How to Buy Art like a Master

Hello everyone!
Just returned from a trip to North Carolina. While there, the Raleigh News and Observer printed an article called "How to Buy Art like a Master." I am "re-printing" the story here because it is probably the best source I have seen for the everyday person who enjoys art, but can't afford the "names" of the art world--or said a different way--the high prices of artists in galleries or the 5 or more digit artwork of nationally and internationally known artists. I hope you find this article helpful.

Selling my artwork through my website has allowed me to keep my prices down and you'll hear more about that in the coming months with the commerical that we are making and the marketing plan we are developing. Stay tuned!!

Here's the article:

"How to Buy Art Like A Master"
by Ellen Sung of the Raleigh News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)

You may not have SAS chief Jim Goodnight's millions -- or the connections that helped him buy a Monet for his sitting room. But to decorate your home, there's no need to settle for posters from Target. The Triangle has more than 1,000 practicing artists, from big names to hobbyists who sell work at craft fairs.

"A lot of people become collectors in a very modest way," said Gordon Jameson, artist liaison for the Orange County Artists Guild. "They may buy one print and one day wind up wanting more, if they had a good experience."

Here's our guide to building a collection of original art for your home, without having to take out a second mortgage.
Shopping: Choose your artists
ONLY BUY WHAT YOU LOVE. This is the cardinal rule, because you'll see the art every day. If you find yourself thinking about a piece of art after you've left the gallery, or even days later, it's a good candidate. Decide for yourself how much you care whether it matches your furniture, but you'll probably keep the art a lot longer than you'll keep the sofa.
"I think people should decorate around the art they buy, as opposed to trying to find a piece of art that's going to match," said Michael Lowder, executive director of Artsplosure.

DON'T BUY FOR INVESTMENT... You're probably not buying investment-level art unless you have five figures to spend on a single work. You probably won't resell a $100 painting at the original price, but you should focus on its value to you over the years.
"If you're buying for investment, it's a totally different set of questions," said Sarah Powers, the executive director of the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh.

... UNLESS IT'S INVESTMENT IN LOCAL ARTS. Many artists are just trying to make enough money to continue making art. The price covers not just materials, but also hours of labor, previous unsuccessful attempts, shipping and marketing material. You aren't buying a commodity but supporting a career.

SHOP GROUP EXHIBITS OF EMERGING ARTISTS. Local guilds, such as Visual Art Exchange or the Fine Arts League of Cary, usually sponsor big group shows at least once a year. They include artists with a range of experience -- and prices from $50 to more than $3,000.

MEET THE ARTISTS. You can see a wide range of work, and usually talk to the artists, at First Friday art walks, university student shows, artist studio tours and higher-end juried art fairs such as Artsplosure. You can ask all your questions about how things were made, and often the artwork is even more meaningful to you after you get it home.

TRUST YOUR GUT. Don't have an art degree? Don't worry.
"Consistently, people will say they don't know what they like and then have strong opinions about what they like," Powers said.
Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wrote: "Many times, I have taken a dozen folks into one of the galleries ... and asked them to give me -- in five minutes -- which single painting they think is the superior one. Invariably, eight or nine out of 10 people pick the same piece -- which happens to be the one I, too, think is the best.
"Laymen, even if not steeped in art history, really can spot artistic excellence."
Buying: Get a price you can live with.

PAINTINGS CAN BE PRICEY. Large paintings tend to command the highest prices. If you love an oil painting but can't afford it, ask whether the artist has sketches or studies that were used to prepare that piece. The artist may also have work on paper like a print or a giclee.

DROP THE FRAME. Some galleries will sell work unframed, which can knock a few hundred dollars off the cost. You frame it yourself at home, or even hang the work without a frame.

GET CRAFTY. Fine craft can a great bargain. Pottery and glass can be just as beautiful, intricate and intriguing as painting or photography - and you can take home small pottery by a museum level artist for as little as $20.

NEVER HURTS TO ASK. "People go int a Gap and say 'Can you get this shirt in a medium and purple?' " Powers said. "We're in retail too. We want to help them get what they want." If you can't affor the painting, see if they artist has or is willing to create a similar smaller piece.

BUT DON'T HAGGLE. This is generally considered rude. Some galleries give 10 percent off and they're more likely to do that if you buy several pieces. Hobbyists may give you a discount too, but professional artists are very unlikely to do so. They often have strict agreements with galleries not to sell work below the price listed in the gallery.

TRY IT OUT. Many artists and galleries will let you take home a work or art "on approval" for a day or two, just to see how you like it.

CREATE BREATHING ROOM. "One of the big mistakes is people think they have to hang something in that space above the TV," Powers said. "Don't waste your art by hanging it by other busy things."
Likewise, if you have loud colorful furniture, don't make it compete with loud, colorful art. Maybe that's the spot for crisp clean black and white photography. And if a piece of art is very subtle, make sure the funiture doesn't block people from being able to look closely at it.

PLAY WITH THE LAYOUT. Everyone has one big wall to fill--and the obvious way is with one big painting. But it is often to buy three or four small pieces or similiar size, (Linda's note--go with the odd number--it's more pleasing to the eye.) then arrange them in a grid or row.

USE THE 5-FOOT RULE. Galleries often hang art so it's center is 60 inches from the floor. Similiarly, a square grouping of paintings will have its center 60 inches high. The goal is for the work to be at eye level but adjust for your ceilings and preference.