How To Buy Original Art Without Fear

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9825
Comment this article

Many people who think they'd like to start collecting original art often hesitate out of fear they'll spend lots of money on ultimately worthless artworks. While it's true that learning to buy art can be an art in itself, it's like any other skill: anyone with the will to learn can learn to purchase art successfully.

Experts often say that the skill of buying original art is composed of four steps: define the type of art one prefers, select one or two artists who create such art, research the artists and their works, and then negotiate the buy for the best possible price.

A first step in this overall process of learning to buy art is to make sure that the attractive artwork is actually an original. The art marketplace today is flooded with works that look original, but are actually reproductions. This reality reflects today's technological age, in which so many original works can be reproduced mechanically. As part of the defining phase of art buying, buyers must learn how to distinguish originals from copies.

Once a buyer feels confident in his or her ability to spot original art, it's time to define the ...
... nature of what could become a personal art collection. A buyer should learn the correct art terms for what they prefer so that dealers and galleries can help them find art they like in a price range they can afford. This way, the buyer and the dealer won't waste any time with artworks that don't fit the customer's intention to buy art.

The selection phase begins once the buyer has set his or her guidelines for dealers and galleries. The bottom line here is that art buying is like shopping for any other commodity; compare prices, vendors and quality before making a purchase. For those who wish to buy art, this means locating those vendors who deal in precisely the type of original art the buyer wishes to purchase, and then comparing their offerings.

There are also nuances to buying original art. For instance, buyers who establish themselves with dealers, galleries and artists often get the first opportunity when a new work is offered for sale. In addition, buying original art differs greatly from purchasing a work from a dealer, so it's key to learn those differences and work with them. There are also ways that one should never use to buy art, and savvy customers will learn these as well.

Any art purchase shouldn't be completed until the buyer has had time to research both the artist and the artwork. Critical to this research is to learn the work's ownership history, which often has an effect on its value. Having the artwork appraised and verified is also a good idea to avoid being taken in by forgers and scams.

Finally, it's time to conclude the purchase. Here a wise buyer should learn something about the volatility of the art market, particularly why art prices can fluctuate at times. As with all major purchases, it's possible to negotiate a more attractive price for original art, especially when the buyer's research shows that the asking price overstates the art's ultimate value.

Honing these skills to define, select, research and buy art will make collecting original art a truly satisfying experience.

Author Bio

Learning to Buy Art over the Internet offers a new frontier for collecting Original Art . Artboom can help new collectors define their preferences, select artworks, research and complete a purchase that satisfies buyer, dealer and artist.