Beginning Art Buyers: 3 Things to Know About Purchasing Art

Congratulations! So, now you have a new home or apartment and you’re ready to decorate your walls with art. Where do you start? As an artist, I find today’s art market can be pricey and overwhelming for the new buyer to know where to begin.

Let’s start with some guidelines. In the article, “How to Buy Art: A Beginner’s Cheat Sheet”, written by William Grimes and Robin Pogrebin of the NY Times, they share in what venues and ways you can find and buy affordable art. Not only can you learn where to go, but the art hunt itself can be just as adventurous and rewarding as purchasing that great piece of artwork you love. After reading this article you should be able to research venues and events of art shows and exhibits to come up with a list of places you’ll want to scope out. Take a friend or your significant other, but do try to have a plan of where you’re going and have an idea of what you’ll be seeing before setting out.

(AffordableArtFair.com)

Once you’ve find that right art piece, what are things to consider before buying? In this article, ”How to Collect Art Like a Pro – Building a Collection”, by Alan Bamberger from artbusiness.com suggests you ask yourself these important questions before purchasing. And if you decide to go a step further in to the art market, he has a wealth of knowledge how to start your own art collection. For now, here’s just a few of the questions, Mr. Bamberger mentions when getting ready to purchase art.

1. What about it satisfies me?
2. Do I like it for the subject matters, what it represents, what it communicates, it's originality, the techniques, the colors, the historical aspects, the regions where it's made, the lives of the artists?
3. Does it make me think about things I've never thought before?

I have a few points of action to get you started.

·       Define Your Decorating Style: Is it Modern, Traditional, Zen-like, Asian, Minimalism?

·       Do Your Research: Go to sites such as Pinterest, SaatchiArt, and FineArtAmerica and find what you like or don’t like. Jot down a list of artist’s names, genres, and colors that speak to you. Recognize any patterns to your choices?

·       Ask Questions: Always make sure when buying online or in person, to ask about the seller’s refund policy. An additional plus is free shipping!

With a research, you can come up with a plan to locate and buy the right art for you. And if you still struggle finding exactly what you are looking for, ask friends or galleries if they know an artist that fits your style. Consider a commissioned piece of artwork from your favorite artist. That way you can get the colors you love and the size painting you need. Lastly, enjoy buying art from places you’ve vacationed. It’s a great way to extend the memories while having a beautiful or intriguing piece of art on your walls. Or you can purchase a painting from Allison Reece Fine Art, I hear the artist is phenomenal!

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Allison Reece is an abstract expressionist painter from NC. She has been selling her bold paintings since 2004. She is an alumnus of Ringling College of Art and Design, in Sarasota, FL, where she studied Fine Arts. She graduated from Northwestern University’s Social Media Marketing Course, via Coursera, and also graduated from Digital Marketing from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, enjoys a good cup of coffee, kayaking in the southeastern intracoastal waterways, and long walks on the beach. Her favorite color is turquoise and she loves abstract art.

You can follow Allison on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Fine Art America, and Instagram.