Collecting Art – What I know

Most of us are constantly bombarded with images daily.  After awhile it becomes a blur and we let our subconscious censor images out of our attention.  I have found that having unique artworks in my home has allowed me to see the importance of a single image.  In each image I can associate a conscious thought or feeling.  I can also relate personally to the artist through their imagery.  With advertisements it is hard for me to connect to the creator on the other end (unless it is very well done).

I find that collecting art enriches my life and want to share what little I know about this interest.  Future posts will feature artists’ whose work I collect and enjoy on a daily basis.

Your First Purchase

Many people love art, but are intimidated to buy it.  They think “I don’t know anything about art” and can be scared away by high price tags.  If you know that an artwork, strikes, inspires, intrigues you profoundly then you know enough about art.  Money is tight these days, but most artist’s and dealers will work out a payment plan to help you purchase the piece.

Artwork Upkeep/Maintenance

There are tons of different media out there, some good, some bad.  Ask the artist or dealer about how they made the piece.  Is the paper archival? Is the painting varnished?  Is the sculpture meant for outdoor or indoor use only?  Also ask if they have any advice for maintaining the quality of the piece.   Some general tips:

`If possible keep paintings and paper works out of direct sunlight.  Sunlight blasts artwork with radiation that will fade colors.  If artwork is in sunlight considering framing with a UV Protective glass.  Its expensive, but will save the work many years down the road.

`For paintings, if it is unvarnished and artist recommends varnishing the work then have it done.  Oil paintings must wait between 6-12 months after completion before varnishing.  Acrylic paintings around 5 days after completion.  All varnishes are removable and act as protection against scratching and other damage.  Plus it can make the painting really pop!  Ask the artist or find someone who has the right materials for varnishing to do the work for you.  I recommend Liquitex’s Soluvar Varnish as Damar Varnish tends to darken with age.

`If you run out of wall space and need to store artwork I suggest storing it vertically.  Have something to cushion it on the ground such as a strip of carpet or cardboard.  Also place the artworks face-to-face and back-to-back.  This way hanging hardware won’t scratch into frames or paint.  Acrylic and Oil paints can stick together if there is enough pressure and time so place strips of cardboard in between each piece.  Make sure that the leaning edges are both flush against the wall (or whatever surface you are leaning the pieces on.  This prevents warping which really sucks and can mean needing to have an entire canvas re-stretched. For 3-D work, use bubble wrap and place closer to the ground.

Collecting Artwork as an Investment

I don’t know much about collecting artwork to resell it years later and make a profit, frankly I’m not interested.  Having worked in art galleries it was often recommended to not buy art to make a profit later. Buy an artwork because you love it and it strikes you/means something to you.

Support the Arts and Community

By purchasing artwork you are not only fulfilling your desire for that freaking awesome statue or painting. You are also supporting the arts.  Arts inspired and can fuel Communities.  From the sneakers you wear to your favorite album artists are involved in every object in your life.  They help communities thrive and provide creative solutions for difficult problems.  I don’t think it is far fetched to say that by supporting the arts you are supporting education, a strong economy, a conscious community, and yourself.