Thursday, November 26, 2009

How To Find Art Dealers Who Can Help You Expand Your Collection

By Dorothy Ranger

Why Art Dealers Are Very Different Than Art Galleries

If you are interested in a unique investment, an art collection can be a wonderful and beautiful place to put your money. Real, original art will often increase in value over time and is much more interesting to look at than a stock portfolio. Art dealers are an important part of building that collection, and finding the right art dealer is very important. Here are a few things to look for when choosing an art dealer.

Because of this, you want to make sure that you know about artwork before you begin to invest in it. You may not need as much knowledge as a dealer, but you need some information so that you know if the dealer you are working with is giving you accurate advice, or if they are completely out of touch. Going to a gallery can also be a good way to do some research but it may have to do more with the way a piece looks rather than how much it is worth.

The internet is one of the best tools that you can use to do research before even visiting or contacting a gallery or dealer. You can look for terms and information and read up on specific artists or artistic movements. Many gallery websites will have information on buying artwork, different mediums that could have been used to create a piece, or news that can affect the art world and the value of pieces available.

One thing that you need to remember about building an art collection is that you should not choose pieces just for their value. Artwork is meant to be enjoyed so picking pieces just because you think that they are going to become valuable but that you do not like is a waste of money. This is true more of private art collections than it is of corporate art collections.

There is a difference between corporate art collections and private art collections, and building each of these collections is a completely different process. Personal art collections are equally about personal enjoyment and building and retaining value. Corporate art collections are designed to enhance offices and boardrooms and are as much about projecting the message that the company wants to put forth as it is about the value of the artwork. If you are trying to build a corporate art collection, you need to make sure that you are working with an art dealer who has experience in that area.

You can find art dealers on line and in art magazines as well. You want to look for dealers that offer the kind of artwork that you are interested in, whether that is based on a medium or a style. Art dealers often have original artwork in a range of prices to choose from. Sometimes the best artwork investment is not the most expensive. This is because they are completed by beginning artists who later have artwork that sharply appreciate in value.

Keep in mind that original artwork will usually be more valuable than a print or reproduction. If you are purchasing reproductions, you need to know that only a giclee will retain its value where a standard print will not. You also want to make sure that any prints you purchase are numbered and signed. A good art dealer can give you guidance in that area as well.

Keep in mind that a gallery will often lean more toward promoting its own artists rather than those that can help increase the value of your collection. If it is an investment, you may not want to deal with a gallery. However, a gallery can give you more of a personal feel for the artwork that they sell, since they usually establish a close relationship with their artists. A dealer can be more sterile and impersonal, and focused more on money rather than love of art.

Working with art dealers or galleries can be fantastic. Your art collection can bring you a lot of joy over the years and you should build it with that in mind.

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