PURCHASING FINE ART
Six Things to consider when purchasing Fine Art
TRUST YOUR OWN TASTE. At the end of the day, after looking and looking, you must trust your own taste. Good art comes with many different styles and subjects. The style and subject matter that really speaks to you depends on how well your personality converges with that of the artist. You might have an eclectic sensibility and appreciate many kinds of good art, you might like the romantic landscape, colorful expressionistic painting, be intrigued by sculptures, or minimalism, etc. No matter what kind of art really grabs you, do not be afraid to mix different things in one space. In the end your general taste will connect them all.
LOOK FOR VALUE. Although you are NOT thinking “investment potential” (you’re not, are you?), you should be thinking VALUE. You do not want to be ripped off, and in the art world, it’s easy to spend lots of money on junk. If you’re spending under $700 for an original work or under $2000 for a larger piece, don’t worry. Use these numbers as general guidelines for buying artwork, and remember, buy anything that pleases you.
If a Fine Art piece extends to higher prices, then consider size, how much you like the piece and the artist’s notoriety. Don’t forget, artists have to make money too.
The vast majority of artist are creating art for the passion of the creation and are never able to become a career artist. However, each created piece has many hours of effort invested. If an artist creates and directly sells 20 pieces a year for $500 each, that is only $10,000 a year. Furthermore, they may have an expensive Masters of Fine Arts degree, plus the costs of postcards, supplies, paper/canvas, rent, and framing. Most likely, the artist has a day job and is caught in the classic artist-bind: the artist has to make enough to live, and at the same time, find time to paint. It’s a hard life, so give them a break and don’t complain about the artist trying to sell an original work of art for more than $300. Pay them gladly.
GENERATIONAL VALUE - Although there is a good probability that your original art pieces will increase in value, most Fine Art is passed down from generation to generation and become heirlooms rather than sold for profit. So, remember you never actually own a Fine Art piece. You merely look after it for the next generation.
BUY FROM REPUTABLE GALLERIES. When you are purchasing art for more than $500, it is a good idea to work with a reputable Gallery. To be able to remain in the business, an art Gallery must select artist that are the best of the best. Also, the making of prints from originals has become such that it sometimes isn’t easy distinguishing the difference between them. Purchasing from a reputable Gallery should insure you don’t get ripped off by someone representing a print as an original.
PRINTS or REPRODUCTIONS should never be considered an investment or an heirloom. Originals are the only Fine Art pieces that have the potential to hold or increase in value. Never purchase only for the sake of making an Investment. You must love your art and allow it to give you pleasure every day. If dollar signs are all you think about when you look at it, it’s not good for your soul or for the art. If your art happens to increase in value, consider yourself fortunate that you did not have to pay more for the same pleasure.
PURCHASE WITH CONFIDENCE - Giddens Gallery of Fine Art in Grapevine never displays prints and only offers Original Fine Art pieces by our personally selected Fine Artists.