment piece? Or perhaps you want to start collecting artwork from a particular artist to build up a nice collection. Each reason I’ve shown you as well as others you might have in mind require a different outlook when you’re purchasing from the style of art, the subject matter to the most obvious- the price. Not too many people want to spend a few thousand on a painting they’re just going to hang up in their living room or hallway but on the other hand, if you’re wanting your first piece of art for investment reasons, you won’t want to pick up a 5 x 7 picture of a fruit salad in a plastic frame. Also, don’t just consider the piece you’re looking for but also the artist, their reputation as well in determining the price of the piece. Naturally, a very well-known artist who sells a lot of their work and is featured in many showings will charge more for their work than someone who’s just beginning in the art world.

What’s more important? The latest trends or Personal Taste?

Let’s face it, we all fall into this trap at some point in our lives- whether it’s to do with clothes, cars and yes, even art. There are so many people who purchase an art piece simply because the style is popular or the artist is very well-reknowned yet they honestly don’t like the piece they bought at all-they bought it just to be “fashionable”. Well speaking from personal experience and as an artist myself I want to give you a big tip that is too often overlooked but it is the VERY reason you should be buying art in the first place- because you love it!!

Don’t worry about the latest trends in art styles or the popular subject matter for paintings or even how the frame looks that the piece came in. First and foremost before going any further in the purchasing process ask yourself this- ” DO I really like this piece?”, “Does it speak to me?” These are the sorts of questions you need to ask yourself before you even talk to the artist. I will admit it, naturally I want people to purchase my work BUT most importantly I want them to be in love with it, to have it speak to them in some form, have it convey an emotion to them that just cries out “I have to have that painting!!” Unlike a car or a blouse, always go with your personal taste and intuition when purchasing any form of artwork.

What sort of medium should I choose?

As you may well know, art comes in so many forms, I can’t even begin to do them justice here but as a few examples: you have watercolors, oils, acrylics, photographs,digital art, statues, murals, etc. Which style is the most valuable or the most respected? The truth is that the medium the artist used to create their painting means very little in the end buying decision if you’re truly in love with the piece. Take for example, I’m going to a site that sells acrylic paintings and even though I’ve never owned such a painting and never really cared for that medium, I find a piece that speaks to me; it has a beautiful bright and bold tropical rainforest scene with a gorgeous flock of birds in the foreground and I’m just in awe of the craftmanship this artist has used. Would I just say to myself,” Mike, you hate acrylic paintings, don’t waste your money on that”? NO WAY in the world would I be this foolish!! Naturally I’d buy this piece because it spoke to me, it gave me something that transcends the paint used or the surface where it was painted on. This is the sort of mindset you have to get yourself into. There are so many wonderful pieces of art that are being created every day around the entire world in various mediums- from acrylic to digital paintings to 3-D images- what makes any of these styles less important than another? Absolutely nothing but your own taste. If you see a watercolor painting and love it- buy it!! if you see a digital painting that speaks to your soul- buy it!! Do you see where I’m coming from here? If you’re brand new to the art world, let me give you a few definitions of some of the more popular styles:

1. Abstract- This is art where the artist an artist either exaggerates or simplifies the form of the subject to attach emotion or other meaning to it.

2. Art Deco- A form of abstract art, this celebrates technical advances of the 1920′s and 30′s. Art deco paintings have a slick, metallic look, they include jarring angles & use machinery colors.

3. Gouache watercolors- This is a type of watercolor that include white pigments that make them thicker & more opaque than other types of watercolor paintings.

4. Impressionist- This type came into being in the late 19th century and include such well known painters as Monet and Renoir. These painters altered their strokes to approximate the effects of changes in lighting on the subject. Impressionism still remains very popular among artists, collectors & art enthusiasts.

5. Pop- Pop art shows contemporary, common objects in a way that makes a statement about modern culture. You might be familiar with the work of Andy Warhol who painted Campbell’s soup cans- he was a pop artist.

6. Realist- Realism art portrays faithful and realistic depictions of subjects; this comes from the idea that any subject is worthy of being painted in and of itself.

7. Surreal- Surrealism, is a very cool approach to art; it features objects that look or act unnaturally or are depicted together unexpectedly; this is similar to a dream.

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The Skill of Buying Art

December 31st, 2009

If you don’t love art, and are simply considering buying art as an investment, the best advice is to find something else to invest in. Collecting and buying art should be a labor of love, not a cold-hearted financial calculation.

When buying art there are many factors that a serious art collector should look at in order to get the best deal. In no particular order they are:

1. Know Your budget

No matter how much you like an art piece, don’t put yourself in enormous debt to acquire it. If you can’t afford it, so be it. Just let it go and wait for something to show up that fits your budget. No art collector in the world gets every piece he is attracted to.

2. Know Your Art Dealers

Once you know what kind of art you like, find the galleries that sell it. Introduce yourself to the gallery owners. Form a relationship with them. Let them know what types of art pieces you’re interested in. Then when they get a new piece or art in, your name will be near the top of the list of people that they notify. This is an excellent way to get first crack at art pieces that normal people will never see, because they simply are never put up for sale.

Developing relationships with reputable art dealers also helps to protect you from scams. You can have faith that the art pieces you get are original pieces and not simply knock-offs.

Also, if you come to love the work of a particular artist, you may find that his or her work is carried primarily through a particular dealer. All the more reason to become friendly with as many art dealers as you can.

3. Know Your Own Tastes

Never buy something just because an “art expert” tells you that it is a beautiful, classic piece of art. If the art piece means nothing to you, it’s not worth you buying it. Unless you’re a professional trader, the art piece you buy is going to be something that you own and look at for years. So choose art that speaks to you. And to do that, you need to know what you like and what you don’t like.

An important secondary benefit of knowing your taste is it gives you the ability to clearly state your desires to art dealers that you work with to help build your collection.

4. Negotiate the Price

Just because an art piece has a price tag on it does not mean that you have to pay that price. Art prices are not set in stone. Don’t be afraid of dickering with dealers. In most cases it’s even expected.

5. Insure Your Art

There are few things more devastating than losing your art treasures through fire or theft. But the financial losses can possibly even be worse.

Whenever you buy a piece of collectible art, call your insurance broker and make sure she includes it on your policy. If you have a good homeowners policy, it will probably already provide general coverage. But if you have art pieces that are documented collectible items, you want to definitely ensure that this is noted on your policy – even if you have to buy an additional rider for it.

It’s also important to note that insurance will not only cover things like fire and theft, as mentioned above. It will also cover things like water damage, breakage, moving, and so on.

Now go out and start collecting. Good luck and much success in your art buying.

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Tips on Buying Art for a Friend

December 30th, 2009

With the festive season round the corner, many of you are probably starting on your gift shopping. If you’re having a hard time deciding on what to buy for your loved ones, why not consider buying art? A beautiful art piece displayed in your friend’s home will not only beautify the place, but also be a nice conversation topic for visitors.

However, buying art for someone else can be quite tricky. The last thing you want happening is to buy something that doesn’t suit the décor of your friend’s house. And your friend might end up quietly putting the art piece away into the store room after a while. You have to make sure that the art piece that you buy must compliment the décor of his home.

Here are some tips to help you make the right buying decisions:

If you have never visited your friend’s home, try to arrange for a meet up, so that you can have a sneak preview of the place. While you are there pay close attention to the decorative theme of the house. Is it modern contemporary, minimalist, or maybe Victorian? Perhaps your friend is well traveled, and has collected antiques from all over the world. Maybe he likes Asian styles, as evidenced by the furniture and decorative ornaments around the house. Pay attention also to the color theme. Are the walls colorful with bright primary colors, or is it in pastel earthy colors? These considerations will affect your decision in the kind of art you will buy. Location

While you are in the house, identify a wall where you might want the art piece to be hung. It can be quite challenging to find suitable space to hang art – even more so if the wall is already decorated with art pieces. Remember that you don’t have to buy a very large piece that occupies the entire wall. You can have a small art piece that can share the wall space with other pieces that are already there. You just need to pay attention to the theme of those art pieces. For example, if those pieces are black and white pictures of architectural buildings, then you have a pretty good idea on the type of art to buy that will match nicely with the others. Color

A rule of thumb is to take note of the 2 strongest colors in the room, and then choose art that has those colors in them. For example, if the room has a lot of brown and beige, you can find art that has these 2 colors in them, but it’s ok to have an additional splash of red or yellow in it. After all, you want the art piece to stand out and tell a story, so don’t pick an art piece that blends so well until it becomes un-noticeable.

Take note of other things in the room that may be attention grabbing. For example, if there is a beautiful Persian rug at the center of the room that the owner is very proud of, then choose an art piece with subtler colors than the rug so as not to steal attention away from it. Having a room with rugs, curtains and art pieces all shouting for attention can throw the entire room out of balance. Style

It is important to find an art piece that will match the décor style of your friend’s home. If the house has a Victorian style to it or has a lot of old antiques, pick an art piece that will match closely with that style. Floral themed paintings or scenes of the countryside can never go wrong. Protect it with an antique styled frame that will add a nice old charmed look. Remember that the frame you choose is also part of the art piece, so do not ignore it. A frame with intricate details and carvings will work nicely with a Victorian or old cottage house.

For a modern home with contemporary styled furniture, you’ll be practically spoilt for choice when it comes to contemporary art. For a room that’s colorful, pick something that’s black and white. For a room that has neutral colors, choose something that will stand out and grab attention. The important thing to note is that you want the art to be noticed. Remember also, that contemporary or abstract art, do not have to mean anything. Different people will interpret it differently. So don’t be too hard on yourself when choosing the right art for your friend. Size

If you intend to purchase a large art piece, make sure your friend has enough wall space to put it. It may seem common sense, but coming from an interior design point of view, large pieces are more suitable for rooms with a lot of space and have high ceilings. If your friend is living in a small space, then certainly large pieces may not be suitable. In this case, get a smaller piece, or better yet, get a set of small, similar looking themed art pieces that can be grouped together when displayed. On the other hand, if your friend is living in a very large space, buying art that is too small will make it look out of place and out of proportion.

So there you have it – just some basic guidelines to set you in the right direction. Remember, if all else fails and you really cannot find a suitable space to hang art, you can always put your art piece into a photo frame and display it next to other photographs. Nothing is impossible. Just a little experimentation can work wonders.

Enjoy your art shopping!

Copyright 2007 Edwin Mah

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