| Five Things You Need to Know Before Buying Art | | | | are buying more for potential future investment, |
| Online | | | | obtain a list of exhibitions that they have participated |
| The Internet is revolutionizing the art world. In the | | | | in, collections they are in, and find out where they |
| not too distant past, if you were interested in | | | | went to art school. Overall, you want to make sure |
| browsing a few hundred paintings to find a new focal | | | | that you are buying from a legitimate working artist, |
| piece for your living room, you would’ve had to | | | | and that there is quality and value in the work. |
| spend a considerable amount of time going from one | | | | 3. Know the Piece – You love the expressionist |
| gallery to the next. Now, in just several minutes, you | | | | brushstrokes, now find out the important details. |
| can browse and purchase hundreds, even thousands, | | | | What is the medium, what surface was the work |
| of original artworks right from your home. But before | | | | created on, is it framed, is it signed somewhere, and |
| you click the “add to cart” button, there are | | | | most importantly, what are the dimensions? You may |
| five things you should know that will greatly improve | | | | be surprised at how big the artwork actually is, and |
| your online art buying experience. | | | | you wouldn’t want to buy a piece that |
| 1. Know the Gallery – The most important aspect | | | | doesn’t fit on your wall. One of the best ways |
| of buying art online is knowing who you are buying | | | | to combat this is to get a sheet of butcher paper, |
| from. There are thousands of virtual galleries, and | | | | draw the dimensions of the artwork on it, and then |
| you want to make sure that you are dealing with a | | | | cut it out. You can then put the paper on the wall |
| reputable one. If you can’t find a phone number | | | | where you intend to hang the art to get an idea of |
| on the gallery’s website, or it takes them more | | | | the size. Also, certain online galleries have a view to |
| than a day or two to get back to a phone or email | | | | scale feature that will show you the artwork in a |
| message, move on. | | | | virtual room proportionate to your room’s |
| Find out where they are located, how long | | | | dimensions. |
| they’ve been in business, if the artwork is | | | | 4. Know the Edition – If you are buying |
| curated, how they price their art, and of course, | | | | printmaking or photography, you need to find out if |
| what their return policy is. Make sure that if you | | | | the piece is part of a limited edition or open edition. |
| decide you don’t love your artwork when it | | | | Pieces that are in a limited edition are produced in a |
| arrives, you have the ability to return it for a full | | | | set limited quantity and tend to be more expensive, |
| refund, and without being charged high shipping or | | | | but can also have more value because of their limited |
| restocking fees. | | | | number. Open edition artworks are not limited in |
| Most artwork on the Internet is from emerging | | | | quantity and can be reproduced indefinitely. In both |
| artists whose legacy is yet to be defined. As such, | | | | cases, each piece in the edition is identical and is |
| you will want help determining if their work is worth | | | | considered an original. |
| your time and money. Find an online gallery with a | | | | 5. Keep a Record – Save your receipt of |
| reliable curator or board of curators. Additionally, this | | | | purchase. If you intend to sell the art in the future, |
| type of art should be affordable. Although there is no | | | | this is a must. In the art world, this is known as |
| exact science to pricing artwork, it should mainly be | | | | provenance, or the artwork’s history of |
| according to the artist’s previous sales and | | | | ownership. Depending upon how well known the |
| exhibition history, and the size, medium, and | | | | artist becomes, this will help establish that the work is |
| composition of the work. As a general rule, emerging | | | | not fake or stolen. |
| artwork shouldn’t cost more than four figures | | | | With all of this in mind, buy what you like! Don’t |
| unless it is a spectacular piece by a spectacular artist. | | | | worry too much about what the art market or your |
| 2. Know the Artist – Once you find a piece of art | | | | friends say, choose artwork that you connect with. |
| that you are interested in, get as much information | | | | Although art may hold a future value, find pieces that |
| as you can about the artist. Obtain their artist | | | | you are passionate about. After all, you are the one |
| statement and speak with them if possible. If you | | | | who has to live with it. |