collecting

Buying art for investment can be a lifelong pleasure and financially rewarding.
These tips below may help the new collector.

Trust your eye: only buy something if you really love it, not because you think
that it will make you money, there is no such thing as a guaranteed investment.

Don’t be afraid of asking for more information about the artist and their
techniques. Ask for a copy of the artist’s bio, it is useful to see at what stage in
their development they are, if they had any solo or museum shows ect.

Ask to see other examples of the artist’s work. It is a good sign if you like their
whole body of work; this is not essential but can indicate that the artist is
consistent in their output.

If you are buying for a specific space, measure up before you start looking, it is
possible to make a small painting seem larger to fill a space but hanging a work
in a space that is too small will never work.

Many galleries will be happy for you to pay in installments.

Two or three works can look as effective in a space as one large work.

Ask the seller about how best to hang and light the work.

A good frame can enhance a picture hugely; a bad one can ruin it. If the work is
unframed then ask about framing- the gallery may offer a framing service.

If a painting is over your budget then ask if there are any other works by the
same artist.

If you’re not sure about a piece as if you can try it at home for a few days. Many
galleries will be happy to oblige; they will probably ask you to pay up front,
then give you a refund in if it comes back undamaged within an agreed period.

A colored dot beside a picture usually means the picture has been sold; it may
also mean it is on reserve and has not yet been sold. If it has been sold it may
be an edition and other pieces available. You could ask if the artist could do a
commission.

Make a note on the back of the piece of when and where you bought it and for
how much-so when your loved ones inherit it that they know all about it.

Only look at original work by established artists in buying for investment
purposes.

Beware of reproduction prints, which are trumped up posters. They may be
dubbed “limited edition, signed and individually numbers by the artist”. These
are very different from artist made prints (etchings, screen prints, ect.) which
are great to buy (often being cheaper than paintings), are original and usually
in editions of less than 50.

The most important thing is to look, look, look- the more you see the more you
know your taste and what you want to live with.