Top 10 Art Buying Tips

1. Buy what you like.

There is no secret to buying art, simply buy what you like. Whatever you choose will be on your walls for a long time; you will likely be walking past it every day, so I would say always be sure the picture is for you.

2. The question of investment.

Buying artwork can be a sound investment. If you are buying to invest, still buy what you like, but do some research on the artist you are considering buying into. Consider the artist's pedigree, has the artist's past works appreciated in value? Is there a demand for the artist's past releases? Do you get a feeling that the artist is still growing in popularity and stature. These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself. If you have a good gallery near you, ask their advice and certainly type the artist's name into a search engine, you should hopefully find articles or videos on your chosen artist.

3. Original or prints.

We still come back to what should be your overriding consideration, buy what you like. It is always nice to have an original painting by your favourite artist, though often they can be expensive. The next best thing to an original painting is a signed limited edition, or then of course there are the open edition prints, or mass market reproductions. As investments, originals generally do better than prints. However some prints, the more collectable ones, can bring a good return. When buying an original painting (or indeed a collectable print) take care that it is the genuine article, buy from reputable galleries or from trusted individuals or sources.

4. Limited Editions

Limited edition prints, especially those that are signed by the artist can be quite collectable. The quality of printing of these pictures is usually far more advanced in quality than the cheaper open edition prints. They are usually printed with top quality light fast inks on top quality paper or canvas. As a rule, they are less likely to fade than the open edition prints. When we talk of a limited edition, what does this mean? A print can be called a limited edition, if the edition size is limited to say 2000 for example, though this would be considered a very high edition, the lower the number in the edition, generally the more collectable it is, simply by there being less of them out there. If a picture is a limited edition, it should state so somewhere on the print. It is usually in one corner and in every edition, each print will have a different number, for example if the edition is only 25 (lovely!) the prints will be numbered 1/25, 2/25, 3/25 and so on.

5. Artist's Proofs

Traditionally these were 'trial' prints, printed off by the printer to assess the quality of the print in the printmaking process. These days they are simply impressions of the finished piece, being printed to the exact same standard as the numbered copies. Again traditionally they were given to the artist as a signing fee. The artist was free to dispose of their artist's proofs as he or she saw fit, by giving them to family or friends or by selling them to his/her local gallery. These days an artist is usually paid a signing fee by the publisher, often the artist's proofs are still produced but not always. Some publishers choose no longer to print artist's proofs. Where they are produced, they are usually 10% of the total edition and they will be numbered as artists proofs, i.e. 1/10ap, 2/10ap, 3/10ap etc, in this example the standard edition would probably be 100.

6. Right to return

When buying a picture, either on line or from a gallery; it is very hard to imagine how the picture will look in your own home. If you have only seen it as a small image on a computer screen or even if you have seen the actual picture in a gallery, it can look very different in you own surroundings, with different coloured walls and different lighting. Always check out your right to return if unsuitable. Reputable galleries allow you to trial the piece for a short while, or offer a service where the picture can be brought to your home so you see how it looks before you buy.

7. Check the medium you are buying.

With printing methods advancing as fast as they are, the options you are faced with with regards to mediums can be daunting. Traditionally prints were produced simply on paper. Now we have prints on canvas boards (which need framing), prints on box canvases (which don't need framing), both of these don't need glass, there are even prints on aluminium and glass, so check that the type of print you are ordering is suitable for you. Don't be afraid of asking about the different mediums. Prints on paper and canvas are the two most popular formats at present. Also check to see if the picture you are buying comes ready framed or mounted.

8. Insurance.

Remember that when looking into investing in art the cost of insurance is worth bearing in mind. Especially on original paintings the cost can be considerable. If your own domestic insurance policy will not cover your artwork, ask at your local gallery, they may have some suggestions for you.

9. Interest free or Payment club.

If you see a piece of art you love and it is a limited edition or original, you would love to own it, but can not quite manage payment in full at that time, or you may prefer to spread the cost over a number of months, ask the gallery if they operate an interest free credit system or a payment club. With interest free credit you will be asked information about yourself and your salary etc, which is submitted to a bank for approval, once approved you can take the picture home that day but you will have entered into a legally binding contract with a bank to pay so much per month. The payment club idea is a lot looser and less formal. You might be asked to put a deposit down on a picture and then you will be asked to pay the picture off over a number of months, very often you can pay what you like when you like over a set period. With this more informal arrangement the gallery generally holds onto the picture until it is paid off. These two arrangements allow you to claim a picture as yours that might be sold out on your next visit to the gallery.

10. Opportunities to sell on.

Certainly when buying investment art, it is worth asking the gallery you are buying from, if they offer an opportunity for a resale in the future, should your tastes change or your picture increase so much in demand you are tempted to sell it on. Some galleries will charge a commission for resale, some won't. Some might give you wall space for a commission, or list it on their website for free. Every gallery will have a different approach, but it might be worth your while to ask.

REMEMBER - BUY WHAT YOU LIKE!

'top ten' image by Sam Churchill  , thanks Sam

Posted by Steven Rennie 05/2011